Following on from N-Gauge-US's excellent post on another thread, perhaps this would be a good way to make discussions about the NGS Journal more productive and useful.

Even if the Editor doesn't participate in this forum anymore, we can at least let him know that there's a list of article suggestions he might want to investigate.

To get the ball rolling, I'd like to see an article about a layout that works as fan fiction, such as "Cant Cove". I'd like to know what it is that makes layouts like this so engaging, so I can do the same thing without feeling the need to rip everything up after six months because I've become bored with whatever I was building!

I'd also like to read something about re-livery projects. Even basic BR blue resprays have their challenges, like getting the yellow warning panels nice and crisp. I'd like to know how to use different types of masking tape and masking fluid, and how to do things like use a pin vice to drill the tiny holes needed to add super-detailing parts.

Cheers, NeMo

Yup, a nice range of "how to" articles (start with basic ones, and build on them is my preference) would be good to have.  I know we have had a few in the past, but ...  Related to that, a build article that goes into detail (both text & photos - maybe have more photos available on the NGS website ?) rather than skim over stuff ?  A multi-part one, quite likely.

That gets back to the grass roots problem here.

"How to" articles would be great, but it doesn't matter wether it's electronic media or print....

Somebody has to write 'em.

I'd love to see a Network SouthEast N Gauge special (yes I can hear the groans!  ) as it's the 30th anniversary this year.   I'm sure the Editor will have it covered, as he's a fan as well.  It would be great collate all of the different N gauge models in that livery.

Thanks for doing this NeMo

I would also love some how to articles! There are some really amazing scratch and kit built projects that have been done by forum members that are well worthy of publishing. I would love to see @Dorsetmike 's M7 push-pull conversion featured, as making the M7 workable is something many modelers could benefit from. @thebrighton 's work is widely known in the kit and scratch building scene and an article about his LBSCR single or a quick general "how I build a kit" from him would be great, if he has the time. 

I think it would be great to see some sound decoder installs like John from YouChoos does featured as it might help some people overcome their fears to see it on paper. Similarly, @Caz and @portland-docks both have done some more complex conversions and have added smoke machines to ther tunnels to great effect, which would make for a good how-to article. 

As far as things I would (selfishly) like to see, first would be a discussion of modeling pre-grouping (especially the LBSCR) in n-gauge, including some of the kit and rtr options. I also think a column/feature profiling a different railway/company/region/period each issue would be a neat way to inform and to touch on the interests of every n Gauger at some point. I would also love to see an article about modeling heritage railways, as I see that becoming more and more popular as the average modeler's exposure to steam is more and more only through heritage railways (sadly many of us don't remember seeing any non-preserved steam locomotives).

Sorry for the long rambling list. I have lots of other ideas but these are the ones I thought worth mentioning. If I tagged you in this post and suggested an article about one of your projects, I hope you know that it is out of deep respect for you and your work and not out of an attempt to 'guilt' or pressure you into writing something you don't want to or don't have time for. If you ARE interested in publishing it but don't have time to write it, post something here about it and I'm certain one of us will be willing to write an article about your project, as long as you supply the details and photographs of course!

A big thank you again to NeMo for getting this thread started

-Philip

Quote from: NeMo on February 10, 2016, 09:27:28 AM

I'd also like to read something about re-livery projects. Even basic BR blue resprays have their challenges, like getting the yellow warning panels nice and crisp. I'd like to know how to use different types of masking tape and masking fluid, and how to do things like use a pin vice to drill the tiny holes needed to add super-detailing parts.

Me too...with basic tips such as which paint works over which other paint, and how to make sure it sticks!  This includes weathering; mine seems to scratch off very easily.

Also;

Using Tomix/Kato/Greenmax chassis under DMUs and EMUs (my current concern!)
How to fettle locos to get them to run smoothly (my 08 is my biggest issue here)
Backscene painting

Also; realistic catenary; maybe that's me!

Cheers Jon 

I'd like to see the odd "this is my first layout and how I built it" article, I'm sure not every reader is an accomplished modeller with a layout or two on the exhibition circuit. I'd be happy to have a crack at writing something if the journal can contemplate viewing the odd piece of horrible code 80 settrack.

The other thing that crossed my mind is an article on the N gauge scene in Japan, where N gauge rules supreme; might be an interesting different perspective.

Quote from: N-Gauge-US on February 10, 2016, 10:46:22 AM


@thebrighton 's work is widely known in the kit and scratch building scene and an article about his LBSCR single or a quick general "how I build a kit" from him would be great, if he has the time. 

When you join the NGS IIRC you can buy past copies of the Journal on CD. I've numerous articles in there along these lines. I could do more but they start getting a bit repetitive. 
Gareth

It occurs to me that the focus of articles in all railway magazines is nearly always technical - they focus on the layouts and the rolling stock, rather than news or personalities.   I remember being shocked when Model Rail had pictures of the people who had built the layouts; Railway Modeller never did....

So I wonder if people could write the odd short article of a less technical nature, maybe a bit humorous:

How I discovered N gauge?
What my wife/husband thinks of it all?
How I learned about modelling......
Ways of smuggling purchases into the house....

...kind of thing.....

Cheers  Jon 

Quote from: thebrighton on February 10, 2016, 02:37:01 PM

Quote from: N-Gauge-US on February 10, 2016, 10:46:22 AM


@thebrighton 's work is widely known in the kit and scratch building scene and an article about his LBSCR single or a quick general "how I build a kit" from him would be great, if he has the time. 

When you join the NGS IIRC you can buy past copies of the Journal on CD. I've numerous articles in there along these lines. I could do more but they start getting a bit repetitive. 
Gareth

Thanks very much, Gareth! I didn't know you'd done those. I will definitely have to find them:)

I've noted that many subscribers to the different fora are trying to decide which dcc system to buy, so l'd like to see in-depth reviews of the different DCC control systems which are available: perhaps for each system more than one reviewer coul comment, pointing out any downsides. This could be offered as one per edition  building into one of the useful 'guides'. The review could be run past the manufacturer to correct anything incorrect.

Roger

Perhaps a few more articles about the "real railway" - there don't seem to many of those.

Best regards,


Joe

I've just sent Graham a very rough draft (copy paste from Forum) on making buildings with a plotter cutter, see if that's of any interest to him before I do any serious work thereon.

Also suggested I could do an M7 push pull hack, also a rehash of the forum posts.

Quote from: Dorsetmike on February 10, 2016, 07:19:50 PM
I've just sent Graham a very rough draft (copy paste from Forum) on making buildings with a plotter cutter, see if that's of any interest to him before I do any serious work thereon.

Also suggested I could do an M7 push pull hack, also a rehash of the forum posts.

Thank you, Mike! I hope to see both of those in print

Whenever I see requests for articles I always try to think of ones I'd like to see . Then I think on and I realise that the articles I like to read are about things I already do! So, what should I do? Quite simple really. Get off my backside and write something!