It wasn't until the end, that I figured it out. This might be the best one I've seen in MR since subscribing. (I don't think everyone has their mag yet, so no spoilers from me)
As the one who wrote it... thanks!
--Steven Otte, Model Railroader senior associate editorsotte@kalmbach.com
I'm still waiting for the April issue, it should arrive next week.
Steve
If everything seems under control, you're not going fast enough!
The placement in the issue is clever.
Joe
JoeinPA The placement in the issue is clever. Joe
Yes, that made it less obvious than some previous ones.
--Randy
Modeling the Reading Railroad in the 1950's
Visit my web site at www.readingeastpenn.com for construction updates, DCC Info, and more.
Goldfinger eh Steven! Are you planning on writing some new 007 movie scripts too? I'm sure there would be lots of trains involved in the plots.
Very funny April Fool's joke!
Thanks
Dave
I'm just a dude with a bad back having a lot of fun with model trains, and finally building a layout!
Are there April Fools jokes in other MRs? I have 2016 and 2017 should I be looking for something?
NWP SWPAre there April Fools jokes in other MRs?
Every April issue has something in it, you have to find it. I don't know when this tradition started.
Mike.
My You Tube
That was good. Hidden in plain sight.
(My Model Railroad, My Rules)
These are the opinions of an under 35 , from the east end of, and modeling, the same section of the Wheeling and Lake Erie railway. As well as a freelanced road (Austinville and Dynamite City railroad).
"Alas, poor Auric, I knew him..."
Being a Bond fan, if I hadn't already figured out that it was the April Fool item, the name at the bottom would have sealed it.
The tradition of an April Fool article in MR goes way back, but it wasn't always consistent. In the early days they were more or less one-offs, like the article on getting more layout space by removing those pesky support columns in the basement and pressurizing it to support the first floor. Of course there were some drawbacks. There are some who say the Fyre-Pruf stove polish debacle was all an April Fools joke, but John Page always insisted he was serious, he painted a loco with stove polish and it worked well. But angered the Floquil people so much they pulled all advertising for several years. <cynically> until they noticed the reduced sales from failing to advertise in the #1 magazine of their target consumer.
There have been a few in recent years, it's been fairly regular now. One was the NoTrack modular standards (what with all the rail to trail conversion projects - who needs railroad track?) and the subway modeling (just need sidewalks, structures, and a subway stairway even few blocks). Sometimes they are way too obvious, I know one of the recent ones had people named Apryl and so forth mentioned constantly in the story so there was no chance you could possibly miss that it was a joke. Especially with a last name of Phool.
The April Fools Joke in the new MR
The yearly talk of the town. But I never have a clue what the big deal is because I haven't read the April issue of MR for a long time.
Rio Grande. The Action Road - Focus 1977-1983
The name's Bond, James Bond.
Anyone kind enough to tell me the page the 2016 and 2017 April fools appeared? I skimmed through them and can't find it!
I found the 2016 one via a forum search and flipping through the issue again, but I still cannot find the 2017 one, perhaps Mr. Otte can tell me if there even was a April fools in that issue.
NWP SWPAnyone kind enough to tell me the page the 2016 and 2017 April fools appeared? I skimmed through them and can't find it!
2016 = 68
2017 = 98
Also, FYI there is a DCC Corner article about adding a decoder to an Athearn AMD-103 on P. 60 of the 2016 issue.
Cheers! Ed
gmpullman NWP SWP Anyone kind enough to tell me the page the 2016 and 2017 April fools appeared? I skimmed through them and can't find it! 2016 = 68 2017 = 98 Also, FYI there is a DCC Corner article about adding a decoder to an Athearn AMD-103 on P. 60 of the 2016 issue. Cheers! Ed
NWP SWP Anyone kind enough to tell me the page the 2016 and 2017 April fools appeared? I skimmed through them and can't find it!
Well, Ed beat me to it.
I still haven't gotten my kit from 2016 yet! That kit really does take time to build... And shipping is atrociously slow evidently, 2 years and counting!
And as far as this years is concearned... I might know a guy....
