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Dissapointed with the latest issue...AGAIN Locked

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Dissapointed with the latest issue...AGAIN
Posted by Lionelking313 on Monday, February 14, 2011 7:15 PM

Lately I have been quiet, but I cant take it anymore. CTT used to be the greatest magazine, but I dont think so anymore....In the latest issue, you have the Misty Mountain Railroad. One of the finest O gauge layouts in the country, yet you show only 6 photos and a track diagram. 6 photos?? Thats it???

A few pages later, your building yet again another start up type layout, with about 20 photos!!!!!!!! Didnt you recently build a small layout a few issues ago?? Most people reading this magazine, already have layouts and know how to build them.

I am sorry, but I am tired of seeing photos of men assembling bench work, and playing with styrofoam. This magazine should be about CLASSIC LIONEL AND AMERICAN FLYER TRAINS!!!!!!!!!!!!!

It seems to me, your really losing out now, to the "other" magazine.....

 

Mark

 

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Posted by Dominion Atlantic Railway on Monday, February 14, 2011 7:27 PM

Lionelking313

This magazine should be about CLASSIC LIONEL AND AMERICAN FLYER TRAINS!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

 

  Lionel and American Flyer ARE NOT the only classic toy trains.

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Posted by Firesteel on Monday, February 14, 2011 7:37 PM

Obviously everyone has a different opinion in regards to what they would like to see in a magazine. I found the latest issue to be excellent. In fact, I have never been  disappointed with any issue of CTT. I have been reading this magazine for five years and have enjoyed every issue.

Karl

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Posted by jonadel on Monday, February 14, 2011 8:26 PM

Have you considered canceling your subscription so you don't have to suffer needlessly?  Just a thought, you seem quite upset and life is just way too short to be that unhappy.

Jon

So many roads, so little time. 

 

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Posted by Louisiana Southern Pacific on Monday, February 14, 2011 8:32 PM

OK! I gave the magazine another look over and I need to say I jump the gun.

This issue was ok, but Bob and Kent need to stop building layouts and go get

Some feature layouts for CTT from outside CTT.

 

 I received my copy of CTT today. I just resubscribed after letting it go do to the fact it did not offer much for the HiRailer and or me My 2 Cents. I will most likly just pay for the issue I got today and tell them to drop me again I just as you say "Dissapointed"

See my post on http://cs.trains.com/TRCCS/forums/t/187565.aspx

Reader's Choice Railroad Topic

"3-rail operators? I call my self a 2 railers with a spare!"

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Posted by Timboy on Monday, February 14, 2011 8:48 PM

Hi Everyone!

Well, naturally I would like to see many, many more American Flyer articles with a full-production spread.  But guess what folks, there has to BE worthy American Flyer layouts of mention to feature.  Most of them are toy train layouts that are made to amaze grandkids.  Hardly CTT worthy.  If you want to SEE more awesome American Flyer layouts featured in CTT, then BUILD more awesome American Flyer layouts and they will come...

Regards,

Timboy, The American Flyer Nerd

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Posted by challenger3980 on Tuesday, February 15, 2011 12:32 AM

Timboy,

 You are starting to make me worry about you, you are starting to make senseWink

Doug

May your flanges always stay BETWEEN the rails

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Posted by Bob Keller on Tuesday, February 15, 2011 6:48 AM

Thanks for your comments, Mark.

Bob Keller

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Posted by Texas Pete on Tuesday, February 15, 2011 8:31 AM

No doubt putting out a magazine such as CTT is a balancing act. It can't be easy with such a wide-ranging hobby.

The only specific problem I have with the issue in question is that the Q&A authors seemed a little testy, and they also published some misinformation regarding postwar signals and Atlas switches.

The "Readers Choice" railroad certainly isn't my choice, but the previous project RR, a classic toy train layout, was. I confess to being slightly bemused that with the RCRR  the editorial staff somehow found a way to make what should have been a $100 train table cost upwards of $500. Ridiculous to me but probably not to others.

Bottom line, I suggest that anyone who has a problem with the magazine's content should check the publication guidelines and submit the kind of article that they would like to see. It's like jazz guitar immortal Joe Pass said, "Anybody can do it."

Pete

 

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Posted by Roger Carp on Tuesday, February 15, 2011 8:46 AM

Whenever I read that "Classic Toy Trains" isn't the magazine it once was and that it needs to cover more vintage Lionel and American Flyer, I wonder whether the person writing that comment is checking our website on a regular basis. Every month, I write or edit a brand-new research article on some aspect of prewar or postwar trains. This article on the website does not appear in the magazine and represents new research and writing. These articles tend to be longer than what would be in the magazine. So all I can suggest is once more to go to ClassicToyTrains.com and look under "Collecting" for "Web Exclusives."

Between the magazine and the website, there is more available for our subscribers than ever. 

 

Roger Carp

Senior Editor

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Posted by arkady on Tuesday, February 15, 2011 8:52 AM

Bottom line, I suggest that anyone who has a problem with the magazine's content should check the publication guidelines and submit the kind of article that they would like to see. It's like jazz guitar immortal Joe Pass said, "Anybody can do it."

