Would you like to see some old MRR articles reprinted?

[Anonymous]

I'm a yes answer.

[CP5415]

Same here Mark!

Gordon

[IRONROOSTER]

I voted don't care because I have most of the old issues (all but 6 issues back to 1950 and a smattering before). So I can read all of them and do so from time to time. But I wouldn't object to seeing some of them reprinted occaisionally. I would like to see collections of articles by some of the authors (this has been done for some of John Armstrong's layouts) like E.L. Moore, Frank Ellison, etc.
Enjoy
Paul

[Anonymous]

I have the 1948 fourth edition of Model Railroad Track and Layout book by A.C. Kalmbach. Ever hear of him? That was the time before flex track and sectional track existed only for toy trains. I also bought a model tank car kit from the early 50's. You would really need to use your imagination for it to be a convincing looking model. All you got was a metal tube, a couple end plugs and a block of wood for a frame. Trucks and couplers not incuded. Then there is a scenery book from the 60's suggesting mixing asbestos with the plaster. Some methods are better left in the past.
It's interesting to see how difficult and challenging the hobby was in its infancy. We really have it good today. And I can't wait to see where DCC will be in 20 years. There is even live a steam locomotive now in OO scale! http://www.hornbyrailways.com/pages/livestm_live.aspx

[Big_Boy_4005]

I said no, but in reality maybe what needs to be done is a book compiling that material. There has been some talk regarding this subject over on CTT.

[sparkingbolt]

Yes vote. I can think of a few specifics. Lots of good stuff done in the past that many may never see and others would like to see again. Dan

[Fergmiester]

QUOTE: Originally posted by Big_Boy_4005

I said no, but in reality maybe what needs to be done is a book compiling that material. There has been some talk regarding this subject over on CTT.

Why not go one step further

Compile all the old articles and put them into a MR Encyclopedia available on CD format. This way you would have all your articles, how to's, reviews, etc arranged in some form that would be quick and easy to get at and be better then any book now available.

[Anonymous]

Ya, it's one thing to have the online index, but few folks have the mags or the articles them selves.

[tomwatkins]

Yes I would. I think it would make fascinating reading.
Tom Watkins

[BRAKIE]

NO! We get enough repeats as it is!!! [8][B)][:(!][:(!]

[Anonymous]

Brakie, I'm unaware of any repeats. Could you explain what you mean?

[gtcr98]

II voted yes for articles but what I would really like to see is scale drawings compiled into a few issues. It would benefit not only experienced modelers but new comers to the hobby as well.

[AggroJones]

QUOTE: Originally posted by Big_Boy_4005

I said no, but in reality maybe what needs to be done is a book compiling that material.

Fabulous idea.
A compilation book of articles from the "old-school".

[Anonymous]

[}:)]Ok, who wants to go back to open frame motors, block wiring, lichen, grass mats and brass track?
I didn't think so.
Gtcr98's suggestion of reprinting the scale drawings in an excellant one for old and new modelers. Fortunately scale doesn't go out of style.
However construction materials and materials have changed dramaticly. Lets not take steps foreward, and then take one back.

[Anonymous]

"Ok, who wants to go back to open frame motors, block wiring, lichen, grass mats and brass track?
I didn't think so".

How on "Earth" could reading about these items transport the state of the hobby back to this time? Did you read the original question?

[Anonymous]

I would like to see a collection of articles by a past prolific writer, such as Frank Ellison,
reprinted in book form. The book would contain all articles with photographs published by the author. There is certainly enough material for someone such as Frank Ellison to have a book published containing his work. If the chosen author did not publish enough material for a stand alone book their material could be combined with other authors and published in book form. I believe these type books would sell very well!
Jack Bogus

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Originally posted by kbfcsme

[}:)]Ok, who wants to go back to open frame motors, block wiring, lichen, grass mats and brass track?
I didn't think so...

While many of those how-to articles would be obsolete, not everything would. I think revisiting past layout visits and/or past project layouts would be cool. While reprinting them word for word might not make too much sense, having a page or two in a regular section highlighting past layouts might be cool.

I also like the idea of a compilation edition of say, John Allen layout articles, or something like that.

---jps

[Wdlgln005]

It would be fun to see some of the old articles updated with recent techniques. Then you could compare how the model hobby industry has progressed over the years.

[Anonymous]

Fergie and GTC are on the right line. I for one would like to have access to the scale drawings of structures and rolling stock from past issues. Making MR available in a CD set would be ideal from my point. I have no interest in photos of layouts or dated editorial musings.

Randy

[CBQ_Guy]

I'd LOVE to read them as some of the stuff we take for granted today, was new and innovative at the time. I'd like to read it in it's original context, rather than just reading, like you do today, "John Allen proposed this", or "Frank Elison stated that". Maybe a yearly special edition book of Roots of the Hobby or some such, like the GMR or MRP annuals we have now. I'd buy it regularly.

