Done with MR Mag?

[Anonymous]

I'm a MR MAG fan and I'M also an N-scale modler. While I like all scales I have noticed MR's lack of interest in N-scale, but they are not alone. Walthers does not have any N-scale advertisments anymore along with woodland scenics and in the last issue even Atlas only showed HO scale. A 4' x 8' N-scale layout has a lot more operational room and I would like to see more of these. Also what happened to great N-scale layout projects like the Clinchfield and Wisconsin Central?

[Anonymous]

I just found that they dont show anything for sale N scale wise or show new things that are N scale. I do agree with someone above about saying that you can apply the pictures no matter the scale, but having almost nothing N scale is just kinda a let down as if Ho is the only way to go or something. Isnt it already bad enough that they have 4 times the selection we do?

[Anonymous]

I just found that they dont show anything for sale N scale wise or show new things that are N scale. I do agree with someone above about saying that you can apply the pictures no matter the scale, but having almost nothing N scale is just kinda a let down as if Ho is the only way to go or something. Isnt it already bad enough that they have 4 times the selection we do?

[Anonymous]

i think n scale became popular because it is smaller than ho,the most popular scale. people were drawn to it because you can build a good size layout in a smaller space. when it first got rolling the equipment was not that good, and people stayed away from it for that reason. N gauge equipment has now gotten to the point, that it rivals ho scale. for whatever the reason,people from both scales get a bit ruffled and seem to think that everything they do in their scale is better than the other. i have seen a couple of layouts where both scales were used together and the effect was outstanding. articles and plans can be converted into any scale you want,regardless how complicated they are,you just need to use your imagination. isn't that what the hobby is all about?when i started in this hobby i chose ho scale because it was the most popular. actually O gauge was pretty popular back then. clearly HO and N scale are the choice now,so most everyone is drawn to them the other scales O, S, Z, etc. are practiced by indivduals who want something different from the norm and they produce some outstanding work. i say to each his own, i enjoy looking at any scale that i see. model railroading is for all scales not just one or two.

[Anonymous]

i think n scale became popular because it is smaller than ho,the most popular scale. people were drawn to it because you can build a good size layout in a smaller space. when it first got rolling the equipment was not that good, and people stayed away from it for that reason. N gauge equipment has now gotten to the point, that it rivals ho scale. for whatever the reason,people from both scales get a bit ruffled and seem to think that everything they do in their scale is better than the other. i have seen a couple of layouts where both scales were used together and the effect was outstanding. articles and plans can be converted into any scale you want,regardless how complicated they are,you just need to use your imagination. isn't that what the hobby is all about?when i started in this hobby i chose ho scale because it was the most popular. actually O gauge was pretty popular back then. clearly HO and N scale are the choice now,so most everyone is drawn to them the other scales O, S, Z, etc. are practiced by indivduals who want something different from the norm and they produce some outstanding work. i say to each his own, i enjoy looking at any scale that i see. model railroading is for all scales not just one or two.

[Anonymous]

Well, I've only been reading MR for the past year, so I don't have years of reading to compare one editor to another. In any business or industry, it's hard to be all things to all people. However, when you are a model railroading magazine, you need to have your finger on the pulse of the business and hobby.

Maybe MR does need to have more articles on ALL scales, including Z. And maybe they need to go back to having a column for younger readers (teenagers in the hobby). I believe that someone wrote they used to have this. We all know that most issues we pick up lately, someone else who has been in model railroading for 60 years has passed on to the next world. If we don't mentor kids and encourage them to take an interest in this hobby, who will? Just my two cents. But as a mother of three, not all kids are going to be star soccer and baseball players. Nor should they waste their minds on video games. This is a great hobby and teaches all sorts of life skills.

I'm a restaurant manager and while we do family style cooking here, I'm always reading the trade journals to see what's the newest thing in the industry and what trends are taking place. As I said earlier, you have to keep you finger on the pulse of the business you are in and to be informed.

Now, having said all that, I will say this about MR magazine and this forum. It's very commendable to let people vent and give it to you on the chin. Maybe some of this is deserved and maybe some isn't. But the fact that we can say what we don't like and do like about their magazine without censorship (at least I'm not aware of any) is great and how things should work. No one likes to hear criticism. I know I don't like to hear a customer tell me that their steak wasn't cooked properly when it went out. However, I would rather have someone tell me it wasn't right so that I can correct the problem than to never say anything and never come back to do business.

