Does anyone know what is going on with Railroad Model Craftsman? If memory serves me right, they usually hit the newsstand about the same time an Model Railroader. The April issue of MR has been out for over two weeks, maybe even three, and still no RMC?? Even the website still shows the March issue, with no mention of April. I am about to call them and ask, but I thought I would ask here first.
That has been my question for the last week or two. Have a subscription to both and my experience has been mail receipt of MR on either the last or first day of the month followed by RMC by about 1 - 2 weeks, but never later than the 13/14th of the month.
According to RMC, they are having some difficulties in getting the April issue through the printers, indicating that it will be "in the mail" any day now (sorta like "the check is in the mail"?) Anyway, those who have been getting RMC for many years can recall several occasions when this sort of thing has occurred, although I do think that this is likely the longest "delay" ever for them. NYW&B
Keep in mind that with credit markets tightened up that some printers are demanding payment before they print now, not 15 or 30 or 60 days later, so that may be part of the hold-up. I have no idea what RMC's individual case is about, but it's an excellent publication and I believe that they are interested in serving their readership.
Through the past year or so, I have heard several times of such problems, from other publishers. Situations such as quality, the printer raising rates or shutting down suddenly. There is nothing we can do from out here except to await further developments. Boxcab E50
I've read in another forum that RMC have used a new publishing software and just delivery the number to printing factory ... too late. Sometimes happens , also to best families! Cheers Enzo Fortuna The Valley before Silicon
Today I went by my local hobby shop and they have the May issue of Model Railroader, but still no April Railroad Model Craftsman. Though they do, finally, have the cover of the April issue on their website. I am going to cal them tomorrow and ask what is going on.
Sounds to me that they are alone in the magazine world in actually publishing stuff at about the date it says on the cover. The rest of them are 'racing' to get their [month] issue out before the rest. (I get a computer mag where they now talk about the 'upcoming' Christmas in the February issue of the following year. It's just stupid ) By the by, I got my March issue of RMC late last week, which given the snail mail they use to send it over the pond seems about right if April has just been published.
I called Carstens on Thursday and asked about RMC, The lady who answered said that the magazine shipped out last week. She sounded like she had answered that question many times. I didn't ask her about shipping to news stands and hobby shops though, I should have asked that because it has still not shown up at my local B&N or any of the hobby shops I have bought it from recently.
