Model Railroader - then and now

[Anonymous]

I apologize in advance for this being a somewhat long post, but there's no way to do this justice without the detail.

 

Purely for sentimental reasons, I've kept a copy of the February 1967 Model Railroader.

 

I happened to come across it when looking for something else and decided to thumb through it.

 

Allowing for the changes in technology over the years, there are some real differences in the content of the magazine.

 

First, they had "Off The Train Wire", a section that included some current product information, then some editorial on the model railroading market.

 

Then, "Schedules", a list of upcoming shows and attractions.

 

Next, "Trade Topics", basically a forerunner of the current product reviews.

 

The next section was "Railroader's Library", a review of new books.

 

"Railway Post Office" was the same as the current section with letters (e-mails) from modellers.

 

The editorial page was entitled "At the Throttle", and when I say page I mean a full page.

 

There was a selection of articles on various topics. As always, some of these will be of interest to some readers, others will not. That's the same as today.

 

But, one thing that seems to have been lost over the years is the "Dollar Model Project".

 

I think we can safely assume that the dollar aspect of that can be relegated to history, but not the concept. I think it'd be a great idea to run simple, evening or two projects in the magazine. You know, for those times when you'd like to do something but you don't want to start a large project.

 

Trackside Photos featured pictures and details on models and layouts.

 

Then, another "Dollar Model Project".

 

Next was something I'd like to see return, prototype photos and drawings of railroad equipment.

 

"Scratchbuilders' Scrapbook" had photos and details of a real-life industrial facility.

 

"ABC's for Model Railroaders" was, as  the description says, "Tips for new model railroaders - and perhaps veterans too".

 

Then, more prototype equipment pictures and drawings.

 

Towards the end of the issue, there was "Bull Session", including "Ol' Ray says...". This included helpful technical information and some opinion.

 

In this issue, the "MR Clinic" provided a complete listing of scale relationships and useful dimensions for all scales followed by help with wiring projects.

 

In case anyone thinks it's unfair to compare an issue from that long ago to today, I also have a copies of issues from the 80s and newer.

 

One of things I miss from not that long ago were the humorous stories from John Page and others.

 

If you've been reading the magazine long enough, you'll probably recall the beautiful renderings of big-name passenger trains including the Super Chief, Empire Builder and 20th Century Limited. I'd have bought the magazine for those alone. Suddenly, and with many other trains to choose from, they stopped running them.

 

Then the list of advertisers. It was unbelievable compared to today. I doubt it's an exaggeration to say you could have spent hours pouring over the ads, learning what new products were available or announced.

 

Of course, I'm sure MR would be quite happy to run any ads they can get. I suspect this has a great deal to do with a number of manufactures no longer being in business, and of course, the Internet. Many companies may figure that if we want to know what going on, we can visit their web site.

 

Am I complaining?

 

If it sounds that way, I didn't intend it.

 

It's just that I think a few of these "old" ideas still have merit today and I'd like to see them at least considered.

 

I’d be interested to hear if any of you would like to see any of these features, or any I haven't mentioned make a return.

 

 

 

 

 

[nw2]

I second the idea to bring back prototypical drawings and information of railroad equipment.

I also like articles of industries that you can model and building drawings.

[gregc]

how often was there a layout review?

how about constuction articles?  

and did they still have a cartoon?

[gmpullman]

I believe it was Dave Nelson that used to host the "Digital Archive Book Of The Month Club" here

 

http://cs.trains.com/mrr/f/88/p/245966/2743082.aspx?page=1

 

 

Forum members would discuss past issues and the technology of the day.

Fun Stuff...

Ed

[dknelson]

Yes I think I started over 18 "book club" threads were we would take up an old issue and talk about it just like a book club does.  It died from lack of interest or so it seemed.  If there is interest I'd be happy to start it up again.  One I remember in particular found the actual first ever John Armstrong track plan in MR which turned out to be far earlier than anybody ever mentioned - he won 2nd place in a track plan contest.

I used to practically memorize each issue back in the 1960s as a teen and always wished there was more.  It is worth pointing out that now we have not just MR but this website with Cody's Office and other videos, not to mention the various postings on this Forum, MR Video Plus, and the two regular supplental issues, Model Railroad Planning and Great Model Railroads.  It is almost like getting 2 or 3 or 4 magazines a month.

I do wonder how the Dollar Model series would be received now.  Even adjusting for inflation, while some of those structure models were exquisite, some were fairly crude with the main advantage being the cheapness and the ability to say "I made this."  The standards are so high now, I wonder how many guys would be willing to be authors and do the work and subject themselves to possible snarky comments merely to hold their modeling efforts to a self imposed low budget.  For example, look how quickly MR columnist Lionel Strang kind of ran out of things to say after a while, and the comments posted here were pretty harsh.

