N Gauge Forum

I have bought one or two mainly "Model rail" i know there are others but why do you read them do they warrent the £4 odd price tag? Discuss.

I only get one every now and then as i find the info a little the same. i guess my little knowledge of full size rail i'd be better off buying some full size rail mags

Dave

i buy them all model rail,railway modeller,brm and the hornby mag if i get one bit of inspiration or learn something new i,m happy :thumbsup: but then i'm easily pleased ;D ;D ;D

It all depends if they have an article that catches my eye...

I like the hornby mag when they do their planing projects. And draw up some real good track plans to compliment it

I get Model Rail (on subscription) and it arrives in the post - but as I'm in the US it takes a good two weeks to arrive so the news is old and I've read it all on here before I get Model Rail...

I get it mainly for the model / layout pics.  I think the photography in MR is superb and they do show some excellent layouts.  They also do some very nice how-to articles that are generally applicable to N gauge.  These are the reasons I spend the annual subscription.

I do get the occasional bit of news that I haven't heard on here, but not 4-quids' worth.

I generally get Railway Modeller but have a look through it first. If I'm lucky there's some N gauge in it, but I do like the adverts and the exhibition/swapmeet info too.

Tend to look through them first and then if there are articles that interest me I'll buy them.
Bought the current RM for the  freebie on the cover ,already built (cheap Xmas present for my grandson) who will probably have destroyed it by the end of January 2012.

Hi,

I used to buy Railway Modeller on a monthly basis but haven't bought any for a while. I buy the odd copy of Model Rail and Continental Modeller if they have anything of interest.

Alex

I am considering the subscription to Model rail but i could buy some rolling stock instead

Dave

Only bother with the "Model Railroader" mag from USA these days always full of great hints and tips, wouldn't miss out on it for quids :thumbsup:

There are no English language Japanese magazines for me but plenty of stuff on the American side.

I did get a 12 month sub to Model Rail for my 50th, I do like many of their articles even if they don't cover my specific interests and having spoken to the editor (Ben Jones) they seem very keen on what we are doing on  :NGF: and were very keen to support our raffle, so big  :thumbsup: to model Rail

Get Model  Railroader  every month  at the Newsagent &  Model  rail if he has it in  ..   Model  railroad hobbyist  is  great  free  online magazine  always worth a look.

Model rail is usually my first choice.......
Since the re-vamp of the magazine the Workbench section has gone from strength to strength....always something of interest to read with helpful how to's :thumbsup:

Plus they support the forum   :thumbsup: :thumbsup:

I get Railway Modeller on subscription from the UK which comes via Switzerland for some odd reason and is usually 3 weeks after the UK edition came out.

I also get Model Railroader which is pretty cheap on subscription here, they do have some pretty good articles and how-tos

James

Model rail and Nspirations for me, i dabble with the others if i see something interesting, (not N gauge but attractive) ill pick it up and see, love the workbench section of model rail too its the first part i read,,,,

I've had an Nspirations but to be honest i wasn't overly impressed considering the hassel it was to get hold of

Dave

Also the N Gauge society magazine is a good read

Quote from: Lawrence on December 24, 2011, 09:35:32 AM
Also the N Gauge society magazine is a good read

I did send for an old copy to have a look at to see what it was like before joining but never recieved it  not joined yet either

Dave

Usually flick through Railway Modeller and if there's something really good in N then I'll buy it, other than that I buy the RM Annual on CD-Rom which has all the layout features plus some video footage on it, all for less than buying the magazines  :thumbsup:

Apart from that and the NGS Journal I don't even bother to look at the rest.


Paul

Model Rail, but cancelled it, occasionally BRM and Hornby.
Never the Peco ones.
NGS journal is my main one.

:NGaugersRule:

Model Rail great pics, a pal of mine gets RM so I have a peek when I'm over there and of course N Gauge Society. note to BBDave check the comments on here about the NGS I'm not the only one that thinks it's great value.

Here's my tuppence worth;

I subscribe to Model Rail and in general it's one of the better ones but I'm starting to find it's messy (design, content, etc.') and repetitive. Chris Nevards pics are superb but the paper quality is poor and the mag falls apart as soon as you look at it.

BRM has a lot of reading but the articles can be rather off-beat and I'm not fond of the 'collector/antique models' articles they often run. The Hornby mag also has those collector articles and IMO is the worst of the bunch - littered with mistakes and a poor balance of scales and eras (tends to concentrate on steamy OO).

Railway Modeller has improved significantly under the editorship of Steve Flint; quality pics and publication values. A good range and balance of articles these days with lots of layouts featured. MRJ is highly inspirational but all high quality fine scale and rather elitist. And of course doesn't feature N gauge but is well worth a look through.

H.

Model Railroader and the N Gauge Soc. journal.

There's also a bi-monthly American N gauge one which I've only ever seen available from the Ian Allen bookshop on the Manchester Piccadilly ramp so I only pick it up now and again while passing.

I bought my first Railway modeller in July 1967.  RoM was a GWR OO branch terminus.  Dave Howsham's Porthleven.

However in 2000 I switched to Model Rail.  At that point I was bored with the RM.  I have continued to subscribe since then.  As others have suggested, the quality of the paper slipped significantly a few years ago.  Shame.  But I still like it.

I do occaisionally look at RM, BRM and Hornby, if I see them on the bookstalls - less likely now I have retired!  I buy them if there is an intersting item.

And of course the N Soc journal which I have been receiving since I joined in 1984.

Fortunately my eldest son buys an annual subscription to the RM for my birthday present each year - how fortunate am I!!!

As H pointed out the quality of the articles/photographs and reviews have dramatically improved since Steve Flint took over the controls.

NGS magazine is also very enjoyable and worthwhile being solely for us N guagers.

Nspirations likewise gives further updates/reviews/articles to keep us reading!!

Merry Christmas to all of you and may 2012 prove to be a good one despite the current financial problems we are all facing - a bit less RTR and more DIY!!

:beers: :NGaugeForum: :beers:

I get Model Rail, Railway Modeller and Hornby monthly. Model Rail comes through the post but the others i pick up elsewhere. I did used to get BRM but i was never really impressed with it and noticed they seemed to get review samples waaay after all the others.

I also buy N'spirations whenever a new issue comes out and is deffo a must have for N Gaugers. Oh and best not forget the N Gauge Journal

Ollie

I get all four magazines.I subscribed to BRM magazine in February due to the offer of a small tool kit and a Gaugemaster hand held controller.

I buy the other three off the shelf in either WHSmith's or one of the other newsagents or supermarkets. :NGaugersRule:
Pete

My very first ever model railway mag was the April 1957 edition of Railway Modeller. I still have it and it featured a layout called Stephenton as Railway of the month. It has a wonderful picture of a guards van, complete with guard, disappearing into a tunnel mouth on the front cover, with a puff of cotton wool smoke coming out of the tunnel mouth.

From then on I have just about every issue up until 1968, sporadic 1970's  and early 80's issues, then every issue from 1987 through until 1997, then sporadic ones from then up until the present. You can imagine how much shelf space this takes up in the study!! I really should get rid of them (I know for sure SWMBO wants them gone - she reminds me often enough), but I still look through the odd issue from time to time, especially the really old ones. There is some surprisingly good stuff in them - including of course, much of Peter Denny's pioneering work.

I also own a goodly collection of Model Railway Journals from the late 80's early 90's. Whilst that publication has always being elitist and continues to be so, there is without doubt some brilliant stuff contained in it's pages and I can see nothing wrong in striving to achieve the standards you see in that magazine.

I have the first 12 issues of BRM and the odd one or two since, but I also have not been too impressed by it.

On the other hand, I do like Model Rail. I like the format of their 'How to do it' type articles and also the handbooks and manuals they put out from time to time. I feel that their annual "Britain's Model Trains" is a must-have.

I also buy the Railway Modeller Annuals, and since becoming a member of the NGF, of course receive their journal.  :read: :read: :read: Am I an armchair modeller, or what?!  :laugh:

I read Traction magazine, Railways illustrated and Rail Express Magazine.
I sometimes buy various model magazines if there is something that interests me inside.
I also enjoy the NG Society magazine every two months. This being a benefit of being a member.

I'm a great fan of MRJ although their 2mm stuff is a bit sparse. I buy Railway Modeller on a regular basis and chuck away the adverts front and rear to save storage space -then I buy MRJ when there is something of 2mm interest.

Quote from: bealman on March 10, 2013, 09:01:17 PM

I also own a goodly collection of Model Railway Journals from the late 80's early 90's. Whilst that publication has always being elitist and continues to be so, there is without doubt some brilliant stuff contained in it's pages and I can see nothing wrong in striving to achieve the standards you see in that magazine.

I agree about MRJ - very inspirational modelling.

I tend to read most magazines and over the years have noticed that they all have cycles of getting variously good and bad. IMO 'Model Rail' is currently no longer the good magazine it once was and is going through a poor patch. It's certainly not up to the standards when it used to feature extensive 'masterclass' articles about particular locos and when it began as a part of a prototype magazine.

