--Steven Otte, Model Railroader senior associate editorsotte@kalmbach.com
With all due respect to MRC, it is not just the current economic climate that has precipitated the close of MRC, but a number of other factors, as well. I will be polite and not mention my list of them, as I was a regular purchaser of MRH over the years and appreciated the content.
Nonetheless, I do not relish the closure of any publication within our hobby- it tends to diminish model railroading in general. My condolences to Carsten's.
Cedarwoodron
This has been posted on numerous other forums, so this information really isn't a secret ....
Guys,A slight bit of additional information. Pretty much everything you'veread about the printer change etc is all true, but it doesn't draw thecomplete picture. Allow me to fill in the blanks a little bit.Any business owner will tell you, it is all about cash flow. You mayhave all the sales you can handle, but if you don't get the money inthe door in a timely and steady manner, you are going to have issues.And that has been the case at Carstens for some time. We have been ona "pay to play" deal with our printer for years…We'd send the mag andthe money to print it…then we'd send the money for postage and they'dmail it. And these were not insignificant dollar amounts.From 2008 on, as the recession kept going, people kept losing theirjobs or taking work that paid less, our sales diminished also. We hadincreases in the book line, primarily due to the On30 and then theHOn3 Annuals, and our ad revenue stayed pretty steady. But over time,the cash coming in, and the frequency of it inched downward. Our costs(payroll, taxes, printing costs, mailing costs etc) kept going up, andin the case of mailing, significantly so.When Super Strom Sandy hit, we were out of power for 10 days (nophones, no computers) and we counted ourselves lucky compared to someon the east coast. But there was basically a half month that we couldnot generate any revenue, and of course many folks on the east coastcouldn't buy from us if they wanted to because they didn't have poweror were dealing with flooding issues. Then we had the polar vortex andthe winter that would not end, and had many of the same issues. Thosehurt our cash to the point where we were missing print windows becausewe didn't have enough cash to print, and we had to delay. That delayhurt subscriber confidence and you can see the death spiral picking upsteam. There were any number of things that you could point to, butQuad Graphics (our printer in St. Cloud for the last 15-16 years)making the decision to shut the St. Cloud plant down and move us (andthey let all the people we'd worked with go) and put us with a newplant and new people, that was basically the end. We had very littlemoney coming in, and with the delay, small prospects of any coming in.We scrapped enough up to do the June and get it out, but the July willnever see the light of day as a Carstens product.Now two companies are bidding to buy RMC & Railfan, and so they willcontinue in the future in some form. What that looks like I don'tknow. The Annuals future is somewhat more vague. It is my hope andcertainly my intent to continue to serve as the editor and bring thoseout, but that decision is mostly out of my hands at this point. Mylast official day with Carstens is Friday.I don't want anyone to feel bad for me, I will be just fine and it wasmy pleasure to serve the model railroad community and especially thenarrow gauge community as a member of Carstens. God willing, I will beable to continue to do so in some other form, but I likely won't knowwhat that might look like for at least another week or so, and likelylonger.All the best,Chris Lane
Mark.
¡ uʍop ǝpısdn sı ǝɹnʇɐuƃıs ʎɯ 'dlǝɥ
Sigh! And I had just recently re-upped my subscription for another 3 years. Drat!
maxman Sigh! And I had just recently re-upped my subscription for another 3 years. Drat!
That"s what happened to me when Mainline Modeler ceased publication.
The combination of events that led to RMC's demise were a perfect storm, that became impossible to overcome.
Hopefully, someone will pick up both RMC and R&R and continue them even as a quarterly publication.
I also hope someone picks them up. I have subscribed to RMC, MR, and the NMRA Bulletin (in all it's forms and names) for over 40 years - and still have all the issues of each one.
Paul
They were active in promotion of certain scales that tend to be ignored in favor of the more commercial HO and N. They would publish an annual masgazine dedicated to On30, and last month's issue had a special section of articles devoted to 1:64 (S-scale). This will be a loss to the model railroading community.
I have figured out what is wrong with my brain! On the left side nothing works right, and on the right side there is nothing left!
Well, that sucks.
I was afraid this would happen -- I just wish it hadn't happened till my subscription ended next year. Hopefully someone will buy them and start publishing RMC and R&R.
One other thing that hurt them, and that's affecting periodicals in general, is the internet. People seem to have migrated away from receiving magazines in the mail, and toward getting the same information online. It's obviously cheaper to publish a magazine online, plus there's less paper being used, both of which help the bottom line. On the other hand, you can't easily swat a bug with a PC.
Uncle_Bob On the other hand, you can't easily swat a bug with a PC.
You can if it's a laptop and you don't need to use it for anything else anymore...
stebbycentral Uncle_Bob On the other hand, you can't easily swat a bug with a PC. You can if it's a laptop and you don't need to use it for anything else anymore...
