August MR

[trainboyH16-44]

Not gonna get my MR until after the september one arrives in august. On vacation. Having fun. Went to rochelle, Ill. Complete travel log coming soon.
The space under my benchwork is actually quite clean, because we keep all the stuff in another room. (Which I will expand into quite soon, as our layout cannot handle even half my fleet) Maybe I shouldn't have bought that loco in rochelle.
Have great summers,
Matthew Hicks

[JohnT14808]

Randy...you can find the pictures for the fold out layout next to the Coming Events section!!

heheheh......

[rrinker]

My only complaint with the August issue is the two articles the desperately cry out for pictures DON'T HAVE ANY! Wayne Roderick's lift bridge could certainly use a picture or two of the finished product - I believe he has some on his web site. And the foldaway layout that can't POSSIBLY be only 4' wide needs some pictures too, not just the nice illustrations
Perhaps no photos were submitted with the articles? But that seems strange given the submission requirements. Or were they simply left out to save space?

--Randy.

[Anonymous]

I thought the August issue was great (just got it today).

That layout room is quite the layout room!

I'd love to know the overall cost associated with such a layout.

There are many ways to enjoy this hobby, that's for sure. I love seeing such extravagant layouts for inspiration. Although in my case I'm sure I'll never build anything so ambitious (too many other things going on!).

I like the idea of a G scael indoor project railroad. Very interesting!

This issue seemed to have a good mix of modeling techniques and eye candy.

Two thumbs up!

(Of course, I may be biased because they whipped out a picture of the CM & SF that's what, over 10 years old or so? - I loved that layout).

[Anonymous]

Being 30 years old, I'm just at the age of being "set in my ways" in many things in life, yet young enough to appreciate new things, change, etc.

So I'm trying hard to not be a... "Back in my day...." kind of person. Whenever I do that with regards to music, education - anything, my wife gives me a hard time and tells me I'm getting old.

Something to remember is their books that can be purchased individually contain all the how-to information a beginner would need. What's interesting is that info used to come from MR issues a lot of the times, right? With paintshop, etc. being "dead", I would think those types of books may be on the chopping block in the future.

Funny - I could recall many articles of 2nd generation diesel detailing projects. About zeor for 3rd generation diesels. (I hope I have the generation terminology correct).

You know what I mean - lots of 70's-80's diesel projects, few 90's-2000's that I can recall.

I think Bob Smaus' weathering article was a nice step in that direction.

I could imagine competing with video games, etc. is difficult for MR. Those games these days look as fun as heck - I just won't play any of them because I could see the time waste factor being a drain on my life.

[selector]

We, on this forum, have a dynamic of which we take advantage...otherwise we wouldn't be here!...and that is to use each other for reinforcement, feedback, encouragement, and advice. So, depsite our diversity, we share an enthusiasm for the craft that perhaps the majority of readers (AKA all those who do not fequent this forum) do not share, at least in quite the same way. Even here, our members are divided about the efficacy of the magazine, but MR seems to be doing okay outside of our little ether world. As Dave points out, it is a visual medium, so the eye-candy is what will draw people to the magzine and, hopefull thereafter, to the hobby. It has to pay for itself, and our subscriptions fall well short of that goal. So advertising really counts, and for many, those ads are immensely exciting and appealing. That leaves little room for the eye candy AND the how-to's that we find tiresome after the fourth time in six years.

Maybe we need to accept that this forum is our best how-to resource, and live with the evolving look of the magazine. When they stop selling so many, they might come looking to us for feedback, but the results of the foregoing discussion suggests that they will not be able to settle the issue.

Just thinking.

[BRAKIE]

There is no doubt that MR has a lot of eye candy-all magazines do to a certain point-however there comes a time in the hobby where the eye candy will no longer satisfy your need for knowledge of the prototype.
As far as the down turn in MR it s fixable.The question is will the powers that be take the action needed? One can only hope so.

[davekelly]

I'll have to agree with Joe. Having been in this hobby for a very long time, the newbie articles aren't all that important to me, although I do read them because it seems that each one has one, to use Joe's word, a new tidbit that may make the old job a little easier or the results just a little better. I do very much enjoy the layout articles. Even if they are not my scale, or era, or prototype or are way bigger than the space I have, I do enjoy very much seeing what others are doing. It blows me away what some are able to accomplish!!