'Railway Modeller' has recentyly upped its game since Steve Flint took over as editor. 'BRM' has more ups and downs than most but is currently trying hard. 'Hornby Mag' contains too many errors and originally nailed itself to the rather restrictive transition era in OO only mast, although has since shifted a bit from that dogma.

H.

That is actually a good tip cycletrak9, and one I never thought of. Thanks for that! Dunno whether I'll do it though - some of the adverts are now of historical interest!! Ads for things like Zero 1, Airfix and Mainline models, etc intrigue me for some reason (always knew I was a bit weird  :laugh3:).

However, there can be no doubt that removing the adverts will make a considerable difference, particularly in the case of the newer editions which of course are loaded with ads. I could leave the older issues alone as they were not anywhere near as thick.

Top tip! Cheers!  :beers:

I buy magazines when I am in the mood to read them, I do not have a favourite but I have enjoyed Model Rail this month with the Build a better Model Railway, I am always open for hints and tips, I do check to see if any of the magazine feature N-Gauge which is mostly important for any N modeler. 

To illustrate my case - that entire shelf with the ball pyramid on it is model railway mags - the older ones on the extreme left being jammed so tightly together you have to lever them out!!
[smg id=3967 type=preview align=center width=400]
Removing the ads is starting to look more and more attractive!

Quote from: H on March 10, 2013, 09:55:38 PM

Quote from: bealman on March 10, 2013, 09:01:17 PM

'Railway Modeller' has recently upped its game since Steve Flint took over as editor.
H.

Have to agree with you there H.....the last issue (March) of the Todeller was a good one for N Gauge and 2mm f/s with two quality layouts and a "how to"....... :thumbsup: :NGaugersRule:

As for the MRJ,i don't buy it but can't resist a sneaky read whilst standing in Smiths and marveling over the quality of the modelling in there.... :)

I tend to buy Railway Modeller most months, and as others have suggested, I too have seen an improvement under the new editor. Though it can be a bit thin on the ground for "N" articles the photography for all gauges is superb and can be very inspirational.

They are from a few years ago now but I still often read through my copies of Modern Railway Modelling (MRM) if it was still published I would buy it but due to having far too many magazines I now pick and choose which ones to buy depending on what layouts are featured.

bealman: that was my first RM too. As a boy I pored over Stephenton for ages - I felt it was so atmospheric :)

Me too, Buffin! I love that opening shot of the tank loco arriving with a surburban and the Triang turntable in the foreground! Full of 1950's town atmosphere and character. The layout was, of course, modern image at the time! Considering there was not the huge range of models and modeling materials we have access to today around at that time, it was excellent modelling. I've just dug it off that shelf (Heaven knows how I'm gonna get it back) and it still stands the test of time. The layout still looks great. I know as a kid, I used to drool over that layout.

Cheers!  :beers:

Sorry, it was the April 1959 issue, not 57. Here it is:
[smg id=3970 type=preview align=center width=400]
[smg id=3969 type=preview align=center width=400]
Ah, the nostalgia! Now all I've got to do is get the thing back on the bl**dy shelf!!  :D

I don't really buy magazines these days but I do have access to hundreds of pre 2012 issues of many different mags.

I find the most interesting are Hornby Magazine and Model Rail, I am currently reading Model Rail year 2000 Jan - Dec magazines and find them much more interesting than current issues of the same magazine.

The only magazine I buy these days is Steam World.

I get the digital versions of Railway Modeller, BRM and Hornby magazine and a subscibe to Model Rail in paper form. Last but definately not least I get N'spirations (posted to a friend in the UK for safe keeping)

I think Railway Modeller has improved considerably recently, BRM looks fantastic visually and shows some excellent modelling but lacks something I can't quite put my finger on. I also get extremely irritated by BRM's habit of not including supplements in the digital version, I have contacted them about this and they always offer to post a supplement but all the other mags include supplements as a matter of course. I just can't understand why they don't include them in the first place.

My favourite is Model Rail as I get the feeling that everyone writing for the magazine is enthusiastic and passionate about the hobby. I rather like the colourful and sometimes cluttered layout and the photography is very good. The paper is dreadful so I'll switch to digital as soon as my normal subscription runs out.

Hornby magazine looks good but is a very quick read.

I went a bit mad when they all went digital and took out subscriptions, the savings and convenience for someone living overseas are a great bonus, no late, damaged and lost issues due to postal strikes etc.

When the subscriptions come up for renewal I think I will drop BRM and Hornby magazines.

Regards

Veronica.

I buy a mag only if there is something of interest that isn't covered by hints and tips on the forums, blogs. I do buy Modern Railways though which gives me ideas for the layout.

Trouble with Model Rail, and I think BRM is that they're plastic-wrapped. While this may stop the WH Smith "free readers" it also stops people like me from seeing what's inside of interest other than the couple of headline articles mentioned on the front cover, and if I can't SEE anything of interest then I won't buy it, and I know I'm not alone on this principle. Therefore they are losing potential sales!  :no:


Paul

Quote from: Sprintex on March 11, 2013, 06:05:46 AM

Therefore they are losing potential sales

Oddly enough they don't, as it  doesn't work like that. Whan an issue is plastic wrapped the sales/circulation for it actually increases. And retailers prefer it like that as all the inserts don't drop out. Perhaps there are lots of people who don't like purchasing grubby secondhand magazines that have been thumbed through by freeloaders.  :D

H.

Quote from: Sprintex on March 11, 2013, 06:05:46 AM
Trouble with Model Rail, and I think BRM is that they're plastic-wrapped. While this may stop the WH Smith "free readers" it also stops people like me from seeing what's inside of interest other than the couple of headline articles mentioned on the front cover, and if I can't SEE anything of interest then I won't buy it, and I know I'm not alone on this principle. Therefore they are losing potential sales!  :no:


Paul

I totally agree with you there Paul I am the same I like to see what I am buying.

When I was 14 - many years ago - I started buying the Railway Modeller.  The Railway of the Month was Portleven.  I got it every month until c 2000.  With occaisional MRN, MRC and others if I happened to find an article I liked.  ButI got bored with the RM so started buying Model Rail.  I have subscribed to it ever since and still like it.  But if I happen to see an article in an other I may buy that as well.  Yes I am sometimes a freeloader but why should I fork out £3 or so unless it meets a need?  I naturally want to check what I am buying.

I'm sorta sorry in a way I started this thread goin' again, but your comments are extremely interesting. Unfortunately, I get a vibe from Veronica's comment that paper mags are on the way out. I tend agree - forums like this sorta suggest the way things are going. But I still love that RM 1959 issue! Look at the cover photo... what sort of track was that then? Ballast? Probably budgie grit! And the weathering? Fantastic! Ok, it was 00, but the atmosphere is brilliant.

Long live nostalgia, and we can learn from their work. Having said all that, lightn' up!  :laugh3:

Just that minute saw your post, Portpatrick. I have also seen that layout, and it's thanks to the printed media that I have. (Oh, and old age, of course).

Quote from: bealman on March 11, 2013, 10:51:10 AM

Ok, it was 00, but the atmosphere is brilliant.

Atmosphere. Now that's an interesting comment. It's something many strive for, but how do you achieve it and what makes a layout have atmosphere?

Should be an interesting discussion. Something I was considering writing about so contributions would be welcome.  ;)

H.

A few thoughts - I find I buy mags less and less.

Model Rail used to be superb, but I find increasingly little of interest.

Railway Modeller - hit and miss, but can have some gems in.

MRJ - inspirational stuff even if I only pick and choose the odd issues.

2mm SA - a bit like MRJ, inspirational modelling even if the prototypes aren't always of interest to me.

DEMU's Update - normally levels of detail that mainstream mags don't cover.

Rail Express - normally something of interest (to me!) plus I like the mix of modelling and prototype info.

Cheers, Mike

Thanks for that, H. It's all about atmosphere, not scale. There are some historical layouts out there that were not anywhere near scale, but had character and atmosphere. You don't have to be dead scale and model real prototypes to achieve this. I personally feel that a major ingredient is a sense of humour.  :laugh3:

Quote from: H on March 11, 2013, 11:05:29 AM

Quote from: bealman on March 11, 2013, 10:51:10 AM

Ok, it was 00, but the atmosphere is brilliant.

Atmosphere. Now that's an interesting comment. It's something many strive for, but how do you achieve it and what makes a layout have atmosphere?

Should be an interesting discussion. Something I was considering writing about so contributions would be welcome.  ;)

H.

New thread started in General Discussion..........
http://www.ngaugeforum.co.uk/SMFN/index.php?topic=12026.0 (http://www.ngaugeforum.co.uk/SMFN/index.php?topic=12026.0)

Well, here goes...

* I subscribe to Model Rail and Hornby Magazine (both from issue 1) and I have kept them all - they are in official binders.