However, there is another side to this I read when this idea was discussed online a couple years ago -- potential liability. You know nowadays comon sense doesn't seem to be all that common anymore. People will sue you at the drop of a hat if you don't tell them that the coffee is hot before they drink it, or don't touch the power line even though there's a sign stating "DANGER - ONE GAZILLION VOLTS!". The concern cited as an example, as I recall, was in the "good old days", asbestos mixed with water was recommended as a lightweight material to use for scenery in place of heavy plaster or Hydrocal. Some yahoo would find a bag of this buried in his basement or garage, try using it, get cancer or some other deadly lung problem, and then run crying to a lawyer who would then slap a hefty lawsuit on the publisher.

Sad, but all too true nowadays.

[Anonymous]

The magazine runs disclaimers, or safety posts in it's articles and forums now! I don't see this as being an insurmountable issue. As a mater of fact, we know more hazardous materials now, than we did in the past. So, identifying the Hazardous Materials used then, is easier now!

[AntonioFP45]

In the late 80s I believe there was a gentleman named Rick Kuykendall who had an excellent "medium sized American town" layout featured in MRR.

Would love to see it reprinted or even better, have MRR do an update. This layout was very well built and scenicked. Based on what I remember, my layout will slightly resemble his as far as theme.

Anyone have info on this. I think he's also featured on an Allen Keller video.[;)][:)]

[Anonymous]

It seems to me there was a Ron Kuykendal's layout featured in one of the recent GMRs or MRPs.

[ClinchValleySD40]

No. Waste of mag space. They periodically take a bunch and put them into book form, on a specific topic. They (MR) also provide a service to send you any articles you might want. Search the index and find it, call them and you've got it. I've got all the articles from 30 years of subscription I need.

[CNJ831]

I have to agree with clinchvalley here, the place for such material is in a separate book, not repeated in the pages of MR. And while I personally treasure the long ago articles regarding the scratchbuilding of this or that, unless you already have a background in the older modeling techniques most readers will quickly become lost in the terminology many of the older authors used to describe their materials and methods. Likwise, so many of these same techniques and materials have been superseded today that one wouldn't want to follow the instructions found in an articles anyway.

The place for hobby revere is in a separate, stand-alone publication, not the pages of MR.

CNJ831

[iwasgr8]

I just bought 2 large boxes of Model railroader, Trains and another publication relating to trains at an auction. These date back as far as the 1960's and they a blast to read. MRR is full of layouts and scratch building articles. These old articles are really enjoyable. As to those who say this would be a waste of space let me say that a layout is a layout is a layout whether it was built in 1950 or 2004. And for those who want period scrarchbuilding projects thes old articles are perfect. I will use several myself. track plans are as useful today as they were then.

[Anonymous]

Well, CNJ831 disagrees with me, imagine that!

I don't think the modelers of the past spoke in terminology that wouldn't be understandable today. Basswood, balsa wood and strathmore are still available and in use. The old Ambroid, Duco and other glues or cements are also in use and the old materials would be usable with the new adhesives we use anyway.

Some of you feel this would be a waste of space in the magazine and that certainly is your right! However, the way modelers used to build from scratch, the plans they drew up, the items they built and the ingenuity they used are as relevant and usable today, as they where back then, as are the layouts they built.

Some of us may tend to believe that things were simple, crude and old fashioned, not as refined, elligant or cultivated in days gone past as they are now. I'm here to tell you that this country has lost her craftsmen and a revisiting of the craftsman's works is an education in what talent could bring forth with very simple tools.

[ClinchValleySD40]

QUOTE: Originally posted by iwasgr8

I just bought 2 large boxes of Model railroader, Trains and another publication relating to trains at an auction. These date back as far as the 1960's and they a blast to read. MRR is full of layouts and scratch building articles. These old articles are really enjoyable. As to those who say this would be a waste of space let me say that a layout is a layout is a layout whether it was built in 1950 or 2004. And for those who want period scrarchbuilding projects thes old articles are perfect. I will use several myself. track plans are as useful today as they were then.

Another thing that's really great about going through old issues are the advertisements. You can really see how far the hobby has come in a short period of time. And the prices (in old time dollars was still expensive), like new Atlas HO engines for $10. A lot of fun to leaf through them.

[BRAKIE]

Mark ,Just look over the last say 5-7 years of your back issues then you will see the repeats I am talking about...Its bad enough we have to be repeatedly told how to clean track and what tools we need but it goes beyond that if you look closely.

[Anonymous]

Brakie, I think you and I (and the other folks whom would like to see old articles) are talking about two different types of articles. Yes, I would not be interested in Model Railroader's 1943 version of how to clean track. I'm interested in the "Bench Mark" articles written by folks instrumental in bring the hobby to where it is today and re-looking at some of the interesting layouts and projects and techniques used by the folks who were real craftsmen back then.