GORDON ODEGARD. He really had a kind, grandfatherly like presence about him. He also nurtured in N-scale right at the time I was getting interested in the hobby.[angel]
For me it would have to be Jim Hediger…I met Jim at the 1985 natioal NMRA convention He conducted a “high wheeler” tour…He is a true Gentlman and one heck of a good modeler…Cox 47
GORDON ODEGUARD Some people’s personality seems to come thru thier writting,& he was one. He would probably stop & help me change a flat tire.
I’ve never found another magazine where the managing editor personally answers the mail, so I would have to say that I’m pretty fond of the whole crew. But I think I have learned more from Linn Westcott’s articles than anyone else’s - he had real ingenuity, and his explanations were always clear and useful. I wired my layout with his “HO Primer” open in front of me; when I was done, I threw the first two switches and it worked perfectly. THAT’s expository talent.
One of the most impressive articles I have ever read in MR was one by Gordon. He scratch built an Amtrak Material Handling Car. This was before one was released by Con-Cor. The undercarriage detail was unbelievable. He even had the HV cabling under there. Andy and Jim have also done excellent work.
Jim
Sorry, I’m not a MRR groupie. [:D]
Okay, seriously folks, I guess I would have to throw my hat in with the Gordon Odegard and Art Curren folks.
Perhaps this shouldn’t be limited to staffers at MR but should include MR authors as well.
-George
Linn Westcott was a favorite. I liked the way Linn would kick around ideas he was having on how to innovate a certain aspect of the hobby. Even if he hadn’t tried his ideas, he would suggest them, and even include diagrams in his editorials.
Then a few years later, an article would appear in MR where someone had taken Linn’s hypothetical theorizing on what ought to be possible and they had done it.
I miss that sort of innovative speculation, and I think Linn being willing to share what could have been seen by some as half-baked ideas was wonderful and I applaud his willingness to possibly appear to be a dreamer and not down-to-earth. Linn being willing to go out on a limb like that actually helped keep MR in the forefront as a pioneering influence in the hobby.
Somehow the current magazine feels more corporate, preferring to stick with the tried-and-true, and has less of the entrepreneurial spirit of the Linn Westcott era. I miss that the most, even though visually the production values of the current magazine are better than in Linn’s day.
My favorite by far is JDH, Jim Dandy Hediger!!!
Andy would be next on the list.
cf-7
I enjoyed Linn Westcott. I built his “HO Railroad That Grows” many years ago. I liked his approach to layout building in that you build a little bit at a time - enough to get the trains running - and then gradually added to and improved your layout at your leisure. He was a good writer in that he wrote with both the beginner and seasoned model railroader in mind. I also liked the articles by Jack Work and Malcolm Furlow and the column “Looking back with John Page.” These people and others had a positive influence on me in my approach to the hobby. Their ideas and construction articles are still valid today and can easily be adapted to using modern materials and methods.
I believe MR magazine was at its best when Linn Westcott was the editor in that he was willing to try new methods and was inclusive of the beginner and advanced modeler. Although everything changes with time, I think the magazine was less commercialized back then and more geared toward the modeler and exploring new ideas.
dknelson wrote:
“We’ll never know what his [Bill Wright] contributions to the hobby might have been but he did work on one of their soft cover books as an introduction to the hobby that stayed in print for many years.”
I still have a copy of that Kalmbach soft cover book “The Practical Guide To Model Railroading.”
That was one of the first books I read on the subject of model railroading when I was a kid.
I’ve only read MR for about 10 years, but in that time I have truly enjoyed Tony Koester’s column and articles, as well as several of his books. I also enjoyed the writing and work of Jeff Wilson and Marty McGuirk.
Ron
I’m casting my vote for Jim Hediger, for the simple reason he’s the only MR editor who remembers my name whenever our paths cross. I first met him at a RRISIG annual convention in 1998, and found him very pleasant and approachable. (And he actually answers my emails![tup])
I’ll mourn the day he retires from Kalmbach…
There was one article in particular which I think I still have somewhere in my modest pile. In this article he foresees a future where radio would ride on a locomotive and respond to the operator carrying his own radio. I recall laughing hysterically at some of the Buck Rogers stuff when I first read it but today, oh boy has things changes! To me that was a little peek into the future.
I think MR is not so straight-jacketed to the Corperate March in lokstep just yet, there is a good amount of individuality. If one was to go by the reviews however, cannot help but notice the VERY careful wording and thought that goes into reviewing a… less than ideal engine perhaps?
I believe that MRR lives and dies by the very products it talks about if one was to examine the amount of content placed there for us to follow up on should we want a custom bench work, helix or some other product.
I wo
I also got into the hobby when Linn was the editor and would echo the many comments about his ability to drive innovation. Gordie, Bill Rau, Art Schmidt, Art Curren, Andy, Jim and many others have also inspired. Paul Larson predates my first time reading, but I have many issues from his stewardship, and I think he was another great one . . .
David
JDH
Jim Hediger, with Andy Sperandeo being a very close second.
For me, Paul Larson’s name stands out. It was during his tenure as editor that MR was at its classiest and (to me) most inspirational. It was neat to see stuff way over my head–it gave me something to strive for. I especially liked the monthly double-page Trackside Photo.
Ed
Hmmmm. I’m going to go a bit counter-culture here.
Layout Design - Cyril Durrenburger - I still dream of having a railroad as clean as the Galveston Warves design he did in '82.
How-To - John Olsen - The Jerome & Southwestern was the first “Railroad you can build” series I encountered.
Imagination - Malcolm Furlow - Some may disagree with how he does things, but I don’t think anyone can disagree with the fact he makes it all look incredibly good.
Being old has it’s advantages. The collective memories of a thread like this is quite enjoyable for me to folllow. ( Even if that makes me a groupy)
Peter Smith’ Memphis