* I used to subscribe to BRM but it went downhill when Tony Wright left (IMHO) and went all "digital".

* Railway Modeller I buy when something interests me which is quite often thesde days - it has improved enormously over the last 12-24 months.  Good content and high production values.

* I am an NGS member so I also have all of the journals since I joined.  Actually I go back to when the journal was relaunched (not sure how many years ago that was now).

I would rank them as follows:

1) Hornby Magazine
2) Railway Modeller & Model Rail
3) NGS Journal
4) BRM

It seems a little unfair to list the NGS Journal in third as it is truly remarkable when you think it is put together by volunteers.

Paddy

Hi

I have taken out a 'bargain' years subscription to Model Rail. Only had two issues so far and the last had very little N stuff in it. I also find many of the techniques articles are very 00 biased.

Since I returned to my layout after a 15 year gap I found Model Rails annual of all the locos and rolling stock very useful in deciding what locos to buy. I bought this two years in a row but there was not much of an update between the two years and an update is needed as newer models of the same locos do vary. A good example was the Dapol 9F which received a great improvement modification when the pony truck spring was fitted.

I have found some magazine full reviews disappointing, particularly the scoring. It seems to me that they over score Farish on livery colours and do not make enough account of a locos running and haulage capacities. It would be nice to feel the locos reviewed had experienced a proper running test over the types of 'dodgy' running and heavy hauling that they will experience at both fast and slow speeds on real layouts  with all their imperfections. This would equate the 'looks' scores with running ability more. I have even seen two or three page spreads where the loco appears never to have been run at all due to the 'test track' being unavailable.

Cheers

Mac 

Quote from: macwales on March 11, 2013, 12:43:22 PM
Hi

I have taken out a 'bargain' years subscription to Model Rail. Only had two issues so far and the last had very little N stuff in it. I also find many of the techniques articles are very 00 biased.

Since I returned to my layout after a 15 year gap I found Model Rails annual of all the locos and rolling stock very useful in deciding what locos to buy. I bought this two years in a row but there was not much of an update between the two years and an update is needed as newer models of the same locos do vary. A good example was the Dapol 9F which received a great improvement modification when the pony truck spring was fitted.

I have found some magazine full reviews disappointing, particularly the scoring. It seems to me that they over score Farish on livery colours and do not make enough account of a locos running and haulage capacities. It would be nice to feel the locos reviewed had experienced a proper running test over the types of 'dodgy' running and heavy hauling that they will experience at both fast and slow speeds on real layouts  with all their imperfections. This would equate the 'looks' scores with running ability more. I have even seen two or three page spreads where the loco appears never to have been run at all due to the 'test track' being unavailable.

Cheers

Mac

To be fair to Railway Modeller, as it's a Peco publication they do run all their test locos/units on their layout and usually comment on haulage capabilities :thumbsup:

Quote from: bbdave on December 23, 2011, 09:01:53 PMdo they warrent the £4 odd price tag? Discuss.

Use a supermarket points card.
;)

I have to admit that I regularly buy Railway Modeller - I find the magazines layout and style to be good, and the articles are well written. Also the adverts are extensive (and expensive when you start buying from them too!  :worried: ) and the exhibition lists do come in handy for those empty weekends! The other readily available magazines I do look at, but only buy if I can see that there is something specific that I want to read.

However, as I have recently become interested in European railways, I have also been buying Continental Modeller - a good read if you like the alternatives to British outline!

And, of course, I get the NGS Journal - brilliant little magazine, and as good a reason for joining the N Gauge Society as anything, as I feel it is worth the subscription alone (although I have bought RTR and kits and other bits from the club too - more money!)

I guess a lot depends on your background and experience.   As someone new to both modelling and railways I have been buying a lot of magazines over the last two years and have found my interests changing over that period.

As an example, I am much more interested in prototype articles than I was when I first started reading them, and less interested in reading (yet again) how a baseboard was made.

Generally I like Model Rail the most, not least because they seem to be prepared to be more critical in reviews then Hornby or RM.

Hornby comes second and RM an imprving third.

David

I flick through them all in the shop. I prefer to buy a real trains magazine now. I like railways illustrated, rail express and traction. I do sometimes buy model rail or continental modeller or hornby but not so often. I find out most things to do with modelling on this forum or other websites.

Tim

QuoteMe too, Buffin! I love that opening shot of the tank loco arriving with a surburban and the Triang turntable in the foreground! Full of 1950's town atmosphere and character. The layout was, of course, modern image at the time! Considering there was not the huge range of models and modeling materials we have access to today around at that time, it was excellent modelling. I've just dug it off that shelf (Heaven knows how I'm gonna get it back) and it still stands the test of time. The layout still looks great. I know as a kid, I used to drool over that layout.

That's a great point about modern image, bealman! As we lived in Greater London, Stephenton to my boyhood eyes was far more realistic than the rural branch lines. And the black and white photography added to the dingy atmosphere :)

Thanks for that, Buffin. NewportNobby has started a new thread about the topic of atmosphere and I'm sure there will be a lot of discussion. But your point is a good one. If that's the scene you grew up in, it would have to be more realistic to you than a sleepy branchline. I think it was C. Freezer, editor of RM for many years, that said that the correct background for a steam locomotive was a retaining wall.

QuoteI think it was C. Freezer ... that said that the correct background for a steam locomotive was a retaining wall.

Hadn't heard that, but it's a great debating point. His Minories springs to mind. But I'm well off topic now.

Well,it's not really off topic - after all the Minories plan first appeared in Railway Modeller. There are a few Minories based layouts on this forum, so let's not yet discount the power of the printed paper page!  :thumbsup:

The quality of the printed page used to be much higher for "hard core" modelling, now it's mostly useless for that. I've got nothing against the current magazines thinking that "how to make flowers" is as heavy as you can go, and I'm sure they know their readership.

The older magazines however tended to have good articles on actual stock, drawings and construction details. The kind of stuff you need to know to make models. Some of the best reference material on many coaches is still old modelling magazines, in part because the article writer still had the real thing to hand ! Even more so for buildings I find.

Alan

Very good point. As you say, buildings in particular.  :thumbsup:

I'm fortunate enough now to get a subscription to Railway Modeller as part of my regular Christmas present.  Always a good ruse if you can wangle it, plus is cheaper than buying the same number of issues from a supermarket or newsagent.

I started buying RM back in the 70's and have most of the issues since then, apart from some that have been damaged in the recent move.  I also bought Model Railway Constructor which, until it's demise I thought the better mag.

I am considering a move to the digital versions, mainly because of space - over 35 years of monthly magazines takes up a lot of space and paper copies actually need some care.  Which reminds me - what is going to happen to all those mags after you pass?  Morbid, maybe, but pristine collections can be sold, those in good condition also but they don't want damaged or defaced ones and tearing out the adverts would be considered as such.

I do prefer RM's way of keeping nearly all adverts to the two blocks, I hate having to hunt for the continuation of the article I'm reading amongst a plethora of adverts.

I browse other mags and occasionally buy.  (I've got The Railway Magazine and BRM currently, I'll buy Hornby next month because they are running Duxbury - the 00 layout I worked on at L&WMRS before I moved back to Northampton.)  I look in my local supermarket because there is usually one copy open that I can look through but the rest are still sealed in plastic - the best of both worlds?

I have interests in more than just N gauge, so I don't mind that the mags are not exclusive.  Besides, sometimes I can get ideas from other scales.  Finally, I joined the NGS a couple of years ago and apart from now a vested interest, I look forward to reading their magazine every two months.

One problem is that reading some one's description of a blow-by-blow account of how they built their baseboard gets repetitious and unfortunately the articles are not edited for readability.  Sometimes I want to re-write the articles for them.  Wish I thought they'd spring for a ghost writer, it could make such a difference.
:thankyousign:
John

I agree with most points made above. There's nothing wrong with worrying about what happens to them after your demise - I often think like that myself, the older I get. Those thoughts also apply to my layout, also. Regarding the mags, I'd be happy for them just to go to a good home for free, rather than them getting trashed. Most talk to me daughters about that one....  :hmmm:

Glad to see another regular RM reader - I've always been loyal to the publication though I don't get it on a monthly basis as I did for many years (see my earlier post and photos in this thread). I get a bit peeved when I hear folk use the condescending term "Railway Toddler" (which many members of a certain modelling association here in Australia [that I have expressed distaste about before on this forum] have a habit of doing). The magazine has had a long history and has published many superb articles, plans and drawings over the years and deserves better respect than that. Because of it's longevity, not only has it featured pioneering work which had a profound influence on many of today's modellers (myself included), but, as Alan of Etched Pixels states, it's age has made it an excellent archive of information and drawings to produce accurate historical models. Being fortunate enough to own many early issues, I have what I consider a great modelling resource sitting in that study.

Ok, I know we have Google these days, but I'm sorry, Google just does not evoke the nostalgia and childhood memories that I get when I look through some of those issues. Plus, there are still things to be learned there - it was a 1960's issue that gave me the idea for water issuing from pipes (see Knowledge Bank).

