MidlandMikeI just bought the Jan 2024 MR, and I can't find the article you reference. What page was it on?
It's on page 26, in the "Step by Step" column, which for January is about how to choose the right scale to model in. It's in the part about scratchbuilding.
MidlandMikeWhen I go to train shows, O gauge sellers seem to be closer to 50%.
Some of the shows I go to (particularly the Century College flea markets in the Twin Cities north metro) seem to have a lot of O too. That kinda relates to the point I made earlier, that there are many people who would fit under a big umbrella of "model railroader" but who don't get counted because they're not in the NMRA, they don't subscribe to MR or RMC, etc. There in their own groups/clubs, have their own magazines (like "O Gauge Railroading") etc. so fly under the radar.
MidlandMike I just bought the Jan 2024 MR, and I can't find the article you reference. What page was it on? When I go to train shows, O gauge sellers seem to be closer to 50%.
I just bought the Jan 2024 MR, and I can't find the article you reference. What page was it on? When I go to train shows, O gauge sellers seem to be closer to 50%.
At shows I see a lot of 3-rail, hi-rail, non-scale O models (old Lionel, Williams, etc) for sale. Is that what you're seeing as well?
I am seeing that and much more older 2 rail O scale than I have in the past at shows for sale. This is because many of the older modelers/collectors are passing on to the next life and their estates are coming out of the attic/closets and put up for sale. Its a great time to be a buyer.
AEP528At shows I see a lot of 3-rail, hi-rail, non-scale O models (old Lionel, Williams, etc) for sale. Is that what you're seeing as well?
Yes, mostly.
Vintagesteamer I am seeing that and much more older 2 rail O scale than I have in the past at shows for sale. This is because many of the older modelers/collectors are passing on to the next life and their estates are coming out of the attic/closets and put up for sale. Its a great time to be a buyer.
Yes. I'm mostly looking for AtlasO, Weaver, and MTH Premier. At a recent show I thought I hit the jackpot when I saw a table with about ten O narrow gauge steamers, but they turned out to be On3, and I have On30. He said he had a few On30s earlier, but they were grabbed quickly. They were all from an estate sale.
I really miss the fall O scale meet in Indianapolis. The next big one is the March meet in Chicago but I am usually all but out of vacation time from my workplace by then(our time resets the first week of May each year). There was always stuff there you never see at the other major shows around me. They have started to try to have a 2 rail room at the fall show in Danville, but its not that well attended by the 2 rail dealers as of yet. Being in a minority scale does have its challenges, but it makes it exciting when you hit a jackpot at a show. The same goes for my small Marklin collection in HO scale.
Vintagesteamer I agree and I blame that solely on the Editor at Model Railroader. That magazine Should cover all scales like it did in the past. And that includes O scale. The only thing I feel should be left out is the tinplate/3 rail stuff. That needs its own magazine. But with dwindling magazine thickness and content. I would think it would be in the magazine's best interest to include the other scales of "Scale" model railroading such as O, S and stuff on 45mm "g" scale track as that covers many scale facets. They eliminated the garden railways magazine. Yet the thickness of MRR keeps getting thinner and content less and less. Its more of a catalog of the newest wizz bangs on the market and less about the actual act of modeling. Hence why I dropped my subscription years ago. Bad managment has sank many a business/magazine. I have older issues of MRR that had a great mix of all scales and even older ones where the bulk of the issue was O as HO was in its infancy. Maybe if the mainstream media would pay more attention to the scales outside of HO and N, more modelers might look at modeling in that scale. Many percieve you need a huge basement for 2 rail O modeling. Buet there are many options for small layouts in small spaces, where scenes are super detailed to the max. Same can be done in S scale. Lots of proper scale items there these days if you know where to look. Sorry for the rant, but the direction of MRR in the past decade has really irked me to the max. And its a shame and diservice to the modelers they are trying to serve.
I agree and I blame that solely on the Editor at Model Railroader. That magazine Should cover all scales like it did in the past. And that includes O scale. The only thing I feel should be left out is the tinplate/3 rail stuff. That needs its own magazine. But with dwindling magazine thickness and content. I would think it would be in the magazine's best interest to include the other scales of "Scale" model railroading such as O, S and stuff on 45mm "g" scale track as that covers many scale facets. They eliminated the garden railways magazine. Yet the thickness of MRR keeps getting thinner and content less and less. Its more of a catalog of the newest wizz bangs on the market and less about the actual act of modeling. Hence why I dropped my subscription years ago. Bad managment has sank many a business/magazine. I have older issues of MRR that had a great mix of all scales and even older ones where the bulk of the issue was O as HO was in its infancy. Maybe if the mainstream media would pay more attention to the scales outside of HO and N, more modelers might look at modeling in that scale. Many percieve you need a huge basement for 2 rail O modeling. Buet there are many options for small layouts in small spaces, where scenes are super detailed to the max. Same can be done in S scale. Lots of proper scale items there these days if you know where to look. Sorry for the rant, but the direction of MRR in the past decade has really irked me to the max. And its a shame and diservice to the modelers they are trying to serve.
The February 2024 issue of MR features two O scale layouts. And the front of the magazine says "O scale special!"
Almost like the editor was trying to find O scale articles instead of ignoring O scale.
Care to retract your accusation?
Oh, and do you know why the magazine has decreased in size? Lack of advertising. Every time new issues of UK magazines are delivered I marvel at the number of retailers with full- and multi- page ads.
Edit to add: Yes, they focus on new things in the hobby. MR is in it's 90th year of publication, they don't really have a choice. It's either write about the same subjects over and over (and get criticized for writing about basic tracklaying and scenery etc. every year) or try to find new products or ideas that may not have been written about extensively.