[Brian Considine]

QUOTE (alastairq @ 31 Jul 2007, 21:13) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>The most usual...and possibly the greatest expense, apart from tools, that I buy, to do with model trains, are BOOKS.

I agree - regarding BOOKS - magazines (or should I say advertisments with some editorial) are another matter.

 

[alastairq]

QUOTE magazines (or should I say advertisments with some editorial) are another matter.

I keep railway magazines. the reason is simple..they represent a resource of knowledge. I have boxes full of old mags, Model Railroaders, and later sundry US mags....not disposed of because somewhere inside thes publications lies the information I may well seek at a later date. One day I shall go through them to extract any useful info, maybe put it all on disc?

I dispose of others when read..( classic/old motorcycles, old cars, rubbish from the CSMA, etc]

I have yet to find any articles in any of the mags I have bought, to be biased towards one product or another..unless for reasons of fault, [un]suitability or whatever.

I don't believe for one moment that major 'contributors' to advertising budgets have exerted any kind of influence over editorial comment in any of the mags.

However, I AM prepared to accept that manufacturers do have public relations policies that may involve using/being helpful to the modelling press..that is natural.
Magazine content is [percieved] led by the customer/enthusiast...I expect. If more enthusaists are buying Hornby...(or Bachmann) then I expect articles to reflect this.

at one time of day, it was ''how to improve''....although these days, manufacturing perfection has seen a decline in this topic?

I sense the real issue many folk have with mags such as Model Rail, and their editorial content, is that these mags are actually prepared to give the likes of Hornby et al a fair hearing.

what forums do very well, is to suppress this.....unless someone 'stands up' to argue the other side?..[at the risk of vilification?]

I see editorial as a means of promoting discussion or argument within the hobby.

of hiliting aspects which seem to have been overlooked?

Of making folk aware of other sides to the coin?

I have to admit, the reading of articles giving manufcturers a hearing, doesn't appeal......I prefer to read articles specifically about modelling and prototype.

I have no interest in Hornby's plans...or Bachmann's...or anybody's.

Nor do I have particular concerns over shortcomings.....that is the sort of modeller I am......if I don't want/need/like, I don't concern myself with it.

In fact, I would go a far as to say, the current trend towards 'collection', ie relying on the manufacturer to deliver a specific need, has more to do with the press aimed at ''collectors'' than the modelling press?

I wont duck!

 

[Brian Considine]

QUOTE (alastairq @ 1 Aug 2007, 10:34) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>I don't believe for one moment that major 'contributors' to advertising budgets have exerted any kind of influence over editorial comment in any of the mags.

I wont duck!

Maybe not but probably more a case of the magazines not wanting to upset a major source of their income !

It would be interesting to know exactly how much a £3.50 magazine would cost without the adverts ?

 

[alastairq]

QUOTE Maybe not but probably more a case of the magazines not wanting to upset a major source of their income !

why so?

the manufacturers advertise in publications that have good circulations.

sometimes they even cover ALL the bases?

For example, I have seen Hornby adverts in ALL the mainstream model railway publications.....MRJ being the notable exception...and I can see why.

Upsetting a major financial contributor isn't likely to have an adverse effect.....who is cutting off whose nose to spite their face?

the publication, or the big manufacturer?

Let's face things....the source of the biggest 'clout' lies with the major publications.....especially when compared to the internet.....I can recall many years ago, one major manufacturer getting upset about what a magazine said about their product, and withdrawing their advertising....(in the US, I think)....needless to say the effect was counter-productive to the manufacturer.

As we see regularly herein....no, I haven't gone tuetonic.....critiscm CAN be achieved WITHOUT upsetting people.....especially if it is objective.

which is what revues try to achieve?

which may not QUITE fit in with what some people might think.....?

 

[7113]

QUOTE (alastairq @ 1 Aug 2007, 10:34) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>I keep railway magazines. the reason is simple..they represent a resource of knowledge. I have boxes full of old mags, Model Railroaders, and later sundry US mags....not disposed of because somewhere inside thes publications lies the information I may well seek at a later date. One day I shall go through them to extract any useful info, maybe put it all on disc?

