Off the top of my head, and without digging through my stack of recent MR issues, I am pretty certain that there are examples of articles on each one of these topics within the last couple of years. Maybe they did listen after all?
I think the thread was deleted because of the vituperative remarks that were appearing in some responses. Bergie always does this regardless of the topic.
What continues to amaze me is how upset people get with MR over their choice of content. Over the years I have bought/subscribed to a number of model railroading magazines, when I find that they aren’t interesting to me I stop buying/subscribing. I am sure that the editorial staff reads all courteously written letters, but in the end the magazine has to remain economically viable. So most of the content choice has to appeal to a wide audience. The recent demise of several magazines emphasizes this.
MR has always been and continues to be my favorite model railroading magazine. Would I like to see some changes? Of course, but overall the magazine still appeals to me. I have found over the years that MR and RMC provide me the best total package - evidently others have too, since these are the survivors.
Enjoy
Paul
Opinion: I like the advertisements. I prefer more ads as long as they don’t reduce the editorial and article content.
Fact: MR is the only model railroading magazine I purchase regularly.
Mark Pierce (originator of the deleted “Skinny Model Railroader” topic)
Yeah, I like the ads, too! For me, it’s like window shopping at a candy store. It’s one of the best places for a supplier to put their new products. Even if the new passenger cars coming out now are way too big for my Disney-ride 18-inch curves, I still like to look at them and think about building a “proper” layout some day.
How many of us get the Walthers monthly flier, either in the mail or from our LHS? I love it. I read through that just like I used to go through the Lionel catalog when I was a little kid. It re-activates those old nerve pathways and gives me the same thrill, even better sometimes, because now I don’t have to ask my Mom and Dad for stuff or wait for Christmas.
Although I now try to get everything through my LHS, I have bought stuff because I saw the ad in MR and went to the web site based on that. However, a tiny ad that says “visit our web site” isn’t enough, unless my eye gets caught by a specific product picture. Trainworld, which probably has more ad space than anyone else, gets a lot of business because it basically puts a catalog on those pages every month, and you can see their prices (always good) for literally hundreds of items.
Hopefully, advertisers know all this. The smarter ones also realize that not all of us are on-line way too many hours every week, and a lot of modellers don’t even own a computer or know how to use one. This is one business where a magazine ad is going to reach a lot of people that a web site never will.
So, advertisers, get with it. Buy more ad space in MR, and RMC while you’re at it. There’s a big customer base out there that will never see this thread.