I don't know if anyone has looked closely at their MRP 2014, but I noticed what looks like an error. It looks to me like the switcher doesn't have any lettering or handrails! Did somebody err or are people trying to test subscribers observational skills?
If you look really close, it looks like they forgot the ballast and scenery at the bottom right too ....
Mark.
¡ uʍop ǝpısdn sı ǝɹnʇɐuƃıs ʎɯ 'dlǝɥ
Mark R. If you look really close, it looks like they forgot the ballast and scenery at the bottom right too .... Mark.
I didn't even see that until you mentioned it! (And I haven't even opened it up yet. Other computer stuff.)
Seriously? My guess is since it is a 'planning' issue, they are showing a bit of planning and construction.
Chuck - Modeling in HO scale and anything narrow gauge
ML
trwroute Seriously? My guess is since it is a 'planning' issue, they are showing a bit of planning and construction.
Larry
Conductor.
Summerset Ry.
"Stay Alert, Don't get hurt Safety First!"
As someone with an "in progress" layout, I appreciate the shots of unfinished benchwork, undetailed locos and what not. It makes me feel better to know that even the great layouts may have areas that look like mine (track on plywood, no ballast etc)
Also seeing benchwork/scenery in progress may give one ideas on how to solve a problem with their own layout construction
To see nothing but superbly finished layouts all the time kind of takes the wind out of ones sails when faced with their own partially finished layout looking rather bleak.
Modeling the Cleveland and Pittsburgh during the PennCentral era starting on the Cleveland lakefront and ending in Mingo junction
The Genessee & Wyoming took over the Ohio Central a few years back and they operate a branch line from Newark, OH to Mt. Vernon, OH passing through my home town of Utica. The branch is no more than 20 miles long and to the best of my knowledge exists only to serve the grain elevators in Utica and Mt. Vernon. The last couple times I've seen the train running it was headed by a switch engine (SW7 maybe) painted orange and white with no numbers or lettering. It seems there is a prototype for everything.
Yeah but their scenery is finished!
ruderunner Yeah but their scenery is finished!
Agreed, it's showing a model railroad in stages of completion, it's not an error.
"The true sign of intelligence is not knowledge but imagination."-Albert Einstein
http://gearedsteam.blogspot.com/
The switcher is an undecorated model (hard to find these days), and is in keeping with the "Planning" theme of the magazine.
George In Midcoast Maine, 'bout halfway up the Rockland branch
G Paine The switcher is an undecorated model (hard to find these days), and is in keeping with the "Planning" theme of the magazine.
As in "planning to paint,decal and add handrails some day"..
I would still be embarrass.
Larry, no need to be embarrassed, it is a magazine about construction, not to show only finished layouts. I enjoy seeing the building part so I can see how others do things.
Geared Steam Agreed, it's showing a model railroad in stages of completion, it's not an error.
BRAKIE I would still be embarrass.
You do not get the point, obviously.
Back in the day, there used to be shots in layout visit articles showing unfinished parts - this let you see how things progressed to the OTHER pictures of the nicely finished parts. Also there was often a shot of the layout owner standing somewhere next to his creation. They stopped doing these things - now you only see nicely finished views, if there is anything unfinished, camara angles are chosen to make sure that is obscured.
I'd rather have it the old way. MRP is one of the few places they'll show construction progress shots outside of the project layouts. I think MR should mix it up a little - save the "Nothing but perfectly pristine shots" for GMR.
--Randy
Modeling the Reading Railroad in the 1950's
Visit my web site at www.readingeastpenn.com for construction updates, DCC Info, and more.
alco_fan BRAKIE I would still be embarrass. You do not get the point, obviously.
Obviously I get the point and think its sloppy presentation especially from "experts" that's going to give me tips how to plan and build a layout in a $7.99 special magazine.
I would have went the extra step and used a completed model especially for a cover photo..
Its not the constructon photo since that's what that magazine is all about..Its the incomplete model that has nothing to do with layout planing and building.
This is not the first year the cover photo has been done like that. Or maybe it has and I'm recalling seeing a 'photo' like that on another special issue publication or book. I know I've seen it before, where the picture is essentially blueprint in on corner and fully finished in the opposite corner.
I think it conveys the idea of start to finish, plan to completion. I dunno, I don't see that as being innapropriate or odd given the mission of the magazine. It's NOT something I would expect to see on GMR, but MRP, or any other planning thing.. sure.
rrinker This is not the first year the cover photo has been done like that. Or maybe it has and I'm recalling seeing a 'photo' like that on another special issue publication or book. I know I've seen it before, where the picture is essentially blueprint in on corner and fully finished in the opposite corner.
