october MR

[Anonymous]

Well, I think it's pretty clear that there are many folks sick of all the articles about the Northeast and those same folks want some other areas/railroads covered. Obviously MR doesn't have any articles on hand to meet this huge demand. Who's gonna step up to the plate, stop complaining and start writing?

[Anonymous]

It was an ok issue. I am sick of all the northeastern layouts and projects though. As said earlier, everything in the northeast has been done to death, how 'bout some midwestern or western or southern stuff for a change!? My favorite issue would still have to be the January 2004.

[Anonymous]

The last few issues of MR have been getting better and better, I liked the Penn Western article, I've been on the PW site and I'd say it might be one of the best S Scale layouts around, the only thing I didn't like was another Midwestern article but even that was better than most articles.

[egmurphy]

QUOTE: I can't tell you how many times I'll pull out the binder of issues from 10, 15 or more years ago, page through an issue that at the time I thought was worthless and found an article that now is very relevant.

My feelings exactly. It's a bit amazing how my interests have changed over the years. That's why I prefer to keep my back issues intact rather than cutting out articles that seem (at the moment) interesting and chucking the rest. Of course it does require additional storage space.

Regards

Ed

[Anonymous]

While the October MR was not my favorite issue (after receiving my Dad's issues I have every issue from about 1964), maybe next year, or in 5 or 10 or whatever, it will be. I can't tell you how many times I'll pull out the binder of issues from 10, 15 or more years ago, page through an issue that at the time I thought was worthless and found an article that now is very relevant. When I was in high school the idea of traction and catenary was absurd, who would spend that much time on something like that? Now that I want to add a section of my mainline to be run by MP54's and have a trolley running in the streets (fell in love with them going to college in Philadelphia) I've dug up those old issues to learn more. Same with kitbashing. Originally the thought was "I can barely afford one building kit, why buy three in order to cut them up and build one?" I now have a file folder filled with Art Curren (in my opinion one of the most underrated MR authors of all time) articles and a long to do list. Airbrush? Weathering? Even 10 years ago these articles were way above my head - now I want to learn more about these topics. This is the reason I keep each and every issue no matter what my opinion is at the time of the relevance of it . It's like having a encyclopedia of model railroad topics.

I understand the previous poster's comment that there is nothing for beginners, but I got lost when he complained that the rock casting article in October's issue was a waste because it's a simple project. Huh? It got me thinking - what is a beginner? Because of several layouts started and then torn down because of moves I consider myself an advanced (not quite expert) modeler in terms of benchwork. I'm probably somewhere in the middle range when it comes to laying track and basic DC wiring. Scenery? I think being labled a beginner would be putting me in a group far more advanced than my current abilities! So what is meant by "more articles for beginners?" I would consider an article on laying roadbed, sectional track and ballasting as not too usefull to me, but it could be just thing for someone else. In the same way the rock casting article is usefull to me as I never attempted one, but not to someone else who can make beautiful landscapes, but can't wire a turnout. And the articles on backdrops? Well, I don't model that part of the country, but they convinced me that a backdrop really enhances the overall look of a layout (btw: there was a time when people complained about how much of Colorado was covered by the model press).

Most of the articles in MR are submitted by modelers. If no one writes an article on how to do a northeast urban backdrop, or how to model California passenger operations in the 90's - guess what? There will be none in MR.