At the very least, the Railway Modeller's age shows how modelling techniques and standards have evolved and improved over the last 60-odd years. If you take an issue at random from the decades of the 50's, 60's 70's 80's 90's and 2000's, it is quite fascinating to see the changes in layout standards. To my eyes at least, it was a definite gradual process - not just a quantum leap happening all of a sudden.

Just like ancient maps, documents and the like, the Railway Modeller has a most definitive place in the history of model railways. The same goes for the American mag Model Railroader, too, I reckon.

Phew! Having said all that, I also agree with others here that there has been a big improvement in RM under the current Editor and staff.

:beers: Cheers, George.

Very nice post George. I share your fondness for RM, in many regards due to nostalgia as I used to read my father's copy when I was a child 40 odd years ago. Having recently returned to the hobby, it was nice to see a familiar masthead, not to mention a similar stle and layout. Unfortunately I don't have the old issues to reminisce over!

Even here in the US you can find RM in Barnes & Noble (albeit at a significant mark up on the UK price). But now that RM has discovered the iPad I now get my copy that way which saves a trip to the shops as well as being significantly cheaper.

Mike

Speak of the devil. Got this e-mail as I was posting this...

Dear subscriber,

You have a new issue available in your Exact Editions account:

Railway Modeller
April 2013
Read the new issue here.

If you are an individual subscriber you can also read the issue on your iPhone and iPad via the Railway Modeller app.

Best wishes from

The Exact Editions team.

Thanks for that, Mike. It's silly, I know, but basically RM has been a major player in my entire life story and I get very protective of it. As you say, they have discovered e-publishing, so it will be cheaper for you, but being the old b*gg*r that I am, I have to say... NOT THE SAME!!!  :D

As an aside, I had a great day in Sydney on Tuesday with an old university mate from 40 years ago who is visiting Oz. I might be gettin' on but don't feel it. We went on a pub crawl and a harbour cruise and it was just like old times.

As another aside, I went in a couple of Barnes & Nobles when I was over on the Eastern Seaboard in 2005 - aren't they incredible places? Love the way they have comfy chairs where you can sit and read!

Back to the subject of mags - I have just returned from a quick shopping trip to our local Westfield and I see the newsagent has the Christmas issue of MRJ in. Great picture of a blue Deltic on the front posed on what appears to be Chris Pendleton's famous fine scale 4mm North Shields (or was it South?). I almost bought it for that photo alone! There is also a very useful article in there about making trees for the on-going, but nearly finished, I am led to understand, Fence Houses 2mm finescale project. Apart from the blatantly obvious out-there brilliant standard of the modelling, I have a personal interest in the project, as I grew up within half a mile of that station!

:beers: Cheers, and again, thanks for the nice post, George.

Just saw your post - electronic edition arrived! Well there you go!  :D

My subscription copy of Model Rail turned up recently. Although its an interesting and good issue there is a distinct lack of N gauge content. In fact it's so little that you'd wonder whether the scale/gauge actually existed.

I understrand and accept that there's plenty to appreciate and learn from other scales, but sometimes its nice to see a little of what is possible and can be acheived in our scale in commercial magazines.

H.

Just going through old mags again.... Geez I'm a hoarder. Hard to believe some of the mags I've got stashed away. Watch this space!

Anyway, turns out I do have an Oct 1957 issue - this is an ad for Triang and Peco in that same issue. Note the address for Peco - before the company moved to Beer.
[smg id=4294 type=preview align=center width=400]
And here is the Aug 1963 Railway of the Month: Borchester! Not the Frank Dyer version at all, but a layout that bears an uncanny resemblance to Stephenton!! Not surprising - they are both the same track plan from RM!
[smg id=4295 type=preview align=center width=400]
Stay tuned for more blasts from the past!

I subscribed to the digital issue of RM, and am very pleased with it, the photos, text and adverts are exactly the same as the printed mag, but did come with the ability to access a couple of years worth of back issues for no extra cost. also i can enlarge anything a little small to read. As an earlier poster mentioned, the build up of paper mags is ridiculous, I have years and years worth of football, miniature wargaming and various others. They are all going to have to go, just don't have the space anymore.

Sounds good that the digital RMs provide access to back issues for free. Didn't know that - worth keeping in mind. Yep, the mags do build up over the years. When I was rummaging around the other day I really was staggered by the stuff I've got. It really will have to go... of course I wasted just about a whole day, because when you come across a magazine you haven't seen for years, you inevitably end up sitting down looking through it (well I did, anyway). There's still some gems of wisdom to be found in them, though!

I've just come across the Southern E-Group's archive of selected Railway Modeller articles. I've picked out several to read at a later date, so I'm sure there will be something of interest to a lot of you  ;)

http://www.semgonline.com/RlyMag/ (http://www.semgonline.com/RlyMag/)

As I'm new to the hobby I tried all the magazines for a couple of issues. In the end I went for Pecos Railway Modeller. It suits me. I think the thing that swung it was a bit about the Great Eastern, also the back issues online (I subscribe to the paper version, I dislike reading a mag online as my only way, the same as I won't get a Kindle I like a book or mag in my hands).

Also a fan of the N Gauge Journal a very good read.

I buy them if they have something in that interests me, which generally means a layout set in recent (sectorisation or privatisation) eras.  Very often there is nothing in that fits.

IIRC "Model Rail" when it was part of "Rail" only covered "modern" topics, and I think the pull-out modelling section of Rail Express still does - but "modern" covers 60s and 70s layouts and locos, which are a bit old-fashioned for me, so even then there might be nothing of interest.

I have thought that there might be a market for a "modern only" magazine (even if it did cover green and blue diesels) but I reckon the rise of the internet - including this forum - have probably put paid to that.

Cheers  Jon     :)

Would love to find a dedicated n gauge mag here,but have bought a few different ones so far and found some old ones in old book shops and op shops but new I can't go past brm at moment-$14.50 but the best I have bought yet.

Quote from: PostModN66 on August 24, 2013, 04:14:58 PM

I have thought that there might be a market for a "modern only" magazine (even if it did cover green and blue diesels) but I reckon the rise of the internet - including this forum - have probably put paid to that.

There are plenty of prototype 'modern' only railway mags including 'Rail Express' that has a 40 page modelling section included. Also there was a modern modelling mag a few years back - MRM - but it folded after about six issues.

H.

I read the Railway Modeller it's published by PECO. Although I was a bit dissapionted in this months issue it only had just 1 n gauge layout in it but the Editors bit was interesting Especialy going through about 40 pages of online retail advertisement the editor says at the end to support your local model shop  :D.

I always enjoy Railway Modeller as, even if there's not an N gauge layout featured, many ideas can be transferred across. After getting Steve Flint (RM Editor) to judge our Photographic Competition and having exchanged many mails with him, the solution to getting more N gauge in RM lies with us - the N gauge modellers, so don't be afraid to send anything in. We have had at least 2 of our members layouts featured in the mag :thumbsup:

As well as the N Gauge Journal that comes with my subscription, I also regularly bought both Railway Modeller and Model Rail. Even though at times there may not be a lot of N gauge content I still look at them just for ideas and to gain a wider perspective on the hobby.

At one time I kept many back issues but due to lack of room at home I now only buy a current magazine only if it contains something of relevance to me.

I have bought all of the modelling magazines mentioned at one point or another now I only get them if there is a layout or article that is relevant. Other than that I have more or less given up with them all mainly because they all have a GWR steam era bias which is totally opposite the era and regions which I model am sure if they could get away with it a couple of the mags would be GWR modelling magazine! 

Kind regards

Dave

Quote from: scottishlocos on August 26, 2013, 09:36:43 PM

. . . . they all have a GWR steam era bias . . . .

Unfortunately and sadly that does seem to be the case. A bit more variety and a wider range of eras wouldn't go amiss for some.

H.

Quote from: H on August 26, 2013, 09:48:54 PM

Quote from: scottishlocos on August 26, 2013, 09:36:43 PM

. . . . they all have a GWR steam era bias . . . .

Unfortunately and sadly that does seem to be the case. A bit more variety and a wider range of eras wouldn't go amiss for some.

H.

Whilst I echo the sentiments, surely it is in the hands of the N gauge modellers to provide RM and other mags with layouts other than GWR?
We have had (fairly recently) Elvinleys 'Black Sheep Lane' and Mainlines 'The Circle Line' neither of which are GWR featured in RM so at least members of the NGF are doing their bit :thumbsup:

Hi,
Model Rail from 2008. A good amount of N gauge, enough N gauge layouts (I remember some beauty in BR blue and modern era), a lot of "how to do", some articles about real railway or steam/diesel loco, news, reviews, tips & tricks...
As every other mags sometimes is boring (can be happen...), sometimes it's amazing... but it depends to my interests in that moment.
I have appreciate in particular some articles to highlight some strengths of N gauge as "home dimension layout"... lot of in little space... DCC improvement in N...

