I can't remember if this was ever covered (and if it was, I apologize), but I've been reading N Scale Railroading, a bimonthly publication dealing excousively with N scale modeling. I haven't had an opportunity to look over N Scale, so I can't compare the two (or any other publications in this area). So, what are your opinions, comments, complaints, etc. about the N scale-oriented publications? Notice I'm not mentioning MR, RMC, RMJ or any of the eclectic publications.
In my opinion, both are very useful. I have found very little overlap of content. I subscribe to both of them (incidentally, I let my subscription to MR lapse).
I have a subscription with both of them. I like N Scale railroading best, but N Scale often has some in-depth constructional articles. Does any other scale have two scale-specific magazines?
IMHO N Scale Railroading (the magizine) has done alot to improve N Scale magizine.I've noticed quite an improvement in the latter since NSR has come on the scene.
What if there were a magazine that covered transition era? Most polls taken indicate that the majority of modellers model transition era.
I too let my subscription to Model Railroader lapse last month. The last time I did this was about 6 years ago and Kalmbach then tried the old "Send the magazine anyway and bill the customer like nothing ever happened" tactic. I wonder if they'll try that again. I can read MR at the hobby shop when were slow anyway and take home 2 month old copies that were not sold. BTW, I like both N scale publications but if I had to choose just one, I would choose N Scale Railroading. I think that it is a little more in touch with the "average guy " type of modeler.
The last two issues of N Scale Railroading had some neat articles on small N scale layouts. Both were nicely done, with great scenery and detail. I'm not a Northeastern modeler, but I must admit they're nice. That, plus the pics of new products, are what have sold me on this publication. N Scale doesn't look bad, so I can't really comment one way or another on this magazine.
I get both N scale Mags and Model RR as well. My beef with N Scale Railroading is that some of the pictures are so small they are practically worthless. Also both magazines have a decidedly Western bias which may be expected as both are published out west anyway. But the two magazines that I have reading more of lately are Model Railroading and Railmodel Journal.
Absolutely. I almost let me subscription to N Scale Magazine lapse, but they really improved the publication once the competition came out. Both are good magazines, although I am partial to N Scale Railroading. I really like the small layouts they have shown recently.
Funny, but except for the DRGW layout Mike Danneman is building, the layouts in the last two issues were Eastern in nature. Not much of a bias there....... I do agree the pics are a bit small.
From what I've read in the various magazines, transition-era layouts are covered from time to time. I think there's enough offered in the present magazines that one mag focusing specifically on transition-era modeling would, at best, have a small readership, and at worst a short life. For the record, I've seen some really nice layouts of the era you mentioned. I model the time frame from the early 1970s to 1980, and on my N scale layout have begun to stretch into the mid-80s, still clinging to cabooses.
QUOTE]Funny, but except for the DRGW layout Mike Danneman is building, the layouts in the last two issues were Eastern in nature. Not much of a bias there....... I do agree the pics are a bit small.[/QB][/QUOTE] Last two issues do not make up for the other issues. Count the articles in the last year in Both N scale mags. Definite western road bias. The last N Scale Railroading issue (Jan- Feb 2002) had one eastern article (C&O New River Subdivision) and four western ( The Duluth, North Pass and Pacific with a lot of Northern Pacific power and rolling stock; Santa Fe Diesel Power: Build a Missouri Pacific caboose and Modeling the North Coast Limited ) Four to one. I didn't count the N action section which was a day at Paxton siding which according to the article is deep in central Oregon. So I stand by my statement that both mags have a definite western bias.
OK, how about a transition era mag that focuses on western railroading? Remember what happened to Pacific Rail News after Pentrex went national with it?
I also let my subscription to MRR lapse. The competion between N Scale Railroading and N Scale is good, I agree that there is very little overlap between the 2 and that N Scale has improved slightly because of the competition. Especially in the timeliness of publication. If there is one comment that can be made I wish that they were every other month instead of the same time release cycle that they are on now. The month lapse leave something to desire. Jerry
I really don't care whether the layouts featured are eastern or western.The only reason I look at layout stories is to get ideas for my own layout and admire the modeling being done.
Make that two in that issue - Paul Machiaverna's layout has an eastern theme and he is well known for his like of the Erie Lackawanna and the Central of New Jersey. I have to agree with most of the above, I like both magazines, but prefer NSR over Nscale because it features more layouts and is geared towards the beginning to intermediate modeller and has excellent color photography, while NScale sometimes assumes we are all advanced Master Model Railroaders. Its quality and promptness has definitely improved since NSR has been around although it does tend to get repetitive at times with too many tree making and steam kitbashing articles. I do like both and both have their place in the hobby and seldom overlap. For articles of general interst NSR is the best, for in depth detailing, scratchbuilding and other advanced topics NS is best. My Model Railroader subscription will soon lapse as well, especially after the editorial by Russ Larson in the Feb issue that basically throws the hat in with HO. NSR and NS whole reason for being is the treatment of N as some kind of tinplate by the mainstream press. [ 20 January 2002: Message edited by: ajb ]
Does N Scale Railroading have a web site? I haven't seen that publication, but it sounds like great stuff. Any info, help or direction to find out more would be appreciated. Thanks (I'm modeling the Ann Arbor in 1980, see http://www.modelrailweb.com for stories and details.)
N Scale Railroading does not have a website that I was able to find. You can email them at NScaleRailroadN@aol.com or send snail mail to: North American N Scale PO Box 77296 Seattle, WA 98177-0296 I sent an inquiry to them about their magazine after reading about it in this forum. I got a FAQ form which contained the above information and the subscription prices and little else...not even a phone number. If you do request information you might also want to include a request for their phone number. I sent them my address hoping that they would send a sample copy, but they do not do that. Instead, they told me that I could find copies of their magazines in a number of hobby shops along I-5. (Interstate 5 is almost a 6 hour drive from where I live--one way, so I was not very impressed with their customer service or their knowledge of geography.) I still hope to get a look at their magazine if I ever happen to find one within 12 hours of where I live.
Challenger Hobbies, RioGrande(4nscale.com) and N Supply all have info about NSR on their websites as well as ordering info - NSR prefers you buy from hobby shops, but in my case none of the local places carry it - so I had to subscribe.