[Anonymous]

Well I wouldn't have mentioned anything about it, But It gets a little old & sickening when you see & hear people WHINE , WHIMPER & Threaten to quit their subscription over something that does not please them. You are the one who stated that you were thinking about ending your subscription, I pictured you as a 2 year old throwing a temper tantrum when I read your post, "So please forgive my stuppidity & ignorance ". These people at MR are trying to do their best to give "ALL" of us a high quality product while trying to keep our cost down, & they work very hard at it! PS; You'll have to forgive my Jesse James attitude! So I'll end our little dissagreement here & enjoy the evening. "THE BUCK STOPS HERE " "HAPPY RAILS"

QUOTE: Originally posted by enduringexp

Replies like the one stokerk submitted are just the childish sort that keep people from the hobby. I have received a tremendous amount of help FROM THIS SITE and you fellow modelers. I don't sit here and complain that most model the easy era (transition) where you are catered to by every manufacturer and the magazine as well. Plenty of articles covering passenger service an huge layouts as well. I can learn something from many articles of varying subjects. I do not expect every isue to cater to me, but just like the various hot rod magazines of the past, they all catered to Chevy. After a while, you get tired of the same old thing. Now, this issue? 31 of the first 43 pages are all ads.
Backdrops? Don't use them. Never will.
Body mounting couplers on Marklin and Trix? Don't use them. Never will.
Workin on the RR-scratching cars? More info on that than the sanding towers.
Rock casting? Well, usable, but a simple enough subject that I don't think needed to be brought up. My opinion, though, OK!!
Modeling N&W passenger trains of the '50s and '60s? Again, catering to a narrow audience, with 6 PAGES.
3 RR's, one layout. Now, here is soething I thought I would enjoy. Nope, sorry, no pics of the layout itself. Instead, it's a fact finding article about the prototype. Shouldn't this one be in Trains Mag?
Detailing a plastic steam loco? Decent article, but again, nothing I will ever use. Don't do steam.
Preserving PA RR? Again, something I thought I would get some use out of, even though it is again catering to the geographic godsend of Railroading. Nope, too short.
Photo-etched brass buildings? Yeah, right. Great info for the particular subject, but maybe I am too new. Do you guys do this?
Decoders for Athearns. Now, this I will use.
Followed by 29 of the last 35 pages for more ads. The same ads form last issue, next issue. All exactly the same.
Now, please feel free to bash me for expressing my opinion in ANY childish manor you prefer, stokerk.
Maybe they are just running out of material. Maybe they have shown so many East Coast and New England layouts that there aren't any left. After all, how many different Pennsylvania Steam Era Coal based layouts are there? Maybe we have been educated SO much that they feel we don't need to learn anything else. I don't know, but I subscribed to learn, and it isn't happening. My original subscription (I think I got it for about $19) was worth the money, but at $40, they an keep it. I will review each issue as they come out at the store, and buy the 1 or 2 each year that entertain and educate ME.
Oh, and deschane, yes, it is the American RIGHT to complain about things we don't like. Just think, if noone complained, you would be British right now. Besides, it is constructive criticism. Too few do nothing. By expressing our opinions, pro or con, maybe something will change for the better. I am sure you would stop buying mags if they never gave you info for your use.
Sorry to all of you for my rantings, but there is no call for treating anyone inferior because you don't like what they have to say. Personally, I think Steam and anything East of the Mississippi has been done to death, and people pick it because it is the absolute easiest to model, but you all model what you like, and so will I. I don't think anything less of anyone for their choices.

[jfugate]

Interesting discussion. As one who has been an editor, there's always something to complain about in any issue of a magazine that's trying to reach a fairly broad audience. Plus it's easy to complain but much more constructive to go write up something you've done and submit it.

If we all just nitpicked each issue then who would write it? We'd get a pretty narrow view if the only ones who wrote for MR was the staff.

As an old timer of almost 40 years in the hobby, I get the magazine largely FOR the ads these days. Most of the articles cover some topic I've already seen covered before, but hey, I still read them. While the overall idea may not be new, I still pick up new techniques in a step here and there to try out.

I especially enjoyed the October issue. Lots of interesting things to study and see if I could harvest anything from.

To the editorial staff at MR: Good job guys. Hope to have my next submission to you soon.

Anyone else going to "put their money where their mouth is" so to speak, and submit something for publication instead of just "critique" other peoples work? Might be interesting to be on the receiving end for once!

