Hi Scafellpike,
Some interesting numbers you have come up with there though I've re-read the Dapol Model Rail Interview (Issue 107) and can't find your reference to 10,000 N Gauge modellers in the UK. What I did find, however, was an interview in issue 108 with the bosses of Bachman/Graham Farish. In this they refer to their minimum viable order quantity for 00 locos as being 5,000 and note that "while the (N Gauge) market has growth it is still less than 20% of our 00 market" though "it was only 10% a few years ago". Applying this ratio to the Model Rail circulation figures would give a potential circulation for a dedicated N Gauge magazine of around 6,000 which, if I understand your aquantances comments correctly, could be enough to justify publication.
Before we get too excited, however, one should perhaps look at what the consequences of this might be.
To start with there's a potential 20% drop in the circulation figures for the existing magazines. Would publishers really bring out a new magazine which would be likely to hit it's existing magazine circulation to such an extent. I think not.
Secondly, the content of the existing magazine would, itself, have to become more specialised. There would be less new models to review and less layouts to feature. And that's just for starters. Then there is the matter of advertising revenue. Are there really enough specialist N Gauge producers to be able to pay for enough advertising space to subsidise the magazine selling price to the same extent as they do at present. Again, I think not.
Finally lets just have a look at how well N Gauge is presently served. Having looked at the last 6 issues of Model Rail I find that there are, on average, a total of 12 new products reviewed, of which around 30% are either N Gauge or applicable to all gauges. Then there are the articles which are standard to all gauges. Baseboards, DCC and other forms of control, Track ballasting and detailing, Scenics, Loco and rolling stock detailing and weathering. The list just goes on. I use Model Rail as my reference because that is the one I have settled on as providing the highest proportion of N Gauge information and articles. By contrast the much vaunted new Hornby magazine barely mentions N Gauge and seems to be aimed squarely at 00.
In conclusion, while the prospect of a dedicated N Gauge magazine is, on first reaction, an exciting prospect I believe we will be better served by the existing magazines which, given the quoted growth of N Gauge, will have no alternative but to recognise that swing and, over the course of time, gradually reflect that swing in the balance of their articles. Basically N Gauge would be like a 5th column working from within rather than trying to fight city hall head on.
This is an interesting exchange we are having but it would be good to hear the views of other N Gaugers. The present deafening silence from other, like minded modellers is, perhaps, a sufficient answer to your original question.
Regards,
Expat.