So, I hope MR is taking the different responses in and seeing if things need to change. Sometimes it's good to stand back and get a fresh perspective.

You all have a great week-end and I have most certainly enjoyed reading the different topics on this forum.

Judy
Dallas, TX

[Anonymous]

Well, I've only been reading MR for the past year, so I don't have years of reading to compare one editor to another. In any business or industry, it's hard to be all things to all people. However, when you are a model railroading magazine, you need to have your finger on the pulse of the business and hobby.

Maybe MR does need to have more articles on ALL scales, including Z. And maybe they need to go back to having a column for younger readers (teenagers in the hobby). I believe that someone wrote they used to have this. We all know that most issues we pick up lately, someone else who has been in model railroading for 60 years has passed on to the next world. If we don't mentor kids and encourage them to take an interest in this hobby, who will? Just my two cents. But as a mother of three, not all kids are going to be star soccer and baseball players. Nor should they waste their minds on video games. This is a great hobby and teaches all sorts of life skills.

I'm a restaurant manager and while we do family style cooking here, I'm always reading the trade journals to see what's the newest thing in the industry and what trends are taking place. As I said earlier, you have to keep you finger on the pulse of the business you are in and to be informed.

Now, having said all that, I will say this about MR magazine and this forum. It's very commendable to let people vent and give it to you on the chin. Maybe some of this is deserved and maybe some isn't. But the fact that we can say what we don't like and do like about their magazine without censorship (at least I'm not aware of any) is great and how things should work. No one likes to hear criticism. I know I don't like to hear a customer tell me that their steak wasn't cooked properly when it went out. However, I would rather have someone tell me it wasn't right so that I can correct the problem than to never say anything and never come back to do business.

So, I hope MR is taking the different responses in and seeing if things need to change. Sometimes it's good to stand back and get a fresh perspective.

You all have a great week-end and I have most certainly enjoyed reading the different topics on this forum.

Judy
Dallas, TX

[Anonymous]

Bergie, Bergie, Bergie,

"The two things I notice most throughout this entire forum is that Canadians think American's have it out for them (since we don't always include a Canadian choice in certain polls) "

I'm the one who raised the issue about Canadian content, and Canadians will be raising Canadian content issues long after you and I have left this dear planet. I wish it were as sinister as "American" have it out for them" (by the way I challenge you to find that in any statement I made). No its far worse than that, for most Americans Canada is a black hole in space, we simply don't exist. For example, a poll was made here asking your favourite main line - but no CP or CN. Do I think it was a sinister move to ignore us. No, not at all - because I know we are a black hole in space and we don't exist. Almost any Canadian knows this born in Canada and not recently off the boat. I

It comes as a blow at first because most younger Canadians - pre-teens - don't realize this reality of Canadian American relations. When they discover it, they go through a period of anti-Americanism that usually lets go by early adult years.

Two examples, one at Trains mag and one from my son. About two years, maybe three, there was an editorial by who ever was the editor then at Trains that the worst hate mail he received on a consistent basis, the most vitriolic, was when Trains ran an article on foreign lines. So I got to thinking, what foreign lines? Then I realized that CN and CP were foreign lines and there just wasn't that many "other" foreign lines in Trains.

Now my son joined TAMR, we live in Vancouver. He helped write articles for the Cascade, which is the western TAMR region rag. He threw his heart and soul into it, along with some of our money...lol. He wrote articles on BC Rail - his passion - and CN and CP. The mag went out to mostly American teens. Can you guess the reaction? Well, they wrote to him that his work was great but could he not include Canadian content.... lol. It wasn't that the teens had anything against Canada; they just didn't care enough to want to learn. That's when he quite TAMR. Why? Because Canada exists in a black hole somewhere up north and he had just discovered that reality.

Unfortunately this will continue for a long long time. The reasons Canadians are upset by it is that Canada is the largest trading partner in the world with the Americans. In fact, more trade flows between our two countries, than any other countries in the world. So you'd think there might be a little interest in Canada. Our economies are so tied into one another that one American economics prof who was going to try and track it all, gave up - said it couldn't be done; this was about two years ago. This also means tons of rail traffic between the two countries. The trade flow was at a million dollars a minute, but it is my understanding that it has increased to one million dollars every 30 seconds between the two countries - that's a lot of trains - some of em: CN and CP.

