I definitely feel that accolades are due David Popp and MR’s editorial staff for the February 2011 issue of Model Railroader. In my opinion it is the best single issue and clearly the most modeler/truly hobby-oriented copy I believe that I have seen come out of Kalmbach over perhaps the last 20 years.
For those who have yet to receive their copies, I would point out that the entire issue concerns actual hands-on modeling subjects, as opposed to any of the buy-this, buy-that, RTR fluff that dominated the magazine’s pages so often since the late 1990’s. Particularly welcome, I feel, is the article illustrating plans/concepts for four relatively small, yet interesting and in some instances novel, layouts applicable to the talents of many average, or space-starved, hobbyists. You’ll also find a layout tour article for a really nice, completed, 4x8 pike. And to add to that, there is the promise that four more clever 4x8 trackplans will be forthcoming in the March issue!
So, again, I say bravo to MR and particularly to David, who I perceive as a driving force at the magazine, coaxing it ever more in the direction of actual model-oriented copy and in-house innovation.
I am new to MR but have enjoyed the support that I have received through Forum. I want to echo the comments made by CNJ831. I thought the very same when I put my February copy down after reading it.
John, I am happy to see that you approve of the monthly issue at long last. I know you have lamented long and strong about the ‘slippage’ in the contents of the magazine after your studied and long history. It could be that they had a meeting or three over the past year and decided they needed a mid-course correction to get back on tack. On track, too.
I hope others with your origin and experience in the hobby make some positive comments. It would be great for the editorial staff to read positive feedback. With that reinforcement, we can look forward to a better mix, or balance, in what the magazine offers the hobbyist.
I have not opened the wrapper to last month’s issue, but I look forward to doing this based on the positive comments posted last month. I don’t subscribe, but I do pick up the odd issue if there is some good commentary about a given edition. So, I’ll be sure to get this one as well. [:)]
Wouldn’t it be great if magazines didn’t need to sell ad space! Of course Mark, the copy price would be insane if you and I had to bear the cost of publication without all those nasty ads! If you don’t like the number of ads today, pick up a back issue from the 80’s. To get back on topic, the current issue is one of the best in quite a while. I do appreciate the recent return to modeling.
cant wait for my copy, hopefully wont be a month late this time!
I dont mind the ads, they give you an complete idea of whats new and it helps me in shifting thru all the rubbish that is posted all over the web when you try to search for a particular product. Just my 2cents
Sorry, I thought that the February issue was boring, and I have already filed it away.
On the other hand, I thought that the January issue was outstanding. I have re-read a couple of the articles, and the layouts covered in that issue were spectacular, including the passenger train layout and the layout with turntables on either hand.