As to this month's MR. While not the very best, I think it was a very good issue. The modular structure kit article was an excellent beginner/intermediate article. It covered a lot of areas and the photos were excellent. I also think the painting and weathering plaster article was excellent. I have a plaster structure kit that I've been avoiding for about a year - now I'm stoked to start it! Mr. Matthews letter in RPO was definately not an "attaboy" letter and it appears they published the whole thing. Although I disagree with MR's take on the current events, I have to applaud the magazine for publishing a "negative" letter. The steam service article (miniarticle?) was also excellent and very thought provoking. This little ditty is filled with many detailing ideas that can be used in small servicing areas as well as large. (MR how about putting the picture from this on the website so that folks can print off a large high resolution pic? How about a new department called "Modeling from a Picture?"). I do think that trackside photos needs to get rid of the white space - give us more pictures - the heck with the artistic side of having white space.

While I do think that there are many areas in which the magazine can be improved (and I'm sure everyone here has a list that agrees with some of my thinking and disagrees with others) I do think it is a great magazine that I look forward to getting each month.

[Anonymous]

It's true above about finding out new stuff online before it hits print. My online hobby shops keep me informed

slackstafford

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Originally posted by CNJ831
[And then again, maybe not! MR's circulation has declined steadily for a full decade now. Something like 50,000 former readers (20% of the total circulation) have decided that MR just doesn't have what it takes any more. And since the purchase price was coming out of their pockets, it looks to me that it's the readership that knows what it wants a whole lot better than the magazine's folks apparently do!
CNJ831

There was quite a discussion on the Atlas Forum recently about the decline in magazine subscriptions. One poster had info on all of the model railroad magazines and others - they've all lost sales in the past while. These include MR, RMC, RMJ, MRG, etc.

This fact was brought home to me just recently when I got a check from Model Railroading (MRG) for an article I had in their March 2005 issue. I haven't made any submissions for several years, and used to get paid $80.00 per page. For this current acceptance, all they paid was $60.00 a page. When I inquired why the drop in payment, I was told because of the drop in readership. I think it was shown on the Atlas Forum their circulation dropped from under 20K to around 10K today.

Wonder if MR still pays what they used to?

So it appears there is an overall drop in many magazine's readership, probably due to the Internet. Everyone who follows hobby forums knows all about new releases way before they appear in print. Magazines used to have a three month lead time - anything in the current issue was prepared three months before. This is ages in the world of computing and the Internet. At one time magazines were probably the main source for modelers' news, now they are secondary.

Bob Boudreau

Bob Boudreau

[CNJ831]

QUOTE: Originally posted by CARRfan

Interesting point about cleaning track, etc.

Something to think about - I'm not making a suggestion or anything, but after you've seen the "basics" enough times, maybe the eye candy is good enough?

For example, I've been reading a drumming magazine for years and years. When I was younger, all of the "techniques", etc. were extremely interesting. As I got older and my playing improved, what I found most interesting was just the interviews.

Similarly, in Model railroading, maybe after you've seen how to lay track 50 times, all you really want to see is the "art" someone else created.

Just some random thoughts.

Above I mentioned there not being a lot of superdetailing articles, etc. anymore.

But truth be told, I look forward to GMR like 6 months in advance.

Maybe MR knows some of us better than we know ourselves???

And then again, maybe not! MR's circulation has declined steadily for a full decade now. Something like 50,000 former readers (20% of the total circulation) have decided that MR just doesn't have what it takes any more. And since the purchase price was coming out of their pockets, it looks to me that it's the readership that knows what it wants a whole lot better than the magazine's folks apparently do!

CNJ831

[jfugate]

CARRfan and Brakie:

Yes, good points. And Brakie, glad you can find something in the hobby that supplies your informational needs, even if MR doesn't do it for you.

Like CARRfan, I enjoy the eye candy more since a lot of the material is old hat to me. The other thing I watch for is new techniques to save time or money, make things easier, use updated materials, and so on.