Massimo

For me it's N'spirations and the N Gauge Journal only, as they focus exclusively on N. However, I do buy the occasional back issue of Railway Modeller when I find out that it features something specific that I'm hoping to model.

Quote from: newportnobby on August 27, 2013, 01:50:00 PM

Quote from: H on August 26, 2013, 09:48:54 PM

Quote from: scottishlocos on August 26, 2013, 09:36:43 PM

. . . . they all have a GWR steam era bias . . . .

Unfortunately and sadly that does seem to be the case. A bit more variety and a wider range of eras wouldn't go amiss for some.

H.

Whilst I echo the sentiments, surely it is in the hands of the N gauge modellers to provide RM and other mags with layouts other than GWR?

Perhaps GWR BLTs are more likely to be selected and published and eaten. After all they are damn fine tasty sarnies :D

H.

I am a bit of a silly Billy when it comes to model railway mags, I have bought 3 this month and I was pleasantly surprised with this months Hornby Magazine, I am trying to work out what would be the best to get on a subscription and yet not found one that would really make me say thats the one, only because they are all good with plenty of reading, but I just hate the adverts in some of them especially when you can not read the text, do they not realize if we cannot read what they are selling we will not buy it.. DOH

Quote from: newportnobby on August 27, 2013, 01:50:00 PM

Quote from: H on August 26, 2013, 09:48:54 PM

Quote from: scottishlocos on August 26, 2013, 09:36:43 PM

. . . . they all have a GWR steam era bias . . . .

Unfortunately and sadly that does seem to be the case. A bit more variety and a wider range of eras wouldn't go amiss for some.

H.

Whilst I echo the sentiments, surely it is in the hands of the N gauge modellers to provide RM and other mags with layouts other than GWR?
We have had (fairly recently) Elvinleys 'Black Sheep Lane' and Mainlines 'The Circle Line' neither of which are GWR featured in RM so at least members of the NGF are doing their bit :thumbsup:

Hi newportnobby

I wasnt just meaning GWR n gauge its a GWR bias in all gauges I am fairly new to N-gauge and have found the modern era is better represented in N next time iam at the shops i shall count the GWR layouts in the modelling mags I only get the odd one now but i think every mag has something GWR every month.
In many ways it would be better if there was a GWR only mag if it meant less GWR in the other mags there was a modern modelling mag out a few years ago but it fell by the wayside

Dave

Quote from: newportnobby on August 25, 2013, 09:38:05 AM
I always enjoy Railway Modeller as, even if there's not an N gauge layout featured, many ideas can be transferred across. After getting Steve Flint (RM Editor) to judge our Photographic Competition and having exchanged many mails with him, the solution to getting more N gauge in RM lies with us - the N gauge modellers, so don't be afraid to send anything in. We have had at least 2 of our members layouts featured in the mag :thumbsup:

If you buy Railway Modeller than keep an eye out next year for my layout featuring at some point.  :)

I buy three historical railway mags and subscribe to DEMU which has an excellent modern magazine with stock features that are right up my street. N'spirations I find very useful as a relative new-comer to N and the N gauge journal has interesting product information and at least one useful article each edition given that my N gauge interest is 'post-modern' image.

I get most of the others second hand via a regular 4-monthly magazine swap with a friend which doubles up as a reason to meet him for a pint or three.  :beers: There is invariably something of interest regardless of scale. Inspiration comes in many track gauges!

I probably spend too much on magazines, but i'm never stuck for something to read....

Quote from: Cooper on August 28, 2013, 10:45:15 PM

If you buy Railway Modeller than keep an eye out next year for my layout featuring at some point.  :)

Excellent - congratulations and I look forward to seeing the article :beers:

Quote from: newportnobby on August 28, 2013, 10:47:32 PM
Excellent - congratulations and I look forward to seeing the article :beers:

Seconded and... seconded!  :D

As a published RM author myself (yes, I am bragging  ;D), I too look forward to seeing your article!  :beers:

RM arrives in Australian newsagents a few months later, so let us know the issue and I'll keep my eyes peeled for it!  :thumbsup:

Bearing in mind my area of interest (Deutsche Bundesbahn / Osterreichisches Bundesbahn), I subscribe to N-Bahn magazin (bi-monthly) from Alba Publikation:

http://www.alba-publikation.de/oxid.php/sid/480258d837857bbd8ec562d5bb5d05f2/cl/alist/cnid/130 (http://www.alba-publikation.de/oxid.php/sid/480258d837857bbd8ec562d5bb5d05f2/cl/alist/cnid/130)

Nothing but N scale  :)

In addition, for prototype info, I take Eisenbahn Modellbahn Magazin when I find it on my travels abroad:

http://www.alba-publikation.de/oxid.php/sid/x/shp/oxbaseshop/cl/alist/cnid/105 (http://www.alba-publikation.de/oxid.php/sid/x/shp/oxbaseshop/cl/alist/cnid/105)

CT  :thumbsup:

A few pages back, there was some comment on plastic wrapped issues. Whilst I like a pristine, unthumbed copy of any mags I buy, I do like to know what is in it - and the cover info is not always as correct as it should be. A recent mag I purchased (relating to classic motorcycles) advertised a test of a new "retro" bike, but the mag was plastic wrapped as there was a free gift. When I read the article (which was why I bought the mag), it was mainly an interview with a press release (supposedly with the MD of the manufacturer, but pure PR speak). The "test" ride consisted of a small "sidebar" within the article.

My daughter gave me a Years subscription to BRM after I mentioned I had enjoyed the last couple of issues. Well, during the Years issues there was not a lot to get me excited and I felt disappointed. I think they all have their good and bad issues depending in your area of interest. I have no allegiance to any particular magazine on model railways, preferring to thumb through the front copy on the shelf before I buy...as many others do!                                                              I will not buy one in a plastic wrapper as there may be nowt in there to interest me between the adverts duplicated in all of the mags. I'm not tight, some months I might buy 3 mags, and just one the next. They have to have something that interests me if I am to part with my money.

Steve

Falmouth.

Yeah, I'm a bit the same way, Steve. Some months I'll buy two or three, others none. I'm pretty loyal to RM, though. I find I buy the others if they are offering some sort of workshop manual that month.

 :hellosign:

I used to buy the railway modeller on a regular basis from the mid 1960's till recently but now I buy it on and off depending if their is any thing n gauge in it.

Being a pensioner now it is the cost of magazines that puts me off buying them monthly

Mike :A1Tornado: :A1Tornado:

Sounds like you and I are of about the same vintage, Mike. Yes, I agree - the mags are a bit pricey to get on a monthly basis, especially when you're not working any more.

George

used to have Model Rail, Hornby, and Railway Modeller on subscription, plus have a nose into BRM  to see if anything of interest, but now I have let all the subs expire and just have a look through them at Tescos when SWMBO has dragged me down there.

to be honest, most months there is not much of interest between them, and certainly not enough to make me buy them.

when you've discounted the adverts and the 'reviews' there are very few pages left.

rather put the money towards another carriage or loco  ;D

That's one way of looking at it!  :thumbsup:

Hi

Having had Model Rail on a cheapie subscription for 10 months now I have found:

The 'how to' articles a bit repetitive and very biased towards 00 even though they are billed as 'any scale'. Many of the suggestions would need a skilled micro surgeon to attempt in 'N'

The few and far between 'N' reviews are nowhere as good as the comments on the Forum as they seldom focus much on performance only appearance.

The adverts from main suppliers are often out of date with items sold out.

I do not think I will be renewing for another year.

Cheers

Mac :beers:

Quote from: macwales on October 16, 2013, 01:47:34 PM

The 'how to' articles a bit repetitive and very biased towards 00 even though they are billed as 'any scale'. Many of the suggestions would need a skilled micro surgeon to attempt in 'N'

I have to agree with this, and not only because of the skill requirement but often they do not take in to account;

* the differences (sometimes necessary) in modelling N gauge, such as materials, tools and part availability,
* or recognise (and consequently don't play to) the benefits of the scale (such as the ability to construct and set the modelling in a realistic scenic environment outside of the railway boundary, run full length scale trains, etc., etc.)
* nor do they mention alternative model/part availability in N gauge in general scale projects (by assuming everyone and everything is OO and only listing those).   

I'm getting a little disillusioned with Model Rail - the content, the poor paper quality and it's deference to N gauge. Once it used to be a great mag with master-classes and so on, now IMO, it's slipped and others have caught up and overtaken it.

H.

H.

Quote from: H on October 16, 2013, 04:27:05 PM

Quote from: macwales on October 16, 2013, 01:47:34 PM

The 'how to' articles a bit repetitive and very biased towards 00 even though they are billed as 'any scale'. Many of the suggestions would need a skilled micro surgeon to attempt in 'N'

I have to agree with this, and not only because of the skill requirement but often they do not take in to account;

* the differences (sometimes necessary) in modelling N gauge, such as materials, tools and part availability,

Also in techniques. In 7mm you for example build a card wagon out of chunky card and there are usually no folds. In N its on photo-paper and if you don't use folds you'll go nuts, same with etches, which is what makes shrinks of 4mm kits so horrible to build.