Anyway I think looking at old issues, for both the good and the less good aspects, is a hoot and I am glad the OP started this thread.

Dave Nelson

 

[IRONROOSTER]

I own all the issues back to 1950 and several for the late 40's.  I also have the DVD of issues thru 2009.

And yes it is fun to go back and read those old issues.

One of the things about those old dollar car models is that they didn't have the detail parts available now and so they described how to make them such as grab irons from staples.  24 of the articles were printed in a book titled Easy-To-Build Model Railroad Freight cars in 1971.

Enjoy

Paul

[BRAKIE]

What I miss the most is Bull Session and A Railroad You Can Model.

Dollar modeling projects is still around but,in a different form. A box of black or green plastic drinking straws chart tape and 2-3 long pieces of scale lumber will produce several pipe loads for less then a dollar per load. Plastic black or green coffee stirrers will make smaller pipe loads for less then a dollar per load.

A lumber load for bulkhead and centerbeam flatcars can be made with a block of narrow balsa wood cut to size then wrapped in plastic cut from a trash bag. Cost per load for several cars around a dollar.

["JaBear"]

Firstly I didn’t take your post as a complaint, but as a commentary.

 

While not a “Dollar Car”, I did use Paul Larson’s’ March 1958 “An MR one-evening project”, Freelanced Flat Car, as the basis to build two truss rod flat cars.

Aside from the fact that Mr Larson must have lived above the Arctic Circle to have an extra long evening, I took evenings, it was for me worth the effort because I came up with two cars that I wanted and believe are not commercially available. I also wanted to practise working and scratchbuilding with styrene.

Until now I hadn’t priced the materials but because of this thread thought I would.

This is presuming that I didn’t have any materials, or scrap/spares box, and also that some items are sold in “bulk”.  The prices are in US$, and will vary.

 

Arch Bar trucks, (1 pair) these vary between 2.39 and 8.35 so, $6.10                    

Styrene sheet; .040”, 6”x 12” x 2, $4.19.

Styrene sheet; .060”, 6”x 12” x 1, $4.19.                                                                 

Kadee #5 coupler (2 pair), $4.05 or #148 (2 pair), $4.27.                                     

Kadee 232, coupler box x 10, $3.08.   

Kadee 634, centring spring x 12, $2.97.

10” Queenposts x 27, $3.00. 

Stake pockets x 32, $2.00.

K brake set, $3.00.

Turnbuckles x 24, $3.00.

2-56 SS screws x 12, $3.51.

Phosphor bronze wire, 8” x 10, 2.50.

Total $41.74.

 

This also does not include adhesive, paint, decals, and lead shot for weight.

 

So further to Dave Nelson’s comments, I wonder if the money and time taken to achieve the end result would be satisfactory for today’s modellers with the highly detailed RTR models that are now available. My observation is that for those who wish to have specific prototype cars that are not commercially available, that there are other sources for the data and dimensions required, and that kitbashing is preferred over scratchbuilding.

That said I have another 3 truss rod flats to make and a couple of other cars as future projects, and I certainly would not discourage anyone who wished to tackle one of the already existing “Dollar Cars” or similar projects. I used styrene instead of strip wood, but the basics remain the same.

Cheers, the Bear.

 

[BRAKIE]

I wonder if the money and time taken to achieve the end result would be satisfactory for today’s modellers with the highly detailed RTR models that are now available.

I suspect most would be willing to make loads for those highly detailed cars then to scratchbuild or maybe even kitbash a freight car.

I can make a pipe load from black or green straws in about two hours and that includes allowing the glue to dry and applying chart tape banding..

[JoeinPA]

Like Brakie I miss the "Railroad you can Model" series. It was full of ideas for potential layouts or layout segments as well as ideas for operations. I suppose today it would be difficult to get staff out to some of the out of the way places to do the photography and research to do these articles.

Joe

[dknelson]

I hope the irony is not lost on anyone of that book of articles about how to scratchbuild cars from the old Dollar Car series being called "Easy to Build."  The thread on the forums about craftsman kits brought memories of when kits that are now regarded as "craftsman kits" were regarded as easy to build, such as the Silver Streak freight cars.  At some point easy became not-so-easy.

As for the "Railroad You Can Model" series, which I also liked, to a certain extent that idea although not the name is often part of articles in Model Railroad Planning. 

Also note that the Railroad You Can Model series also appeared in Kalmbach's old "Model Trains" magazine for beginners, and some of those articles together with some from MR itself were reprinted in two soft cover books that Kalmbach released, both of which are often seen at swap meets. 