[Anonymous]

Bergie, Bergie, Bergie,

"The two things I notice most throughout this entire forum is that Canadians think American's have it out for them (since we don't always include a Canadian choice in certain polls) "

I'm the one who raised the issue about Canadian content, and Canadians will be raising Canadian content issues long after you and I have left this dear planet. I wish it were as sinister as "American" have it out for them" (by the way I challenge you to find that in any statement I made). No its far worse than that, for most Americans Canada is a black hole in space, we simply don't exist. For example, a poll was made here asking your favourite main line - but no CP or CN. Do I think it was a sinister move to ignore us. No, not at all - because I know we are a black hole in space and we don't exist. Almost any Canadian knows this born in Canada and not recently off the boat. I

It comes as a blow at first because most younger Canadians - pre-teens - don't realize this reality of Canadian American relations. When they discover it, they go through a period of anti-Americanism that usually lets go by early adult years.

Two examples, one at Trains mag and one from my son. About two years, maybe three, there was an editorial by who ever was the editor then at Trains that the worst hate mail he received on a consistent basis, the most vitriolic, was when Trains ran an article on foreign lines. So I got to thinking, what foreign lines? Then I realized that CN and CP were foreign lines and there just wasn't that many "other" foreign lines in Trains.

Now my son joined TAMR, we live in Vancouver. He helped write articles for the Cascade, which is the western TAMR region rag. He threw his heart and soul into it, along with some of our money...lol. He wrote articles on BC Rail - his passion - and CN and CP. The mag went out to mostly American teens. Can you guess the reaction? Well, they wrote to him that his work was great but could he not include Canadian content.... lol. It wasn't that the teens had anything against Canada; they just didn't care enough to want to learn. That's when he quite TAMR. Why? Because Canada exists in a black hole somewhere up north and he had just discovered that reality.

Unfortunately this will continue for a long long time. The reasons Canadians are upset by it is that Canada is the largest trading partner in the world with the Americans. In fact, more trade flows between our two countries, than any other countries in the world. So you'd think there might be a little interest in Canada. Our economies are so tied into one another that one American economics prof who was going to try and track it all, gave up - said it couldn't be done; this was about two years ago. This also means tons of rail traffic between the two countries. The trade flow was at a million dollars a minute, but it is my understanding that it has increased to one million dollars every 30 seconds between the two countries - that's a lot of trains - some of em: CN and CP.

[Anonymous]

Thanks for the input jwb1323.

I just thought multiple articles by the same person were part of a series, or somebody knows somebody--that kinda deal. I know NSR has Mike Danneman on the cover every couple of issues for the same railroad just different phases.

QUOTE: One thing the editors of the major mags seem to have stopped doing is developing new contributors.

I read a similar comment just today.

[Anonymous]

Thanks for the input jwb1323.

I just thought multiple articles by the same person were part of a series, or somebody knows somebody--that kinda deal. I know NSR has Mike Danneman on the cover every couple of issues for the same railroad just different phases.

QUOTE: One thing the editors of the major mags seem to have stopped doing is developing new contributors.

I read a similar comment just today.

[Anonymous]

Also keep in mind that MR, like the other magazines, binges on particular authors. John Pryke and Pelle Soeborg seem to be current favorites; the problem is that, while they've both done really outstanding work, the editors print their mediocre stuff as well, and they quickly become overexposed. A major reason, I would think, is laziness. In his John Allen biolgraphy, Linn Westcott pointed out that he in fact went many years between John Allen features, and readers still beat him over the head for too much John Allen. In more recent times, MR has decided to tire us out with various authors much more frequently (but so have the other mags).

One thing the editors of the major mags seem to have stopped doing is developing new contributors. I can recall Linn Westcott editorializing about asking submitters to re-take photos. It appears that this was part of Westcott's interest in bringing along a large pool of potential writers. If my experience is an indication, neither MR nor other mags provides feedback any more -- they either publish your stuff, or they don't even acknowledge it.

While I'm not actively in N (I have a display case on the wall with models from an earlier N layout, though), I like to read about good modeling in all scales, and I've felt shortchanged by all the major magazines who seem to be risk-averse about publishing new writers or new layouts.

