Model Railroader magazine has always been heavily HO oriented. They are slowly (very) increasing their N Scale Content. So my question, Why would an N scale modeler subscribe to Model Railroader Magazine? The reason I subscribe to MR is to access their on-line site and track plan database. They are going digital (the world is trying to go paperless) with it on-line but I still like the MR on paper. MR has started to have more N Scale features but HO still is the dominate scale. But I'll most likely keep my subscription. I may (just may) continue my subscription to a paperless MR. But I like to hold, turn the pages, feel the Magazines in my hand. I have looked at several E-Book Readers and they can get expensive. Especially if you go for a color and magazine type of reader. Questions: You are N Scale, why do you subscribe to MR? If not why not? What do you think of a paperless world? What do you think of the new E-Readers to use for reading Railroad magazines? See ya Ron
I don't subscribe because I can't afford it right now, but my son and I do occasionally pick up a magazine at the LHS. If I could afford it, I'm not sure that I would subscribe. I think it's a great magazine, but so much of what I'm looking for is available from other sources for less or free (like MRH magazine). Like you, I really enjoy holding and flipping through a paper magazine (books and newspapers, too). But I'm also a technology guy (my day job and hobby) so I don't mind paperless either (though I don't have any e-book reader other than my laptop and BlackBerry). I haven't had too much experience with them, and I wonder how they will handle the high-quality photos (as compared to my laptops and desktops). If the display is good, then bring it on. If not, then I'll stay happily with my other computers.
I enjoy the magazine for entertainment, but I would NOT subscribe, as it has very little "N" scale content. I am happy with the "Model Railroad Hobbyist" E-zine.....it's very good, although it is "HO" oriented as well, but it's FREE
Regardless of scale I like to see what modelers can do. If I only looked to N Scale for inspiration, I would be depriving myself of the knowledge of a lot of great modelers. That is why I subscribe to MR.
If you are an N scaler I think MR is not a good way to spend your money. Sure you get to see the same HO modeling and some interesting scenery articles sometimes, but N-Scale Magazine is a better mag for N. And Karl, there are great modelers in N as well. Jim
I don't subscribe, but I do purchase it. Even with it being HO heavy, I use it for ideas. I don't. There are somethings that just need to be on paper. Why should I subscribe to a E-Magazine and then have to use my own supplies and equipment to print something that I want to take to the work bench, where the computer is not. Besides the comments above, you can't print from them (at least the one I have experience with).
I don't subscribe because it is just too hard to read with my low vision though I do pick it up now and then but I also pick up a mag on garden model railroads. I have only seen the "Kindle" and was disappointed. When you increase the size of the font you have to scroll back and forth. That is toooo much of a pain for me. I get 99% of my model railroading info right here on Trainboard.
Don't forget Railroad Model Craftsman. Even though MR is published here in my home state, these days I prefer RMC. They publish more scratchbuilding and kitbashing articles, more prototype plans, and more advanced techniques than MR. RMC also has more N scale content than they had in the past. As far as I know, RMC doesn't have an ebook version yet.
Because Model Railroading Is My Hobby & N Is My Scale 1) I have subscribed to MR for years and will keep my subscription up to date. I'm into N-Scale, but this doesn't keep me from looking and seeing what has been done in other scales. Just because an article is written about O--S--HO etc etc doesn't mean I can't adapt something in the article to N-Scale. Keep your mind open for ideas, you never know where something new will come from 2) Paperless world sounds good, but I don't see it happening right away. It is said that we are also heading into "Cash-Less" society, haven't seen that too quick either. A big handful of $20's will ALWAYS get you a better price on an item, than a single plastic credit card. 3) E-Readers will happen and some people will swear by them, but they have their short comings also. Batteries, limited use in bright daylight, not all books/magazine will cross over easily. For now I'll stick with the paper copies and read them till the staples fall out.
Because my WIFE bought me a subscription. And I read a number of other mags usually based on content interests. Thus Timber Times, and Narrow Guage and Shortline Gazette can be found on occassion in my workroom. I get a lot of ideas for projects from other scales. And because I find a number of projects like these in those other mags that I rarely find in the N Scale mags.
My responses: You are N Scale, why do you subscribe to MR? If not why not? I like the variety of articles and the quality of the writing/editing. They touch on useful, scale-independent topics that any modeler can employ to improve his/her layout and modeling skills. Lots of good information about operations, if that is your inclination. What do you think of a paperless world? Great for bank and other types of statements, although I often print those out. Like others, I enjoy the physical act of holding a magazine and turning pages. I do like the Model Railroad Hobbyist e-zine, but I don't enjoy a lot of "paging" through stuff on the computer. I'd much rather use the computer for looking at pictures and videos. This is strange, however, because I read Trainboard posts almost daily. I'm weird that way, I guess. What do you think of the new E-Readers to use for reading Railroad magazines? A good idea "on paper" if you'll pardon a very poor joke. I haven't yet convinced myself I need another electronic toy that I might want to lug around.
I use to love looking at them when I was a kid. I must have gone through each issue 50 times. I didn't really care much about what the scales were. I just liked looking at other people's stuff. I also liked the prototype articles, where they would investigate a certain type of industry or something, and have photos and drawings. I always felt like I learned something. I honestly think they really kicked off N, because there weren't many mags out back in the 70s/80s, and they had the Clinchfield. I really think that layout is what put N on the map. I haven't even picked one up in a long time. I don't know what they're like now. But I recall in the 90s, the issues I looked at seemed kind of bland. It seemed like the quality of the articles had gone down and a lot of it was just sort of nube starter stuff. It's sad to see the paper publishing world go though. I loved reading my magazines and books when I was a kid.
