I recognize that Kalmbach needs to advertise their product, but why us a forum to do it in? and the pin the post to the top of the list and then block commentary?
Co-owner of the proposed CT River Valley RR (HO scale) http://home.comcast.net/~docinct/CTRiverValleyRR/
I was also wondering about that - maybe a bonus for us forum members?
I think that those trackplans were only available to magazine subscribers before. With that posting, the selected plans are now available to anyone visiting this site, free of cost. Drumming up business, maybe in a roundabout way. Sparking interest and helping designing block, possible as well. As for blocking comments, I can understand that as well. It is an information post on the specific layouts, and any comments would either muddy the waters or quickly stray from the intent of the post. I take it for what its worth, some ideas to help "fill in the blanks".
tinman1I think that those trackplans were only available to magazine subscribers before.
I was looking at some of the stuff available and found that some things are still for subscribers only.
tinman1Drumming up business, maybe in a roundabout way.
That seems to be the intent. It looks like they are dangling a carrot but if you want more than a taste of the carrots, you have to subscribe.
Am I mistaken or have all of these plans been published before? In some cases multiple times?
I found Frank Ellison's "The Art of Model Railroading" for free online somewhere else. The Gorre & Daphetid has been published countless times and there is a website deditcated to it.
tinman1 I take it for what its worth,
Yup, it's a carrot. ;o)
JSperan tinman1I think that those trackplans were only available to magazine subscribers before. I was looking at some of the stuff available and found that some things are still for subscribers only. tinman1Drumming up business, maybe in a roundabout way. That seems to be the intent. It looks like they are dangling a carrot but if you want more than a taste of the carrots, you have to subscribe. Am I mistaken or have all of these plans been published before? In some cases multiple times? I found Frank Ellison's "The Art of Model Railroading" for free online somewhere else. The Gorre & Daphetid has been published countless times and there is a website deditcated to it. tinman1 I take it for what its worth, Yup, it's a carrot. ;o)
Why carrots?----
Maybe the blocking would prevent the cynics from 'cluttering' it up?
Any argument carried far enough will end up in Semantics--Hartz's law of rhetoric Emerald. Leemer and Southern The route of the Sceptre Express Barry
I just started my blog site...more stuff to come...
http://modeltrainswithmusic.blogspot.ca/
Uhmmmm, it IS their forum......
and we're just guests............
'Nuf said?
Darrell, quiet...for now
dgwinup Uhmmmm, it IS their forum...... and we're just guests............ 'Nuf said? Darrell, quiet...for now
Yea, but they also have to realize that they do NOT hold a patent on "Model Railroad Discussion Forum" and if they get too unpleasant about it people would bail.
It wouldn't hurt to say the plans are for subscribers only or change the title of the post to be more indicative of content.
Believe it or not, I don't have a problem with this.
Advertising in a thread does not diminish my enjoyment of the forum in any way, so I don't mind.
Personally, I thought of it more as a public service announcement. I didn't realize that only subscribers can see all of it (I have subscribed for over 35 years), but I like having these classics in one handy place.
Also, I think Kalmbach provides a nice forum and the advertising is nicely handled and not overly intrusive. Plus all the ads are things I might be interested in and not dishwash detergent ads
Enjoy
Paul
WaxonWaxov Yea, but they also have to realize that they do NOT hold a patent on "Model Railroad Discussion Forum" and if they get too unpleasant about it people would bail.
True, but anyone who bails on this forum probably loses more than Kalmbach does.
I don't find the ad offensive. I'm a little surprised that they 'stickied' it to keep it up on top. Would have been more interesting and informative (for Kalmbach) to let it sink off the page if nobody was all that interested in it.
In case no one noticed, the prvious 'sticky' post that Dana put up in the main section was only left sticky for a few days and then allowed to progress down the list. I don't doubt the same process will take palce here. A worthwhile use of the 'sticky' feature, on pretty much every other forum I'm on that has 'sticky' posts, they are used for FAQ-type material but in many cases posting to them is allowed and they end up cluttered beyond belief.
--Randy
Modeling the Reading Railroad in the 1950's
Visit my web site at www.readingeastpenn.com for construction updates, DCC Info, and more.
dgwinupTrue, but anyone who bails on this forum probably loses more than Kalmbach does.
There are lots of forums out there. Some of the others have a much better signal to noise ratio,but this one gets a lot of traffic.
dgwinupI don't find the ad offensive. I'm a little surprised that they 'stickied' it to keep it up on top.
Nothing offensive about it at all. I agree there are better topics that could be "stickied" at the top of the layout building forum, but it seems like they don't sticky much of anything anything except kalmbach posts here and even those don't seem to be long term.
This particular forum gets a lot of "request for track plan" threads from relative newcomers to the hobby. With a built-in target audience like that, it seems like a very good place for the Layout Plans posting. For one thing, the newbies can use the help, and for another, they may not yet be aware of the available track plan database.
Elsewhere, I think there's been a lot of agreement that MR has become a "better" magazine over the last few months. That doesn't come for free, so drumming up subscribers is going to help the bottom line, and ultimately keep improving the magazine, too.
It takes an iron man to play with a toy iron horse.
IRONROOSTER...and the advertising is nicely handled and not overly intrusive. Plus all the ads are things I might be interested in and not dishwash detergent ads
Quite True.
Some sites are really bad. BroadwayWorld.com and RGTonline.com are amoungst the worst.
Well, I watched the little ditty with Andy S chatting about his memories of running on the G-D with John Allen... Interesting little piece, but Dana is just way out of his element doing these interviews.
As my dad used to fondly say, "You've got a face born for radio..." He just doesn't look comfortable. Compare this to any of the pieces that David Popp does, and there's a world of difference.
Obviously Dana was hired for his writing and editing skills, which seem to be adequate... But some of us were just not meant to be on camera. This isn't a slam, just a constructive comment that hopefully he can learn from...
Lee
Route of the Alpha Jets www.wmrywesternlines.net
wm3798As my dad used to fondly say, "You've got a face born for radio..." He just doesn't look comfortable. Compare this to any of the pieces that David Popp does, and there's a world of difference.
But David Popp is a terrible interviewer for TV.
He continually adds his vocal reactions to what's being said, the "uh-huh"s and "oh, really"s--which becomes very distracting.
Someone needs to teach him to react visually by nodding, smiling, or whatever, and to keep his mouth shut while the subject (I'm thinking of Hediger) is answering his question.
Hi from Belgium,
It's not an offensive ads, just I feel it's sad that these plans are only visible by subscribers.
The magazine is one thing but the information is an other one, and I truly beleive that everybody could have access to it.
MR want to sold it, it's his right but I am sure they could attract a lot more people with free access.
Youngsters use the net as a source of info.
Youngsters who have info could become future subscribers or monthly readers of MR .
This free access at more information will promote the hobby to the youngsters who need information.
By example, the great line of information free, but if you want to see photos and precise how to do, you need to buy an MR magazine.
By the way they could sold more issues, same with the ads, on the site you could know that for example Atlas make new release but for more info see MR
A monthly published French magazines had a site with free access info, but no photos published, results, they sell more isues monthly.
Thats just a marketing choice.
Marc