Disenchantment with Kalmbach

BrianS Oct 2, 2000

  1. BrianS

    BrianS E-Mail Bounces

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    How many others are there that are getting fed up with Kalmbach'm most recent changes? When Model Railroader was redesigned about two years ago, I started to think about dropping my Model Railroader subscription. When they dropped the Student Fare section I was appaled as that was one of my favorite sections there. Then they tried to combine Club News, Bull Session, and just about everything else into "MR News". That really put me over the edge. When I met Jim Hediger last month, I vented some of my frustrations (in a most polite manner, too) and was met with an "Oh well" attitude. Surely he could have made it look like he was interested. Now those eHobbies adds are taking over the magazine at the expense of long-time modelers. Longs Trains who used to have four pages is down to just one! (To top it off, eHobbies had no selection, and what they do have is over priced!)

    Then there's the matter of this years MR contest. (I really shouldn't complain about this since no other magazine gives away stuff like this, but I will anyway.) They appear to have combined with the TRAINS contest as a way to get cheap on us. Now, I'm not saying that a week-long trip on the AOE wouldn't be nice, but as a model railroad person, I want my $3000 in merchandise! [​IMG]

    I realize you can't please all the people all of the time, but this is getting horrible! Now that Kirk has his new magazine, I made the decision yesterday to kill my MR subscription after almost ten years. (I also had a subscription to Garden Railways, but after the big hoopla over LSOL, I decided to drop them.) Are there any other former Kalmbachers out there that are willing to support me?

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    Brian Schmidt
    railohio@hotmail.com
    ICQ #21630753
    AIM - railohio
     
  2. tunnel88

    tunnel88 TrainBoard Member

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    I'd need a magazine that was just as good if not better.

    What are some of the alternatives? I'd probably subscribe to more magazines, but i can't afford it right now... [​IMG]
     
  3. BrianS

    BrianS E-Mail Bounces

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    <BLOCKQUOTE>quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by tunnel88:
    What are some of the alternatives?<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

    MODEL
    <UL TYPE=SQUARE>
    <LI> N Scale
    <LI> N Scale Railroading
    <LI> Railmodel Journal
    <LI> Railroad Model Craftsman
    <LI> Mainline Modeler
    <LI> Narrow Gauge & Shortline Gazette
    <LI> Steam in the Garden
    <LI> Finescale Railroader
    <LI> Model Railroad News
    <LI> S/Sn3 Modeling Guide
    <LI> Canadian Railway Modeler
    [/list]

    PROTOTYPE
    <UL TYPE=SQUARE>
    <LI> Railfan & Railroad
    <LI> Eastern Rail News
    <LI> Railpace
    <LI> Railway Age
    <LI> CTC Board
    <LI> Light Iron Digest
    <LI> Extra 2200 South
    [/list]

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    Brian Schmidt
    railohio@hotmail.com
    ICQ #21630753
    AIM - railohio
     
  4. Mike C

    Mike C TrainBoard Member

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    I for one will stick with MR. I have always liked its content and writers. Yes they have changed a bit lately but I still beleave that they are one of the top magizines arround. I also subscribe to RMC, Narrow Gauge Shortline Gazette, and Trains. I usually pick up Finescale, Railroad Modeler, and Mainline Modeler. I enjoy the anunial Model Railroad Planning and great Model Railroads. These two books are always an insparation for me. I have seen a number of changes in model Railroader, and while I may not always like them , I have usually found the changes to either not matter or to sometimes improve their content. I have been reading this Magizine for at least 25 years and still have the first one I bought. ( I guess I am somewhat of a collecter in this respect as I also have a compleate set of NG&SL Gazette, and RMC mags ) My advise is to give them a chance and see what happens. And remember (this is not a flame) If you dont like the content of a magizine, do something about it! Its always a good thing to see an article by someone new, who will be the next John Allen?........Mike

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    Its only Money !!

    [This message has been edited by Mike C (edited 02 October 2000).]
     