Ricky W.
HO scale Proto-freelancer.
My Railroad rules:
1: It's my railroad, my rules.
2: It's for having fun and enjoyment.
3: Any objections, consult above rules.
Ed, thanks, I saw that article it's great!
Awesome April Fools joke. I imagine some Powerball winner one day will try to do this to his layout one day claiming he saw it in some past issue of MR!
gmpullman2016 = 68 2017 = 98
You shoulda let him figure it out. Your too nice of a guy!
Hi, Mike —
Tossing in a lifesaver now-and-then can't hurt
Model Railroading IS fun! Ed
DavidH66 It wasn't until the end, that I figured it out. This might be the best one I've seen in MR since subscribing. (I don't think everyone has their mag yet, so no spoilers from me)
I won't spoil it either but this one was the easiest to spot of all of them. Like you I had to get to the end to but then it was obvious.
maxman "Alas, poor Auric, I knew him..."
A lot of movie fans probably know Sean Connery had a small role in the 1962 movie The Longest Day which came out shortly before James Bond made him a superstar. I wonder how many know that Gert Frobe, the actor who played Goldfinger, also had a non-speaking role in that film also. He played the German Seargent who delivered coffee every morning to the troops on the beach. His character's name is a play on German words as listed by IMDB---Sgt. Kaffekanne.
NYBW-John A lot of movie fans probably know Sean Connery had a small role in the 1962 movie The Longest Day which came out shortly before James Bond made him a superstar. I wonder how many know that Gert Frobe, the actor who played Goldfinger, also had a non-speaking role in that film also. He played the German Seargent who delivered coffee every morning to the troops on the beach. His character's name is a play on German words as listed by IMDB---Sgt. Kaffekanne.
Actors like to keep busy with odd jobs between roles in major films.
Robert
LINK to SNSR Blog
When it showed up in the mail a couple days ago, I thought the length of the issue was the April Fools joke. Pretty thin! If it loses a few more pages it will be thinner than the Walthers flyer.
Mark P.
Website: http://www.thecbandqinwyoming.comVideos: https://www.youtube.com/user/mabrunton
We had an early one in 2017. Dear Br. Zero was checking to see how carefully we read the magazine, so on the Feb.2017 issue he had left the date as Feb. 2016. and I called him on it.
Johnboy out...................and still waiting for the April one, it is usually here by now but probably lost in the snow for a bit.
from Saskatchewan, in the Great White North..
We have met the enemy, and he is us............ (Pogo)
last mountain & eastern hogger We had an early one in 2017. Dear Br. Zero was checking to see how carefully we read the magazine, so on the Feb.2017 issue he had left the date as Feb. 2016. and I called him on it.
Yeah. You, and everybody else. I don't suppose the fact that this happened more than a year ago, and I had nothing to do with it, would encourage you to let it go?
Jimmy_BraumThat was good. Hidden in plain sight.
I forgot I was reading the April issue, and it sounded like something someone would actually do.
George In Midcoast Maine, 'bout halfway up the Rockland branch
The big elephant in the room question is would it actually work???
I mean plating your track with a conductive noncorroding metal might have its benefits, might be worth looking into!!!
Work? Probably quite well.
Be affordable to anyone short of Warren Buffet or Bill Gates? Probably not.
I had to go dig up the previous 2 years, oh yeah, 2 in a row silly product reviews. Moving it to a 'reader tip' changed it up big time.
"The express, Mr. Bond? I expect you to operate the local!"
My April issue arrived yesterday. Clever joke this time. I'm glad MR has a sense of humor.
Does anyone recall when was the first time MR did and April Fool joke, and what was the joke? .... What are some of the more memorable April Fool jokes ?
GARRY
HEARTLAND DIVISION, CB&Q RR
EVERYWHERE LOST; WE HUSTLE OUR CABOOSE FOR YOU
rrinkerI had to go dig up the previous 2 years, oh yeah, 2 in a row silly product reviews.
More than two years ago, I believe, but the product review they did on the Wisconsin Central box car made me think for awhile.