Alan

N Gauge Journal and that's it. Last year I looked at my collection of mags...40 years of RM bound, 150 copies of MRC, every Model Rail and BRM, and loads of miscellaneous ones....and I thought why? :hmmm:
So I advertised the lot twice and not one interested person...so I dumped them down the local charity shop. A couple of days later they had the binders in the window at 10p each and all the mags went to re-cycling!! :o :o
I don't buy any now. If you add up the big three it comes to around 100 quid plus a year..that's 2 good secondhand locos.
I might buy one mag if I'm at a show for the weekend away or if I go on a train journey.
All I need to know I can find at shows, groups and other on-line places.
Bob

Have just come back to the hobby so have bought all the mags - unlike my other hobbies where I have stopped buying them because magazines in the same giant groups "share" articles and staff writers between them. The model railway mags seem not to be afflicted with this yet.

Railway Modeller seems to be not only the most interesting but a lot more colourful than it used to be.

I've got four of them on short digital subscriptions meaning to cut down to two in a couple of months, the trouble is they've all upped their game and it's going to be difficult to decide. It would be nice to be able to buy a selection of all the articles you liked from all the different magazines, a bit like recording television programmes  :D

I read most of the current British railway modelling magazines, BRM and Model Rail are my favourites of the "mainstream" publications, as they usually have plenty of modelling and prototype-related articles as well as the usual layouts and product reviews, but Hornby and occasionally RM can have some very good and well photographed layout articles. The general lack of N gauge content can be disappointing but as I also model in OO standard gauge and O16.5 7mm narrow gauge it isn't so bad (although narrow gauge-related articles aren't particularly common either)

I hardly ever buy magazines new, though (only if there's a particularly useful article that I really want), as second hand ones, sometimes only a few months old, can be found so cheaply at shows, preserved railway bookshops, etc.! You can also find specialist magazines cheaply from the same sources, a favourite of mine which is always worth looking out for is Modeller's Backtrack (discontinued ages ago unfortunately)

Back in the day I was always bought Railway Modeller by my Dad/Grandad. So on my return to the hobby I instinctively stuck to buying RM until this month. Having been on holiday this week I ran of reading material so bought Model Rail for a comparison.

Instantly I felt more at home reading MR. I may have caught a good issue (Nov) but the articles are much easier for a newcomer to relate too and the topics covered do not require as much implied knowledge. For example the article on headcodes/freight train types is the most useful one I have ever read. I am not a railway worker, nor was I around in the era of mixed freight but at some point I'd like my modelling to accurately reflect practices of days gone by.

Another useful thing that MR does is the style of the reviews. Flaws are not only pointed out, they are also explained. For example the 00 Heljan Class 16 has inaccurate battery boxes. RM would leave it at that, but MR explains why they are inaccurate.

I may have struck it lucky this month but I will be buying MR next month and end my run of RM purchasing for a while.

I'm with Gwrwill on page 1 of this thread - I get them all (by subscription now , much easier & cheaper)) plus N Gauge Society Journal , plus Nspirations from Issue 1 . Every 2 or 3 months I spend a couple of hours going through the big mags & remove bits of interest that may be useful in future (sad , anal bugger that I am ), the remnants go in the bin ! The 2 smaller mags I keep intact . Works for me !! Cheers to one & all , Richttp://www.ngaugeforum.co.uk/SMFN/Smileys/NGF/smiley.gif

Quote from: Bigric on October 19, 2013, 09:46:37 AM
...the remnants go in the bin !

I hope you meant the recycling.  :o

I don't consider my self a hoarder (well, not by what you see on those stupid TV shows, anyway), but it's ridiculous I know, but I can't bear the thought of ripping pages out of my RM collection!!

Mind you, in my defense, many of the very old issues have huge nostalgic value to me.

George

My railway room is now bursting at the seams with 14 years of NGS Journals and Railway Modellers, and I only get the RM when someone brings a copy over or we are in the UK. Horder NO!!! (thats another thread). I have only twice cut out bits from the RM and that was to use pictures as a scenery filler.
Hopefully now that Mrs H has treated me to a Colour Kindle I will be getting the RM as a download. Now where did I put the copy for March 1992 ?

I started buying Railway Modeller in the early seventies, and continued to do so, for around five years until I became distracted by beer/girls/music.

A couple of years ago, when my interest (models; not birds) was rekindled, I started buying RM again, but never got the same level of excitement from it and didn't continue for long, it always seems a very short read.

You have to remember, I suppose, that when I first started buying it; it was a different world then. I would spend hours poring over the adverts, because there was a rich variety of product available by mail order (people of my age will remember postal orders and waiting 28 days for delivery) so much more than my local model shop.
Of course, nowadays everything is available to both browse (extensively) and purchase and if you order by 6.00pm; they'll fetch it round yesterday.

Half the mag is adverts (and I do understand the commercials) and the adverts, to me, seem irrelevant

I don't bother with any mags anymore, there's nothing you cant find a better version of on 'tinterweb.

NGS Journal and Todays Railways UK.

Out of all the real railways magazines, Todays Railways is the best for me because it is very factual rather than just the politically biased views of a railway journalist like other magazines tend to be. Todays Railways UK tells you what is going down on the network with real time news without actually blowing off steam and over thrashing every little issue formed from the opinion of just one editor.

One feature of RM I like is the calendar of exhibitions as, apart from the larger shows, I tend to spot any smaller ones in the area which probably cost just £3 to get in but can be a mine of useful bits and pieces at very low cost.

Quote from: newportnobby on October 20, 2013, 10:39:28 PM
One feature of RM I like is the calendar of exhibitions as, apart from the larger shows, I tend to spot any smaller ones in the area which probably cost just £3 to get in but can be a mine of useful bits and pieces at very low cost.

£3! Does that include your OAP discount now ?.....................

Quote from: Jerry Howlett on October 22, 2013, 10:43:21 AM

Quote from: newportnobby on October 20, 2013, 10:39:28 PM
One feature of RM I like is the calendar of exhibitions as, apart from the larger shows, I tend to spot any smaller ones in the area which probably cost just £3 to get in but can be a mine of useful bits and pieces at very low cost.

£3! Does that include your OAP discount now ?.....................

Nah - but it does include a fish & chip supper and the taxi home :)
I've discovered that despite hitting the age of 60, I can't get a bus pass until March 2017 (so that should stop any 'bus pass' comments) :scowl:

o.k., no buss pass comments, but you get free prescriptions to get rid of your pink ballast, as for magazines I nick any that I find at Micks house :P

just dont use the buss pas before 9-30am or it'll cost ya :laugh:- mind you its only 30p , now thats a BIG chunk of your pension  >:(

back to magazines i get Hornby thro' the post , but the quality of the photos is shocking for a national magazine , the news section shows 3/4 of the loco in soft (out of) focus , and on the front of October the class 15 focusing was terrible .

alan

I'm ahead of you there, Mick - I haven't got a bus pass but I have a Seniors card which allows you to get on a bus and buy a day ticket for $2.50 which works on Sydney ferries as well, and on the railways too..... of course, when I was traveling by bus every day I wasn't 60, was I. Now I drive most places.

Ah well, life is like a jigsaw puzzle, you do it in reverse -
You take a pretty picture, and make it all diverse.

(Michael Leunig, not me).

Two 'specials' have just arrived at the local newsagents here in Australia. One is a British publication from Model Rail: Great British Model Railways Volume 1, and the other an American publication from Model Railroader: Great Model Railroads 2014.

Both were the same price, A$12.95 (seven pounds eighteen pence - sorry, can't work out how to get the pound sign up on this computer).

Anyway, while the British one is full of excellent photographs and features some awesome layouts such as Pete Waterman's Leamington Spa and that brilliant recreation of Liverpool Lime Street, it is essentially just a picture book.

The American one, on the other hand, features track plans, information, and hints and tips.

So I purchased the American one.

As luck would have it, my daughter who works part time in the coffee shop two shops up, came into the newsagent just as I was buying it, and bought the British one for me!!!

BONUS!!  :thumbsup: :thumbsup: :bounce:

As a newbie I find the "picture book" element of some of the magazines over glamourises many of the layouts and in this detracts from their usefulness.

If you compare the macro views of tiny bits of layouts - and they are often tiny tiny bits - seeing those layouts at exhibitions like Warley can be disappointing. The undoubted macro photographic talents of CN for example really glamorise some of them.

The most useful magazine I have found is Hornby which does virtually nothing on N but gets right into the nitty gritty of "how to". Operation Build It is a good example of what I mean.

The ideal N magazine doesn't seem to exist.

Quote from: ParkeNd on November 29, 2013, 08:16:07 AM


The ideal N magazine doesn't seem to exist.