Compare the current mood in the hobby with the mood in the rail industry (and even the hobby) at the middle and end of the Great Depression: railroads were taking risks and doing new things with streamliners, luxury coach trains, and diesels. People were investing money in new model railroad products and founding the present-day model railroad hobby. While we see investment in new products now, and innovations like ready-to-run high quality products, the magazines are uniformly sticking with known quantities -- same authors in each issue (or in MR's case, staging comebacks of yesterday's mediocrity, Malcolm F.), same old formula.

I can't sympathize if the publishers feel business is bad overall.

[Anonymous]

Also keep in mind that MR, like the other magazines, binges on particular authors. John Pryke and Pelle Soeborg seem to be current favorites; the problem is that, while they've both done really outstanding work, the editors print their mediocre stuff as well, and they quickly become overexposed. A major reason, I would think, is laziness. In his John Allen biolgraphy, Linn Westcott pointed out that he in fact went many years between John Allen features, and readers still beat him over the head for too much John Allen. In more recent times, MR has decided to tire us out with various authors much more frequently (but so have the other mags).

One thing the editors of the major mags seem to have stopped doing is developing new contributors. I can recall Linn Westcott editorializing about asking submitters to re-take photos. It appears that this was part of Westcott's interest in bringing along a large pool of potential writers. If my experience is an indication, neither MR nor other mags provides feedback any more -- they either publish your stuff, or they don't even acknowledge it.

While I'm not actively in N (I have a display case on the wall with models from an earlier N layout, though), I like to read about good modeling in all scales, and I've felt shortchanged by all the major magazines who seem to be risk-averse about publishing new writers or new layouts.

Compare the current mood in the hobby with the mood in the rail industry (and even the hobby) at the middle and end of the Great Depression: railroads were taking risks and doing new things with streamliners, luxury coach trains, and diesels. People were investing money in new model railroad products and founding the present-day model railroad hobby. While we see investment in new products now, and innovations like ready-to-run high quality products, the magazines are uniformly sticking with known quantities -- same authors in each issue (or in MR's case, staging comebacks of yesterday's mediocrity, Malcolm F.), same old formula.

I can't sympathize if the publishers feel business is bad overall.

[Anonymous]

Taken from the Atlas forum:

QUOTE: "If I was an editor at Kalmbach, I would be on this forum every Monday morning looking at Sunday Night Foto Fun. Some of the work we (mostly you all) post has been phenomenal. This "nobody sends us any articles" crapola is an excuse."

QUOTE: "Yah... that's there N-scale stance... shame that it doesn't apply to HO as well... a lot of HO articles, layout reviews and the like, are written, in part or in whole, by staffers."

[Anonymous]

Taken from the Atlas forum:

QUOTE: "If I was an editor at Kalmbach, I would be on this forum every Monday morning looking at Sunday Night Foto Fun. Some of the work we (mostly you all) post has been phenomenal. This "nobody sends us any articles" crapola is an excuse."

QUOTE: "Yah... that's there N-scale stance... shame that it doesn't apply to HO as well... a lot of HO articles, layout reviews and the like, are written, in part or in whole, by staffers."

[emdgp92]

I sometimes take other scales and convert them to HO. In fact, I was even thinking of converting the N-scale BN layout of a few years back to HO. It could have been done, but I didn't have quite enough space! Oh well.

[emdgp92]

I sometimes take other scales and convert them to HO. In fact, I was even thinking of converting the N-scale BN layout of a few years back to HO. It could have been done, but I didn't have quite enough space! Oh well.

[cp1057]

Here's my two cents:

I agree with Erik in that ideas can be transferable from one scale to another. And yes sir, I'm a confirmed HO modeler.

But here is my proof: I have been inspired by past articles published by N-scalers like Lance Mindheim and the Reid brothers. I just like to see great modeling in any scale.

Happy modeling

Charles
Hillsburgh On

[cp1057]

Here's my two cents:

I agree with Erik in that ideas can be transferable from one scale to another. And yes sir, I'm a confirmed HO modeler.

But here is my proof: I have been inspired by past articles published by N-scalers like Lance Mindheim and the Reid brothers. I just like to see great modeling in any scale.

Happy modeling

Charles
Hillsburgh On

[Anonymous]

I guess I should go buy three yeas worth of back issues.

[Anonymous]

I guess I should go buy three yeas worth of back issues.