I have to say I have several hundred books on the subject of railways, plus photographs, epemera, leaflets, guides etc. Then there are the magazines, hundreds of them. I have now at least got them sorted into the various types but have yet to start cutting and pasting.

Every modeller needs a reference library and anyway it's easier referring to a book when modelling than a computer.

Regards

 

[alastairq]

my collection is so heavy, it prevents the house from taking off!

A major plus-point with Model Rail is the advertising is generally all at the back...I used to dread the Model Railroader...so many adverts, the meat of the mag was often hard to find?

plus, they had an annoying habit of either placing important snippets right in amongst pages of adverts.....or....ended a gripping article 2/3rds of the way through, with a reference to 'cont'd on page onehundred and so and so.....'

plus...sometimes an insignificant advert had a vitally important, rare, prototype photo one has been searching for.....so one felt 'compelled' to minutely study these ads, month after month.....just in case?

 

[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)

 

[Geoff Booth]

QUOTE (goedel @ 4 Aug 2007, 03:20) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>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)

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 think the extent of the Swiss narrow gauge system and the fact that this covers some of the most stunning scenery for any railway means that it attracts those willing to put together articles as volunteers.

Being a "minority modeller" (ie N gauge/scale and predominantly Swiss) getting a steady supply of info of interest is the challenge. I keep toying with the idea of doing a crash course to improve my German

and then dip into those magazines and websites that do cover my main interests (Loki and Eisenbahn Amateur from Switzerland, N Bahn from Germany etc). In this context the SRS (and probably the ARG and other similar groups/societies) provide us with ready access to common interests hence my support. I wonder if society mags have a better future in that sense than the likes of Model Rail and RM/CM?

Advertising is perhaps a key reason for me still getting CM plus the details on what is going on with exhibitions and the like; the chances of there being an article of specific interest to me seems increasingly small and I probably now know the websites all the likely suppliers whose adverts I scan. I do wonder who CM is really aimed at as it tries to cover just too huge an area IMHO. As had been said elsewhere I think they could do with refreshing their style for RM and CM. I like Model Rail's format but of course their non-UK coverage is occasional and hit or miss and the regular DCC piece seems to have gone West.

I enjoy skimming back through mags and books but increasingly it is the internet and forums that will most likely meet my needs, not to mention observing some of the emotive debates that rattle around on fora

I think there is a huge question for many as to how long some of the mags will be seen as value for money especially if you don't happen to be a OO modeller?

Geoff

 

[dwb]

QUOTE I think the extent of the Swiss narrow gauge system and the fact that this covers some of the most stunning scenery for any railway
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.

David

 

[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??)

 

[bangerblueed]

QUOTE (m.levin @ 30 Jul 2007, 21:30) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>I agree with some of Chris Lieghs comments and also disagree. I did read that articals and knew they would upset a few people. I was a mod on another forum, until I made a comment that upset a few people and started WW3. It is very easy to type something that means well but starts the 3 min warning. Somethings that get typed or published my upset someone, you can't please every one, there is always someone out there that will disagree with something, not because they are that type of person, but because we are only human. Yes there was a few comments about forums in the magazines, but we are just as bad, with comments made in the forums about the magazines. It works both ways we comment about them they comment about us and vise visa.

Thanks for you time
Martin

Yes people do seem to get a little too easily upset over one comment I have just been banned from a forum because of a carelessly worded posting I made in response to accusations levelled at me and also because of comments made on a post on here that the forum owner took exception to. the thing is that in the modelling world people do seem to be very sensitive which i find a little strange it is after all a hobby and one with so many different avenues that people go down so i suppose clashes are inevitable. I subscribe to 4 different magazines and i almost never bother reading the editorial because i know it is someones personal opinion and as such not neccessarily worth reading unless it is a topic/subject that is of great interest to me