Enzoamps Been reading MR for 60 years or so. I would save my allowance and buy a new Athearn rubber band drive loco, and the first thing I looked at each issue was the Pacific Fast Mail ad on the rear cover. MY cheap litttle engines were all I could afford, and here were these wonderful brass models I knew I could never afford. But I read it cover to cover, tiny ads and all. And those big two page warehouse listings, I read each item, thinking how it might work on my layout.
Been reading MR for 60 years or so. I would save my allowance and buy a new Athearn rubber band drive loco, and the first thing I looked at each issue was the Pacific Fast Mail ad on the rear cover. MY cheap litttle engines were all I could afford, and here were these wonderful brass models I knew I could never afford.
But I read it cover to cover, tiny ads and all. And those big two page warehouse listings, I read each item, thinking how it might work on my layout.
You bet! Those old AHC warehouse ads that went on for pages were chock full of every train item you could imagine. They supplied a young mind's planning and dreaming on a tiny allowance.
This may sound weird but when I traveled for business around the country I always brought along the latest copy of MR. Why? Because I always had free time in the evening and I would look for the nearest hobby shops from my hotel, based on the listings in the back of each issue. It made it fun to explore what each shop stocked. I bought a lot of Blue box kits in my travels. Always liked viewing the store model rr displays and sometimes club layouts as well.
Remember Cheap Hobbies ? They committed mail fraud and went to jail. Remembering sending notice to MR about them before they were prosicuted, they said they would pull the ads if they were doing things illegal. Should have kept my notification of court procedings from the attorney general of whatever state they were homed in as a memento because I knew I would never see my $200 again.
There have been a few writers over the years that I’ve quite admired whose presence I miss. George Allen: I’ve always admired the style and approach he used to present the construction of the Tuxedo Junction layout he built with Ernie Huebner. His short-lived 50,000 Spikes series was great too. E. L. Moore: Great story teller, and I loved his way of getting the most from the least with admirable results. Always could be counted on for a fun project that I felt I could build. D. Derek Verner: He pushed the boundaries of what could be done, but I always came away from his stories with a feeling that I could do them too. His Lido Theater comes to mind. Bill Schopp: Although in his later years he was at RMC, he was featured now and then in MR. He even showed up once in a most excellent Tuxedo Junction story with George Allen. He was some sort of mad scientist / renaissance man of model railroading. Robert E. Gilbert: Maybe he was more of a Model Trains writer when Kalmbach owned it, but his stories seemed full of interesting things. I remember a story called ‘A changeable railroad’ that appeared in MR in the sixties – a fascinating project. Malcolm Furlow: The San Juan Central series was excellent. Ben King: Loved his photography. He even wrote an article on how to build a panoramic (?) camera. I never thought I could emulate his work, but it was highly inspirational. Linn Westcott: Ok, he was MR’s legendary editor, but he was their best writer in that he was a skilled modeller, creative, and forward thinking. Raymond Frankenberger: I’m going to assume Kalmbach’s Model Trains fits in the umbrella, so I’ll say Raymond Frankenberger does too since he appeared there a lot. Interesting projects and great presentation style. No doubt there’s more, but these writers come readily to mind.
http://www.30squaresofontario.blogspot.ca/
Ben King was always amazing.
.
I could never do what he has done.
-Kevin
Living the dream.
Sewell.
Always took an interest in articles, modelers, pictures and stories of that past Railroad owned Town.
TF
Having been in the hobby for only 5 or 6 years, the only reason that I can contribute this thread is because I have been lucky enough to be given both older or modern issues, or else found them for dirt cheap. I don't even have a subscription! (Although I did sign up for a super good rate for a years worth of magazines in June).
I may be playing devil's advocate here, but I have actually been pleasantly suprised when comparing mid 80's, 90's, and early 2000's magazines with the modern ones. They pulled out many of the things that bugged me about the older magazines, such as pages and pages of ads, black and white pictures, and grainy pictures. Now, we have short, concise magazines with a good mix of product reviews, layout tours, DCC, painting, or other project guides, and quality images that I can often glean ideas or techniques from. Just what I like.
If there is anything I DO wish they still had in the magazine, it would be more scale drawings of railcars and photo contests. Maybe this thread is taken seriously by the magazine producers and we get some more of the old stuff back? Who knows...
Just my HO and
I'm beginning to realize that Windows 10 and sound decoders have a lot in common. There are so many things you have to change in order to get them to work the way you want.
A railroad you can model and the scratchbuilding articles.
Chuck
Modeling the Motor City
A Railroad You Can Model still shows up as a feature in MRP, so it isn't completely gone like Paint Shop or Student Fare.