Even back in the 1950s some of those "Dollar Car/Dollar Model" series articles "cheated" a bit by assuming a well stocked scratchbox of stuff, with glue and paint and screws and such already in stock and thus "free."  Back then the very cheapest trucks were about fifty cents a pair but those were not Central Valley ones by any means.  Bear's total of over $41 for a flatcar is not all that surprising but in fairness, would I really think in terms of the cost if I already had some or all of that stuff sitting around?  Also, there are materials left over from his parts list for other future models so those costs do get amortized a bit.

By contrast, the structure articles by E.L. Moore basically involved balsa wood, manilla file folders, and glue.  They'd still be pretty cheap to build by any standards - IF you have Moore's skills.  Start using castings instead of his home made windows and doors and the cost would skyrocket. 

Dave Nelson

[dstarr]

I miss Paint Shop.  A lot of my rolling stock is low end train set stuff with a decent home brew paint job.  Paint shop had colors, photos, and ideas for doing more such. 

[Old Thumper]

Funny that this thread would start a day or 2 after I brought home a stack of MR mags that my Dad bought in 1962 / 1963 ( at 50 cents a copy ).  He saved them through 3 moves and then they sat in an old filing cabinet out in the barn for 50 years.  Some of them were recycled into mouse nesting material, but many of them are in very good shape, and don't smell too mousey.  :)

[BRAKIE]

Dave (Nelson),My love for short lines started with "A Railroad You Can Model: The Aberdeen & Rockfish". Great article with a good track plan. My Slate Creek Rail and SummerSet Ry serving a industrial park  idea came from "A Railroad You Can Model" Progressive Rail."  Those articles should be a once or twice a year reading since it shows model railroading need not be a Godzilla size  basement filler or built in a special custom built building.

 

$41.00 to scratch build a flat car? No,it would be more like $10-12.00 in comparison that would be 6 Athearn yellow box car kits @ $1.49 and yes, I can recall those prices since $3.00 of my  $5.00 weekly allowance went for two car kits.

 

["JaBear"]

Larry. Using a US Inflation Calculator, for what it’s worth, $42 (2016) = $5.10 (1958). Either way, a lot of money and probably a whole lot of chores to achieve that money, for a young chap managing his allowance, especially after purchasing the latest issue of Model Railroader for 50 cents.

 

Dave, yes you are right I do have spares left over, and I didn’t think in $ terms when I was accumulating the bits required; yes the irony you mentioned had not escaped me, and yes there was “cheating” going on, though I’d prefer to call it “assumptions”, as can be seen in the first paragraph of Paul Larson’s March 1958 MR article, Freelance Flat Car, unless, of course, Mr. Larson was a master of understatement.

“A few weeks ago I settled into my shop chair and tried to think of something to build that wouldn’t take much effort. I didn’t quite feel up to building a fully detailed model of the Pentagon, yet I wanted to do something. The flat car shown here is the result of the evenings work, and I recommend it to anyone who’s feeling moderately lazy. It is built almost entirely of commercial components, and is so simple that several could be built on a production line basis with little, if any, strain.”

 

As for the Railroad You Can Model, those articles and accompanying photos were supplied by readers, with maps and track plans done by the MR staff illustrator if necessary, and it is my impression that the Paint Shop evolved over the years from predominately reader’s contributions conducted by an MR staffer, to the Ask the Paint Shop format with far more reliance on input required from the MR staff. I should point out that I’m not ignoring the behind the scenes editorial work carried out on those articles.

 

Of course readers can still contribute to the MR .....

http://mrr.trains.com/magazine/about-us/contributor-guidelines/2010/03/submission-guidelines---model-railroader

.....but without wishing to open a can of worms, are we lazier, more reliant now on “someone else can do it”; is it because the internet offers us far more avenue to anonymously “publish” material, or does the MR and other like outlets have to be far more accurate, to the nitpicking degree, because of the ability of us to anonymously criticise. At least a critical letter, back in the day, to the Railroad Post Office required a name if it was to be published, which to its credit the MR often appeared to do.

Again just my

Cheers, the Bear.

[BRAKIE]

Larry. Using a US Inflation Calculator, for what it’s worth, $42 (2016) = $5.10 (1958). Either way, a lot of money and probably a whole lot of chores to achieve that money, for a young chap managing his allowance, especially after purchasing the latest issue of Model Railroader for 50 cents.

OK.I see added inflation. Back then you could buy a brass steam engine for $42.00! Of course that was a lot of coin for factory workers and office staff and both made good money.

For a young lad that's a lot of grass cutting and allowance saving. Took me around 6 weeks to save 4.00 from my $5.00 allowance for a Tenshodo GP7 at $21.95.