Greetings from hot, humid Iowa: 'Tis the perfect excuse to spend the afternoon in the cool of the basement working on my new layout. The question: which magazine do you like best, N-Scale or N Scale Railroading? My subscription to Model Railroader expires soon. I'm considering subscribing to one of the N mags rather than renewing. I'd subscribe to both if I could afford it. I can't make up my mind. I enjoy NSR's color photography and layout. However, NS rates high because it has more articles that have been useful to me and there are a lot more ads. And now, back to the basement. John Adney Marion, Iowa
John it is hot and humid here in Central Indiana also. My MR subscription ran out in Feb., no renewal here either. I really like N-Scale Railroading by Kirk Reddie. I have read N-Scale but have not gotten nearly as much out of it as N-Scale Railroading. Just my opinion but I like the content and layout of N-Scale Railoading better.
I subscribe to both mags but definitely like Kirk Reddie's best. It is more suited to my kind of modelling. N Scale mag can seem a bit elitest at times.
I get both. But prefer by far what Kirk is doing. All color content. Orientation to N layouts and N modeling. Versus the often generic to any scale articles in the other magazine. BoxcabE50
I get both.It seems to me that Kirk"s little ol magazine has managed to inprove his competion's mag too. Though I do think that.the price is getting rediculous . [ 16 July 2002, 01:10: Message edited by: Catt ]
John I presume your MR subscription cost you $39.95/year for 12 issues. N Scale (Hundman) costs $28. for 6 issues. N Scale Railroading (Reddie) costs $26. for 6 issues. You indicated you were not going to renew MR (already budgeted for $40). For a mere $14 more (a bit over $1 a month) you can get both N magazines. Your total cost for both N magazines is only $54/year -- $1/week -- pocket change at best. Go ahead and subscribe to both -- you'll be glad you did......... eNjoy [ 16 July 2002, 01:09: Message edited by: dbn160 ]
I've read both, but I think NSR is the better of the two. In a couple of issues he's even shown small N layouts, just to show us space-challenged folks that it's possible to model a decent N scale railroad. This whole question is a lot like RMC vs. MR. I mostly read MR because of the content, and seldom ever read RMC (for the same thing). Back to N scale....... Don's suggestion sounds fairly reasonable, and if buying both mags is doable, I say go for it. But, if you're only going to subscribe to one, get NSR. At the least, you can scan thru the latest copies of N Scale to see if anything inside is something you can use- if it it, buy that issue. If not, you've saved enough to get M-T couplers or wheelsets. My opinion............
I have gotten both mags since their respective first issues. I can't really imagine just getting one or not getting MR either for that matter BUT if forced to chose only one it would be a hands down decision for Hundman's magazine. I feel it does more for the serious modeler and his scratch building articles are second to none in N scale. Even though Kirk uses more color I still feel the N scales pictures are far superior, NSR's pics often remind me of my thoughts of the pics in RMC, they seem to have the separation and saturation I expected in the 70's not 00s'. If you run steam the Zen Master's advice (brought to us via the words of Gregg Scott of GHQ) as well as several other good steam building "clinics" would have more than "payed" for a N Scale subscription over the last few years. If your preference is layout spreads NSR does it more often and atleast as well as N scale, if you want more modelling info and how tos, I think N Scale is the way to go. Again, I think both are fine magazines and both deserve a place any any N scaler's mailbox and prefered reading room. Vandy
I must say I am very impressed with Kirk's magazine, it was exactly what I was looking for, and since the first issue it has been great. I found most of the how-to articles in N Scale are directed more towards steam, which is not what I model. I do think both are great, but I do like Kirk's quite a bit more.
I like both and buy them not by subscription, but at the LHS, as it gives me additional motivation to stop by mine after work. They are as different as can be, so to me it is not competition, it is just like getting a larger magazine!!! Ken "Steamguy" Willaman
I like Kirk's the best, Robert's mag ain't bad. I just wish they would publish on different months, that way we would have a new N-Scale mag every month!!!
If my Hobby Store has both in stock I normally buy both magazines but if I only had money for one or the other it would be Kirks.
Now there is an idea!! I don't think it would work though, it probably would cause the printers heartburn, and that's probably where the snafu lies. Just my WAG on the subject! 2slim