I haven't been an MR subscriber since the 1990s...and I was an HO scaler then I'll buy an MR if there's something worth reading, like the Salt Lake Route. Plus, I need something to read when I'm in the can, lol. Interestingly, I bought my first N Scale Railroading (the current issue) last month. It was cool seeing the work of "our community," especially since the cover layout belongs to one of us here. I also loved seeing all the ads, especially the online retailers I've never heard of before.
BUT...if you are reading a mag...and u find something interesting you usually get "blah...blah...blah (page 23)...continued on page 82 !! U take that to your workbench...and sure as N scale is kewl...u r gonna lose your place in that mag...lol. With E-Mags...ya can print JUST the pages ya want...and u can even enlarge the font so ya can read it ! You know how the old eyes water after reading small print articles in mags :tb-tongue::tb-wink:
I am an N scale guy who also models in other scales. I have a medium sized N and two Z layouts in my home, but my N is what gets the focus of my attention and passion, while the interest in the other scales is just because I love model railroading. I have semi-permanent point to point layous in HO and O. Back from the early eighties through about 1990, Model Railroader was "THE" bible of model railroading IMHO. I had a seubscription but would write letters of complaint if the hobby shops got the new issue before mine was received in the mail. Now I could give NO HOOT. Right now, I catch up on Model Railroader by accepting samples at train clubs and shows of past copies. This says to me that I get it for what it is worth to me, passing interest, but basically nothing. I prefer to spend my hard earned money on the N scale magazines since Model Railroader has essentially boycotted any N from their pages, with the departure of Jim Kelly and others. The items that interest me in any model railroad magazine are not time sensitive - I get my news and honest opinions online. Although this reads like excessively hard copy, it is with sadness that I love the magazine, it is like a former wife, just not that relevant to me anymore. Ken "FloridaBoy" Willaman
I don't subscribe because of content... not that it lacks too much in regards to N-scale but because some issues simply lack anything I can really use. Scale for me is irrelevant... I can gain inspiration from models done in nearly ANY scale, especially so if there are ideas that will benefit me in my modeling efforts... but some issues are best left on the shelf. Technology isn't a problem and with several hundred pounds of magazines to move from time to time (moves, searching for a specific issue, etc.) going paperless is a great idea. Already mentioned is the Model Railroad Hobbiest, which I have read from the very first issue. Personally (yes, I know folks say that they don't like the idea of reading eZines but they post to the forums and many, many email lists, which is not all that different, but I understand about the issue of printing out pages and carrying them elsewhere) I find it to be the best publication available right now in regards to model railroading, hands down. Yes, they are mostly oriented to HO scale but there is always some sort of N-scale content and, even more, there is always ideas that provides inspiration for future modeling projects. And I don't stop with MRH/. There is the PRR Historical and Technical Society's The Keystone Modeler, the B&O Historical Society's The B&O modeler, the ACL-SAL Historical Society's Seaboard - Coast Line Modeler, the C&NW Historical Society's CNWHS Modeler and the new NYC Historical Society's NYC Modeler. All are free and really great resources. To be exact, the current Keystone Modeler features an article about building a PRR M70a 70' mail car from the MT mail car by Claus Schlund, an excellent article that also would help N&W modelers to build the N&W Me-class mail car (N&W 1100 - 1111). Going paperless to me doesn't seem to be unreasonable, except if you still pay the price of a printed publication. Paying less, I am willing to go paperless with a magazine like MR, especially since I can print out pages as needed at less cost than a printed magazine and storage is, well, virtual. With a portable hard drive that I bought at ½ price two Thanksgivings ago I now have the capacity for and actually have 3x the amount of photos and information that I have in my magazine boxes, and the amount of information grows every week, which is something I am grateful for. Build a business car from the new Micro-Trains Line® Plan 3959 observation car? Click here to learn more.
I have often thought about not renewing, to be honest. And for a time in the past few years, IMHO it was not worth it. But to me the quality and the usefulness of the articles have improved in the past two years. I'm right now just moments before tearing down my current layout and starting over, hereby changing every single part of my approach to layout building I've been using so far. And that is because of the many great ideas I got mostly from MR. Of course, Online source get more important by the week and I would also subscribe to a paperless magazine. Having said this, it is clear that I would also use my IPad to read MR magazines. What the problem here is, I don't dare to take it with me to my workshop or even into the layout room when I'm working on something. The danger of having some AC glue or plastic glue sticking to my finger and hereby ruining my IPad is just too horrible to me. (Not that that can't be overcome). The tablet revolution is just around the corner and will sweep through all parts of our lives, may we like it or not. If we survive the economic meltdown that is occuring just now (I'm European) the world will have changed just as it did in 1989. (You wouldn't guess that I'm with an IT company that's going toward tablet development, would you?) ;-) Having said that all: Yes, I will stick with MR for the next 3 years, if it were for the online content alone.The paper mag is fine, too but an electronic version would be fine, too. Although the price should be smaller, as I wouldn't have to pay for postage. My 2 (Euro)Cent Michael
