Many people in our hobby enjoy one particular aspect of the hobby a little more than the others. So what does it for you? What aspect gets you most excited and makes you squirm for the next issue to be mailed? Is it the upcoming project layout? Is it an article covering that cool new paint scheme on some railroad? Perhaps it’s a new way to model some type of foliage that you’d like to replicate. Whatever it is, share it here.
Smaller layouts design such as shelf type.
I like to see new modeling methods.
Less DCC
Layout tours and layout construction articles.
Idea Generators like the 1942 piece from Andy.
ANYTHING about interurbans or trolleys.
Whimsey, Malcolm Furlow.
Doug, in Utah
The Coal Fork Extension series by Tony Koester in 1998 encompassed everything I like in article/series of articles. It combined information and inspiration into a package that affected how I approach the hobby. I learned new scenery techniques, a new way to install fluorescent lighting, how Appalachian coal branch lines operated in the steam era, and new way to look at point-to-point layouts – they can be fun to operate with appropriate staging.
Paul Schmidt
Love the picture articles most. Obviously, the specific construction articles have some information I find useful, but I can always learn from pictures…
Any article that gives new ways of modeling can be useful regardless of the scale or the subject itself; every issue brings a lot to me.
Martin
Québec City
I like the scratchbuilding ones, how to make a working yard light or a working signal, etc. I see more of this type of article in old issues that I buy off Ebay.
I would say operation hands down.I also like to paint and decal my own engines and cars.
I really like “Industries You Can Model” as well as related types such as “A Year You Can Model.” I also like any type of scenery articles as well as painting and detailing anything (rolling stock, buildings, etc…). Kitbashing and scratchbuilding structures, as well as layout tours also rank high on my list. DCC, benchwork, wiring, etc… are necessary evils in my mind but no less important than the articles I like best. There’s no point in building scenery if you can’t build the proper benchwork to put under it.
Layout tours and idea layouts with track plans. Some of my favorites were John Armstrong’s.
Enjoy
Paul
Here are four types of articles I like but don’t see too often:switching problems,electronics projects,fictional corporate histories of layouts and what it would be like to ride a passenger train from one end of the layout to the other.I guess I still miss Gordy Odegard too.he was a great writer.
I like the ones that help me model my railroad better.
- I like layout pics best
- Scratchbuilding structures
- I really enjoyed those little stories about the coal belt (and the pics) by whoever that guy was that did them. Unfortunately the seem to have gotten the kabosh by the “hobby grousers” we see so much of in these forums
I enjoy the layout construction articles (or series), other “how to” articles on various modeling subjects and subjects related to using DCC and computers in the hobby.
My favourite articles are the ones that make me think they were a waste of space, but some how something clicks in my unconscious, and I find I mull it over and over during a year. Latter I go back and re-read it and think how could I have been so stupid not to see the obvious this article is pointing out.
I have said this before here, but the MRP issue dedicated to junctions was just like that - a silly waste of space. Well, since I read the articles in that MRP once, I’ve read them at least another ten times - great stuff. Why didn’t I see it right away!
I like articles that lead to my growth in the hobby and that challenge my pre-conceived notions of what is “right” in the hobby world. I just re-read David Barrow’s ideas on representation versus prototypical modelling. More and more I find myself siding on the representational concept of modelling - kind of like impressionism versus realism in oils.
Personnally,I enjoy the magazine as a whole,but my favorite articles are the ones describing clever solutions to specific problems,like making the most out of available space or how to make a non-prototypical track plan look like the real thing thanks to well planned scenery.These are the points that catch my attention…neat tricks.
Jacques.
I think my favoritearticles would be the construction articles wether it be building ,freightcar , or loco.I also would like to see articles on the building of rr maintinance (mow) vehicles both rail and road.
My favorite articles are on how to build scenery. I enjoy seeing different styles. Anybody who does scenery has a little bit of a different technique on how things are done. Also enjoy reading series articles that show putting together a layout in the different stages.
I also enjoy articles on how to weather items.
Judy
Dallas
All of them That is why I sub. to the Magazine.
Methods in track laying, and measuring radiuses. I would like to see more articles on these since there are various methods.