Has anybody else had the same reaction to Neil Besougloff's close up facial expression on the latest feed in to the forum? I kind of feel like he wants to bite something - hopefully not me!!!
Anyhow, I am posting because, despite all of the past problems with the forum I have to say that they have solved many of the major irritants. I find the forum speed to be quite acceptable these days, in fact it is fast, at least by my humble standards (I will never be an Olympic judge).
Therefore, I want to give credit where credit is due, and NO, I don't want to hear any bitching about what is still wrong, although perhaps a few polite suggestions might help them improve things more.
Human nature loves to (female dog) and rarely compliments, unless there is something to be gained. I have nothing to gain here other than the satisfaction of telling the MR staff that they are doing a good job. Nobody is perfect.
Dave
I'm just a dude with a bad back having a lot of fun with model trains, and finally building a layout!
I've never had any issues with this forums software, on any of the versions since 2005.
No female dog here.
"The true sign of intelligence is not knowledge but imagination."-Albert Einstein
http://gearedsteam.blogspot.com/
It looks to me as if he has already bitten someone.
Joe
I don`t know..........but I do know that I have a problem with his "From The Editor" post in the April 2014 issue............
...........He claims there is an article about people in America not doing things with their hands anymore...........
Part of the problem with the Model Railroad hobby is this very magazine..........I see an awful lot of built in advertising for Walthers in the project layouts that have been done the past few years.
Another problem being the fact that Model Railroader magazine does not support the real model builders anymore..........when was the last time you saw "Model of the Month" award???
Back in the 1980`s there had been at least 5 to 10 different construction articles and over 200 pages in the mag.
Now there seems to be fewer pages and more advertising than you could shake a stick at.
The manufacturers (Distributors really) have crammed ready to run crap down our throats for the past 2 decades......and in part Model Railroader magazine has helped to do it.
I think when my subscription runs out in the next year I might not renew.........there are others that actually care about model builders.
Dennis Blank Jr.
CEO,COO,CFO,CMO,Bossman,Slavedriver,Engineer,Trackforeman,Grunt. Birdsboro & Reading Railroad
bruce22There was a post awhile ago about the lack of product reviews of non ready to run models. Ott locked it.
You are only telling half the story apparently in the interest of fanning the flames. First, you misspelled his name.
Second, in that thread where you claimed 'bias' against kit manufacturers in the title
http://cs.trains.com/mrr/f/88/t/226827.aspx
you asked the question
bruce22Although I haven't gone back through past issues of MR to substantiate , I have a strong feeling that the product reviews either in the mag or Cody's program seem to be lacking in freight or passenger "kits " as compared to rtr. If I am correct, any thoughts as to why so ?
So he answered your question directly
Steven OtteThe truth is, we review new items that the manufacturers send us a review sample of. If the few remaining makers of car kits don't send us a review sample, we can't review it. Simple as that. Now that you have the definitive answer, I'm locking this thread.
Now that you have the definitive answer, I'm locking this thread.
Guess the truth is less exciting than a conspiracy theory, but it is still the truth
hon30critterTherefore, I want to give credit where credit is due, and NO, I don't want to hear any bitching about what is still wrong
There is no way to start any thread here even remotely related to MR that does _not_ turn into a total female dog fest.
Some people just are itching to complain (you may add the 'b' if you wish) and they take any opportunity.
Dave,
I don't believe Neil is going to bite anyone.
But I do believe, Alco_Fan did.
Respectfully,
Frank
I was going to say something about Neil's picture, but I didn't want anybody to take it the wrong way, and start something. It was all to be in fun and jest.
Anyway, I think Ms. Jenny's (from MR Insider) picture should be there, showing off the magazine. A lot more pleasent to see, as the page is loading.
Come on Neil, I'm just joking! really.......well...mostly......honest!
Mike.
My You Tube
rdgk1se3019Back in the 1980`s there had been at least 5 to 10 different construction articles and over 200 pages in the mag.
Yes,and 120 of those pages was full or multiple page ads..Which btw many complained about in RPO.
There's been several how to, kitbash or scratchbuild articles in MR since December '13 -April' 14.
The hobby has changed drastically since the '80s, now, if that's good,bad or down right ugly will depend on a modeler's personal view.
Larry
Conductor.
Summerset Ry.
"Stay Alert, Don't get hurt Safety First!"
rdgk1se3019 He claims there is an article about people in America not doing things with their hands anymore
He claims there is an article about people in America not doing things with their hands anymore
Why are you so worried about other people? Who cares what they do? I can make things out of wood, but I can't fix my car because I have no interest in it. Who cares.
I see an awful lot of built in advertising for Walthers in the project layouts that have been done the past few years.
