What's the Future of MR?

Model Railroader General Discussion (Model Railroader)
1

I read in another thread about how Editor Terry Thompson is changing the direction of the Magazine. How is this true, how will it be different, and will the change be significant?

I’ve seen over the last two decades how many times MR (and certianly the rest of the MRR scene) has changed dramatically.

Here’s the Table of contents for a August 1987 MR:

-The cover story was about the Utah Belt’s motive power roster, and how YOU can successfully model a freelance prototype

  • Diesel Dates: inside the article there were chronicological bargraphs, depicting the Production Run of most diesel locomotives made by EVERY diesel locomotive manufacturer (even Baldwin-Lima!) *

-It showed a huge club layout

-A trackplan for a traction layout *

-IT showed you how to weather corrugated siding

-It showed complete modeling Info for IC mikes. (PLUS SCALE DRAWINGS!) *

-It showed an interesting modeling theory about abandoned station sites *

-There were nice scale drawings of a grape-packing shed *

-Has a FULL color page about one old model (In this case Lionel’s Hiawatha) *

-Shows a midwest modeler’s layout. (midsized)

-Showed you how “TIBS” works on the prototype (train order blockng system) *

-Finally, there were Painting tips about a D&H RS3. *

-In addition, the classic “bull session” , Product reviews, ABC’s of the hobby (now a book), trackside photos, club news, MR workshop, At the throttle, Hobbyshop window (now MR’s quicklook) and the Model of the month*, Closeup*, looking back*, and trains of thought.

(*)ALL THINGS WITH AN ASTERISK HAVE BEEN OMITTED in subsequent MR’s, over the next 20 years. Articles with an asterisk are Types of articles (espically the disheartening removal of the scale drawings and modeling info… [:(] )

So, looking at a score-aged MR, and looking at the new Febuary MR, what IS the direction of&nb

2

I have been looking back at some issues myself, not as far back as you, but from 94 and up. I’ve noticed that the magazines I get now, are thinner and have less articles than before. The articles I miss are “student fare” and “electronic symposium”, also the drawings. The second one I can understand why it’s gone with technology being what it is today, but still, I do enjoy assembling a circuit or two just for fun. I hope that the changes are great ones.

3

Oh man, you hit the nail SO on the head! A month back I was thinning out my model railroad magazine collection (MR and RMC for the most part) and noticed how much meaty stuff was in the older MR’s that just isn’t done anymore. Construction articles, prototype plans, the Paint Shop, and so on. I guess the modelers that MR caters to nowadays don’t scratchbuild, kitbash or super detail like some of us used to (and still do). So putting that kind of stuff in a mag wouldn’t make any sense. Lord knows I’m not takoing Kalmbach’s side, it’s just a sad economic reality.

I thinned down a 30 year stack of MR to about a 3 inch thick stack and put them into various folders.

Future of MR? If you’re into DCC or strict prototype operation, it’s going to be like the old Timbuk3 tune: “The future’s so bright I’m gonna need shades”.

4

Waiddaminute! I’m into DCC (the whole fleet is converted plus I do installs for other folks) and frankly, MR DCC coverage so far has been fairly basic. I too miss a lot of the old features (paint shop, prototype drawings,etc.(the symposium on electronics which would have been a great place to “grow” the DCC side of the hobby) I’ve got mine saved, and I’m keepin em!

To me, the future is bright, but only if you want or can afford the pre-packaged prebuilt goodies on the market now. The craft side of the hobby is disappearing fast, as the “old hogs” die off and the media forgets them.

5

Ironic that you picked that issue to post the contents of. I was looking for that diesel engine article about the year made and years in service. It would be nice if they did an update on it.

While I do not keep the entire old issues. I do keep articles from them and file them by category (scenery, how to articles, etc.). Going back into the mid 1950’s with M.R. as a kid and seeing where it has come to. I wish they had kept some of the regular features we no longer have.

There used to be 2 magazines, M.R. and R.M.C. and M.R. was the leader. As M.R. continues to change their publication to what they feel it should be. I am finding that the old number 2 magazine is now looking better and better to me. They are continually featuring articles more to my liking. While I once would pickup a copy for an article I wanted. I now subscribe as they have something every month.

Granted no one magazine can be everything for everyone. But not everyone wants “instant cratifaction” by buying ready builts. Some of us still want to build things and paint things. We don’t feel we should have to buy special publications to get this information. Hard to adjust to paying extra for things that were once included in the magazine every month.

As I review my old magazines every few months. I noticed that there is less and less I save from the M.R. issues. Old number 2 has articles from every issue that I an saving.

Just some thoughts from an old timer and long time subscriber.

6

I think it’s just MR keeping up with the changes in the hobby. Most manufactures are pushing RTR or built-up models. Model Railroader is probably the magazine that gets the most exposure to the public (my local Wal-Mart carries, doesn’t carry RMC) I just think most newcomers to the hobby do want that instant gratification, thus MR last project railroad with Kato track, builtup buildings, etc…

7

I have MR issues from the 60s, through the present with several from the 50s and 40s. Although I still find some useful modeling information in the current issues, I’ve noticed they concentrate more on HO, “wow factor” layouts, RTR (nothing wrong with that), and much less coverage of other scales and scratch building. Although times have changed, I find the back issues I have extremely useful as references and for pconstruction articles. Although many of the construction techniques are outdated, they are still useful and can be easily adapted to modern construction methods by substituting the products and techniques that are currently available.

8

I have MR all but about 5 issues back to 1950 and a few more before that. RMC back to 1971 and many more back into the 60’s and 50’s. I find they are complimentary. While both are general model railroading magazines they do have a different focus. MR is very focused on building and operating a layout. RMC is more focused on the model building.

With more and better RTR at the same or only a little above kits, it’s easier and quicker to get a layout up and running, this allows for more focus on layout design and operation. Is model building dead? no, far from it. But you don’t have to build the models (you still have to build the layout - unless you have big bucks) unless you want to.

Personally, I have enjoyed kit building and scratch/parts building. But I use a lot of RTR because getting the layout up and running is my main interest. I have a stash of kits and parts for when I retire. In the meantime I go with lots of RTR so I can spend my time on the layout. MR’s focus on this is where I am at right now.

Enjoy

Paul

9

Not being into DCC (I’m an old time DC user with too large a fleet - 40+ engines in HO and another 30 or so in N - to convert over), I mainly pass by the articles, so I don’t quite know what you mean by the articles being fairly basic. I do know that MR mainly caters to those that want RTR and plug-and-play and not to the person who’s more advanced and wants more and better information.

I hear what you’re saying about being able to afford (or not) the RTR stuff out there. I mean, a loco with installed DCC with sound decoder and speakers is going for anywheres from $50 (US) to $150 more than a regular DC version. Feh.

10

Actually the manufactures doesn’t push RTR or anything else…We the customers decide what we will spend our hard earned hobby dollars on.Listen,I been in the hobby 56 years and I enjoy the RTR cars and locomotives.Not sure about the prebuilt structures.

The local Wal-Mats carry MR and RMC…

BTW…RTR isn’t a breaking CNN news story…RTR has been around for years starting with the first brass imports of the 50s.[:D]

11

One word about RTR being new or not…

“Varney.”