This is rather a glib answer.  It's like saying "If you don't like your car, then all you have to do is build your own, since anybody can do it," or "If you don't like the music on the radio, all you have to do is write, produce and record your own, since anyone can do it."  Not everyone has the requisite skill set or background to be producing their own magazine articles.  I used to write articles for a computer magazine, and believe me, not everyone can do it, Joe Pass notwithstanding.

As for the magazine itself, any reader who doesn't approve of the content should simply stop buying it.  That's something anyone can do.

 

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Posted by sir james I on Tuesday, February 15, 2011 9:02 AM

It seems the mag has gone from Classic toy trains to big layouts and Hi rail. It may be due to what material is available to them but I think they have moved in that direction. Me, as soon as I read it was built for me, I look at the pictures and move on. I vote go back to the Classics, where it all started. 

"IT's GOOD TO BE THE KING",by Mel Brooks 

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Posted by Timboy on Tuesday, February 15, 2011 9:16 AM

Guys:

I'm not so sure this thread serves us very well.  Isn't it rather like biting the hand that feeds us?  After all, we are airing this out on a public forum that is provided to us by CTT.  Not too cool, IMHO.  Black Eye  Perhaps PM's to the principals of CTT would be more in line.  I'm just sayin'...

Regards,

Timboy, The American Flyer Post-War Classic Train Nerd

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Posted by sir james I on Tuesday, February 15, 2011 9:48 AM

kiss kiss

Feedback is good for us and them. It lets them see what we think.

"IT's GOOD TO BE THE KING",by Mel Brooks 

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Posted by Bob Keller on Tuesday, February 15, 2011 10:01 AM

Yes, feedback is always welcomed.

Bob Keller

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Posted by Louisiana Southern Pacific on Tuesday, February 15, 2011 10:06 AM

OK ! I gave the magazine another look over and I need to say I jump the gun.

This issue was ok, but Bob and Kent need to stop building layouts and go get

Some feature layouts for CTT from outside CTT.

 

sir james I

kiss kiss

Feedback is good for us and them. It lets them see what we think.

 

"3-rail operators? I call my self a 2 railers with a spare!"

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Posted by Texas Pete on Tuesday, February 15, 2011 10:13 AM

Not everyone has the requisite skill set or background to be producing their own magazine articles.  I used to write articles for a computer magazine, and believe me, not everyone can do it...

 

With all due respect, I disagree.

I do R/C airplanes too, and many years ago, on a lark, I submitted an article to a model airplane publication. Much to my astonishment it turned up in the magazine and led to me being invited to produce quite a few build and fly product test reports. If I can do it anybody can. And besides, how can anyone know if they don't give it a shot?

Pete

 

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Posted by EIS2 on Tuesday, February 15, 2011 10:18 AM

I enjoy the toy-like layouts.  It was nice to see the Misty Mountain layout but a layout like that is beyond the means of almost everyone who reads CTT.  I prefer layouts and ideas that I can reasonably incorporate in my layout.  Not every issue of CTT is a home-run, but many are.

Earl

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Posted by richhotrain on Tuesday, February 15, 2011 10:20 AM

Ogaugeoverlord

Yes, feedback is always welcomed.

Feedback is always welcomed, but does it have to be on the forum?

If the OP has an issue with the content of CTT, write to Kalmbach.

The forums ought to modify the rules to prohibit making negative comments about magazine content or subscription information, etc.

Why are we biting the hand that feeds us?

Rich

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Posted by lennyski on Tuesday, February 15, 2011 10:48 AM

Since we are complaining, I mean giving feedback, one problem I've had as of late is the focus on high rail and not the toy train aspect. Most of the reviews these days seem to be on high priced engines rather than traditional sized engines. Maybe they have been done already, I don't know. I would also like to see more traditional sized layout features rather than these hi-rail ones where most of us cannot or can't afford or don't have the space to do. One of the best features ever was the American Flyer layout where the 2 guys became good friends and I don't even like American Flyer.

Also more Roger Carp articles.

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Posted by Anonymous on Tuesday, February 15, 2011 11:09 AM

Guys I think what you are missing is CTT doesn't know who has layouts... they are reliant on people to submit articles and pictures of their layouts in order to determine what to publish. If you have a layout and you want it published, take the pictures, do a little write up, and send it in!

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Posted by Timboy on Tuesday, February 15, 2011 11:11 AM

Ogaugeoverlord

Yes, feedback is always welcomed.

Well alrighty then.  I was trying to take the high road out of respect, but if it's um, er, ah feedback you want...

I think CTT is merely a shill for Lionel.  Yeah, I said it.  Why are they featuring all the high-end stuff that some of you say you can't afford?  That's where the money is, folks.  Why is it always this, that and the other thing about Lionel?  That's who pays the bills.  Why isn't there more information and articles about Ives, Marx and Flyer?  That doesn't pay the bills.  It's big business.  Lionel revenues dwarf all the other larger scales by much, much more than just a little bit.  So who gets all the copy?  Everybody, with me - - - - - LIONEL!  That's just the way it is.  Now, was that feedback or feedsmack?