I think it does now - try N Gauge NOW.
1st issue just out.

Quote from: newportnobby on November 29, 2013, 01:27:59 PM

Quote from: ParkeNd on November 29, 2013, 08:16:07 AM


The ideal N magazine doesn't seem to exist.

I think it does now - try N Gauge NOW.
1st issue just out.

Try also N'spirations  ;)

Available on ebay and from the N Gauge Society Shop.

H.

Quote from: newportnobby on November 29, 2013, 01:27:59 PM

Quote from: ParkeNd on November 29, 2013, 08:16:07 AM


The ideal N magazine doesn't seem to exist.

I think it does now - try N Gauge NOW.
1st issue just out.

Just received my copy very interesting reading and as it says in the editorial if enough interest is shown they produce more editions
:thumbsup: :thumbsup:
Graham

Quote from: H on November 29, 2013, 01:34:11 PM
Try also N'spirations  ;)

Available on ebay and from the N Gauge Society Shop.

Hah! I'm still catching up on old issues, and No 8, which covers the painting and detailing of a Parkwood Models SR Maunsell Diesel Shunter will be invaluable for me. Thanks, H.  :thumbsup:

I've just received an email to say that Bauer magazines in digital format will be 99p per issue for this weekend only. I've just missed out on Model Rail as I bought it for full price yesterday  :(  but I've bought a copy of Steam Railway.  :smiley-laughing:

Here is the link : http://www.greatmagazines.co.uk/store/custompage.asp?customid=1341&utm_source=Xmas&utm_medium=Email&utm_campaign=XmasEmail5S4 (http://www.greatmagazines.co.uk/store/custompage.asp?customid=1341&utm_source=Xmas&utm_medium=Email&utm_campaign=XmasEmail5S4)

Quote from: silly moo on November 29, 2013, 06:35:12 PM
I've just received an email to say that Bauer magazines in digital format will be 99p per issue for this weekend only. I've just missed out on Model Rail as I bought it for full price yesterday  :(  but I've bought a copy of Steam Railway.  :smiley-laughing:

Here is the link : http://www.greatmagazines.co.uk/store/custompage.asp?customid=1341&utm_source=Xmas&utm_medium=Email&utm_campaign=XmasEmail5S4 (http://www.greatmagazines.co.uk/store/custompage.asp?customid=1341&utm_source=Xmas&utm_medium=Email&utm_campaign=XmasEmail5S4)

They only do the digital copies for the iphone and not the Android, a bit short sighted of them  :thumbsdown:

cheers John.

Quote from: newportnobby on November 29, 2013, 01:27:59 PM

Quote from: ParkeNd on November 29, 2013, 08:16:07 AM


The ideal N magazine doesn't seem to exist.

I think it does now - try N Gauge NOW.
1st issue just out.

I agree, it's an excellent read so far :thumbsup:


Paul

I get model rail on subscription via TESCO vouchers which is fine but I would not pay for it.  I only buy a railway mag if it has articles of interest.

• Rail magazine (Dutch)
• Rail hobby (Dutch)
• Model Railroader (US)
• Model Railroad Hobbyist (US digital (and FREE) (http://model-railroad-hobbyist.com/)
• and various spot bought UK magazines when I'm at your side of the big wet thing  ;)

BIG wet thing? Not from where I come from, it ain't, buddy!!  :thumbsup:

Only one 'officially' ; The New Zealand Model Railway Journal.

'Unofficially' anything printed that comes my way, including Model RailRoader, Railway Modeller, Continental Railway Modeller, The Model Railway Journal etc., etc , while on-line, Model Railway Hobbyist.

For me, the date of publication of the 'unofficial' reading doesn't matter - there is always something to learn.

Thanks for asking.

Komata

"TVR - serving the Northern Taranaki ...'

WOT?!

No Australian one? Dunno what we're gonna do with you lot  ;D

George

George:

re: 'WOT?!  No Australian one? Dunno what we're gonna do with you lot'

To deal with 'WOT?!  No Australian one?' first.....

'Fraid not old chap.  I perused copies of AMRAM when I was in Oz last year, and came to the conclusion that it seems to be a mini-MRR Magazine, quite US-focused with very little about the local scene and not particularly encouraging.  IMHO not worth a subscription. 

The N-Scale Bulletin seems to be similar (and I've read them all); again there seems to be a heavy-focus on US-themed layouts. 

I think too that the emphasis of these magazines is different from the NZ Model Railway Journal, for the following reasons:

The NZ Model  Railway Journal is the published 'face' of a larger organisation, the NZ Model Railway Guild, a group which acts as a focus-point for all the NZ model railway clubs, and co-ordinates their activities and liases between them.   The 'Guild's 'stated intention is '...To provide  link between model railway enthusiasts for the encouragement of  modelling the NZ prototype'. 

This means that it is entirely NZ focused.  The 'Journal reflects this and contains a mix of articles which comprise 'How-too's' and prototype information about what is relevant to the local model-railway scene, in all its varieties.  Although for many years it was entirely 3ft 6 in focused, this is now changing, to the extent that they even saw fit to even publish an article on one of my NZN-Freelance layouts earlier this year.

And as far as  '...Dunno what we're gonna do with you lot' is concerned:

You could always come and visit (but please don't stay) - if only to be reminded about what GREEN  grass looks like (after all we DO have that coloured grass ALL YEAR ROUND), and to escape your 'ancestral' heritage.  Think of us as the  relatives whom you can look up too (and try to emulate...)

(Well, you DID ask!!)

(For the benefit of those who haven't a clue about what is going-on, it's an Australasian thing - and totally harmless - except on the sports field...!!)

I reads them all , even checks the free gifts - its only a matter of opening the poly packs , and guess what - the staff in Smiths dont seen bothered  :D


alan

Quote from: mr bachmann on December 15, 2013, 07:46:47 PM
guess what - the staff in Smiths dont seen bothered  :D

alan

Now why am I not surprised? ::)

Thanks for the info on the NZMRJ!

And also for the note to our members that the banter is wot we do here at the Antipodes (except, as you say, on the sports field)  :thumbsup:

I'm actually not Australian, by the way.... I just happen to live here! And yes, I know the grass is green in NZ, I head over the ditch quite a bit as an old school mate of mine lives there. I'll be paying your lovely country another visit in January, actually.  :beers:

George

I'm happy to be able to add N Gauge NOW to the Journal and N'spirations. I've found it to be a pretty good read, and at least a couple of the articles covered areas I've not seen in any real detail before. Shame it only seems to be a once-a-year thing at the moment.

Thanks George, glad to know the info was useful.

I gather you're escaping the 'big island'  to escape the heat (and the flies?) - 28-30  Degrees is a lot cooler than 42 plus.   The difference is quite noticeable isn't it? 

BTW: What part of the country will you be visiting?

Not sure yet, buddy... but Mrs B fancies a bit of Auckland shopping and we had a nice few days last year in the Bay of Islands, but we'll see.

Anyway, moderator's hat going on.....  :offtopicsign:

Cheers, George  :thumbsup:

Just bought MRJ No.226 - mainly because it features two NE layouts of locations that are very well known to me Fence Houses, the brilliant 2FS work in progress, and Blackgill, a P4 recreation of the West Durham hills and the Consett-Tynedock line.

The 2014 Railway Modeller Annual just appeared in the newsagents here (A$12.99, which equates to 7pound 06pence - ok I guess as the price on the back cover says 6.99), so I bought it as it's got a very good article on the S & D, and some nostalgic pieces about old RMs and Triang catalogs.

There are also chapters about Metcalfe Models and freight train formations.

A good buy, I reckon.

Quote from: Bealman on January 03, 2014, 11:54:18 PM
Just bought MRJ No.226 - mainly because it features two NE layouts of locations that are very well known to me Fence Houses, the brilliant 2FS work in progress, and Blackgill, a P4 recreation of the West Durham hills and the Consett-Tynedock line.

The building work on Blackgill is awesome. It just looks like a real level crossing next to a real station. But then  I suppose being massive compared with our gauge it was probably dead easy!!!

Yep, certainly a lovely piece of modelling.  :thumbsup:

Following on from my earlier post about the RM 2014 Annual, I have had a good couple of hours read out of it, and still have not finished it. The articles about steam age freight train formations and modern image formations are excellent and a great reference for modelling.

Some good model railway history in there too.

For the price, it's a great read. Last year's had a piece on passenger train formations - also a great reference.

Not wishing to stir things up regarding the debate between Komata & Bealman in recent posts, I flew to Sydney in December 2012 and from there boarded a cruise ship that sailed first to new Zealand (Tauranga & Auckland) before moving on to the Polynesian Islands.

Sydney was Hot & Humid and didn't meet many real Australians, only a cousin of my wife's who emigrated there 25 years ago, but in both Tauranga & Auckland the weather was much more pleasant and my wife & I were met at the dockside by a number of New Zealand Triumph Stag owners who took us out & showed us round whilst we were on shore.