Because they're one of the largest and most dominant companies in the industry. My trade journals have lots of Boeing and Lockheed Martin ads because United Launch Alliance is the dominant US space launch company. NASA launches almost all their interplanetary probes on ULA vehicles because there's no one else that makes them. Who else is producing large, modern industrial and commercial structure kits with complexity that doesn't exceed that of a run of the mill model airplane kit?
It's literally one picture. One. Picture. You can see an order of magnitude more imagery on the internet in a given day. Model of the Month was a big deal when you saw one magazine's worth of pictures a month.
There were also no such thing as the internets, tastes skewed in different directions that lent themselves to lots of smaller and cutesy buildings that could be hand built, and cities had multiple newspapers because the Printed Word hadn't be obliterated by three decades of the internet.
The economics of print have changed. Call the Rocky Mountain News and ask about it.
Companies don't make that which people don't want. I see people posting here about how they have 50 locomotives and 500 railcars and there's no way they could acquire such fleets if they were doing it by hand every time out. I'm glad I don't have to go through the hassle of putting together a boxcar kit that has all the complexity of putting the lid on a shoebox.
rdgk1se3019 Another problem being the fact that Model Railroader magazine does not support the real model builders anymore..........when was the last time you saw "Model of the Month" award??? Back in the 1980`s there had been at least 5 to 10 different construction articles and over 200 pages in the mag. Now there seems to be fewer pages and more advertising than you could shake a stick at. The manufacturers (Distributors really) have crammed ready to run crap down our throats for the past 2 decades......and in part Model Railroader magazine has helped to do it. I think when my subscription runs out in the next year I might not renew.........there are others that actually care about model builders.
I find it ironic that the host of these forums comes under the fire of it's participants. I considder mysef a guest in their house. If you don't like their way of doing things, nobody's forcing any of us to stay on board, either as a subscriber to their mag or a member here.
Nobody has ever forced a hobby product down my throat. I bought it if I wanted to, didn't if I didn't. This topic about RTR vs Kits and scratchbuilding has been discussed to death, the hobby is changing. The mag changes with it. I don't like all the changes. I don't want RTR, DCC, sound locos, hi tech...
So where would Model Railroader be if they catered to MY specific interests? Well, this forum wouldn't even be here. They can't produce articles like they used to about scratchbuilding when so many of the building supplies are not available that used to be. BUT, through links and references found here, I can find what interests me.
The OP didn't want to start an unfriendly rant, and I seldom get involved in them, but this time I want to say, if nothing else, if we can't be thankful (as was the OP in his closing thought), at least be respectful guests. Dan
"I don't always use my Dremel Tool......"
He's the most interesting man in the world!
Mine doesn't move.......it's at the station!!!
alco_fan:
I guess you are right! I expected that there might be a few negative comments but I didn't expect that there would quite so many negative responses.
Oh well, if I stand with the minority in acknowledging that the MR guys have solved a lot of the problems that cropped up with the software change then so be it. The world is far too negative. I try to do my part in seeing the positive.
And Neil, I hope you understood that I was just kidding around.
Dennis:
I have taught a HS industrial arts program (Manual/CAD drafting) for over 18 years and have seen- with my own "lying eyes" the ever-smaller number of students who have some experience doing anything with their hands, other than tap keys on a keyboard! This becomes particularly apparent when I do architectural models in my program with simple materials such as heavy cardboard (railroad board is the proper name) and foam core board (like Gator board), where they have extreme difficulty in measuring, cutting lines with metal straightedge guides, etc. I ask my 9th graders about fractions on a ruler- of which they seem to have been taught absolutely nothing in 3 years of middle school. Many look at a simple ruler with uncomprehending eyes, as they tell me " they do not use them in middle school"! Of course, I do my best to correct such deficiences, but the sheer number of such students (and I have about 120 in each yearly program) that are clueless leads me to believe that Neil B. has a valid point.
Yes, there are people with manual skills, but if my experience in a public classroom (which presages future adults) is any indicator, then this IS a declining portion of the overall population.
Go into a Hobbytown franchise hobby shop- the old plastic models stay on the shelves forever, the RC hobbyists buy RTR planes- then bring them back to the store for their repair services which are offered, etc. Don't even ask about model railroading there!
The lack of hands-on is a function of two things, in my view- the increased "dependence" on electronic devices for entertainment and free-time indulgence and the fact that such things generate "immediate gratification" and expectations of even more "it's being done by the device". The existence of the technology begets dependence on it and the immediacy of result modifies behavioral expectations to suit.
So: less hands-on and more "sit-on-hands" is the trend, now several decades well along!
Cedarwoodron