Hi Guys
I think I should post a first response. This 16th edition was the first one that has not been printed in-house; it was printed in Estonia. The 3 missing pictures were all present and correct in the proofs that I saw - I have no idea what happened after that. I am also aware that a couple of late additions made to the text after I had proof read it, produced errors in the final printing including the mis-spelling of McKinney and part of the names of Rio and Brasil being put in the 'year of build' column. That'll teach me to try to add anything at a late stage in any future edition. I think it's fair to say that as this is my first time editing the book I am not very happy with the result.
Regarding the pictures, IA still required them to be submitted in 6 x 4 print form for this edition, as in previous editions, not as you might expect in jpeg form, which I am certain would give clearer reproduction, but then only as good as the resolution of the printing machine. They have been worse in some previous editions.
On the other hand, there is far more information in this new addition, IMO numbers, cargo capacities etc and many new companies not appearing previously. With this additional information and four years of up-dating it was a monumental task and I hope it will provide at least some enjoyment for its readers.
Regarding Phil's point, yes I agree, but for that you need to be at your computer,tablet or whatever; there is still something more tangible about a book, in the same way that a colour slide always seems more real that a digital pic. And don't forget, some people still do not have computers and many people, like Paul, like to collect 'the series'; and of course there is also the possibility that in time OS may be made available in e-book form.
Allan