[AntonioFP45]

To those of you with passenger cars.

You've probably read my thread on painting passenger car interiors. I've suggested that it's recommended to use neutral-tone colors in a flat finish.

There's a nice example on either page 120 or 130. There's a picture of a larger scale, old style passenger car. The interior is exposed. Walls are in a dark tannish-brown color while the curtains or drapery are in a green. The "artist" did a great job! With interior lighting this car in a train would be a show stopper!

Cheers!

[Anonymous]

Hey, I'm still waiting for that Oklahoma or Rock island or MKT layout that I want to see, or that project that tels how to model branchlines in the midwest, but hey, this hobby is for entertainment right? this magazine is really entertaining ! I Like seeing what other people's interests are. Me, i dislike structure building, and it seems there are alot of structure oriented articals here lateley. does that bother me ? No ! I am not a big fan of eastern roads ( I like the N & W and the B&M ) and there seems to be alot of eastern layouts. does that bother me ? not a bit ! I think the magazine is fine the way it is, and I like. I cannot control other people's thoughts and opinions, and I am sad that you do not like the articals in MR, but I belive that you could be a less harsh on this magazine. hey, they provide these great forums, and that alone will earn them my buisness ! Oh, well, I geuss you cannot please everyone.

[Anonymous]

Everyone has their place. Unfortunately, I am not a journalist, or a publisher. I am not even very knowledgeable with Model RR'ing, which is why I am here. If I had the experience, knowledge, and talent, not to mention the money, I would love to start a magazine. I would also welcome criticism about what I was doing, without the nasty remarks by those that aren't intelligent enough to respond sensibly.

[Anonymous]

Replies like the one stokerk submitted are just the childish sort that keep people from the hobby. I have received a tremendous amount of help FROM THIS SITE and you fellow modelers. I don't sit here and complain that most model the easy era (transition) where you are catered to by every manufacturer and the magazine as well. Plenty of articles covering passenger service an huge layouts as well. I can learn something from many articles of varying subjects. I do not expect every isue to cater to me, but just like the various hot rod magazines of the past, they all catered to Chevy. After a while, you get tired of the same old thing. Now, this issue? 31 of the first 43 pages are all ads.
Backdrops? Don't use them. Never will.
Body mounting couplers on Marklin and Trix? Don't use them. Never will.
Workin on the RR-scratching cars? More info on that than the sanding towers.
Rock casting? Well, usable, but a simple enough subject that I don't think needed to be brought up. My opinion, though, OK!!
Modeling N&W passenger trains of the '50s and '60s? Again, catering to a narrow audience, with 6 PAGES.
3 RR's, one layout. Now, here is soething I thought I would enjoy. Nope, sorry, no pics of the layout itself. Instead, it's a fact finding article about the prototype. Shouldn't this one be in Trains Mag?
Detailing a plastic steam loco? Decent article, but again, nothing I will ever use. Don't do steam.
Preserving PA RR? Again, something I thought I would get some use out of, even though it is again catering to the geographic godsend of Railroading. Nope, too short.
Photo-etched brass buildings? Yeah, right. Great info for the particular subject, but maybe I am too new. Do you guys do this?
Decoders for Athearns. Now, this I will use.
Followed by 29 of the last 35 pages for more ads. The same ads form last issue, next issue. All exactly the same.
Now, please feel free to bash me for expressing my opinion in ANY childish manor you prefer, stokerk.
Maybe they are just running out of material. Maybe they have shown so many East Coast and New England layouts that there aren't any left. After all, how many different Pennsylvania Steam Era Coal based layouts are there? Maybe we have been educated SO much that they feel we don't need to learn anything else. I don't know, but I subscribed to learn, and it isn't happening. My original subscription (I think I got it for about $19) was worth the money, but at $40, they an keep it. I will review each issue as they come out at the store, and buy the 1 or 2 each year that entertain and educate ME.
Oh, and deschane, yes, it is the American RIGHT to complain about things we don't like. Just think, if noone complained, you would be British right now. Besides, it is constructive criticism. Too few do nothing. By expressing our opinions, pro or con, maybe something will change for the better. I am sure you would stop buying mags if they never gave you info for your use.
Sorry to all of you for my rantings, but there is no call for treating anyone inferior because you don't like what they have to say. Personally, I think Steam and anything East of the Mississippi has been done to death, and people pick it because it is the absolute easiest to model, but you all model what you like, and so will I. I don't think anything less of anyone for their choices.

