When we seek answers on the Internet, we are engaged in a targeted, self-directed learning process. We kind of know what we're looking for, and, if we are good reasearchers, we can find the information we're after pretty quickly.
If we pick up a copy of MR or RMC, though, we are entering something more like an instructor-led environment. We are no longer the seekers of knowledge, but rather the recipients. So, the information is not likely to be targetted exactly to your problem, but rather to be something which broadens your horizons, and causes you to see a larger picture. You may get a new idea, or see a technique which will influence what you do 6 months from now.
Each of these has its place, and I'm glad that I can avail myself of both.
It takes an iron man to play with a toy iron horse.
Hi MPRR
All you say is true
But I would rather have the books on the shelf for instant access, because you are not going to instantly answer my questions at 3am your time
Both books and the internet have there place some of my books are old and have things I would never have though of and being on my book shelf when needed its out with the cling wrap and into the MRR room with the book wraped up.
Some books for my model railway are not even remotely about trains, but without them I don't know what I would have but its not a model railway train set perhaps.
But to those who willingly share there knowledge I say thank you.
regards John Busby
Lillen wrote: One word: Toilet Magnus
One word: Toilet
Magnus
What?
Midnight Railroader wrote: Lillen wrote: One word: Toilet MagnusOne other word: What?
That is where the Internet can never replace a good magazine or book. When I'm sitting there with a book in my hand I'm at peace. I couldn't imagine surfing while sitting there.
selector wrote:You know.....throne room....baroom room....magazine room..... You wouldn't, you know, do your thing with a laptop across your lap...would you?
Well, in that case, I think I will scan in the cover of the latest MR, shrink it down to 1:87, print it out and leave it inside my WS outhouse with the open door. I'd like my citizens to have something better than the Sears Roebuck catalog to look at.
Oh, wait. I've got to get a copy of MR from the sixties for that. Gotta stick to prototype.
I'm glad someone understood what I meant! Great minds thinks alike.
I have cut way back on my book purchases lately and put this money into "how to" videos. I still subscribe to a couple of magazines but I have found the videos to be extremely helpful. Many videos I have watched half a dozen times and still pick up new info each time I watch.
Mike B.
To answer your posted topic I will have to echo the thoughts and words of all who have replied before me. The simple answer is YOU DO, I do and we all do.
Do you get passing grades just by reading the cheat notes bought down at the Quickie Mart and not attend class to listen to the teacher who will be writing the test? You're fixing to get yourself schooled the hard way! You are relying on all the people on this and other forums to give the info you hope will save you time and money. How did we get that info? So if you don't think you need the publications don't come asking the people who sat through class and got their knowledge and wisdom in part from publications.
One of my favorite model RRs is the freelance Utah Belt. Go Google it and try to get enough info so you can accurately model one of its SD40-2s from what's on line. You can't find much on line about it but you can find over 400% more in what has been published in MR and RMC. The same is true with Joe Fugate's RR and knowledge. SpaceMouseand others have tried to give you info to help you with your Northeastern logging track plan. But logging in the Northeast isn't in our interest so we don't have all the knowledge you want because we haven't read through the publications on that subject. It is obvious you don't have the knowledge on that subject and you haven't read what is written in the publications on that subject. Do you see the parallel?
betamax wrote:The best part about books and magazines is that they all work the same way. No strange keys needed, no keyboards, no mice, no bulky computers. Or a screen that forces you to position yourself to read it.You pick up a book, and it works. No time wasted booting it up, or waiting for it to download a gigabyte worth of updates. It just works.Plus it doesn't force you to conform to it's way of doing things. You put it in a position that is comfortable, and it just works. No cords or bulky batteries to limit movement or time either.Last time I looked, bookstores were full of books and doing good business selling them. So the concept of the internet giving you everything for free, and easily found too, is obviously wrong. The internet only contains the information that someone bothered to put there. Websites come and go, and some get stale quickly. Or just are of little value. Or the content doesn't even reflect the subject, or is just plain irrelevant.The internet has its place, but it is there to supplement, not replace printed materials and old fashioned research.