Hardly an issue goes by that I don't get some handy technique tidbit from it. It's usually just some little thing, but combine that with the ads, the eye candy, and I'm a happy guy -- and feel like I got my money's worth for the month. And over the months, the tidbits build up into quite a body of material that I would miss out on if I didn't keep up month by month.

In the early days, I devoured each issue of MR, reading it from cover to cover several times. These days, I cherry pick, enjoy the photo essays, and peruse the magazine ads looking for the latest direction in the hobby that may involve something I can use.

Finally, I just plain enjoy keeping my finger on the pulse of the hobby. And MR's a great place to do that. [:D]

[Anonymous]

Interesting point about cleaning track, etc.

Something to think about - I'm not making a suggestion or anything, but after you've seen the "basics" enough times, maybe the eye candy is good enough?

For example, I've been reading a drumming magazine for years and years. When I was younger, all of the "techniques", etc. were extremely interesting. As I got older and my playing improved, what I found most interesting was just the interviews.

Similarly, in Model railroading, maybe after you've seen how to lay track 50 times, all you really want to see is the "art" someone else created.

Just some random thoughts.

Above I mentioned there not being a lot of superdetailing articles, etc. anymore.

But truth be told, I look forward to GMR like 6 months in advance.

Maybe MR knows some of us better than we know ourselves???

[BRAKIE]

Originally posted by jfugate[/i]
So Brakie, you're saying the internet has killed the value of MR for you?

Not only that but the same old articles every 2-3 years.Come on now how many times do they need to tell us how to clean track? Or how great DCC is? Joe,MR waste a lot of space on repeat articles.

You're saying you can google and learn more current information than you can get from MR's ads?

Well,not google..I saw a locomotive advertised in the February issue..I checked the hobby shop's web page..Guess what?It was out of stock.Now I just check my 3 favorite on line hobby shops and the manufacturers web pages..

Your reference to RMC seems to indicate you prefer meaty text-heavy construction articles, which they have more of than MR does these days.

Well MRC is better then MR in the craftsman articles but,Model Railroading out classes both MRC and MR as far as useful articles..Sadly that is a hard magazine to find here in town..
MR needs to improve its format plain and simple.

Joe,I am sorry buddy but,I just can't cheer MR when it been going down hill over the last 10 years.Shoot Great Model Railroads and the layout planing issue is far better then MR..BTW..Out of last years 12 issues I found 5 that was keepers and those are the ones I bought..So sad..[:(]

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Originally posted by JohnT14808

QUOTE: Originally posted by dthurman

They send it and let you preview the DVD, if you like it, send 9.95 in, they will send out another one some time in the future, if you don't send it back, sort of like the Columbia House Record Club?

I am suprised I haven't seen others posting about this yet, I did make a post yesterday about it but no-one replied. Maybe I am a special subscriber [:I]

Boy....any idea about how to get on this mailing list??

I subscribed to MR/Trains and Classic Trains. Maybe they feel I am a sucker for more subscriptions??

[n2mopac]

Mine just arrived today (I suppose the 4th holiday slowed it down. You know, its such a big mail holiday. Ha!). I will chime in with my 2 cents worth tomorrow.

Ron

[Anonymous]

gee i kinda thought it was good issue. Let me check my 'fluff' detector....

[tcf511]

I'm relatively new to model railroading so I can't compare past issues but I look forward to my MR every month. I agree that sometimes more how to text in articles would be useful but I especially like the detail photos for getting ideas on detailing my own layout. I also read most of the ads and new product announcements.

I suspect that the "fluff" is mostly editing. I dare say many of the modelers that submit articles supply much more detail than makes the magazine. I wonder if there is some kind of win-win available. Publi***he articles generally along the current content lines but make additional detail available online at their website for those who are interested.

[JohnT14808]

QUOTE: Originally posted by dthurman

They send it and let you preview the DVD, if you like it, send 9.95 in, they will send out another one some time in the future, if you don't send it back, sort of like the Columbia House Record Club?

I am suprised I haven't seen others posting about this yet, I did make a post yesterday about it but no-one replied. Maybe I am a special subscriber [:I]

Boy....any idea about how to get on this mailing list??