  5. Harron

    Harron TrainBoard Supporter

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    True, it is always nice to see a new article or a new face in MR, but what I'm getting sick of is Tony Koester and the NKP. A couple of months ago it was detailing an NKP deisel, now it is rebuilding an NKP subdivision.

    I would like to see a new face featured with a modern or historic classic that is better known. Pennsy, ATSF, BN, UP, BNSF, SP, NYC, CSX, NS, Conrail, etc. I know we'd all like to see our favorite RR of course [​IMG], but I think some of the more high-profile roads would be better to feature than the NKP.

    I think this could be accopmlished by looking at locomotive sales, as in which road is purchased the most, to determine what articles to do.

    Our club has a subscription to MR, so I get to read it every month, and find at this point that only one or two articles interest me. Occasionally there is an issue that is very good, but other than that, I wouldn't hold my own subscription.

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    Corey Lynch
    Pres - Rensselaer Model RR Society
    NEB&W RR
    http://www.rpi.edu/~lynchc/Railfanning/railfanning.htm - My Site
    http://www.union.rpi.edu/railroad/ - NEB&W
     
  6. watash

    watash Passed away March 7, 2010 TrainBoard Supporter In Memoriam

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    Count me in Bryan! I dropped my subscription too. That and other reasons. One I can tell here, is Jim is so hyped up about making a profit, that you and I no longer matter. MR isn't going to tell us anything that would hurt their selling advertizing. Another reason is when MR raised the subscription to the cost of a new "deezul enjun", That was too much to pay for Ehobbies adds and testimonials about how great MR is. So there! They were at one time, our life line to the Hobby after all thank you!

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    Watash

    [This message has been edited by watash (edited 02 October 2000).]
     
  7. virtual-bird

    virtual-bird TrainBoard Member

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    When I first got interested in trains when getting out of hospital, I contacted them for info from the Dec MR on the Appalachian they had in there.

    The plans were as clear as Ancient Hebrew. Basically uesless for a newby.

    I asked for some info on the layout and if there was more images available on the layout so I could build my own.

    The answer I got back said that this guy(No idea who it was this is back in April) was "sick of people asking for pictures and info on stories they ran in the past".. wow 4 months ago... must be a hard life.
    I didnt think I was asking for 1000 free Kato locos, just some info on the layout.

    Andy Spit or what ever his name was contacted me personally after I had a dummy spit on the newsgroup, and said he was suprised that I recieved this responce. He was "going to contact Lionel and get him to send me everything I needed".. this was months ago and I dont ever expect to get anything.

    The general though on the newsgroup was 75% had bad thoughts or dealings with Kalambach, but most didnt care.

    So personally I burnt anything in our house that resembled anything from kalambach and will never buy anything from them again.

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    RR:
    K, C, & Bird Butt Railroad - SP, NS, and ROCK admirer.
    Its a coal mining region of a place far far away, that runs, SP, NS, and some CSX..
    Also some Custom RARE Bird RR sd40-2's coming!
    Era:
    Time stands still round these parts, and we have everything from Steam, to Diesels of today.
     
  8. watash

    watash Passed away March 7, 2010 TrainBoard Supporter In Memoriam

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    Brian and Virtual-Bird, you may be interested to go to hotrains.com, click on mail bag, then go to don't get it, then just read down the page. Tim doesn't pull any punches. You will learn we aren't the only ones.

    [This message has been edited by watash (edited 02 October 2000).]

    [This message has been edited by watash (edited 02 October 2000).]
     
