August MR

[Anonymous]

I think each with each issue of MR, if something doesn't really appeal to you.we sometimes feel there's not enough good stuff in that issue. Everyone of us has a particular niche about the hobby that attracts him,when we fail to see it, the issue seemed bland,not every at bat is a hit. At least there were less ATTA'BOY letters in RPO.

[jfugate]

CNJ:

Interesting comments ...

In my day job (computer and internet programming), I am often called upon to train developers. As a result, I've been trained in how to teach adults, how adults learn, and so on.

Modern adults rely on some combination of 4 basic methods to learn:

Lecture/theory: Tell me all about how it is supposed to work, and don't leave out any details. This sort of person wants to read all the game rules cover-to-cover before they start to play a new game.

Active experimentation: Let me try it first -- I only need to know the theory behind it if I get stuck. This sort of person wants to get out the game board and the pieces, fiddle around with them, and see if they can infer how the game works before consulting the rules.

Watching others: Let me watch some else try it first, so I can see how it works. Then I might try it. This sort of person learns best if they can sit next to an active experimentor after he's figured out some of the game mechanics, but they may get impatient just watching the active experimentor fiddle while trying to learn.

Hearing others: Let someone who knows how it's done tell me the right way to do it. This sort of person learns best from someone who has played the game before and can tell them quickly how it's done, what the clever tricks are, and so on. No theorizing or pouring over pages of rules, no fiddling around trying to figure it out, let's just get to the bottom line from someone who knows what they are talking about.

We all mix and match these various modes of learning, but we each tend to prefer one mode over all the others as our personal *best* method.

It's also true that we tend to think *everyone else* prefers the method we like best, and all other methods of learning are inferior to our preferred method.

The truth is, each of these methods of learning have advantages and disadvantages. The best classes and instructors try to provide learning opportunities that embrace each of these methods of learning.

Also, 75% of the current population prefers active experimentation or watching/listening to others demonstrate the methods. Done right, the video medium can reach this group and help them learn a subject thoroughly.

Only 25% are in the lecture/theory group, and would just as soon read about it as watch it being taught. If the video content includes a text supplement as well, then you can approach 100% effectiveness in your teaching, reaching all learning styles.

[CNJ831]

QUOTE: Originally posted by jfugate

QUOTE: Originally posted by BRAKIE

Don't mean to rain on anybodys "Atta boy MR" parade but,one good article doesn't make a excellant magazine..How much "fluff"is in it?

What's fluff mean?

I've seen other postings on here that the trend to photo essays is fluff -- give us the good old days of the text heavy articles, they say.

Well I for one applaud MR's trend away from lots of *gray* pages of text toward more photos. Just don't make the captions too brief or the photos too large. Give me medium sized photos (so I can get more different photos) and some meat. And if they provide some meat in the captions, then I'm all for a more visual magazine.

I've also seen concerns about the younger generation getting interested in the hobby ... hey guess what, it's pretty well known that with TV, video games, and so on, that the younger generation is way more visual than us old kodgers. And hey, guess what -- MR's becoming more visual in its presentation. Gee, maybe they do pay attention to the trends in the population ... [;)]

Joe - As someone who's long been in the hobby and the owner of a nearly complete library of MRs to refer to, I contend that this idea of fluff (curtailed info or captions that convey no real information) and illustrations replacing hard, explanatory text, does not work well for the average person. While illustrations may greatly assist text in explaining a given modelling process, pictures alone are of little help if the reader doesn't have the basic understanding what is being done. Too often in the heavily illustrated hobby magazines today we see "step 1, step 2, magic occurs, step 4". Little wonder that even "shake the box" kits are becoming too complex for some newbie hobbyists.

