I’m not sure if I should sign up for the magazine. What is in it? Is it more ads or articles? If your vote was 5 (five) or above please reply. If your vote was 4 (four) or bellow then you are annoying.[:D]
Very strange poll…You shouldn’t slap the face of your host.
I’ve spent a lot of time studying the question of which model railroader magazine to subscribe to. During my youth when I had limited funds I wanted the most bang for my buck. After pouring over many old issues of different brands, I decided Model Railroader would be the best choice and I have never regretted my decision. [:D]
In comparison to other magazines, MR tries to give the best of everything. This means there are articles I don’t care about, but there are always articles I like, too. The variety is great and there is much to learn. From questions and how-to articles, layout tours great and small, special interest editions, craftsman building and product reviews all the way to Tony Koester’s “Trains of Thoughts” and interesting advertisements-it’s all there. Other magazines do well in their coverage, but pale in comparison. [bow]
I have been reading this magazine consistently for more than 30 years. Yes, I know there are others. I read them occasionally, too–sometimes frequently. However, to keep abreast of the most current developments, there is nothing better than MR–unless you count this MR forum. [^]
Umm your basically on their web-site. I think it gives a very good idea of what is in it. Actually I often enjoy the ads just as much as the articles. There are some pretty amazing things in those small ads that you would never find in the hobby store just browsing around.
I’ve had a subscription for about a year and a half, although I have been reading Model Railroader for at least four or five years, and I have only a couple minor gripes about it. First, I’d like to see MR feature more about western model railroading. It seems that at least 3/4 of the model railroads and other articles they feature are eastern (such as B & O or Pennsy), and only every few months they feature a western railroad (such as Union Pacific or Santa Fe). I’m not saying that they should feature all western railroads, but I would like to see a little more balance, especially since I model western railroads. Second, I’d like to see a few more articles about scenery. Other than these two things, I like Model Railroader, and I give them an 8/10.
Look forward each month and read it cover to cover. I wish some advertisers would get more creative, some are the same old page, I want new and different info.
MR is a class act, hosting this forum for us, in my personal openion is priceless.
It is and has been my favorite magazine for over 30 years. My only wish is that it would carry more articles on the minority scales such as S and O.
Enjoy
Paul
Other than the NMRA Scale Rails, MR is now the only mag that I take. IMHO it is not the magazine that it once was as it is too glitzy with too little solid modeling features. However, it is the one magazine that can be used to keep up with the hobby overall. That’s why I still subscribe.
The reason for the decline?
- Spining off too many other products that carry the content that MR used to carry.
- The modeling community is changing toward less modeling and more running.
BTW - I don’t consider asking for comments to be biting the hand of the forum supplier. If we can’t get honest opinions here, then where? Oh, well… I voted for 6 out of the scale of 10.
Still the best.
Slapping the face of the host I think may not be the point here. How else would the publication know whether they need to improve or not. I’m in the manufacturing business and feedback from my customers is very important. The last few issues have been very good. Every once in a while MR rolls out a lemon or two. I’ll agree that there is too much advertising and not enough meat but they have to pay the bills. Also ads are part of the content and are the cheapest way to show new product. I’m not real fond of the Mega layouts that are works of art. I’m more geared to the smaller/midsized layouts. All the giant layouts seem to run together after a few issues. As long as they provide quality content and stay off the filler I will stay a subscriber.
RMax
I buy mine at a supper market. The magazine has way too many ads. I give it a 5=ok!
Well MR needs to improve…The magazine been in a down hill side for quite some time and doesn’t seem to be to be getting any better.[:(]
Well, we get these threads rather often on here, and as usual I must defend MR. Is it perfect? No. Is it the best general model railroading mag on the market? In my opinion, yes. And I have read most of them, even subscribed to a couple of other for a time. But MR is the only one I still get today. It covers all scales and all aspects of the hobby for modelers at every level. That is a tall order to fill, but MR does it pretty well. There are many here who would like to see MR cater more to their specific needs and desires. Whil that would make MR great for them, it would make it less inclusive as a general model railraoding periodical. In short, keep up the good work, MR.