  9. Maxwell Plant

    Maxwell Plant TrainBoard Member

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    Golly, change sucks, doesn't it. Come on guys, although TRAINS and MR aren't perfect, (trust me, I'm tired of Tony too!) they are some of the best in the business. Even my favorite hobby has it's down sides, but I won't give up on the hobby, nor will I give up on Kalmbach. I don't like RRMC, but I still pick it up everyonce and awhile. I don't like DCC, for now. But someday, I'll probably have it because in the long run, things must change. "You can't stop change, You always rearrange, even when you try to stop change." (exurp from "Tiny Creatures" words and music by FISH-TANK)

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    Brent Tidaback, Member #234
    BNSF Railfan-to-the Max and a N-Scaler to boot!
    "Ship it on the Route of The Roadrunners!"
    The Aransas Odessa & Western, a division of the BNSF
     
  10. Colonel

    Colonel Staff Member TrainBoard Supporter

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    I have to agree with Brent I still get my MR every month and enjoy most of the articles. Sure its not perfect I'd like to see some more N scale layouts and more average size layouts rather then the mushroom or double deck layouts every month. I always enjoy seeing the average guys layuot as it gives us regular modellers ideas. As for Tony Koester I have always enjoyed his articles and look forward to seeing his new layout.

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    Paul Cassar-# Member number 50
    SPAD Investigator #1
    ICQ 61198217
    [​IMG] http://users.bigpond.net.au/railroad2000
     
  11. Alan

    Alan Staff Member TrainBoard Supporter

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    I get to read MR every month, as Matt has a regular order via our local newsagent.

    I have a regular order for Trains mag, and I look foward to it every month, to keep me in touch with happenings stateside.

    I also have a subscription with N Scale mag. and will probably do so with the new N Scale Railroading.

    MR still has a lot of followers, judging by the reaction to the review of my spine cars [​IMG]

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    Alan

    The perfect combination - BNSF and N Scale!

    www.ac-models.com
    Andersley Western Railroad
    Alan's American Gallery
     
  12. Rappannahock Terminal

    Rappannahock Terminal E-Mail Bounces

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    There are pro's and con's for everything on earth. People will either be more tuned towards a positive or to a negative view.

    This depends primarely of a person's character.

    My attitude to Kalmbach is that, for the moment being, there are still more pro's than con's, so I contnue to buy their publications.

    Paul



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    Paul Van Herwegen
    Rappannahock Terminal Railway
     
  13. ncng

    ncng TrainBoard Member

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    I too have stopped my subscription to MR. I can't justify the subscription price for what is in it. When I started reading MR it was $0.35 a copy. It was a lot smaller and there wasn't any color but I found that there was a lot more useful information on modeling. Instead of buying I now get the magazine from the library. I pay over $100 in library taxes each year so I might as well get my money's worth. It is usually a month or two old but I save the subscription fee.

    Also, I don't buy the magazine for the commentary that seems to have replaced the meat. Every month it is Tony wasting a page with some insight as to what is on his mind. I don't care. Then they have a guest commentary. The one I read yesterday was by a sociologist in Washington D.C. blubbering about high art. There was nothing in either commentary that will make me a better modeler.

    I used to save MR (I still have a lot) but I haven't seen anything worth saving in a long time.
     
  14. JCater

    JCater TrainBoard Member

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    Although I haven't yet given up on MR, I find that where once I was looking forward to getting each month, these days I feel like "oh, MR is here, big deal." I think the problem here is that they have gone from THE first rate magazine to just another model railroad magazine. When standards get lowered, so does my interest. With any luck the changes that they have put in place may be reversed if the folks who put it together get replaced by new folks, or if subscription rates drop significantly. After all, all of the advertisors in that magazine are there to reach readers, and if that is not happening, then they too will take their business elsewhere.
    John

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    The Colorado and Southwestern, Top of the Rockies!
    http://jstrainstation.homestead.com
     
  15. Kevin M

    Kevin M TrainBoard Member

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    I jhave been getting MR and Trains for 4 years or so and heres my thoughts. MR has changed a bit over those 4 and some were good and some wern't, being a studend (now collage) I used to read Student Fare first thing, it was my favorite part, but then they dropped it but put a student section on there website, how lame, it is so pointless. I also loved bull session, too bad they took that out. I used to wait by the lail box tell I got my MR and I still love to get it but after a day or so theres nothing to it and it just sits on my floor or shelf, till I get the next month, I have not seen a usable artical for me in some time, I swear they keep recylcling them with new pictures.
    Kevin
     