I stopped reading RMC many, many years ago, but would occasionally pick up an issue if there was a story I liked. Its a bit sad though. I recall, not so vividly for a few reasons that will become clear in a moment, that the Feb 1991 issue was the very first model railroad magazine issue I ever received. Little nine year old me had to have minor surgery and my dad picked it up in the hospital gift shop for me to look at while I recovered. Of course, I was OUT OF MY MIND from coming out of the anesthesia and on painkillers and didn't really look at it.
Somewhere, I still have that tattered magazine. It's long since lost its cover, which I recall had a Rio Grande diesel on it. I'm not sure I even remember any of the articles.
NittanyLion...that the Feb 1991 issue was the very first model railroad magazine issue I ever received.
Mine was the March 1975 issue with the IC Paducah Geep on the cover (for years I pronounce 'Geep' with a hard 'g'). I was about to turn 11 and my mom bought me a subscription for my birthday.
I lost track of RMC over the years. I have to admit I preferred the glitziness of MR over RMC. MR was also a lot thicker back then, so I felt like I was getting more for my money. Now it's about the same thickness that RMC was.
Steve S
I had already discovered MR, in part because the library carried it and I could check out past issues. My first RMC issue had a John Allen logging scene on the cover, maybe 1970-ish. Then there was his death and the fire soon after. I was struck by how something so great could come to such a quick end. But ain't this a great hobby, it has two great magazines! Allen appeared in both
Only one now, two if you count narrowgauge, though.
I tended to find that RMC and MR complemented each other over the years. I had to drop RMC a while back for my own budget reasons, but hoped to reinstate when I could. I do hope the HOn3 Annual survives (there's an On30 Annual, too) as it's a quality product in a scale/gauge that's been particularly hot the last decade.
I don't know if Kalmbach has considered a purchase of any of the Carstens assets or not? I could see RMC fitting into a niche of more advanced, hands on modelers than MR often addresses. Slotted as a bi-monthly in the months when the NG&SL Gazette doesn't publish, it might stir new sales without cannablizing the other publications.
Mike Lehman
Urbana, IL
"... don't know if Kalmbach has considered a purchase of any of the Carstens assets or not? I could see RMC fitting into a niche of more advanced, hands on modelers than MR often addresses."
It would be pure conjecture to assume that Kalmbach is a player, but that would feel kinda like interleague play in baseball, IMHO.
Kevin Blair
Chanute, KS
My first issue was the June 1964, which got lost a couple of years later. Still have the July 1964 issue which I had my parents buy for me when we were on acation in Montana. RMC did have somewhat of a different flavor than MR and it saddens me to hear of its demise.
- Erik
Disclaimer: This post may contain humor, sarcasm, and/or flatulence.
Michael Mornard
Bringing the North Woods to South Dakota!
My first issue of RMC was January, 1960. I was 14 years old and in the hospital with a broken leg, and my parents brought it to me. On the cover was a John Allen shot of V&T 4-4-0 no. 11, the Reno, emerging from a tunnel.
MR has been the big kid on the block for many, many years. Under Hal Carstens, RMC was an also-ran until Tony Koester became editor and made it a contender. When Tony left RMC, Bill Schaumberg took over and continued to produce a high-quality magazine. MR has always had a much larger advertising base than RMC. The folks at Kalmbach aren't dumb, so they make their magazine friendly to advertisers by keeping their products highly visible, and that keeps the ad revenue coming in.
RMC liked to keep its advertisers happy too, of course; but many RMC articles had little or no value to advertisers. An example was Keith Wills' monthly column on models of the past. Reading the column was a delight; but everything Keith talked about was long out of production, so the column didn't encourage sales of current advertisers' products. Learning about that stuff didn't help the advertisers, so they may have felt little enthusiasm for advertising in RMC.
Ted Culotta's long-running series on freight car modeling generally focused on smaller kit manufacturers and the use of small parts that had a limited market. Many people read those articles with admiration; but a big advertiser like Athearn or Walthers might look at those articles and realize there was nothing there to encourage purchase of their kits.
The recent series on rail-served industries was another very valuable contribution to the hobby; but these, again, were articles that didn't necessarily encourage purchase of advertisers' products. In fact, they may have encouraged more scratchbuilding, which adds little to most advertisers' bottom line.
MR has a valued place in our hobby; but the loss of RMC is a serious blow. I hope something comes in to fill that empty space, but I can't predict what it will be.
Tom
Bayfield Transfer RailwaySad news. I, too, always viewed MR and RMC as complimentary, not competing.
Bayfield Transfer .... That is how I feel.
We should remember the NMRA produces a worthwhile magazine too.
I think it would have made more sense for Carstens Publoishing to sell the magazines they publish as going concern businesses instead of simply shutting down the company.
Of course, MR has always been the best.
GARRY
HEARTLAND DIVISION, CB&Q RR
EVERYWHERE LOST; WE HUSTLE OUR CABOOSE FOR YOU
This is truly unfortunate for the hobby. As many above have noted, I found that RMC was a good compliment to MR. And for us Canadians, I found they tended to have more articles that related to Canadian railways than I was expecting. They will be missed.