MRP 2004 I believe
NittanyLion rrinker This is not the first year the cover photo has been done like that. Or maybe it has and I'm recalling seeing a 'photo' like that on another special issue publication or book. I know I've seen it before, where the picture is essentially blueprint in on corner and fully finished in the opposite corner. MRP 2004 I believe
I've gotten the 12' and 13' editions and both had unfinished scenery
2012 had Santa Fe F-units screaming through cardboard scenery and 2013 had a nice 4th wall breaking vignette showing HO scale construction foremen planning how they are gonna build part of the layout.
The very first issue of MRP in 1995 started the trend with a layout scene that blended a photograph with artwork suggesting track yet to be laid, the C/L of the track drawn in, the degree of the crossing indicated, two contrasting ballast colors written down at a junction, and so on, as if the actual layout was superimposed on the track plan or planning notes.
As for the incomplete locomotive, I strongly doubt that this was inadvertent or an error. I suspect it is intended to depict the reality of the fact that Cliff Powers has started operating sessions before all work on the layout is complete, which as I recall is something Tony Koester strongly avocates as a way to maintain interest.
Dave Nelson
Never mind the cover, I was ecstatic to see several shots inside that showed layouts under contruction as well as the overall fit in the room. While I appreciate the artistry in the finished shots, I also like to see unfinished because I learn more from them. Keeping a good mix of finished, under construction, and overall room shots is the way to go.
dknelsonwork on the layout is complete, which as I recall is something Tony Koester strongly avocates as a way to maintain interest.
Be that has it may I would still be embarrass to use a undec engine missing it handrails for a cover photo..
Maybe its because I take pride in showing a complete model instead undecorated and missing the rails but then,I get all red face embarrass if one of my cars derail during a open house.
Thank you Dave. You nailed it. When I submitted the photos for my MRP article, the layout was about 90% complete. Tony requested a potential cover shot that showed an unfinished area of the layout. I submitted the scene shown on the cover, but without the switcher. The PA-1 was not entering the wye track either, as trains were backed into the station on the prototype. Tony made that request because the composition made for a more eye-catching cover shot. He also requested a switcher be shown in the coach yard. I explained to him that all I had were undecorated models because I had not yet painted and created the decals for any of my NOUPT switchers. TONY thought that would be perfectly appropriate for MRP due to the emphasis on the planning aspect. I was thrilled beyond words when I found out my photo had in fact been chosen for the cover and lead article. As a matter of fact, there is a photo of the finished scene in the article itself. After having four articles published, numerous photos appear in two Tony Koester books and three Walthers catalogs, being the subject of Allen Keller's Great Model Railroads Volume 56, giving four NMRA clinics, appearing in local newspaper and television media, and hosting a very labor-intensive website with over 500 photos, I can say that I've been nothing but proud to share my work, methods, and techniques with others. I've certainly never felt the need to publicly criticize, insult and attack another modeler or their work...and in four separate posts on a single page thread, no less. I remember why I haven't posted here since August 2009.
Cliff Powers
www.magnoliaroute.com
Absolutely right Cliff. The criticism is coming from one or two who talk a lot and model very little.
alco_fan Absolutely right Cliff. The criticism is coming from one or two who talk a lot and model very little.
SP&S modeler, 1960's give or take a decade or two for some equipment.
http://www.youtube.com/user/SGTDUPREY?feature=guide
Gary DuPrey
N scale model railroader
After reading this thread and some of the answer's, my thought or rather my opinion, which hopefully I am entitled to. Seem's to me a lot of people want to end up in ''Sky Blue'' without first learning how to play the game, therein missing the personal gratification and satisfaction, of achieving the end, ''Sky Blue''.
To those that may not know what I am talking about in reference to ''Sky Blue'', it's where you want to end up winning a Girls game called ''Hopscotch". Big Boys also played the game, after all, if a Girl can do it and Blah, Blah.
Old Man,
Frank
BRAKIE alco_fan BRAKIE I would still be embarrass. You do not get the point, obviously. Obviously I get the point and think its sloppy presentation especially from "experts" that's going to give me tips how to plan and build a layout in a $7.99 special magazine. I would have went the extra step and used a completed model especially for a cover photo.. Its not the constructon photo since that's what that magazine is all about..Its the incomplete model that has nothing to do with layout planing and building.
Proof you don't get the point, a magazine about planning and building layouts shows a picture of a in progress scene and all of a sudden you're up in arms thinking it shouldn't be in a magazine about planning and building layouts? Model railroading isn't just about the track and scenery, locomotives and rolling stock, the main players in our little game, are fair game for in progress shots.
Cliff, great article sir and great layout.
That so? I'm glad you think you know something when you don't know a thing one about me..
I would still have used a completed model for the cover photo..
What's so wrong in wanting to show your best?