Railway Modeller Digital Archive

[icairns]

I have a Railway Modeller subscription and, consequently, access to the RM digital archive.

Previously, the digital archive was accessed via Exact Editions.  By trial and error, I have now realized that the digital archive has been transferred to www.pocketmags.com

I had received no information about this transfer but I have had a couple of minor issues with my RM subscription.  I know that Peco's Harburn Hobbies retail outlet has taken over RM subscriptions and I found this notice on the Harburn Hobbies website:

https://www.harburnhobbies.co.uk/pages/peco-publications-magazine-subscriptions-update

However, my problem now is trying to use the pocketmags search function when I have my Railway Modeller magazines shown on my computer screen.

When I enter a keyword into the search library box, I always get the answer "No Results Found" even though I know the keyword to be in an edition of Railway Modeller.

Has anyone tried the pocketmags search function and been successful in finding editions that contain a particular keyword? 

I have contacted help@pocketmags.com to ask this question but no response so far. 
 
Thank you.

Ian

[LASteve]

Odd, I still get RM through ExactEditions.

Not helping your cause though - apologies!

[icairns]

Interesting.......

I recently renewed my annual subscription to RM.  I wonder if I got transferred to pocketmags when my new subscription kicked in?

Ian

[Chris Morris]

I have the pocketmags version and have the same problem. The search is merely searching for words on the magazine description so "1989" of "November" will call up magazines but the search we knew and loved does not appear to be available. Looking closely at an individual magazine it looks like the editions have been photographed so a search for a specific word cannot work. On the up side I can now read RM on my PC as well as my ipad.

There is a partial RM index at https://www.44090digitalmodels.co.uk/indices/indices.html

[JulianO]

I had never used the Search Function on Exact Editions.

I now have the Pocketmags version loaded on my iPhone.

I just experimented just now with the Search Function.
It looks like you can choose whether to search all editions or one year or a specific edition.

I tried "James St" and got several hits on both "James" and "Street" and also some for James St itself.

I also searched "Ian Cairns" and it took me straight to your recent article on the BTH Type 1.
So it does appear that the Search Function works on iPhone at least.

PS I thought I would try on my PC as well, but Pocketmags didn't recognise my email address when I tried to log on from it. So I can only speak for the iPhone version!

[Chris Morris]

This is odd. The search works as it always has done on my iphone but works as stated above on my laptop. I am very happy with this. The app appears to be as before while as an added bonus I can see RM in its full glory on my laptop.
I quite enjoyed playing with search, my first layout to appear in RM was May1987 - blimey 39 years ago.

[icairns]

I now have the Pocketmags version loaded on my iPhone.

I just experimented just now with the Search Function.
It looks like you can choose whether to search all editions or one year or a specific edition.

I tried "James St" and got several hits on both "James" and "Street" and also some for James St itself.

I also searched "Ian Cairns" and it took me straight to your recent article on the BTH Type 1.
So it does appear that the Search Function works on iPhone at least.

@JulianO
Well, you are having a lot more luck than I am!

I have an iPhone 15 running IOS version 26.6.2 and I downloaded the pocketmags Newsstand app.  I logged in and I can see all the issues of Railway Modeller in My Library.

However, I cannot see the search functions you describe in your post.  In fact, I cannot see any search field or any way to search.

What am I doing wrong?  I may need step-by-step instructions!

Any help would be much appreciated!

Ian
   

[icairns]

Problem Solved!

After Private Messaging with @JulianO I was able to determine a solution to searching the entire Railway Modeller database in the new pocketmags app. 

Background

I never received any communication that my digital subscription had transferred to pocketmags.  But when I logged on to Exact Editions, it kept saying that I did not have a RM subscription.  After researching, I realized that pocketmags had taken over RM's digital; archive.

I had a pocketmags account from way back and, when I logged onto the site on my PC, I was immediately able to find my RM subscription in My Library.  However, I did not see a way to search for Keywords.  This was very frustrating as I enjoy researching and documenting the early history of British N gauge and RM is a very valuable resource. 

When I saw Julian's post on the Forum, I realized that he was using an iPhone.  So, I downloaded the pocketmags app on my iPhone but I had exactly the same problem. 

Solution

After communicating with Julian, it dawned on me that he was accessing pocketmags via the Railway Modeller app. 

I did not have the RM app on my iPhone so I downloaded it.  When I was asked to log in, I was directed to use my pocketmags user name and password.  This solved the problem! 

I immediately saw what Julian described in his post above and I can now happily search all back issues of RM for a particular keyword. 

I hope this helps others who like to search the RM digital archive. 

Ian

[cmason]

@icairns

Hi Ian,
I am somewhat confused here - my subscription (recently renewed) is still with Exact Editions and I still have full search.
Is this because my subscription is direct with Exact Editions?
Cheers,
Colin.

[icairns]

Hi, Colin:

To answer your question: I do not know.  But that is an interesting thought.

My subscription is (and always has been) direct with Peco/Railway Modeller.  I get the hard copy  magazine, and because of that, I get access to the digital archive.

Ian 

[thebrighton]

I get the hard copy  magazine, and because of that, I get access to the digital archive.

When I used to subscribe I wish I'd gone for the hard copy too. I only received the digital copy which meant I also had access to the digital archive which was a bonus.
When I cancelled not only did I lose access to the archive but also all the editions I had paid for!

[cmason]

Hi, Colin:

To answer your question: I do not know.  But that is an interesting thought.

My subscription is (and always has been) direct with Peco/Railway Modeller.  I get the hard copy  magazine, and because of that, I get access to the digital archive.

Ian

Hi Ian,

that make sense.

Me, I do like to pick up the hardcopy whenever I visit the UK ( as I did yesterday with Novembers as I am on a visit just now ) however being space limited where we live I decided against the hard copy subscription. Of course with the hard copy just picked up I got the benefit of the 2027 calendar :-)

And I also got all the other mags (Continental Modeller, Hornby, BRM, Model Railway Journal... ) - which adds a chunk of weight to my suitcase...

Cheers,

Colin.

[Alcazar]

The change from Exact Editions to Pocketmags caused me some problems too - I'm accessing from my computer and it took me sometime to realise that the archive was in my library. However, it's not as convenient as before, because I have to open the entire archive until the year and month I want, whereas before I could select a decade, then the year.

Peter

 

[Alcazar]

Have to correct the above - the "search library" brings up the year I want!!

Peter