Reading Model Railroader

[loathar]

I buy it off the news stand almost every month. I sometimes get the special issues too.

[on30francisco]

I currently have a subscription but I probably will not renew. I find a lot more information on my interests in other magazines and on the internet. I subscribe to Railroad Model Craftsmam, Narrow Gauge and Shortline Gazette, and Light Iron Digest. These magazines have excellent, in-depth articles and plans on scratchbuilding structures and rolling stock, weathering, detailing and other model and layout building activities. While I enjoy operation and running trains, I enjoy building models of structures and rolling stock - especially with wood. I have always enjoyed building the unusual. These other magazines also focus on other scales besides HO. (HO is my secondary scale) MR today focuses more on layout building, model accumulation, mainstream models, and as a showcase for large layouts (isn't this layout the greatest!) with very little modeling information. On a positive note, they have more articles that are geared towards beginners which I think is good. I miss the columns such as Ask Paint Shop, MR Clinic, and Student Fare. I have a collection of old issues from the 80s, 70s, and some from the 60s and 50s. I enjoy rereading these back issues because they have a lot of good plans and techniques for modeling and scratchbuilding. They also have a lot of interesting articles.

[DALCruiser]

I have had a subscription for several years and I do read each one from cover-to-cover. I have found something of interest in every one, even those months that weren't filled with stuff that I would use or benefit from immediately. Before I subscribed, I bought the occasional copy. I'm glad I have kept all of the issues I have because I find I do go back and look for information I once thought was not that interesting.

Dave

[tomikawaTT]

I read every article and scan all the ads in every Model Railroader when I receive my subscription copy, and frequently find myself referring back to the file of old issues that now spans fifteen feet of bookshelves.

I do not expect every word of every issue to be of immediate value to me, but I'm amazed about the number of things that were 'unimportant' when first seen which later became the essential clue in solving some problem or other.

I've noticed that the titles of the two major model railroading mags pretty much say which way they go. Model Railroader is for people who model railroads, then operate them in a way that wouldn't cause Peter Josserand to cringe (too much.) Railroad Model Craftsman is for people who want to kitbash or scratchbuild museum quality models of the PD&Q RR #999 as of February Third 19xx, with every bolthead, rivet, rust spot and coffee stain in place.

I subscribe to both, and to Tetsudo Mokei Shumi (for information on my prototype and currently-available models thereof). Personally, I find MR (and these forums!) to be the best fit for my 'wish I was a dispatcher' profile. If my real wish was to be a master mechanic, my preference might be different.

[icmr]

QUOTE: Originally posted by scubaterry

I look fwd to it with great anticipation each month. I go thru it cover to cover including the advtisements. I like the pics they give me some great ideas sometimes. Terry[8D]

[#ditto]



Victor

Happy Railroading.[swg][swg]

[andrechapelon]

I've read every issue of MR published since August, 1957. I don't have all those issues, but I've read them, usually multiple times.

I also get all the annuals.

Andre

[Anonymous]

I really need to subscibe. I've been buying it from the news stand. Off and on since 1997. I'd probably save more money if I subscribed. I like the special issues.. Like for example, Great Model Railroads 2006. There were alot of real good layouts in that issue. I liked layouts 1 & 2 the best. "Keeping up to date on the Utah Belt". and "Down in Arkansas on the MoPac". I use alot of of the information from the articals . I also like to read about ,all the new products from the different manufactures too. I sometimes take an issue to work. My co-workers around me like the magazeen too. A very great Magazeen then and now[bow][tup][yeah].thank you from I.C.66

[MisterBeasley]

I pick them up at my LHS when they look interesting. I'm just getting back after many years off, so "repeat" articles aren't a problem yet. I enjoy just looking at the craftsmanship of the layouts. Actually, though, I spend more time looking at the ads than reading the articles. Some of that is just drooling, and sometimes I see something and it gives me ideas.

I had an airplane trip last week, so in preparation I went to my LHS and also picked up a copy of Railroad Model Craftsman. It's also a good magazine, but clearly for people who are into "x-treme" detailing. It was interesting that the ads were not all the same ones that I see in MR, so they must have slightly different demographics.

[icmr]

I subscribe every year.



Victor

Happy Railroading.[swg][swg]

[icmr]

I read every issue that I get and every issue I have.



Victor

Happy Railroading.[swg][swg]

[Anonymous]

i like having a subscription, alot of times i just like to skim through it when im bored or in the car, and then acouple of times ill read the whole magazine at once

[steamage]

For modeling and seeing what's new, I read MR. For prototype info I read SP Trainline and the WP Headlight. Enjoyed Bruce Chubb's layout drawing, sure a lot of track there!

[scubaterry]

I look fwd to it with great anticipation each month. I go thru it cover to cover including the advtisements. I like the pics they give me some great ideas sometimes. Some months are better than others but I still keep up my sub.
Terry[8D]

[waltersrails]

i also think mr needs more pics of layouts.

