[goedel]

The magazines will all have to 'go Internet native' or die a long drawn out death. Look at the newspapers and the competition they now face from blogs - the only possible solution was to adapt and set up their own websites with their own correspondents writing blogs on them - even the BBC does it! The magazines are a direct competitor to forums for modellers's time (and money in the case of magazines; I agree with dbclass50...choose the forums and buy an extra model or two a year, instead of a stack of glossy woodpulp!) and so no wonder they slag us of whenever possible! However as Model Rail has now got a forum (of sorts) then it just shows that the traditional magazine has already lost...

The magazine is dead! Long live the heavily-moderated-quasi-forum-e-magazine!

Ravenser is absolutely right about independence but also the freedom to call a dollop of excrement a dollop of excrement should never be surrendered; Clover, Daisy and Hornby are cows and that is what cows do...

Goedel

 

[goedel]

QUOTE (alastairq @ 1 Aug 2007, 16:59) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>my collection is so heavy,
Well I have no collection! Being from the 'flywheel-generation', i.e. joined the hobby in the last few years, after they became almost standard even here in the technological backwaters of the UK modelscene, then I have so far built up more of a computer-based repository of info. I have no magazines or books but six journals so far from the ARG* and SRS* (now I am no longer a subscriber to this), a few thousand high-resolution pictures mainly downloaded from various websites and a modest number of my own photographs from whenever I am by the railway in Europe. At least with modern image one can just look out of the window for prototype information! (I admit epoch IV is proving trickier...)

I download trackplans where-ever I find them and save as complete archive files any good webpages about modelling because things can sometimes just disappear or be moved without notice. I suppose that I have several pdf files with info in which are equivalent to books, but I must say that a stack of reference works with black and white photos (and not being exactly cheap) fills me with disinterest. This is not to say I am in anyway against books, I am an avid reader of books but just not reference works I suppose...

Each to his own, there are many ways to cook a potato...as long as the result is 'happy modelling'!

Goedel

ARG - Austrian Railways Group (I have just received my second issue and it looks good so far...but I can't really judge from one issue yet)
SRS - Swiss Railway Society (I found it rather erratically produced and with no modelling content and lots of narrow gauge not relevant to my interests)

 

[goedel]

QUOTE (goedel @ 4 Aug 2007, 03:20)SRS - Swiss Railway Society (I found it rather erratically produced and with no modelling content and lots of narrow gauge not relevant to my interests)
Sorry, what I meant was model interests...I am interested in real narrow gauge and of course the splendid scenery you mention Geoff, but just not modelling it because I prefer the high-speed heavy passenger and freight services of standard gauge.

QUOTE (Geoff Booth @ 4 Aug 2007, 10:45) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>Not sure how long ago you gave up on the SRS but they have resolved the problems of producing "Swiss Express". The latest edition June 2007 does have modelling news (http://www.swissrailsoc.org.uk/) although it would be fair to say that modelling is but part of the society's aims however it is a source of up to date info on Swiss Railways and in English.
I'm glad to hear that - I might renew my subscription, I guess it was bad luck to sign up in the year they had the problems! The SRS journal is indeed excellent for information on where to go and what to see, and the latest happenings on the Swiss railways. If only they had a bit of modelling creeping in more often I would be a definite subscriber; perhaps I should submit an article on N scale to encourage others - after all the journal relies on contributions...I seem to be complaining about the lack of eggs in a chicken and egg situation!! Silly goedel...

The N-Bahn Magazin from Alba publishing is very good IMHO with excellent illustrations and reviews of new models that compare old with new etc. it is pure joy to see an excellent for its time old Minitrix offering being compared to the equally good modern Hobbytrain version etc. makes ones feel the hobby is alive and moving onwards and upwards. Although true it is in German and often the articles have lots of detail, the downside is getting hold of it in the UK - a nightmare since Alba only accept bank transfers (i.e. costs about £20 from any highstreet UK bank). Either one must buy it on holiday, get a friend in Germany/Euro-zone to pay for the subscription or buy used issues of eBay (assuming the seller accepts PayPal etc.)

QUOTE ('dwb')It is difficult to resist the urge to build a model of the Albula line once you have walked the "railway path" from Bergun to Preda. I took quite a few photos, so the walk will probably get blogged sometime in the next six months.
I look forward to that blog entry David - any railway with Alpine scenery is sure to delight!

Goedel
(How long are those IC 2000 coaches going to take??)