Retrospective Compendium…
The Compendium - a series of modelling reflections. The product of several years of daily blogging, two books, conversations with friends and finally, ‘one’…
When I started I didn’t know what form it would take but I had a firm idea of its style and presentation. The act of distilling content to provide 40 pages of off-line unplugged reflections was easier than I imagined. The design came together quickly, ordering via Blurb straight forward and even the faff of posting them not as strenuous as I feared. So it is done. Just 60 signed copies, each full of me.
Now the making is over, I’m can enjoy it.
It follows me around the house, finding a space beside the bench, the sofa and bed - all equals. It is a joy to pick up and flick though. Settle on a page and read it. Slowly. Enjoying the physical sensation of the magazine, the feel of the paper, turning the pages. This is real, not a screen, it is deliberate. No electrons flying around, no backlight, no swiping… just ink on the page and my imagination. It’s very personal, but even so I have not tired of it. The moment it was sent to print I deleted the PDFs and didn’t revisit the content on my computer. It is nearly as fresh for me as it is for you. It feels good to read, I like the ideas, the messages and the way it sounds in my head. I’m really glad I made it.
The first few copies have already arrived with readers, some of whom kindly let me know and their first thoughts, which is both a stressful and rewarding experience! Thank you all for buying into this and helping me make it a reality. Thank you and I hope you enjoy it.
Great work on Compendium. Such a pleasure to read and enjoy. If you have the time / capacity / willing to produce another issue I’ll be all over it like a rash.
Just wanted to let you know Compendium dropped through my letter box this morning. I have only really had time to skim it but I am very impressed by the quality and the layout ( and the layouts!!) The content is thought provoking and although I have seen some of this before it seems fresh with often a different viewpoint on what you had posted before. I hope this will not be the only time you do something like this, it will go along with your other books in the "inspiration" section.
Compendium arrived - very impressive from first flick through. Looking forward to getting a chance to dive in properly!
Just to let you know my copy of the Compendium arrived safely today. I wasn't sure what to expect but I'm very pleased with it and much appreciate your efforts in putting it together.
What next?
We’ll see.
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Hi James
ReplyDeleteAlthough I was one of your readers giving my first thought as I have now had more time I just wanted to say my impressions are just as good if not better. The articles are different but somehow have unifying whole. I particularly like the north America slat of some and to ask the question no one did on page 26 "Why did you model that slice of the Purbeck clay industry- it looks so authentic"
As an aside I see you used Blurb. Around eight years ago I made some photo books of holidays using a predecessor of Blurb - I what to get back to do some more but wondered how you found using them before I sign up.
Hope you are having a relaxing weekend
Best Regards
Alan
Thank you Alan.
DeleteWhilst I appreciate the question RE Purbeck, I hope you take up the mantle and intend to ask better questions of others whom are perhaps less use to digging inside themselves to find the answer - for me of course, it’s the same sense of meloncholy or saudade that influences all my work.
Glad you’re enjoying it still.
As for a Blurb, can’t comment really beyond the ordering process because I did all the layout myself on my own software, just uploading the PDF files for printing. No complaints, flexible and easy to to use.
Hi James
DeleteI don't actually go to to many exhibitions BUT will think of asking the reasons for the modelling if I find something I am exited by. Although maybe If find a layout which I think could be better I should ask what made the exhibitor treat the subject that way. Both are valid, as is asking myself why I am modelling a particular scene especially as in my case the prototype is 6000 mils away and I had no family connection. Still I am intrested in that Purbeck scene. I think the melancholy is maybe a reflection of something you miss/ed, sort of nostalgia. I often get a similar when seeing a photo or a video of an interesting railroad but know I am not going to see it in real life in that form or at all.
Best regards
Alan
Just received my copy of compendium! Absolutely ace. Thank you James. I'm saving it till later after I've finished studying. Please do another!
ReplyDeleteThank you Tom, I look forward to hearing what you think once you've had more of a read. I will do more - but next up will be the third Wild Swan book which is now being proof-read.
DeleteI have just received my copy of the compendium. Thank you for publishing this. I have skimmed through it and it has generated many possible models/scenarios to consider. I am a bit of a “butterfly”,with ideas and juggle them around in my head. Many do not see the “light of the day”. However there are many levels of interest and practical involvement. One day, I may finish one of my micro scenarios……….
ReplyDeleteThanks for your regular blogs, which serve to give thought for many further options. Small is beautiful, when it comes to what works best. Keep up the good work.
Regards Paul in deepest darkest Sussex !
Paul - small layouts are a great foil for those of us with butterfly minds. The joy of a new rabbit hole is a wonderful experience, I love it every time.
DeleteMorning James. I've had a good read through compendium now and it is truly thought provoking. My wife asked me the other day why I liked my layouts in little boxes and the best I could do was to keep the cat off and because all my favourite layouts are somehow contained. The picture of the pannier tank on the bridge at Pont Dulas made my heart sing, I love rural railways, in particular the Bodmin and Wadebridge. I volunteered with the diesel group at Bodmin for a few years, happy memories of sitting on the roof of 47306 scraping paint off, and trundling up the valley from Boscarne Junction in the secondman's seat of 37142. Wonderful stuff. The cover image is very striking, that rain drop almost ready to fall and the stark chains. The tracks curving off into the mist. And what things of beauty railway books are! I'm quite strict and tend to view my book collection as a fluid thing, I've still got well over a hundred railway books. And that is also why I love compendium and your books so much, they can held and appreciated, they can start a modelling adventure or simply be a relaxing interlude with a cuppa and an escape from the pressures and anxieties of the world. Thank you for what you do. Take care. Tom
ReplyDeleteTom - thank you - for your reflections. I am glad you have found it through providing - I hope too, enjoyable. I suppose, as a stand alone self published entity I could push the envelope a bit and make it more in that vein than I am allowed (as such) with a published book or article.
Delete