BNSF UP and others modeler Having been in the hobby for only 5 or 6 years, the only reason that I can contribute this thread is because I have been lucky enough to be given both older or modern issues, or else found them for dirt cheap. I don't even have a subscription! (Although I did sign up for a super good rate for a years worth of magazines in June). I may be playing devil's advocate here, but I have actually been pleasantly suprised when comparing mid 80's, 90's, and early 2000's magazines with the modern ones. They pulled out many of the things that bugged me about the older magazines, such as pages and pages of ads, black and white pictures, and grainy pictures. Now, we have short, concise magazines with a good mix of product reviews, layout tours, DCC, painting, or other project guides, and quality images that I can often glean ideas or techniques from. Just what I like. If there is anything I DO wish they still had in the magazine, it would be more scale drawings of railcars and photo contests. Maybe this thread is taken seriously by the magazine producers and we get some more of the old stuff back? Who knows... Just my HO and
OK, I don't know how old you are, but not everything can, or even should, be reduced to a "short concise" soundbite.........
Back in the day, printing color photography was expensive, and black and wihte photography was still common for lots of stuff.
There was no internet, so those pages of ads were how manufacturers comunicated with customers in between the printing of anual catalogs........
But what would I know, I was running a train department in a hobby shop at age 20 in 1977......
And I have every copy of Model Railroader from about 1960 to now.........
Sheldon
SeeYou190 Ben King was always amazing. . I could never do what he has done. . -Kevin .
Indeed.. His layout is intact in a museum in Greenville,Ohio. A tribute to a true master modeler.
Larry
Conductor.
Summerset Ry.
"Stay Alert, Don't get hurt Safety First!"
Model Railroad Planning is geared more towards why I would by regular MR, but its only published annually. I haven't missed a copy of MRP, but my purchasing of MR has gotten spotty.
- Douglas
I miss Paint Shop and the Railroad You Can Model articles, as well as the longer, more descriptive articles that ran in the '70 and '80s. I also miss the big ads that used to run here, as you may have guessed: Standard Hobby Supply, Hobbies for Men (THAT would go over well these days!), America's Hobby Center, Long's Drug Store, that other one in the Seattle area, Train Station something-or-other, and the brass ads (including Don's Train Depot). They gave people ideas about what was available and what they could aspire to buy someday -- and maybe their dream layouts would appear in MR.
BRAKIEIndeed.. His layout is intact in a museum in Greenville,Ohio. A tribute to a true master modeler.
No kidding! I need to make sure I see that next time I am in Ohio.
Thank you for that news.
Uncle_Bob Those ads that you're glad are gone paid Kalmbach's bills. Without money coming in, they can't pay staff, advertise, buy paper and ink for magazines, etc. Without these things, the publisher fails, their magazines cease production, and we end up with nothing but the past. Please remember that.
I understand. I am happy with the reduction of ads, which does not mean total elimination is demanded. They still do have some ads, which definitely helps MRR. Those don't bug me (just my wallet). Also, there is nothing wrong with being happy and positive with the changes made in the magazine, is there?
I don't have solid memories of the old MR in the mid to late 80's. My job left me sleep deprived most of the time. It seem to me there were a lot more rolling stock produced for various MR clubs.
It wasn't casual Friday in the old model railroading magazines.
I don't think I will be sent back to moderation if I mention a site that has defunct model railroad magazines. There are many photos of model railroaders in coat and tie or tie and vest. Were there blue color model railroaders in the 30's and 40's or were they all bankers and lawyers?
http://magazine.trainlife.com/mb_1941_2/
Henry
COB Potomac & Northern
Shenandoah Valley
BNSF UP and others modelerThey pulled out many of the things that bugged me about the older magazines, such as pages and pages of ads
Those ads were what helped me get started. I was in Germany (1971, in the army) when I started in this hobby. Those ads really helped me find out what was available. Plus I ordered from those ads for 2 1/2 years until I returned to the U.S.
Frankly, I looked forward to the ads as much as they rest of the magazine - still do. Like others have mentioned, I loved the AHC ads.
Paul
Upon reflection, I have to confess I really miss Model Trains Magazine. Now, perhaps it’s just a nostalgia thing, or maybe it just appealed to my simplistic mind, or maybe I don’t want too much reality in my models and modeling, but prefer the more “perfect world” ideal. Or maybe it was because I was a kid and the content was more accessible to me. For whatever reason(s), I loved the magazine including the AHC ads!
As for the scale drawings, Alan J Brewster and I believe Harold Russell did most of those. I always wondered how that was arranged. Were these guys contracted? I don’t think they were Kalmbach employees. Were they freelancers and just drew a piece of equipment and submitted it? I’m curious.
Jim (with a nod to Mies Van Der Rohe)