[Anonymous]

I am an N scaler, but I enjoy MR. In fact it was MR that got me into N scale. It was an MR project layout in N that helped me set standards and understand issues ('wisconsin Central). It was an editorial by Andy S that let me know that N had come a long way and that quality modelling and running could be accomplished in N scale.

It was N layouts in MR that inspired me to move towards N. I know that in the past couple of years there has definitely been more of an emphasis on N.

But I also believe N scale isn't just a smaller HO scale for some of the reason's touched on above and for other reasons as well. But I will fight that battle another day.

[Anonymous]

I am an N scaler, but I enjoy MR. In fact it was MR that got me into N scale. It was an MR project layout in N that helped me set standards and understand issues ('wisconsin Central). It was an editorial by Andy S that let me know that N had come a long way and that quality modelling and running could be accomplished in N scale.

It was N layouts in MR that inspired me to move towards N. I know that in the past couple of years there has definitely been more of an emphasis on N.

But I also believe N scale isn't just a smaller HO scale for some of the reason's touched on above and for other reasons as well. But I will fight that battle another day.

[Anonymous]

Well then i'm an odd ball, i use mr to help me make my three rail railroad more scale in appearence. I've used scenery blocks, foam board, and i have a great switching layout under construction based on inspiration from the Federal Street Project in Proto 87. So though my track is not scale, and has a third rail, my efforts to create a scale enviroment have been greatly helped looking at all the MR mags. I picked up 4 years worth and they have been a great help. So if you've lost a subscriber, you've gained one also. Bill

[Anonymous]

Well then i'm an odd ball, i use mr to help me make my three rail railroad more scale in appearence. I've used scenery blocks, foam board, and i have a great switching layout under construction based on inspiration from the Federal Street Project in Proto 87. So though my track is not scale, and has a third rail, my efforts to create a scale enviroment have been greatly helped looking at all the MR mags. I picked up 4 years worth and they have been a great help. So if you've lost a subscriber, you've gained one also. Bill

[MAbruce]

QUOTE: Originally posted by Bergie

Don't assume just because my primary scale is HO, that I haven't done anything in other scales, thus having "a typical HO modeler's perception." See the April 1998 issue of MR and my article, Modeling Montana Rail Link's SD40-2XR in N scale. Yes, N scale! [:)] I also have an N Trak modual.

Sorry, but you only said that you were an HO modeler in your first post. I made a conclusion based on the information you gave (and I was not a subscriber back in 1998, so I missed out):

QUOTE:
I'll freely admit that I'm an HO scale modeler, but that doesn't mean I flip past articles on other scales...

As far as "getting along", I was not trying to start anything. I was only trying to bring the perspective of MR from the N-scale modelers point of view. I don't think that HO modelers have it out for anyone, nor was I trying to say that.

So I’ll stop here, because it’s only a hobby and I’m really not interested in debating this any further. If you don’t get it, then fine, you don’t get it.

[MAbruce]

QUOTE: Originally posted by Bergie

Don't assume just because my primary scale is HO, that I haven't done anything in other scales, thus having "a typical HO modeler's perception." See the April 1998 issue of MR and my article, Modeling Montana Rail Link's SD40-2XR in N scale. Yes, N scale! [:)] I also have an N Trak modual.

Sorry, but you only said that you were an HO modeler in your first post. I made a conclusion based on the information you gave (and I was not a subscriber back in 1998, so I missed out):

QUOTE:
I'll freely admit that I'm an HO scale modeler, but that doesn't mean I flip past articles on other scales...

As far as "getting along", I was not trying to start anything. I was only trying to bring the perspective of MR from the N-scale modelers point of view. I don't think that HO modelers have it out for anyone, nor was I trying to say that.

So I’ll stop here, because it’s only a hobby and I’m really not interested in debating this any further. If you don’t get it, then fine, you don’t get it.

[Bergie]

QUOTE: Originally posted by MAbruce

Erik - thanks for sharing your observations. However, I think some of what you said is a typical HO modeler’s perception of other scales.

Don't assume just because my primary scale is HO, that I haven't done anything in other scales, thus having "a typical HO modeler's perception." See the April 1998 issue of MR and my article, Modeling Montana Rail Link's SD40-2XR in N scale. Yes, N scale! [:)] I also have an N Trak modual.