[Anonymous]

Also now there is a sand & gravel pit where they load out cars for the WSOR & also a recycling center where they load out paper, cardboard etc. in Janesville. Also on another note the WSOR hosted a daily AMTRAK commuter train to & from Chicago. But it was discontinued I believe for lack of ridership. "HAPPY RAILS" Janesville is about 15mi. away from where I live.

QUOTE: Originally posted by Oklahoma Train Nut

I liked the Janesvill, Wisconsin artical ( despite the fact I will never use it ) and I am tempted to model the N&W's Powhatan Arrow after reading the excelent artical. as for the big layouts, well I do wi***here were more stuff on small model railroads, but they give somthing to dream about.

[johncolley]

I totally enjoyed Pat Flynn's article. It told the what why where when, PLUS it gave good details of operations and switcher assignments. I wish more of the MR layout features were this complete! I liked the reference to possibilities if one went back to the 60's, too. Fine work DS Flynn, Do you have any recommended reading for operations oriented folks like me?

[Anonymous]

I liked the Janesvill, Wisconsin artical ( despite the fact I will never use it ) and I am tempted to model the N&W's Powhatan Arrow after reading the excelent artical. as for the big layouts, well I do wi***here were more stuff on small model railroads, but they give somthing to dream about.

[Roadtrp]

QUOTE: Originally posted by deschane

I'm of the opposite opinions of Mr.Enduringexp and Philipkeeley. I feel there is much really good information in this as well as all the other issues I get. I think MR does a great job of catering to the beginner. However, if you want to drop your subscription, feel free! I'm sure nothing I can say will change your mind! I will look forward to every issue I get and love every advertizing page it comes with! How else am I going to ever know about the great products being offered.

It appears to be the new American way, to gripe about everything that isn't exactly the way we (the individual) feel it should be!

I agree 100%. I thought the October issued offered a great selection of articles. Being a passenger train fan I especially enjoyed the article about modeling N&W passenger trains. I also enjoyed the article about modeling a sand tower. I don't want a danged blueprint... just tell me what to buy and how to modify it. It gave me exactly the information I needed.

[:)]

[twhite]

If every issue of MR had nothing in it except things that I need RIGHT NOW, I'd have the most incredible model railroad in the world, right? That's why I like MR, there's always something in there that I know I will probably use sometime in the future, or should have done right in the first place. As to all the advertising--well come on, folks, at least we're INFORMED of what's out there in the hobby, right? I've always liked MR, and I've been a subscriber since Guttenberg (I think that was his name) invented the printing press. And if you groan that a particular issue has nothing you need, well, just look at the pretty pictures, okay?

[Anonymous]

Well, I enjoyed it very much! Sure a few things could have been done differently. BUT! Where do you draw the line. It just goes to show you that you just can't please everyone. Keep up the good work MR, You're doing just fine. PS; Hey enduringexp, If you want to let your subscription run out that's ok with us. You'll just probably start a subscription to Better Homes & Gardens any way & start complaining about the type of hose that they are using!

[chutton01]

Heh, the articles were kinda eh..., actually I did get more info from the ads in this issue (like the McHenry Shelf couplers, the new Gold Ribbon city buildings, the new Walthers Pullman offerings, and a number of others) than the articles themselves - except the 'distressing pen' discussion (I could not find that tool on p-b-l.com - rather a whole bunch of Sn3 models - 'course, I'm kicking myself for not ordering a similiar pen from micromark when I sent in my bi-yearly order - now I need one to create wood grain).