Yeah, this magazine almost ended my first marriage in 1962 which at the time was a day old. We got married on a weekend pass from the army. On the way to our honeymoon lodge we stopped at a convience store for some sundries and there on the newstand was RMC with a cover photo of John Allen's masterpice layout. I had by then at age 23 put model trains as a distant memory as our pike was really my dad's...but this thing!!!! I purchased the magazine and even tried to peek at the photos while driving. At the lodge which was on a beautiful beachfront, my bride donned her tiny bikini and off she went to enjoy what sun was left. Me???? Off to the crapper and locking myself in for hours read and then re-read this wonderful article and enjoying the photos. I was hooked, and for the rest of the short weekend, all I could think about was this magazine and Allen's pike. I've been a fan of RMC ever since never missing an issue, and I'll most definitely miss it. My choochooholism affliction is traced back to that very day.
Also of note, I'm a great fan of MR also never missing an issue since 1962. Many may know that I was the co-founder of the Great Scale Model train show and we for years placed large display ads in both magazines. MR's circulation was three times that of RMC, but still our attendee surveys showed just as many saw ads equally in both magazines. I 've been published several times in both magazines. RMC never changed a word expect for a few typos. MR?? After my last submission in 2003, I got a call the day after the mag hit the stands....Jeez, Zane...Just read your article! I thought you at least finished high school. Oh well! thanks to Carsten's staff for decades of enjoyable reading and I sure hope somehow it will find a way to continue.
HZ
I hope they can find a more stable publisher.
My first RMC was from 1969 and had a then novel little layout in HOn30 using all AHM Minitrains. I have been Bent on narrow gauge since. Lost that issue decades ago. Wish I could find it today.
Have fun with your trains
Tis a pity.
"One difference between pessimists and optimists is that while pessimists are more often right, optimists have far more fun."
vsmithMy first RMC was from 1969 and had a then novel little layout in HOn30 using all AHM Minitrains. I have been Bent on narrow gauge since.
Might have been the Elk River RR? That's the one I built from RMC, narrowgauge on my first real layout. The running qualities of the Minitrains left something to be desired, as was my skill set for dealing with them.
Really sad to see this publisher close the doors! Railroad Model Craftsman and Flying Models where staples for me since I was a kid way back in the 50s. I loved the fact that these two magazines where dedicated to the modelers amongst us, those people who loved building from kits, plans and scratch . I will miss them!
Their closing seems logical, given the current mind-set of the folks involved in the hobby today!
NP 2626 "Northern Pacific, really terrific"
Northern Pacific Railway Historical Association: http://www.nprha.org/
I knew it had to be happening as ref; my post earlier this month. I do hope that RMC can be brought back in some way as time goes on. Stuff happens and sometimes there is no other way, but I personally will miss the magazine and the type of content it provided for the Model Railroading Industry and us modelers. I wish all concerned Good Luck. Doug
mlehman vsmith My first RMC was from 1969 and had a then novel little layout in HOn30 using all AHM Minitrains. I have been Bent on narrow gauge since. Might have been the Elk River RR? That's the one I built from RMC, narrowgauge on my first real layout. The running qualities of the Minitrains left something to be desired, as was my skill set for dealing with them.
vsmith My first RMC was from 1969 and had a then novel little layout in HOn30 using all AHM Minitrains. I have been Bent on narrow gauge since.
Yes thats it, I saw the plan on Carl Arendts microlayouts page, any idea what month that issue was? I'd love to find a back copy.
Yeah those AHMs left alot to be desired. I have the little Porter steam engine, motor still runs strong, doesnt go anywhere... but the motor still runs strong.
vsmithYes thats it, I saw the plan on Carl Arendts microlayouts page, any idea what month that issue was? I'd love to find a back copy
Ha, I'm lucky to remember the year (approx.)...
Thanks goodness for Google. I did find a ref to it, in 4 parts, April to July 1970. I got the year right after all.
I sold most of the Minitrains I had left for a good price, not too long before the improved versions hit the shores a few years back. Timed that right. Now if I could do that with the stock market...
A sad day for those of us in the minority scales, I have every RMC issue from 1964 forward, MR lost its appeal for me over 20 years ago and time has not improved my opinion of it.
Dave
Face it, all publications are going online except for some fashion ones (maybe they will too). Even your local newspaper in many cases is gone or at least their compitition is. Just like most people don't have a house phone anymore (they even stopped doing the white pages), most don't get the paper except for the free editions. We used to subscribe to at least a half dozen mags in this house, now we are down to one (Cosmo for my 27 year old).
My first RMC Feb 1996. Last, June 2014 digital edition. R&R was June 1998, last was again June 2014 digital. I didn't get every issue in between, but did get quite a bit of them. Kinda knew it was coming after NMRA 2014 convention with the conversation I had with them at their booth. Hope someone picks them up, as they were both very well IMHO. Sad to see them go.
Edit: it's RMC, not MRC. Stupid iPad autocorrect.
Ricky W.
HO scale Proto-freelancer.
My Railroad rules:
1: It's my railroad, my rules.
2: It's for having fun and enjoyment.
3: Any objections, consult above rules.