I am really starting to get dissapointed in some of the recent issues of CTT.
Can we get more pictures of big layouts??? and not just a few especially the same area of the layout? Recent issue has a very nice AF layout in it. Its huge, but only 5 or so pictures and in the same area of the layout?! Come on, give us more pictures. This isnt the first time, nor will it be the last.
THANKS!
MARK
Yeah, I know what you mean.
Get over it. Life isn’t fair, perhaps you could send in some ideas and photo’s?
Opinions are like butt holes, everyone has one. Good reply Jon.
So much hostility! [:O]
I think the gang at CTT tries their best to be balanced. They can’t do stories of publish photos if no one sends in suggestions or photos.
I could take an opposite view, and would like to see more photos and articles about small layouts that use 027 track. And more articles/reviews of traditionally sized non-command, non-scale products. But I’ve been told Lionel no longer sends products to CTT for review consideration either. The last issue of CTT was a dud for me personally: I have no interest in Legacy, BUT I know others do.
On one good point, at least the guys removed the pro/cons box from the product reviews. I was getting annoyed with reviews of traditional products warranting a con rating when it came to being non scale. For me, every single product with any kind of command or scale sized justifies a con rating for those features.
So obviously different strokes for different folks. As Chief somewhat bluntly said about opinions…
Not all the issues are winners to me either. I’d hope that for the ones I think are sub par, that someone else will think it’s the best issue ever published.
As far as the pictures go, I’ve noticed that on some layouts. I’ll go out on a limb and say that the shooting vantage used was the only practical place to shoot from. I’ll guess the photogragher isn’t using a small point and shoot 5 mp digital camera. There’s probably a tripod involved, and likely some additional lighting. These things take space, and empty space is a premium in most train rooms I’ve visited, mine included. Another reason for not varying the vantage point may be items in the background that would detract from the photo, such as a water heater or furnace. Perhaps there’s a chunk of the layout that isn’t finished to the level the photograghed area is, or is just plain boring (which is not to imply that the AF layout mentioned is boring where the camera wasn’t) in a still shot.
Just a few ideas to ponder,
J White
Hi!
I’ve subscribed since “day one” and found the first several years fascinating and then my level of enthusiasm dropped for the next few years. After all, much of the “good stuff” (to me) was written about in earlier years.
However, I was just remarking to my wife that the last few issues seemed to be getting better - which is the opposite of your view. Ha, what we need is a mag that celebrates only postwar trains and nothing after the '60s! Laugh folks, I’m kidding!!!
Mobilman44
Actually 44 I’m not laughing, it is my idea that CTT WAS suppose to be about older toy trains. Not the new stuff they have been showing.
I have to agree with Sir James I, the first word is Classic. Whether or not a magazine dedicated to post war would sell well I leave to the publisher. [2c]
They hobby has changed in the past 20 years and I suspect there are more new trains that have been purchased than old trains. That having been noted, reader tastes have changed (as repeatedly affirmed by our surveying) over time as well.
Let me add that I believe that Carl has injected a bit more vintage content since he took over as editor.
As for the photos, you have two factors. The photos we receive (or shoot ourselves) that are usable, and the balance between words and photos (ergo: space). If we have a usable grand view, we use it.
Trust me, every negative bit of feedback is discussed, not ignored. And the feedback we receive on our surveys has enough negative feedback to deflate anyone’s ego. But there is still something to be learned by what people are unhappy about.
I’m just the products guy, but I still think we crank out a good product that meets the expectations of a majority of our readers.
One thing I would love to see CTT and the other magazine come out with is either a year end or bonus edition with photos that didn’t make the cut or additional photos of the layouts that were featured that year.
Not a lot of editiorial context but photos.
BTW the issue seemed fine to me.
BOB, the product is A-1 super, last issue was great. but for awhile it did seem that "Classic"was missing.
Grayson, what gets me is the persons who never post on the forum but are ready to criticize. Come join us and chat and share. Then if you hit something not to your liking, OK.
I too would like more articles about smaller layouts. Usually the Christmas issue has a small layout or two in it. As far as the reviews, I’m guessing the importers send their most expensive models, not their starter set engines. They can’t review what they don’t have. The last page of the mag is almost always of interest to me (collectable classics?); though I get bummed out when something on my want list is on it, as the prices jump for some reason [:)]
How about next year’s layout contest be a 4 x 8 layout? Here’s the catch: the participants have to actually build it.
J White
It is the only magazine that I actually have a subscription. (You should see all the free junk mags I get about storm sewers, surveying, concrete, etc.)
One of my favorite sections is TOY TRAIN MARKETPLACE, where small ads have many times introduced me to new products or companies, such as ROSCOE’s MODEL Structures.
Brianel027 – I, too, like articles on smaller layouts and traditionally-sized trains. Not everyone wants Legacy or scale, etc. I’d like to see more Marx layouts, as a matter of fact. I think all-Marx (or mostly-Marx) layouts are really neat, although I have all Lionel stuff (postwar and modern).
I’m definitely a TOY train enthusiast; in fact, we’re in the process of getting ready to move from Ohio to So. Calif., and I’m downsizing my collection by getting rid of a lot of the scale stuff I have accumulated over the years. Once I am able (I hope!) to start a new layout in Calif., I’m going to go with an 031 traditional one again, just like the 5x9 ft. one I have now. Maybe a tad larger, if I can shoehorn it into my bedroom, which is where it’ll have to go!
As for recent CTTs, I think they are excellent overall, with a nice mix of stories. I DO wish they’d review more traditional locos, though, instead of so many giant scale ones.
I think the magazine is just fine, but then I’m not a collector of Postwar stuff. For those interested in that field, if you don’t belong, join TCA. Their quarterly has some great articles on both pre and post war trains.
Bob didn’t mention this topic, but CTT has to put out a magazine that is attractive to advertisers as well as readers. The buyers and sellers of postwar lionel don’t bring in many bucks to advertisers of new products, so to be honest those readers are not real important to advertisers.
I would think that in the past 40-50 years just about everything that can be written about prewar and postwar has been written and it would be hard to come up with new topics on an old subject.
CTT has done a pretty good job of reviewing traditional locos, in my opinion. There haven’t been that many new ones to reveiw that I am aware of.
I think it is unrealistic to expect EVERY issue to hit upon my personal interest, but overall I think CTT is doing a great job. I look forward to each issue.
Having said that, I would like to add my vote to those who would like to see more coverage of smaller layouts.
While CTT is my favorite train magazine, Some issues appeal more to ME than others. I subscribe to CTT, OGR, and MR. All three have added a lot to my information and enthusiasm for this hobby. I believe Bob has addressed the photo submission issue a number of times. If you want more photos, take them and submit them. They are always looking for some quality submissions to publish.
On content, I would like to see a couple of things added to CTT. I would like a section like OGR has with Jim Barrett. He has some great ideas and suggestions. We do occasionally see some very good submissions like Bob Nelson’s on LEDs of recent. Things like these really help a lot of folks who want to bring their knowledge and layouts to the next level.
I think CTT has done a wonderful job of mixing the content between Postwar, Prewar, modern era train offerings. I have seen quality layouts with Marx as the stars, and some detailed creations from Dave Connolly and others that leave one in awe. If you don’t like some of what is in this issue, stick around and see what is in the next several…I think in the end, you will be pleased with what you get.
Dennis