QUOTE: I agree with you that most concepts can be learned from in any scale, but I’d have to add that there is a limit to this. You cited examples of adapting layout and how-to articles. Yes, I agree that they can provide a starting point and inspiration. However, not all layouts can easily be adapted to other scales without extensive modifications (assuming you want to use the same space). When you start to talk a how-to article, then the scale difference becomes much more apparent. Some of these projects are scale specific as they relate to a specific loco/car/product that may not be available in another scale. Scenery materials can differ significantly. In fact, the whole approach to scenery can differ. These are issues that I think most (exclusive) HO modelers have a mindset that anything they model can be easily adapted to other scales.

Read my post again. I do understand that. It's why I wrote this in my original post: ...but it might be a little more difficult depending on the materials required to complete the project and the materials that are actually available to you. Again, I've done some modeling in N scale, so don't jump to the "HO modelers mindset" conclusion.

The two things I notice most throughout this entire forum is that Canadians think Amercian's have it out for them (since we don't always include a Canadian choice in certain polls) and that N scalers think HO scalers have it out for them. Neither could be farther from the truth. I my experience, HO modelers don't have it out for N scale modelers. Believe me, one of my best friends, MR's art director Tom Danneman, is in N scale. I don't look down upon anything he's done. Actually, I've taken some of his ideas and addapted them to HO scale. Tom and I were at a gathering at an HO scale layout recently when an N scaler in the crowd got all defensive about scales. This N scale chap made the comment that "anyone can model in HO scale." Tom and I both chuckled about it after we left and agreed that he was a little too paranoid about HO scale.

Bottom line, can't we all just get along? [:)]

Erik

[Bergie]

QUOTE: Originally posted by MAbruce

Erik - thanks for sharing your observations. However, I think some of what you said is a typical HO modeler’s perception of other scales.

Don't assume just because my primary scale is HO, that I haven't done anything in other scales, thus having "a typical HO modeler's perception." See the April 1998 issue of MR and my article, Modeling Montana Rail Link's SD40-2XR in N scale. Yes, N scale! [:)] I also have an N Trak modual.

QUOTE: I agree with you that most concepts can be learned from in any scale, but I’d have to add that there is a limit to this. You cited examples of adapting layout and how-to articles. Yes, I agree that they can provide a starting point and inspiration. However, not all layouts can easily be adapted to other scales without extensive modifications (assuming you want to use the same space). When you start to talk a how-to article, then the scale difference becomes much more apparent. Some of these projects are scale specific as they relate to a specific loco/car/product that may not be available in another scale. Scenery materials can differ significantly. In fact, the whole approach to scenery can differ. These are issues that I think most (exclusive) HO modelers have a mindset that anything they model can be easily adapted to other scales.

Read my post again. I do understand that. It's why I wrote this in my original post: ...but it might be a little more difficult depending on the materials required to complete the project and the materials that are actually available to you. Again, I've done some modeling in N scale, so don't jump to the "HO modelers mindset" conclusion.

The two things I notice most throughout this entire forum is that Canadians think Amercian's have it out for them (since we don't always include a Canadian choice in certain polls) and that N scalers think HO scalers have it out for them. Neither could be farther from the truth. I my experience, HO modelers don't have it out for N scale modelers. Believe me, one of my best friends, MR's art director Tom Danneman, is in N scale. I don't look down upon anything he's done. Actually, I've taken some of his ideas and addapted them to HO scale. Tom and I were at a gathering at an HO scale layout recently when an N scaler in the crowd got all defensive about scales. This N scale chap made the comment that "anyone can model in HO scale." Tom and I both chuckled about it after we left and agreed that he was a little too paranoid about HO scale.

Bottom line, can't we all just get along? [:)]

Erik

[dknelson]

When Linn Westcott took over as editor he said one of his goals was to stop printing articles like "Build an S Scale Gondola" in favor of "Build a Gondola." His reasoning was why exclude an audience by being scale specific when it is not necessary.
It seems to me that N scalers want their articles to be very scale specific -- not being an N scaler myself I assume the reason is that the problems and challenges are unique (which the Z or TT scale guys might dispute). I guess I can see the point for track plans -- an N track plan is of limited use to an HO person and vice versa, without modifications.

I thought the recent reader survey was interesting -- something like 8 of 10 are in HO, about 3 in 10 are N. So maybe the N types have all fled to scale specific magazines since I am pretty sure N is more popular generally than those numbers would suggest.
Dave Nelson