[cwclark]

I have to admit I wasn't impressed at the sanding towers either...MR used to put in scale drawings in their articles for the scratch builder's in the crowd and i haven't seen one of those in a long time...I needed plan's for one too, because that's going to be my next big modeling project ..building an engine service center...anyway..i'm not going to give up my subscription to MRR, but some of the articles could be a bit more detailed...a few more pictures in the articles couldn't hurt either...Chuck[:D]

[Anonymous]

I'm of the opposite opinions of Mr.Enduringexp and Philipkeeley. I feel there is much really good information in this as well as all the other issues I get. I think MR does a great job of catering to the beginner. However, if you want to drop your subscription, feel free! I'm sure nothing I can say will change your mind! I will look forward to every issue I get and love every advertizing page it comes with! How else am I going to ever know about the great products being offered.

It appears to be the new American way, to gripe about everything that isn't exactly the way we (the individual) feel it should be!

[Anonymous]

I thought the quality of the issue quiet poor, all my issues so far have been in plastic covers but this time it was without and the paper quality was not good and I agree there is too much advertising in these magazines, sure you need ads. to pay for the magazine but lately it's been an overkill!
I would like to see more info for beginners and layouts of a more managable size not like these hugh ones we see all the time, the average modeler doesn't have room for these.

[Anonymous]

I am extremely disappointed in the amount of information in some of the articles. I saw that modeling a diesel sand tower would be in the issue. I thought to myself how elaborate the article and details were when they did the operating coal chute a few months back, so now we get the same thing for a sanding tower. No deal. Just a little info about towers, 2 small photos, and a brief recommendation on what models to buy. That's not modeling, that's advertising. It appears I will be allowing my subscription to run out. Very little useful info for us beginners.

[cwclark]

Jay....he is dead..but his show lives on from time to time...Chuck

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Originally posted by cwclark
[(watch a couple of episodes of Mr. "Habby brush" Bob Ross on the PBS channel and you'll see what i mean)....chuck[:D]

I thought he was dead? or are they running old episodes again?

Jay

[cwclark]

The article on backdrop painting was good...a bit overkill but worth reading...I would like to make a few comments about it...some don't do every layout in a high sierra mountain range painting ..(My layout has only rolling hills painted in the background replicating the texas hill country) and painting trees is a lot easier if you use a stiff fan brush instead of a worn out paintbrush...(watch a couple of episodes of Mr. "Habby brush" Bob Ross on the PBS channel and you'll see what i mean)....chuck[:D]

[Noah Hofrichter]

I fourth the motion!! I liked that there is finally another Wisocnsin and Southern Article in MR. It's a nice pic of 3501 too. By the way, the WSOR sold that unit a few years ago, it's out in Nevada someplace, in WSOR paint just with the WSOR leters marked out. Almost all of the WSORs old power is gone, the GP9's SD18's GP7's GP 20's all of them are now gone. The last GP20's are leaving very soon too. Now it's completely SD40-2's, GP38's, SD20's and one SW1200, there's no variety anymore.

Noah

[Anonymous]

I agree; I like to read just about all the articles, even if it's something I'm probably never going to do (like handlaying track). You never know what little tip or trick you'll pick up to make your own modeling easier.

[timthechef]

I feel that way too. Not every article is going to be of use to me, but I can still enjoy reading and learning from them.

[Big_Boy_4005]

QUOTE: Originally posted by Oklahoma Train Nut

I think this issue is great ! while most of the articals are not useful to me right now, it is still very interesting.

That's a good attitude Alex. That's pretty much how I view most issues of MR these days, and I've been doing this stuff for more than 3 of your lifetimes. If you don't have the resources to participate at the moment, dreaming can be a good substitute.[swg]