In 2012 when I returned to the hobby after a break of over fifteen years I found the mainstream magazines really useful. A lot of ideas and techniques had changed over the years with new concepts like DCC and static grass which I'd never heard of before. Also the layout features were often really inspirational with useful ideas on construction and track plans. The problem is that will I now have more experience than I did two years ago the magazines are printing the same things. And by that I really do mean the same things. In two years I've seen multiple layout articles appear more than one, and the hands on articles cover the same topics over and over again. Added to this the magazines seem to focus on very basic modelling; building a kit or modifying a ready-to-run locomotive. There are almost no articles covering scratch building structures or roiling stock.Put simply there is no longer enough in each magazine that is of interest to me to justify the cost. So given I'm not reading the high street magazines what am I reading?
Mostly I'm finding that the interesting and inspiring articles are now appearing on blogs instead of magazines and I could probably survive with just the blogs if I wanted to. There is though, something soothing about sitting down in a comfy chair with a good magazine. I'm now reading five different publications. Three are society journals and two are quarterly magazines. The society journals cover are from MERG (which covers the electronics side of the hobby in detail) and the N Gauge and OO9 societies which tie in nicely with the two gauges/scales I'm currently modelling. The quarterly magazines are something I've only just started to subscribe to but here we have Narrow Gauge & Industrial Railway Modelling Review and Finescale Railway Modelling Review.
Now I'm sure that people could find fault with all these magazines in one way or another but I'm very happy with the selection. There is a lot more actual modelling in these compared to the box opening articles of the main magazines and they are more directed at my own interests (less blue diesel layouts) so I think they all make a good read.
I have enough problems finding time to read New Scientist and I'm retired. How do you do it?
ReplyDeleteWell all but the OO9 news are quarterly publications so there isn't actually that much to read, but it's five minutes here and there and sometimes the 45 minute train ride to work.
DeleteI forgot about train journeys. I used to do a lot of my reading whilst commuting back when I worked in Liverpool. So long ago!
DeleteIn agreement with you, Mark. The mainstream magazines are fine for a newcomer/novice reader, but as you say, the same old stuff gets shunted back and forth. MRJ is a pretty safe read, I am always guaranteed to find something that inspires me or challenges my comfort zone, Finescale Review promises much- I subscribed too- and I also get a couple of society publications that are very refreshing in their candid tone...a nice change from the rather "politically correct" pages of the modelling red tops :-)
ReplyDeleteI've always struggled with MRJ. I know I should be inspired by some of the modelling but for some reason, the few issues I've read, were a real chore to get through.
DeleteFinescale Review does indeed promise much, I sat down and read it cover to cover last week, my thoughts now turn towards subscribing. At the same time I read Model Rail 199 (there's 3 interesting layouts in there), which frankly was a lot more difficult to wade through, probably being down to the brash layout of the mag. Each modelling article in MR seemed like a brief snapshot, lacking detail, unlike the Review which wasn't afraid to dedicate 9 pages to a relatively obscure wagon type that never ran on a proper railway... and made it an engaging read. I shall be interested to see how the magazine develops.
ReplyDeleteAs Iain says, the MRJ is certainly worth keeping an eye on, particularly when Barry Norman sits in the editors chair.
How do you find the OO9 Society journal Mark? I ask because I feel that I really ought stop being tight and re-join.
The gas wagon build was a really interesting article. As you say none of the main magazines would have run it which I think is a real shame.
DeleteAs for OO9 News, it's a bit mixed to be honest. There is about 20 pages of content each month so don't expect long articles. What you tend to get is a mix of modelling, prototype info, trade news, and probably a report from a show. For the cost of the membership I don't think it's too bad, especially given the discounts on some items you can get through the society (the saving on the new Minitrains Brigadelok was I believe more than the cost of a years membership).
Sorry to poke my nose in again, but Paul, MR does often seem like a really good mag trying to escape from a straitjacket. I would buy it if it wasn't for the terrible feeling that the editor/publishers think I have a 2 nanosecond attention span. There are good people and good things in there, and George Dent always writes interesting and worthwhile stuff. Yet the uncluttered layout of MRJ and FRMR just seem to help one concentrate and absorb the modelling goodness inside.
ReplyDeleteI do agree with you Iain, and I like yourself I have a good deal of respect for George Dent (his airbrushing book is superb). I just wish that MR would clean up its layout as any good content is easily lost. I find the fussy presentation and liberal use of 'top tip' boxes and sidebars spoil the flow of an article, which is why I like the simpler layout of the MRJ and the Review.
DeleteAs for short attention spans, there's a whole two pages on modelling Tudor buildings by Allan Downes, including a large sidebar...