This has probably been covered before, but I don’t get to the Forums very often, so…
Are the PDF files that MR sells off the weekly newsletter simply an accumulation of articles in past issues, or is there any new information in them? It would seem silly to buy articles we’ve already got in our magazine collection, though I realize there’s something to be said for having lots of stuff on a single topic in one place. Your comments would be appreciated.
Larry W
i dont know if this is any help but you might get more advise if you emailed mrr mag directly
pavariangoo,ps tell me what they say,im curious =)
They are copies of previously printed articles in MR.
Bob Boudreau
So is most of the material on the new DVD series. I had already purchased one of the PDF downloads, and saw it again when I received the DVD. I wish I could sell the same item over and over merely by changing the packaging. I think everyone would be doing well to thoroughly peruse the DVD before forking out 25 hard-earned $$$ for it.
I think they’re reprints. I E-mailed them with the idea of letting registered MR subscribers download them for free as an incentive to sell subscriptions and they said no thanks.
I guess it all depends on your perspective.
If you are new to the hobby and don’t have a huge back issues collection, then having the PDF reprints available organized all around a single topic is darn handy and worth every penny.
If you are an old timer like me and have a complete MR collection that runs back into the 1950s, then no, they’re not of much value – especially with the online magazine index Kalmbach provides on here for free.
Just because the PDFs may not be of much value to some of us doesn’t mean MR ought not to sell them. My guess is they are priced for modelers who are buying this material mostly as new material and who currently don’t have all this info sitting on their shelves as back issues.
The PDFs are of great value to newer modelers who don’t have a huge MR back issue collection. Hooray to MR for providing this service to newer modelers!
Ditto to Joe,
and even if I did have all the back issues, havin all the info on a topic I needed in one place, for me would be worth the money, as oppsed to spending hours lookin through boxes/shelves of magasines to find various articles scattered through the years of back issues.
Have fun & be safe
Karl.
The question has also been asked on here from time to time if MR ever listens to the forum requests?
One request was for additional material organized by subject that’s new and not MR article reprints.
Well, the new “special issue” series is one such example of meeting that request.
First there was the “Railroads of the 50s” issue, now there’s the “Realistic Layouts” issue coming out next May, covering all kinds of new material around the right-of-way and detailing it.
So it seems our requests for new subject-oriented material are being heard.
What has this to do with the PDF files one can purchase? Are the subjects in these new magazines available as PDFs?
Bob Boudreau
New modelers, like me, have a lot to learn. So, I appreciate the fact that I have a choice to purchase a back copy if I so choose; occasionally, time can be worth money as the saying goes.
Also, don’t forget to look out for back issues when attending a meet or show. Last Jan I was fortunate to pick up 8 years of back issues (80’s onward) for $8. I spend almost every evening browsing and marking up stuff I’m interested in and keeping an index of what mag/page it’s on.
Bob:
Well, I could start a new topic on this I suppose, but one complaint about the PDFs was they weren’t new material, so my point was there is new subject-based material being produced by MR that is not reprints.
I didn’t think that point merited an entire new thread, but was related to the complaint over the PDFs. And no you can’t download the special issues as PDFs, not yet anyway.
Thanks to all who have taken the time to respond. I’d guessed that the PDF files were repeats of past printed stuff. My collection goes back to the 30’s, and yes, it is a project to research old articles, and I’m sure the PDF files are a nice package of related info. I am a little put off by the deluge of merchandise from MR. Obviously just producing the magazine (which I have always enjoyed) is not enough any more. The name of the game has changed, and of course $$$$ is the root of it.
Larry W
While this is slightly off topic, it seems to me that the MR Special Issues subtract from overall content of the magazine without providing much of value. If they are trying to increase their appeal to experienced modelers with these, I am not impressed. The articles, at least in the 50’s issue, are mostly shallow rehashes of things are better covered elsewhere.
My opinion is that MR is just trying to milk the market for all they can get, and I will review all special issues carefully before paying a premium price for another one. I would rather see this material go into the regular issue of MR.
Regards
Peter
conford
Let’s not forget, Kalmbach is a business and they are in business to make money. Additionally, expanding the market keep people employed and opens new opportunities. I can imagine that those 30,000 GM employees who are about to get laid off wi***hat GM had milked the market - they might still have a job.