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Originally posted by jfugate

dt:

Is this video something from MR/Kalmbach, or a third party?

MR

[jfugate]

dt:

Is this video something from MR/Kalmbach, or a third party?

[Anonymous]

Not sure what it's all about, but it is called Dream•Plan•Build Video Series (Layouts, Modeling Tips & Protoype RailRoads)

They send it and let you preview the DVD, if you like it, send 9.95 in, they will send out another one some time in the future, if you don't send it back, sort of like the Columbia House Record Club?

It is almost like a video magizine, only without the ads and product reviews.

The Video has some layout tours, interviews with George Sellios, Tonny Lash's O Gauge, doing a layout at night, airbrushing, doing a background, some stuff on speeders etc. It was pretty good and for the 9 bucks I may keep the first one. The leetr stated I was selected as a special subscriber (blah, blah, blah) and HEY I got a medallion to keep [8D]

I would like to see some stuff on weathering, detailing track, how to make a realist road and stuff, the things that make a layout come to life.

I am suprised I haven't seen others posting about this yet, I did make a post yesterday about it but no-one replied. Maybe I am a special subscriber [:I]

[joseph2]

After MR done away with the schedule of events I switched to RMC.If MR doesn't want to have news I might as well buy used copies of it at 50 cents an issue.

[jfugate]

dt:

Which video is that? Is it the new Building a Model RR video (WGH) or is it the classic airbushing and scenery VHS videos put to DVD?

[Anonymous]

I am going to have to agree with Brakie, RMC seems to still be angled towards the "craftsman" style where MR seems to just want to show us how great a model railroad can look, without actually telling how it got there. Take the weathering articles of late, they show a brush swish, say to use chalk, but not quite all the way.

Maybe I am more of the details and text person and my slant is more biased. But RMC does have more text, the layout is not as polished as MR, which maybe is less imtimadating (sp)

I did receive the new video series they seem to be coming out with in the mail just yesterday, sort of a magizine in video format. The background scenery section was pretty detailed, Lund showed step by step how to achieve the look, the water/waves section was what I have been waiting for to understand how they lay the first coat.

As for the past issues of MR, I have been picking them up at train shows for like a 25¢ each and they are loaded with more articles, more instructions (almost like they are teaching as they are learning?) and much more indepth for the article they are on.

Just my 2¢, and yes MR is a very polished mag and is worth the $$ but is still lacking from what they did in the past.

[West Coast S]

I'm waiting for it to arrive at the PX. Not to fret, my S guage publications have yet to arrive as well, besides the wife will hide them until them until the weekend honey do list is completed..

Dave

[jfugate]

So Brakie, you're saying the internet has killed the value of MR for you?

You're saying you can google and learn more current information than you can get from MR's ads?

Your reference to RMC seems to indicate you prefer meaty text-heavy construction articles, which they have more of than MR does these days.

[BRAKIE]

Well MR is on a down hill slide and has been for the last ten years..The July issue is the issue that broke the camels back..I will no long buy such a fluffy magazine.As far as ads well I found the computer to be faster on real information on new products since MR has a 3 month lead before the product appears in print.
How sad! At one time I could not wait on the next issue now I have dropped it just like I have Truck-er ah Trains Magazine rather..I will buy RMC since it has more bang for the buck..I will continue to buy Classic Trains.


Joe,I been in this hobby for 54 years.

[jfugate]

One other quick point on my last post ...

A text only magazine tends to reach about 50 % of the learning styles mentioned above (letcture/theory, and hearing from an expert). It tends to leave the active experimentors and watchers in the cold.

Add photos and you will pull in the watchers too.

But the active experimentors will prefer video over the printed page every time, since they can vicariously actively experiment through what they see on the screen.

Incidentally, there are tests that evaluate your preferred learning style, and mine is active experimentation, so if I have the choice between video or printed page, I'll take the video every time. But the step-by-step photos in the magazine help make it more interesting than it otherwise might be.

We each have a fallback method, too, and mine is lecture/theory. So if I can't figure out the game by dinking around with it, I'll read the rules cover to cover. It explains why I have a complete collection of MR back to 1960. [:D]

And why I'm so into producing how-to videos for the hobby. [;)]