Regards,

Timboy, The American Flyer Nerd

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Posted by jmkk on Tuesday, February 15, 2011 11:42 AM

I'll second Brent.

Jason   

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Posted by scrambler81 on Tuesday, February 15, 2011 11:50 AM

 As long as we're throwing out ideas, may I point out that man does not live by trains alone. Tell me more about accessories - how to find 'em, how to fix 'em, and which ones are the coolest.

 Seriously, I really enjoy the magazine, and I have no complaints. I buy it every month. I don't subscribe because this way I have something to buy at my local hobby shop on those days I'm actually just wandering aimlessly throught the aisles.

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Posted by Louisiana Southern Pacific on Tuesday, February 15, 2011 12:18 PM

I see that CTT is doing there job just fineThumbs Up as I read through this post I see some of you want more Toy Train layouts and others like myself want more Hi Rail layouts so with that said ,keep up the work CTT and I will keep the copies I like and discard the ones I don't.

"3-rail operators? I call my self a 2 railers with a spare!"

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Posted by stuartmit on Tuesday, February 15, 2011 12:33 PM

Roger Carp made a comment about halfway through the thread mentioning the website, which I rarely look at, and that is my loss. Last week, I read the article on the web under subscriber extras dealing with photos in the 1946 catalog and what they might tell us about planning as the war ended. It was excellent! The content was very complete. Truth be told, I don't expect to have to read and reread a hobby article that closely; it verged on scholarly. Certainly demonstrates the quality of this publication

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Posted by richhotrain on Tuesday, February 15, 2011 12:56 PM

Timboy

 Ogaugeoverlord:

Yes, feedback is always welcomed.

 

Well alrighty then.  I was trying to take the high road out of respect, but if it's um, er, ah feedback you want...

I think CTT is merely a shill for Lionel.  Yeah, I said it.  Why are they featuring all the high-end stuff that some of you say you can't afford?  That's where the money is, folks.  Why is it always this, that and the other thing about Lionel?  That's who pays the bills.  Why isn't there more information and articles about Ives, Marx and Flyer?  That doesn't pay the bills.  It's big business.  Lionel revenues dwarf all the other larger scales by much, much more than just a little bit.  So who gets all the copy?  Everybody, with me - - - - - LIONEL!  That's just the way it is.  Now, was that feedback or feedsmack?

Regards,

Timboy, The American Flyer Nerd

I don't subscribe to CTT magazine, just Classic Trains and MRR magazines.

So, this all surprises me if what Tim says is true.  I would have thought that CTT covers only vintage stuff.  Not true?  Cripes, why call it CTT if it is all about modern Lionel stuff?  That ought to be covered in MRR not CTT.

Rich

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Posted by Bob Keller on Tuesday, February 15, 2011 1:16 PM

LOL Timboy. Big Smile

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Posted by cheapclassics on Tuesday, February 15, 2011 1:28 PM

Good afternoon all,

This is an interesting thread in the way the discussion has headed.  CTT has always had to walk a fine line ever since the beginning.  The title says "Classic Toy Trains" and that is the focus it has always tried to follow, but there is the advertising quandry it faces.  Unlike MR or GR or Trains, which can draw advertisers and articles based on current products and ideas as well as ones from the past, CTT did and does not have a strong base of advertisers with products at their "titled" subject matter.  Last time I checked there were not too many vendors of Ives, Marx,  or Dorfan  (outside the rare MTH reproduction).  Even AF does not get that much "new" product attention.  So CTT has to do some articles to new items in the market place as well.  One way to do that is with project layouts.  Every aritcle is a balance between content and photos as well.  Every issue has to have some balance among the various "interest" groups as well.  As a past and hopefully future contributor to the magazine, I can relate to some of the decisions that are involved in making an issue.  I know all the people who are involved with the magazine. They are hard working dedicated people who want to see the magazine reach as many people as possible, and to see our hobby grow.  However, if anybody wanted to know what I would like to see in terms of content, an issue solely devoted to Standard Gauge would be just the ticket :-)

Keep on training,

Mike C. from Indiana

 

 

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Posted by Firesteel on Tuesday, February 15, 2011 2:49 PM

I think CTT has something for everyone. Clearly, this part of the model railroad hobby has a very diverse group of hobbyists whose interests vary from one person to another. Many people like realistic Hi-rail layouts while others prefer prewar and postwar trains running on really nice floor layouts. This diversity is what makes the toy train hobby so interesting and fun. The average issue of CTT has articles relating to classic trains, new trains, small layouts, large layouts, Q&A, industry news, etc. My layout leans toward the Hi-rail side, but I am always fascinated by floor layouts and older trains. I guess I would say that I am interested in all forms of model railroading and I feel that CTT contains an excellent balance of articles.

Karl

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