Yes, we have become an almost totally "visual" generation. But at the same time virtually all text offerings have been "dumbed down" to reach a general populace too lazy to care about a detailed account of a given process. For a great many individuals you can run an instructional video over and over and they just won't get the concept of what is being demonstrated (just ask some new owner of a lawn tractor, water softener, steel garden building kit, et al.) because they fail to understand the basic concepts usually covered in a more detailed text explanation. Likewise, the complete recall of a demonstration flashed across a TV screen in seconds is often hard to carry to the workbench and if a crucial step is dropped out, there can be hell to pay.

While man may be a visual animal, it has been largely through other means of communication (particularly reading) that great advancements in technology and understanding have been made.

CNJ831

[Anonymous]

Too bad I didn't get mine :-( When is it coming out in our local hobbystores? Oh well!

[Anonymous]

Unfortunately, I don't have the new issue yet.

In the early 90's - the last time I was reading the magazine heavily, there seemed to be a lot more diesel detailing projects, paint shop, 3-view drawings of locomotives, etc.

I haven't seen much of that stuff the past year or so that I've been buying the magazine again.

But the presentation level is definately up a few notches. It feels like a first class publication.

I'm not personally too bothered by not having a lot of the detailed stuff in there now, because I have a library of old saved articles to draw from. But I bet people who are picking up the mag now for the first time have a different perception of the hobby than I had 15 years ago.

[jfugate]

QUOTE: Originally posted by CARRfan


What makes me slightly uncomfortable is there is less information on how to get a layout to that level than there was in the past.

But eye-candy wise, the magazine is incredible.

CARRfan:

I'm just curious, is this info missing only in this issue, or are you thinking the magazine in general doesn't cover this topic like it should?

For instance, with this issue, they are kicking off another project railroad. Don't you think a project railroad shows you how to get from here to there with a layout?

Or are you thinking of something else that's missing?

I'm interested because as a producer of model RR how-to videos, maybe I can address this need ...

[Anonymous]

Visually, the magazine is appealing as heck. If you pick up an MR, then pick up just about any other MRR'ing magazine, it's like looking at an HDTV vs. your grandfather's black and white TV.

What makes me slightly uncomfortable is there is less information on how to get a layout to that level than there was in the past.

But eye-candy wise, the magazine is incredible.

[davekelly]

[#ditto]

[jfugate]

QUOTE: Originally posted by BRAKIE

Don't mean to rain on anybodys "Atta boy MR" parade but,one good article doesn't make a excellant magazine..How much "fluff"is in it?

What's fluff mean?

I've seen other postings on here that the trend to photo essays is fluff -- give us the good old days of the text heavy articles, they say.

Well I for one applaud MR's trend away from lots of *gray* pages of text toward more photos. Just don't make the captions too brief or the photos too large. Give me medium sized photos (so I can get more different photos) and some meat. And if they provide some meat in the captions, then I'm all for a more visual magazine.

I've also seen concerns about the younger generation getting interested in the hobby ... hey guess what, it's pretty well known that with TV, video games, and so on, that the younger generation is way more visual than us old kodgers. And hey, guess what -- MR's becoming more visual in its presentation. Gee, maybe they do pay attention to the trends in the population ... [;)]

I too like the ads. So I don't see much fluff in MR ... don't know what magazine you're reading. I've been in the hobby for nearly 40 years and I still find things in each issue of MR that are useful -- sure some issues are better than others, but very few are ever a total loss.

[jeffshultz]

There really isn't a lot of fluff there - 5 "layout" articles of one sort or another - all with distinctly different focuses, several different modeling and detailing articles as well.

And I'm one of those people who likes the ads, because that's how I find out about most products.

[leighant]

QUOTE..." the room is very nice. I want to know how he keeps the underside of the layout so clean."

Isn't that was Photoshop is for?

[MRTerry]

I've been to John's house. The whole thing is really that clean and neat. His garage is a car guy's dream come true, including a workshop area that's nicer than many kitchens I've seen, and the basement is all neat as a pin, including the storage area. Truly amazing.
Thanks for reading MR,
Terry

[tsasala]

Since my layout is on wheels, there's nothing under it (well, nothing train related) However, there are plenty of boxes in the closet. I vaguely remember someone saying something about "spreading" and "taking over" and "dead body". Hmmm, don't recall who that was though [:)]

-Tom

[davekelly]

OK, the area under his layout is clear for the photographs. Let's see what that "spare bedroom" on the other side of the house looks like!

