Dear Trainboard friends If you were going to recommend one of the N scale train magazines to a friend. Keep in mind that this friend is on a budget and only could afford one subscription. Which magazine would you recomend? N scale Magazine? or N scale railroading? I appreciate your comments Joe
N scale railroading for me always however i must disclose I have been a contributor to the magazine in the past.
I lean toward N Scale, but I have been known to pick up both at the hobby shop. I think it boils down to preferences. Is there any way you could get your hands on a couple issues of each and compare how they fit your needs?
The one which has been around the longest is "N Scale" magazine. There were many complaints about the content of "N Scale" magazine for several years and when Kirk Reddie produced "N Scale Railroading" many n scalers chose it instead due to better content. About 5 years ago... it looked like "N Scale" magazine would fold and disappear, but, Pamela Clapp came in and rescued it. The content of "N Scale" magazine and the way its now produced is very similar to "N Scale Railroading". What I'm basically saying is that... either one will please the 'N'thusiest. Perhaps getting a different one each time would help too. Eventually, the reader will decide which is most pleasing to the eye and mind. I've purchased both ever since they began publishing them. If it came down to having to chose one over the other... it would have to be at the LHS... looking at the table of contents each time and choosing the one that interested me the most that month. That is what I used to do with Model Railroader versus Model Railroad Craftsman magazines (before N Scale magazine came out in 1989).
I don't accept the premise of the question. If my friend was on that tight of a budget, then he probably doesn't need to be in model trains as a hobby maybe. How will your friend ever be able to afford a Kato or Atlas locomotive? In fact, a subscription costs what some MicroTrains cars costs ($31). You've set up an artificial scenario which is really asking which is Best without asking it that way. I think your friend should consider getting BOTH magazines. A subscription is $31 for one of the magazines. When I take my family to McDonalds or Wendys one time (not usually considered expensive places to eat) I spend $15-20 (and we don't eat out a lot-- we're pretty conservative). My car takes $37 to fill up. What you can do is subscribe in different months in order to make them NOT come due on the same month if budgeting is potentially a problem. That way, you don't have a 60-something dollar bill due in one month. By the way, I'm not trying to be insensitive to anyone on this board on hard financial times- especially not anyone laid off. But that's my point. If anyone is that tight and in that bad of shape, then you have to do what you have to do, and buying any model trains at all comes way way down the list. Personally, I have been in the position of selling off my collection to pay bills. So I've been there. If your friend is that bad off, he probably shouldn't be subscribing at all. So I've answered your question as if you're serious, but I have this nagging suspicion that you made the scenario up in order to really ask which magazine is best. I have all issues of both. :thumbs_up: They are great and inspiring resouces.
I subscribe to NSR(which reminds me.. better send another check to kirk) , but I like them both depending on what's in each issue. I pick up N Scale at the LHS when I see something I like, like one of my own articles. As far as subscribing.. I just like getting that something "new" in the mail LOL So, I guess my answer is "both".
I used to say Nscale for tech articles and how to's and NSR if you like photo spreads of layouts and rolling stock. But since the new management, Nscale has been doing a lot more photo spreads (and added color) and at the same time NSR has been doing more tech info articles.......now my preference changes from month to month....one month I like Nscale better, the next NSR.
From a writer's standpoint, I like N-Scale, Pam is a bit easier to work with I think and I am always in the loop. I have heard Kirk can be a bit picky with photos, though I do not know if this is still the case. I get both. N-Scale has always been and will always be a bit techy. They publish kitbash articles, where NSR is more photo centric. I love the detailed layout shots in NSR, but I am a kitbasher at heart. Both are very good. I think NSR covers industry news a bit faster, where N-Scale Magazine gets in depth. On another note. I think it may also be regional thing. I seem to notice that NSR focuses on Western models where N-Scale tends to cover Eastern and Mid West models. I'm not sure if its a regional preferance or what. I wish N Scale Supply would carry N-Scale Magazine again. They quit carrying the magazine when Bob Hundman has his editorial breakdown over the UP lisencing issue. Its a new magazine and a new company with new managment, time to let it go. I have all but a few issues from both magazines. I like my NSR, but I coulden't live without N-Scale Magazine.
The biggest drawback with NSR is the lack of a letters column. There is no feedback from readers, positive or negative. Actually, Kirk could accomplish the same thing with a forum on his website. Otherwise, it's an excellent magazine.
I thought the breakup came about because of some offensive language in N-Scale magazine letters section. I agree, it is time to let it go. Some just aren't big enough to do so. Al
Very interesting and insightful responses Hi I really want to thank you for the responses so far. I will be checking to see what else is said about the subject. I hope the thread continues. Sincerely JoeW
To me it's a Ford vs. Chevy argument, although I tend to favor N-Scale Magazine because my old layout was featured in Pam's first issue, and my present layout in later issues. I particularly enjoyed working with Pam's designers, as they knew exactly what I was giving them as images, while Kirk sometimes rejected images out of hand without realizing that images prepared for print are a little different than images prepared for viewing on screen--Kirk acknowledged this to me, so there's not a problem here. I've been prepping images for print for 44 years now. I think the characteristics of both have been described accurately. I'd add that N-Scale allows a writer to describe more in text. As a writer, that's important to me, as I enjoy reading. If you can't afford both permanently, you probably can afford both on a three-issue test basis. Or look at both at a LHS, and decide which one you like that issue. I tend to agree that the original premise of this thread was a little shaky, but the responses have been excellent.
Yes, that was the reason. Bob lost his marbles. Someone sent an offensive letter with foul language and he printed it just to show how bad discourse had gotten. He was trying to make a point -- "Hey, let's all get along." Instead, he had a nut on his hands that he should have ignored and Bob ended up offending and upsetting a LOT of people by re-printing that nut's letter. (including me. I have every issue and my son was a child at the time. I cut that page out.) The folks at N Scale Supply said that was why they were dropping N-Scale Magazine (although I bet there were other reasons). But for crying out loud-- that was a LONNNNNNNNG time ago and there is a new editor. I think they should carry it again too. You might ask, have I suggested it to them? The answer is -- No. I'm a subscriber and would never buy any from them, so I would be lying if I led them to believe that I was a potential customer. But I do wish others would ask them.
