UK model Ry webzine updated

[Bob Keller]

Some forum members have expressed an interest in UK operations. The Model Railways On-Line web magazine has just uploaded the May issue. It can be viewed on-line or downloaded as a PDF.

Check out:
http://www.gppsoftware.com/SiteNet/ShowPage.asp?SiteId=4&PageId=37

Also, KPC will begin distributing two titles published by Peco (the track people), Railway Modeller (UK trains) and Continental Modeller (Euro trains) starting, I believe, in August. So check your local hobby retailer - or ask them to stock a few issues to check demand. On a local note, Greenfield News & Hobby here in Milwaukee stocks quite a few UK train titles, both prototype and model, and they always seem to sell out.

Regards,

[Anonymous]

A courageous decision by Kalmbach. Hope they sell well!
It should be pointed out on this toy train forum that RM is more oriented to scale O, OO and N. CM does however include North American modellinfg news.

[daan]

I still don't understand why such a high-trained modeltrain country like the UK sticks with their ancient hornby 00 hook-couplings. For all the rest, they are ok..

[Big_Boy_4005]

Personally I don't see this as being a particularly worthwhile venture for Kalmbach. Americans don't seem to have much love for trains from around the world, especially when it comes modeling.

The only time that I would be interested in foreign trains is, if I was to travel. Then my interest would be in the prototype, and mainly as a railfan and passenger, and nothing more.

Americans have too rich and diverse a railroading history for modeling. I would suspect lack the time, money, and desire would cause them not to stray off in search of foreign models. My local hobby stores don't carry any foreign models, there is no demand.

This doesn't sound like a very costly venture for Kalmbach, so the risk is rather low. It will be interesting to see if this one is successful, time will tell, but I rather doubt it.

"That's just my opinion, but I could be wrong."[swg]

[Anonymous]

Thanks for sharing the link, Bob! I'll be sure to visit the site often. I myself am highly interested in all trains from everywhere in the world and do read British magazines like The Railway Magazine, Railway Modeller, etc. It's good to see that Kalmbach is taking an interest as well. I am familiar with Continental Modeller, but haven't found any place that sells it yet. Hopefully once Kalmbach starts distributing it, I'll be able to find it.

[Big_Boy_4005]

Well Sask, I expected you to be a positive voice here, and you did not dissappoint. Over the last few months, I have noticed that your taste in trains is very broad and eclectic.

I think that's wonderful that you are interested in so many different trains, but remember you are young (and Canadian[;)]). Youth is a time for learning and exploration, so enjoy, and use it well. When I was your age I was just like you, into every train related thing I could find, and believe me I found a lot, including full sized trains.

The difference between us is, you are an optimist, and I have become a realist. That's what happens as you get older.[swg]

[BR60103]

Sask, I haven't seen much of CM since the bookstore shakeout of the last decade. I have had to prod our local chapters to carry another magazine, and I can't justify buying CM.
daan: it took the Americans 50 years to get the X2f type coupling replaced by knuckles; it may take the Brits a little longer unless they get prodded by Brussels.
But my latest Hornby loco has a very good screw coupling on the front end, and a hook on the tender.

[Bob Keller]

Don't hit me, but from a differing perspective, I like the hoop couplers because it makes the UK trains look more toy-like.

As an aside, KPC already distributes a large number of British hobby magazines to shops in the US: Fly Past, Warship, Air Forces Monthly, Scale aviation Modeller, etc. I think there is a market for ships, trains, models with a UK perspective, but I couldn't guess how deep the rail market is.

Though there is at least one US OO importer, when I buy British outline OO trains (I'm accumulating pre-nationalization LMS and modern EWS gear), it is either through Britannia Models in Canada, or from one or two hobbyshops in Merrie Olde Englande.

[Big_Boy_4005]

Actually Bob, the other hobbies may be much more receptive to international flavor and content. Model railroading is much more fickel, and particular about prototype. There is no connection between countries, or in this case continents for railroads, as is the case in military modeling.

I can see that from Kalmbach's perspective there's no realreason NOT to try it, as you are already in the magazine business, and distributing a couple more is no big deal. Who knows, you could be pleasantly surprised, and I would be wrong. The truth is that MR and CTT will ALWAYS run circles around that stuff, even if it does turn out to be worthwhile from a business perspective. [swg]

[FJ and G]

I downloaded the first file. Really nice work. We can glean a lot of good layout ideas from the Brits.

O Scale Trains used to offer free downloads of their entire magazine; they might still? Their mags cost $8 a piece so seems like it'd cut into the mag sales. How can they turn a profit? Well, advertising, I guess!

dav

[Anonymous]

Its good to see this topic go as far as it has. Perhaps the magazines will be a success - lets hope so!
The comments about UK couplers are both valid. They look awful, but work well and are definitely toy like. Perhaps now that more British prototypes have buckeye couplers, the models will follow suit. Kadee did make some suitable ones, I believe.
I run Hornby O gauge trains on my otherwise US layout. A bit incongruous perhaps, but works for me!
[8D]

[FJ and G]

Switching to Kadees should be an easy project. Had no idea Hornby makes O gauge trains. I know they make OO. It would be nice to get an O scale 3-rail live steam engine from Hornby, British or otherwise. Betchya it'd sell, despite naysayers here.

Dav

[Anonymous]

Bob,
Thanks for the lead to the UK outline webzine. Downloaded both issues and will read them on a plane ride this am. A lot of work they have gone to and from what I could tell very well done.

[Anonymous]

I would not be interested in the least in the UK models or magazines. There are so many American trains that need to be modeled and written about in American O.[8]

[M636C]

Guys,

The On Line magazine is Australian, not British! It talks about UK models, but the addresses of the magazine and the publisher are Australian. That Coronation Scot on the cover of issue 2 is nice - the air conditioning ducts on the roof of the cars don't appear on production models.

I think it's good that Kalmbach are distributing Peco magazines. I've been reading them for years, and writing for them for the last ten years or so. There's not much risk involved, (you only have to import the number you need, there aren't many costs involved) but it makes more information available.

Continental Modeller in particular covers really interesting railways right around the world. Their photos of the Antofagasta line were amazing, with the NF210s from Newfoundland operating in the moon-like landscape!

Peter