Ron
For all of the above reasons I give it a good solid “9”. While it is almost great, there can always be some improvement. The neat thing about subscribing is that if you have questions or need to know some technique, sooner or later there will be an article on it. I have full years going back to '95 when I got back into the hobby and I often refer back to articles, how-to’s, etc. I only wish now I had kept all the '60’s issues I used to have but donated to the library during one of my many hiatuses (hiati?) At 67 I’m in it for the long haul now, so keep 'em coming. Also in response to one of the statements above, isn’t operations a part of railroad modelling? Or are they just supposed to be dust collectors?
I’ve been reading MR since the mid sixties and although I certainly find some issue not to my liking they play to a broad audience and do a good job of it. I also subscribe to Timber Times and Narrow Guage and Shortline Gazette, which fill in the my main interests. If you have to chose only one RR specific publication then Mr would be my recomendation. I gave it an 8.
I’ve only been a subscriber for one year, but have been very happy with the magazine (I rated it an 8).
I would never rate anything a 10 feeling there is always room for improvement. The reason I did not rate it a 9 is because of the one pet-peeve I have about the magazine. Many times the text of an article will go in to considerable detail about a specific portion of a featured layout. Then I look for a photo to match the text and there is none. If considerable attention is paid to something in the text, I think they should make sure to have a photo showing what they are talking about.
Other than that one gripe, I think the magazine is first rate. I really enjoy the ads, so I certainly would not complain about there being too many of them.
[:)]
I gave it an 8. I’ve been a regular reader since Jr. High back in the seventies (have my dad’s issues back to the early 60’s) and have seen many changes - some good, some bad, well, not bad - I just disagree with them. I would like to see more articles concerning kitbashing structures. Art Curren rocked and is solely missed by me. I do feel, however, as a general purpose model railroading magazine, MR is tops. There isn’t a single issue that doesn’t have at least one article that I find interesting - even if it is in a different scale, different era or different geographical location - there is something to learn.
One thing that I like is the beginner articles. Even if I feel that I know how to do something, there seems to always be a new twist that makes the job easier, or a new tool. I especially enjoy Tony Koester’s column. I’m not big into operations (at least not yet) but enjoy reading his take on it. I also find his column very amusing at times - it’s gratifying to know that this builder of an awesome layout and man of infinite skills makes some of the same mistakes as me! (his wiring column had me written all over it!).
While I rated MR an 8, they’ve had some issues that were pretty close to 10’s in my book, and only a few that fell as low as 6.
Bottom line - if I could only subscribe to one - it would be MR.
Model Railroader is the only hobby magazine I have a complete collection of since the late 50s.
The magazine has gone through periods where it has been somewhat mediocre, but that never lasts for more than a year or two … and then it usually stages a comeback.
MR is currently in an upswing. I’ve been in the hobby for almost 40 years now and I find each issue of the magazine to be still an interesting read, especially these days. Keep it up MR!
I think it rates at least an 8. I’ve been reading it since the mid-70’s, the only thing I really miss are the drawings that used to be in almost every issue. Be it a car, a locomotive, a trackside building, etc… it was a great resource for info. That’s why I’ve been building an archive- use the index of magazines here, then look it up.
In the January issue, there actually is a drawing- not one I’ll use, but there is one! I really enjoyed Bergies article on building the diesel, and the one on modeling the early 1900’s. THAT’s model railroading to me, building something, not melting the plastic to buy something then just setting it on the track. But MR goes as the hobby goes, everything should be RTR. Guess I’m just a dinosaur.
And personally, I love the ads! For me, that’s how I have to buy almost everything. There actually is one model RR shop within a 80mile radius of me, but try getting there when they’re open. I buy there when I can, but have to resort to the ads most of the time.