I’m a yes answer.
Same here Mark!
Gordon
I voted don’t care because I have most of the old issues (all but 6 issues back to 1950 and a smattering before). So I can read all of them and do so from time to time. But I wouldn’t object to seeing some of them reprinted occaisionally. I would like to see collections of articles by some of the authors (this has been done for some of John Armstrong’s layouts) like E.L. Moore, Frank Ellison, etc.
Enjoy
Paul
I have the 1948 fourth edition of Model Railroad Track and Layout book by A.C. Kalmbach. Ever hear of him? That was the time before flex track and sectional track existed only for toy trains. I also bought a model tank car kit from the early 50’s. You would really need to use your imagination for it to be a convincing looking model. All you got was a metal tube, a couple end plugs and a block of wood for a frame. Trucks and couplers not incuded. Then there is a scenery book from the 60’s suggesting mixing asbestos with the plaster. Some methods are better left in the past.
It’s interesting to see how difficult and challenging the hobby was in its infancy. We really have it good today. And I can’t wait to see where DCC will be in 20 years. There is even live a steam locomotive now in OO scale! http://www.hornbyrailways.com/pages/livestm_live.aspx
I said no, but in reality maybe what needs to be done is a book compiling that material. There has been some talk regarding this subject over on CTT.
Yes vote. I can think of a few specifics. Lots of good stuff done in the past that many may never see and others would like to see again. Dan
Why not go one step further
Compile all the old articles and put them into a MR Encyclopedia available on CD format. This way you would have all your articles, how to’s, reviews, etc arranged in some form that would be quick and easy to get at and be better then any book now available.
Ya, it’s one thing to have the online index, but few folks have the mags or the articles them selves.
Yes I would. I think it would make fascinating reading.
Tom Watkins
NO! We get enough repeats as it is!!! [8][B)][:(!][:(!]
Brakie, I’m unaware of any repeats. Could you explain what you mean?
II voted yes for articles but what I would really like to see is scale drawings compiled into a few issues. It would benefit not only experienced modelers but new comers to the hobby as well.
Fabulous idea.
A compilation book of articles from the “old-school”.
[}:)]Ok, who wants to go back to open frame motors, block wiring, lichen, grass mats and brass track?
I didn’t think so.
Gtcr98’s suggestion of reprinting the scale drawings in an excellant one for old and new modelers. Fortunately scale doesn’t go out of style.
However construction materials and materials have changed dramaticly. Lets not take steps foreward, and then take one back.
“Ok, who wants to go back to open frame motors, block wiring, lichen, grass mats and brass track?
I didn’t think so”.
How on “Earth” could reading about these items transport the state of the hobby back to this time? Did you read the original question?
I would like to see a collection of articles by a past prolific writer, such as Frank Ellison,
reprinted in book form. The book would contain all articles with photographs published by the author. There is certainly enough material for someone such as Frank Ellison to have a book published containing his work. If the chosen author did not publish enough material for a stand alone book their material could be combined with other authors and published in book form. I believe these type books would sell very well!
Jack Bogus
While many of those how-to articles would be obsolete, not everything would. I think revisiting past layout visits and/or past project layouts would be cool. While reprinting them word for word might not make too much sense, having a page or two in a regular section highlighting past layouts might be cool.
I also like the idea of a compilation edition of say, John Allen layout articles, or something like that.
—jps
It would be fun to see some of the old articles updated with recent techniques. Then you could compare how the model hobby industry has progressed over the years.
Fergie and GTC are on the right line. I for one would like to have access to the scale drawings of structures and rolling stock from past issues. Making MR available in a CD set would be ideal from my point. I have no interest in photos of layouts or dated editorial musings.
Randy
I’d LOVE to read them as some of the stuff we take for granted today, was new and innovative at the time. I’d like to read it in it’s original context, rather than just reading, like you do today, “John Allen proposed this”, or “Frank Elison stated that”. Maybe a yearly special edition book of Roots of the Hobby or some such, like the GMR or MRP annuals we have now. I’d buy it regularly.
However, there is another side to this I read when this idea was discussed online a couple years ago – potential liability. You know nowadays comon sense doesn’t seem to be all that common anymore. People will sue you at the drop of a hat if you don’t tell them that the coffee is hot before they drink it, or don’t touch the power line even though there’s a sign stating “DANGER - ONE GAZILLION VOLTS!”. The concern cited as an example, as I recall, was in the “good old days”, asbestos mixed with water was recommended as a lightweight material to use for scenery in place of heavy plaster or Hydrocal. Some yahoo would find a bag of this buried in his basement or garage, try using it, get cancer or some other deadly lung problem, and then run crying to a lawyer who would then slap a hefty lawsuit on the publisher.
Sad, but all too true nowadays.