is it me or am i right. but when i look at model railroader magizine it has about 85% all about ho scale. don’t get me wrong i like ho but i am now into n scale and its hard to find acticles on it in the model railroader. i was wonder if anyone else feels this way or is it just me? i know there is a n scale book, because i get it, but it is not out every month. sorry if i am vented out but it was something that has bothered me for a bit. when i go to train schows like greenberg there is a ton of n scale things and als some huge train laylouts.i really think that the n scale is closing in on the ho comand.
The purpose of the magazine is to sell advertizement and how much they get is determined by how many readers they have. The majority of MRRs are HO so they target that group.
Your assessment is probably close. But while N may be gaining, HO is still by far the most popular scale. MR has to try to have something for everyone.
Many articles aren’t really scale specific/exclusive anyway, especially electronics, scenery, layout design, and prototype info. And even if a layout is in another scale from yours, you can enjoy them and often take away ideas that can be converted and used in your scale.
By the way, there are actually two N scale specific magazines, N Scale, and N Scale Railroading. Both are bi-monthly publications. I’m in N, and while I subscribe to both these magazines, I still prefer MR overall.
Just my opinion, your mileage may vary,
Ed
I’ve been into N-scale for a little over 3 years now, and I agree with your assessment of MR’s content. I can’t say that bothers me, though. A lot of what is contained in terms of tips and techniques are either the same or can be adapted between the scales.
There are TWO magazines devoted to N Scale
N Scale
Hundman Publishing, Inc.
13110 Beverly Park Roas
Mukilteo, WA 98275
! yr subscription, 6 issues $28.00
N Scale Railroading
North American N scale Publishing
P.O. Box 77296
Seattle, A 98177-0296
1 yr subscription $26.00
The NTRAK Newsletter is a nice little publication 6 issues per year
NTRAK membership $8.00/yr
NTRAK, Inc.
15913 Brawner Dr
Dumfries, VA 22026
MR used to run the results of reader surveys at regular intervals. For at least 3 decades these indicated n-gauge as accounting for around 25-30% of the hobby, the figure remaining quite static. It’s been a long time since n-gauge has shown any growth.
As mentioned elsewhere, there are 2 n-gauge-specific magazines available, while MR tries to divide itself among ho (mostly) and all the other scales. Advertising in MR is mainly aimed at ho modelers, so it would be quite illogical to put more n into the magazine on a regular basis.
CNJ831