[Anonymous]

I've gotten MR every month start in Feb 1976. I have seen many changes over the years,some good alot not so good. They have always seemed to lock into three or four main authors, and then beat you to death with this crews HOW IT MUST BE DONE ideas and because we our MR the #1 selling train mag, so we know this is right. If you have been reading MR other ten years or more you no I don't even have to drop names you just know who and what i'm talking about.
Some of the best that was taken out Paint shop, dollar projects ( could been made $5 dollar projects) Need more unknown layouts or sould i said unknown people's layouts. bring some humor back into play, again.

[Anonymous]

emdgp92, why dredge this fluff up from a year ago?

[waltersrails]

i read the ones that iterest me but i rather be on here because i get better anwers and get them when i need them.

[GAPPLEG]

[2c] I have subscribed to both MR & RMC since 1971 , missed some during a divorce, yes some months I find nothing of interest, but if I wait till the next issue there wwill be something, I have stated this before and I'll say it again, I wish MR & MRC would publish all the indexes going back as far as they can, I really don't like or want to tear them out of the issues.[banghead]

[nfmisso]

I subscribe, and have for many years.

I also subscribe to MRG and MM, and am a member of the N&WHS.

[emdgp92]

I read my MRs from cover to cover...even though I don't have as much time to do so. I have issues going all the way back to about '79 or so...and then a few from the 1950s and '60s. Even though I'm a Penn Central modeler (and MR doesn't run PC articles, or even any on its subsidiaries) I still find the articles interesting.

[cefinkjr]

I've had a subscription for something like 40 years. I used to read every issue from cover to cover but for the last several years, I've skipped articles that seem to be repeats. That's not a criticism of MR. I expect them to be repeating things every now and then for newcomers.

While we're on the topic of MR itself though, what do the rest of you old-timers miss that used to be there? My most missed feature would be the scale drawings of rolling stock, buildings, bridges, etc. I know there are some but I don't think there are as many now -- used to be at least two in every issue -- and I don't think their quality is as high.

On the plus side, I've really enjoyed the articles that take an in depth look at an industry with, of course, emphasis on how and what they ship by rail. Since I prefer to model 1943, I particularly look for information related to industrial activity during WW II.

Chuck

[Anonymous]

I just got my first supscription this year for christmas

[Bob Hayes]

gwallace54--

The only reason I bought Great Model Railroads 2005 was because of the 2 foot gauge live steam layout. It's not the kind of article I would expect to find in Garden Railways Magazine. You must remember Garden Railways is aimed more at 45mm gauge, and the live steam layout was 7.5' gauge; big enough to ride on which is what most of us dream about anyway, isn't it? Don't we all dream about being able to climb inside the cab and run the train down the track. Either that or playing GOD. And it was a great model railroad. And, I found a track plan(Utah Colorado Western) that I thought was very interesting as a bonus, as well as several other track plans with ideas to incorporate into my layout. Regardless of scale, all the articles were about model railroads. How can you say MR is getting off track?

Bob Hayes

[Anonymous]

I got my copy of MR yesterday in Houston. It took about ten minutes to thumb through, then I put it down and probably won't pick it back up. Perhaps the reason I don't subscribe is that lately I've felt disappointed whenever I buy a copy. Somewhere in this thread one of you guys said you liked the ads because you could see what new items were coming out. That has become the reason I buy MR, so I get a head's up on new products. Now for me "Trains" is what I look forward to getting each month and the one I subscribe to. Maybe I'm more of a railfan and less of a modeler than I thought.

mike

[grayfox1119]

I have subscribed to MR for several years now, and I keep all the issues in the MR special binders. I skip over some articles that do not apply to my desires, but most of the articles have good info that I can use. I like the sections on DCC because I am going that way with my layout, and I also like the special HOW TO articles.
I also subscribe to TRAINS and find that magazine quite interesting also. The enet is very good of course, but there are times I need to refer to an article, and I can quickly find it in back issues, and I find it easier to read in the comfort of my recliner. The monitor screen can get your eyes VERY tired after a while. Balance is the key guys...balance!!!

***

[Anonymous]

I have partial years of MR from 1937 through 1953 I inherited from my Dad. I have full years of MR from 1954 through the current issue. I read every word in every issue, even the ads. I remain pleased with MR. The information now in my archive is monumentally complete thanks to MR. This just my opinion and is not intended to sway anyone else's opinion.

Tom

[CFournier]

I'm a subscriber. Been one for 5 or 6 years now. I bought all the years back to 1978 in the last couple of years in swap meets. I t gives me good stuff to read while I wait for the next issue of MR. But it takes a lot of room in the basement !!
I also subscribe to RMC and Trains mag and buy Model Rairoading mag (When they have one out!), and Classic Trains mag...I read them all but I prefer MR...
Chris

[Anonymous]

I just bought my first copy. I am finding it informitive. There is so much to take in for a newbee.
ennout

[trolleyboy]

I buy the yearly speacial editions Great railroads planning and I will buy the ones which feature articles I'm interested in ie CN/CP stories or the few and far between traction articles I used to buy monthly religiously it for several years but even with binders it's started to take up too much space. TB