[jfugate]

You know the saying that a clean desk is the sign of a sick mind ... well I think the same thing applies to anyone who has space under a layout that looks spotless, as in this month's MR ... why even the spiders would be afraid to live under there!

... sick ... sick ... SICK!

[;)]

[pcarrell]

Thats just WRONG to have that much free space under the layout.

Hay, I've got an idea! Lets get his address and everybody send him something to put under the layout! His trainroom will look like mine in no time!

[Hawks05]

I'll have to wait until I get a free day so I can go down to the LHS or something and pick up my copy. I still haven't gotten through June or July's issues yet. No time to do anything. Maybe on my vacation I'll get some free time. But then I'm going to try and read a book that I started back in late May, I'm on page 30.

[smcgill]

Under my layout are Worms!!!
Love the fresh air!!

[BRAKIE]

Don't mean to rain on anybodys "Atta boy MR" parade but,one good article doesn't make a excellant magazine..How much "fluff"is in it?

[tomwatkins]

I've got lots of stuff stored under my benchwork. Fortunately it's all model railroading stuff and it's stored neatly and labeled so I can find it when I need it. The unbuilt kits are in boxes sorted by roadname and everything else is in plastic containers on shelves that I built under the benchwork. Eventually I'd like to install skirting or removeable panels, but I don't see that happening any time soon.
Have Fun,
Tom Watkins

[fiatfan]

I have three of those rolling plastic carts under one side for kits/tools/supplies and a four foot wide by three foot high book shelf with some additional supplies. Once the track is down and the kits are built, I will consolidate and remove unecessary storage.

With a four bedroom house with a full basement, walk-up attic, garage, and all the kids moved out, there is plenty of room for a trains only room.

Tom

[TrainFreak409]

Everyone is talking about the August issue, which means I SHOULD BE GETTING MINE SOON!

~[8]~ TrainFreak409 ~[8]~

[jeffshultz]

I'm looking under my layout right now.... it has a stack of empty Rubbermaid tubs, stacked inside each other, Some odd containers fully of Christmas decorations, some scenery materials, and a still unopened "QVC Christmas train" (I think it's nominally G scale) that my mom bought for me (she got one for herself as well) several years ago and finally gave me when I got married and moved out of the house...

[steveblackledge]

JOHN T1, (sir) Nice letter in MR, top man, did you notice all the space wasted in lineside photos again, they should either fill them with small pictures or squeeze the lineside pics down a bit and use the space for "Events"
By the way my benchwork is 53" high minimum

[rrinker]

5 or 6 of those tubs don't even cover the CHRISTMAS decorations. And then there's Halloween, Easter, and the generic seasonal stuff.... it truly never ends.

--Randy

[Train 284]

QUOTE: Originally posted by trainchris

Did not get my MR yet.[|(] Maybe on Monday. [:D]

Ya same here, except Monday is the 4th remember so Tuesday most likely I hope.

As for my layout I have about 5 or 6 of those Rubbermaid tubs full of stuff.

[Cox 47]

I moved and had to tear up a layout I had been working on for almost 20 years found all kinds of stuff including a full sized switch stand I had planed to turn into a mail box stand thing must have been 150 pounds kind of a hard thing to lose. Cox 47

[selector]

I promised the wife that I would keep those large 50 gallon Rubbermaid storage containers ( the bathtubs with lids) under the layout in exchange for the room I have. It wasn't a bad bargain. [:D] Of course, part of the bargain was that she would make skirts for the edge of the layout to cover it all,......... !?[:-^]

[Anonymous]

there is less stuff under my layout than there is ontop of my layout. but then again that comes with rebuilding a layout too....

[mmartian22]

mine is stuff under it and on top ,and running out of space too just wondering he did it