  16. BM50

    BM50 TrainBoard Member

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    I find it interesting that the President of the club that runs the NEB&W, would think that a modeler such as Tony Koester is in MR too often. Maybe so. However the NEB&W has been featured in the magazine more than any other club in the last 15 years. Not to mention that modelers would not be out purchasing NEB&W rolling stock to determine if the club's articles should be run. The fact is I look forward to both Tony's and the Rensselaer club's articles. Since everyone can't have their own tailor made magzine, we should be happy that there is one that is good enough to provide(or provoke) discussions such as these.
     
  17. Harron

    Harron TrainBoard Supporter

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    Yes, we have been in MR a lot over the last 15 years (most recently Nov. 1997) as well as other mags. I did make an oversight in not mentioning fictional roads, but I think the bulk of the content should be prototype-oriented, because without a prototype, we wouldn't have something to model!! [​IMG]

    That being said, a few more points. I'm 19 years old, which means that I didn't even know about the NEB&W until I came out here to school (officers of the club need to be students to get school funding) cause I didn't read MR. But since coming here (last August), and having read MR, I read a lot of Tony Koester articles. I have nothing against him or his ideas (they are pretty good most of the time), I just would like to see some other content besides NKP. I'm sure after a few months of limited Tony stuff, I'd be up for another article. Just seems we get deluged by him every month!

    Oh, and by the way, we had previously released NEB&W boxcars, and shortly we will release NEB&W hoppers, (anybody want some - shameless plug!!! [​IMG]) so we do sell our own rolling stock, although in limited numbers (prototype numbers could be drawn off the D&H and Rutland).

    So I'll end it here, yes, we have been featured more than any other club, but there are some pretty good reasons for that. Yes, I should've included fictional roads. But I still think we see too much Tony.

    PS - eHobbies made a LOT of old-time retailers VERY upset.

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    Corey Lynch
    Pres - Rensselaer Model RR Society
    NEB&W RR
    http://www.rpi.edu/~lynchc/Railfanning/railfanning.htm - My Site
    http://www.union.rpi.edu/railroad/ - NEB&W
     
  18. BryGy

    BryGy TrainBoard Member

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    although, I am pretty new to modelling, I have noticed a couple of things. I started my subscription to MR this year. I have to say that I like what I get. I may not have the hindsight of seeing what used to be in there, but for someone new, I am learning a lot. I especially like reading the "Workshop", "Workin' on the Railroad", and "Back to Basics".

    As far as eHobbies goes, I have never been impressed with the selection that they offer. And their prices are often times as high or higher than my local shop. I have not purchased anything from them and would only do so if they had a particular road name, or item not available through my local hobby shop. Unfortunately, I am probably not patient enough to wait for them to order something and get it in, or look someplace else.

    Just my $0.02 from a novice.

    Bry

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    Smile!:p It makes people wonder what you are up to.
     
  19. Mike C

    Mike C TrainBoard Member

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    Well it looks to me that we are about evenly split between those that like it and those that dont. With possibly a slight tilt toward the supporters. As far as eHobbies goes I tend to support the message board there too. Many of the postings come from people begining in the hobby, and I try to help them out as much as I can.....Mike

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    Its only Money !!
     
  20. LnNrr

    LnNrr Guest

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    I'm letting my Kalmbach subscriptions lapse.
    The E-hobbies agreement got my goat. They
    made it clear that they didn't care about
    ethics, that they didn't care about the
    retailers that have supported them through
    the years. Instead they threw their support
    behind a single advertizer, a new boy on the
    block. And even one that does not serve the
    interests of serious modelers.
    So they don't need me, and I don't need them.
    I get plenty of current info on the web
    anyway.

    Chuck
     

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