New Zealand is much greener for sure - but it did rain im-between the sun shining and would like to visit again sometime.
Still prefer living in Tenerife though.  8) I am still a Lancashire Lad at heart though having been born & brought up in Chorley before moving to Runcorn, Cheshire and then just outside Conwy in North Wales (beautiful historic place).

You're not stirring anything up mate. I love NZ and go there frequently. I have an old Geordie schoolmate lives in Wellington.

But I'll put me mod's hat on here...

:offtopicsign:

Cheers, George  :thumbsup:

Tdm

Thanks for the comments.  BUT, given the 'Stag's abysmal reputation mechanically - the Triumph 2000 was IMHO the best of the bunch, I have to ask 'cos  'You were met by a number of Triumph Stag owners' - were they all in their own cars - and did all of the Stags complete the trip (and under their own power?).

If they did, would that possibly be something of a record ? ('Staggering' in fact...)

One wonders.... :) :) :)

He ho, back to the mags...   

Might need bankers, eh. Specially in NZ!  ;)

George

Quote from: Komata on February 17, 2014, 06:32:29 AM
Tdm

Thanks for the comments.  BUT, given the 'Stag's abysmal reputation mechanically - the Triumph 2000 was IMHO the best of the bunch, I have to ask 'cos  'You were met by a number of Triumph Stag owners' - were they all in their own cars - and did all of the Stags complete the trip (and under their own power?).

If they did, would that possibly be something of a record ? ('Staggering' in fact...)

One wonders.... :) :) :)

He ho, back to the mags...

Triumph Stag doesn't qualify as a Classic - just "old car" since it was never great when new. Builders used to buy them. Triumph Dolomite Sprint better on all fronts.

Back on topic. Have bought RM, Model Rail, and Hornby this month but virtually no N in them. Hornby at least has a review of the ugly Fairburn. This is why we need the NGS  Journal.

Quote from: ParkeNd on February 17, 2014, 09:06:16 AM

Quote from: Komata on February 17, 2014, 06:32:29 AM
Tdm

Thanks for the comments.  BUT, given the 'Stag's abysmal reputation mechanically - the Triumph 2000 was IMHO the best of the bunch, I have to ask 'cos  'You were met by a number of Triumph Stag owners' - were they all in their own cars - and did all of the Stags complete the trip (and under their own power?).

If they did, would that possibly be something of a record ? ('Staggering' in fact...)

One wonders.... :) :) :)

He ho, back to the mags...

Triumph Stag doesn't qualify as a Classic - just "old car" since it was never great when new. Builders used to buy them. Triumph Dolomite Sprint better on all fronts.

Back on topic. Have bought RM, Model Rail, and Hornby this month but virtually no N in them., Hornby at least has a review of the ugly Fairburn. This is why we need the NGS  Journal.

You tell a friend of mine that a Triumph Stag does not qualify as a classic car, he has 2 of them in his garage, also a Jenson interseptor.

Quote from: Geoff on February 17, 2014, 10:08:58 AM

Quote from: ParkeNd on February 17, 2014, 09:06:16 AM

Quote from: Komata on February 17, 2014, 06:32:29 AM
Tdm

Thanks for the comments.  BUT, given the 'Stag's abysmal reputation mechanically - the Triumph 2000 was IMHO the best of the bunch, I have to ask 'cos  'You were met by a number of Triumph Stag owners' - were they all in their own cars - and did all of the Stags complete the trip (and under their own power?).

If they did, would that possibly be something of a record ? ('Staggering' in fact...)

One wonders.... :) :) :)

He ho, back to the mags...

Triumph Stag doesn't qualify as a Classic - just "old car" since it was never great when new. Builders used to buy them. Triumph Dolomite Sprint better on all fronts.

Back on topic. Have bought RM, Model Rail, and Hornby this month but virtually no N in them., Hornby at least has a review of the ugly Fairburn. This is why we need the NGS  Journal.

You tell a friend of mine that a Triumph Stag does not qualify as a classic car, he has 2 of them in his garage, also a Jenson interseptor.

The Jensen Interceptor - Yes.  The others -------- sorry.

A Classic car has to have been a great car when it was new (Porsche 911, Aston DB4, AC Cobra, Healey 3000, Bugatti Type 35, Jaguar E Type ). Just getting old doesn't make a car  a Classic.

Quote from: ParkeNd on February 17, 2014, 10:49:03 AM

Quote from: Geoff on February 17, 2014, 10:08:58 AM

Quote from: ParkeNd on February 17, 2014, 09:06:16 AM

Quote from: Komata on February 17, 2014, 06:32:29 AM
Tdm

Thanks for the comments.  BUT, given the 'Stag's abysmal reputation mechanically - the Triumph 2000 was IMHO the best of the bunch, I have to ask 'cos  'You were met by a number of Triumph Stag owners' - were they all in their own cars - and did all of the Stags complete the trip (and under their own power?).

If they did, would that possibly be something of a record ? ('Staggering' in fact...)

One wonders.... :) :) :)

He ho, back to the mags...

Triumph Stag doesn't qualify as a Classic - just "old car" since it was never great when new. Builders used to buy them. Triumph Dolomite Sprint better on all fronts.

Back on topic. Have bought RM, Model Rail, and Hornby this month but virtually no N in them., Hornby at least has a review of the ugly Fairburn. This is why we need the NGS  Journal.

You tell a friend of mine that a Triumph Stag does not qualify as a classic car, he has 2 of them in his garage, also a Jenson interseptor.

The Jensen Interceptor - Yes.  The others -------- sorry.

A Classic car has to have been a great car when it was new (Porsche 911, Aston DB4, AC Cobra, Healey 3000, Bugatti Type 35, Jaguar E Type ). Just getting old doesn't make a car  a Classic.

Clearly your not in the Classic Car scene then!  :confused1:
Pretty much every car & commercial built in the 1980's & earlier is now regarded as a Classic these days, whether they're good, bad or ugly it doesn't matter, its not just the elite expensive cars few people can afford but everyday cars that were popular everyday transport made by all manufacturers.  ;)
There's a few members on this forum who are classic car enthusiasts.
Here's some pictures of my 3 classics, a 1965 Mk1 Cortina GT, a 1968 Mk1 Escort & a rare 1972 Mk1 Escort 1300 Sport I'm currently restoring.  :D
(http://i733.photobucket.com/albums/ww334/raxmk1/rax2013010_zps455e11ed.jpg) (http://s733.photobucket.com/user/raxmk1/media/rax2013010_zps455e11ed.jpg.html)
(http://i733.photobucket.com/albums/ww334/raxmk1/GTatculver004.jpg) (http://s733.photobucket.com/user/raxmk1/media/GTatculver004.jpg.html)
(http://i733.photobucket.com/albums/ww334/raxmk1/mk1%20escort%201300%20sport/DSCF7310.jpg) (http://s733.photobucket.com/user/raxmk1/media/mk1%20escort%201300%20sport/DSCF7310.jpg.html)
(http://i733.photobucket.com/albums/ww334/raxmk1/mk1%20escort%201300%20sport/DSCF8717_zps5a656cfe.jpg) (http://s733.photobucket.com/user/raxmk1/media/mk1%20escort%201300%20sport/DSCF8717_zps5a656cfe.jpg.html)

Apologies for going a bit off topic  :-[

cheers, Stu. :)

Really must take issue with those of you who have made negative comments about one of the most popular Classic Cars in the World, with the biggest one model Owners Club, and of which the greater majority of Stags made not only survived, but are still running and running well.

If I posted some of your (ill informed in one case I must say) comments on the Stag Owners Club Forum they would be outraged, and want to come round to your houses and drive their Stags all over your layouts.  ;)

When I visited Tauranga, New Zealand my wife & I were chaufferred round in a convoy of 6 immaculate Stags from the Tauranga/Rotorua area, and in Auckland were met by other Stag owners and taken all over that area as well. Great cars and great people.

I have had a numbers of cars in my life, but none have lasted as long as my Stag which turns heads whenever I go out in it (there are 4 Stags within 5 miles of where I live in Los Cristianos), and to put a couple of common misconceptions to bed, those on the road now don't overheat, and the original engine (which most Stag owners have in their cars) is a 3 Litre Triumph V8 which was made purely for the Stag and no other car, and has a unique gorgeous sound.

The Dolomite Sprint which someone mentioned was a nice car but prone to catastrophic engine failures. I drove my Stag to Tenerife from North Wales when I emigrated, as did two of the other local owners I have mentioned and encountered no problems on the journey. The other Stag owner is Canarian and President of the local Classic Car Club here.

If it came to a choice of choosing between my Stag and my Model Railway, then it would be bye bye choo choo train I'm afraid, but that is not going to happen - I love both.

 

 :offtopicsign:

Please conduct the classic car debate on a new thread as this is way of topic.  Further car discussions on this thread will be deleted.

Thank you

Ditto that ! Thought I'd wandered into Top Gear for a moment.