I was disappointed to read in the November issue of MR that MR is discontinuing the "N scale insight" column. At the very end of the column, in the italics section Jim Kelly states "After a ten year run, this is the final N scale insight column. It has been fun and I thank MR, my editors (Steve Otte and Eric White), and most of all, you, the readers. - Jim". I always looked forward to that column and am sorry to see it go. N scale always was a little different and HO scale methods don't always work in N scale. No reason was given as to why the column was stopping.
Thanks for the help Jim.
Maurice
That's too bad. I'm leaning towards building an N layout and have enjoyed reading Jim's columns for many years.
Chuck - Modeling in HO scale and anything narrow gauge
I read the column every month. Being a former N scaler, it usually made for good reading.
Honestly, the quality of the content has really declined in the past couple of years. I think it ran its coarse and Jim Kelly was reluctant to revisit old themes.
Perhaps if another N scale feature begins with a new author, some old themes can be revisited from a fresh perspective, and it will seem newer.
-Kevin
Living the dream.
I too will miss Jim's column. I always liked his writing style and wit. Maybe he was just ready to really retire and not worry about deadlines and what to write about anymore. But while I do hope that someone takes over the column and continues feeding us N scalers, Jim will be missed. I wish him the best. Ralph
I'am also a Nscaler and Jim's articles were a great read it was as if Jim was giving us props to the HO scale world!!! Take care Jim and I hope you will have more time now to work on your layout!!!
Jim Kelly is part of the old guard MR staff. He must be "up there"!
Rio Grande. The Action Road - Focus 1977-1983
Boiler-manAlso the October and November Issues are way thinner than what the magazine use to be.
The magazines just seem to be shedding advertisements. Actual content seems to be holding steady. They don't feel like there are less articles.
I am an HO guy but Jim's column is always one of the first things I would read in a new issue.
I have not chatted with Jim about this but I do know that he wants to get more done on his layout and he has had his health issues to deal with. And yes perhaps he feels he has run out of new things to say - that happened with Lionel Strang's column which started out like gangbusters but eventually it was clear he was finding it hard to think of a project for each month's column. I know the feeling.
The good news is that for the time being at least, Jim Kelly is continuing to write his every-other-month column in the "Owl Car" newsletter of the NMRA Midwest Region's WISE (Wisconsin South Eastern) Division. They are not exclusively about N scale but are about model railroading in general, or about his layout, or about N. I think his next month will be November (he and I alternate months). The Owl Car can be read by anybody free online on the WISE Division's website.
Dave Nelson
I am reviving this somewhat older thread because Jim Kelly submitted an excellent article, very much in the N Scale Insight tradition, to our NMRA Division's May newsletter, the Owl Car. It can be found here
https://www.wisedivision.org/images/owlcar_pdfs/owlcar_pdfs_2021/2021_05_owlcar.pdf
Go to page 8. Of interest to all modelers not just the N scalers among us.
Bummer, I always liked Jim's N Scale Insight articles too.
TF
dknelsonI am reviving this somewhat older thread because Jim Kelly submitted an excellent article, very much in the N Scale Insight tradition, to our NMRA Division's May newsletter, the Owl Car.
Nice newsletter. However I'm not giving up my Saturday dinner pepperoni pizza.