Park that quote right here. Nothing beats a book. The internet is helpful and there's an amazing amount of information out there, but searching and searching can get old. I can't count the number of times I got sidetracked looking up something only to realize that 2 hours passed and I never really found what I was looking for in the first place. I believe in researching my hobby, but sometimes you have to admit that there's TOO much information out there to sift through. It's overwhelming. I'd rather search for books on Amazon.com or (gulp) my local hobby shop!
As far as these message boards, they're helpful, but again I find myself wasting time looking through pages and pages and pages of threads trying to find the "perfect" answer. While sometimes I ultimately find what I was looking for, getting a dozen different answers isn't necessarily the most helpful. I've learned that what works for some doesn't always work for all. Otherwise, I enjoy the "what are you doing on railroad" types of threads where people share their work.
Anyone who thinks a forum like this one replaces a nicely organized book on the subject is just fooling themselves.
This forum is like a bull session discussion in text format. If I post a question about flex track, for example, the first couple of responses might be:
"Not sure we get what you're asking ..."
"Do you mean HO?"
Then somebody might post:
"I prefer to handlay my track ..."
Then someone else posts:
"Track, yeh, I remember the time I was walking along the CSX tracks and I ran into a rattler ..."
And then we get 6 more posts about the time people encountered snakes.
Finally someone will post:
"You were asking about flex track, right? What did you want to know ..."
A FORUM IS THE WRONG FORMAT
Long story short, the chronological, stream-of-consciousnous format of a forum is handy for documenting some conversation around a topic and generating some quick fun energy, but it's a bear to search and refer to later.
The better approach is a wiki -- it uses a topical structure not unlike a loose leaf notebook with tabs -- and like this forum, anyone can post content to a wiki!
But I don't expect MR to stand up a model railroading wiki anytime soon. Maybe I'm cynical, but were I in their shoes, I'd want you to come to my website, learn a little more about the hobby in the forums, and then decide you need to subscribe to my magazine and perhaps buy a few of my books on some hot topics you'd like to know about.
If you came here and found a nicely organized Model Railroading wiki loaded with interesting articles, you might just decide you didn't need nearly as many of those publications after all, especially if the wiki, like this forum, were free.
This forum has the advantage that it gives you the sense there's great free info on the internet about the hobby, but in practical terms, as a building repository of hobby knowledge, a forum sucks. Books are much better organized and easier to use than this forum ... and books aren't free, so they help Kalmbach keep the lights on.
Yep, I'm cynical.
Joe Fugate Modeling the 1980s SP Siskiyou Line in southern Oregon
Jim, Modeling the Kansas City Southern Lines in HO scale.
I thought about this a bit more. I found it ironic that the same day the OP posted this thread, they posted "calculating grade". I think the answer to the question of who needs publications could be answered by a quick look in the mirror!
Jeff But it's a dry heat!
Modeling the N&W freelanced at the height of their steam era in HO.
Daniel G.
I want publications. I want MR Magazine and a bunch more periodicals, and books.
While I participate in the forum and have found it a useful, interactive medium, printed matter is easier on my eyes, organized, generally accurate, and passive. And it doesn't often 'lock up'.
Lately I've received calls from several magazines asking if I'd prefer an 'on-line' format. My answer is "NO!" I want the convenience of having the publication whenever I have a chance to read it, whether I have a computer accessible or not.
Besides, I am online too much as it is. I need to get away from it and still be able to read.
Just my 2 cents.
Magazines are an important part of my hobby. As I started in 2005, certainly I have all the MR issues since then and I've renewed for 3 additional years. I also really like the MRP and GMR annuals and have a complete set of MRP and about half the GMR issues.
One of the real bargains I've gotten at swap meets and ebay are past issues. I buy them a year at a time and spend about a month going through each one. 1997 issues are as relevant as a 2008. Not only do I get to see how the hobby has evolved but also see how constant so many things are.
Joe
Both publications and this forum has been invaluable to me!
Yours In Model Railroading,
John
Littleton, CO