Magazines

[poliss]

Try looking at Sumida Crossing. Ken Shores has loads of information about modelling Japanese railways on his blog. http://www.sumidacrossing.org/SumidaCrossing/Home.html

[OwL]

I generally go for Rail Express magazine (gen/gossip/news) and my favorite is Traction (Diesel/elec nostalga/good pictures).

I dont bother with Railway Modeller anymore as in my view it is totally biased towards 00 Gauge modellers who indulge in quaint little model branch lines of the Great Western Railway, set in Rural 1930's England 

(its just more of a posh, expensive, model railway'ers advert magazine who will always favour Hall Class's, 14xx's and cream tea, scones and Pimms in 00 scale rather than the general model scene )

[moogle]

Rarely buy any of them!
In fact the last new mag I bought was Model Rail September 2010. 

Have bought a few old ones on Ebay in the last few months but mainly from the 1950's.
(Good source of drawings from back then!)
The NGS journal satisfies me as well as places on the WWW like   

[H]

This months (July) issue of 'Railway Modeller' is rather good for N gauge articles/content. And overall the magazine is continuing the high standards that Steve Flint (the newish editor) has instilled. The last few issues have been particularly good.

In contrast I'm starting to find that 'Model Rail' (a magazine I was once keen on) is going downhill, especially with N gauge coverage. It still feels like poor quality flimsy paper despite the perfect binding and has what seems like temporary disposable content as well. For example I was looking forward to the article about LT underground modelling but I thought it was very weak with only two pages and very little mention of LT N gauge products. In fact I think I'll pen an article about N gauge undergroupd for N'spirations as a result.

H.

[Agrafarfan]

Hi

I only got a few issues of Railway Modeller, I haven't got july's issue but I must say the photographs are outstanding in the June issue Especialy the Wendale one , I honestly thought the page with the viaduct was a real life picture! I was thinking to myself how did they manage to build these viaduct/bridges in the olden days then started to look at and read and found out it was a model.

So when does N'sprations come out? or can you only get it through the NGS, I will have a look for it tomorrow at WHSmith cause I think I will get the July issue of Railway Modeller.

[H]

N'spirations is available from the NGS shop (if you're a member) or from a number of specialist traders like N Brass Loco, Plus Daughters, Osborns and Lytchett Manor Models. It's also available by mail order on ebay; http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/121123681195?ssPageName=STRK:MESELX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1555.l2649#ht_738wt_1255

For other details see thread; http://www.ngaugeforum.co.uk/SMFN/index.php?topic=12852.msg130723#msg130723

H.

[longbridge]

I find Model Railway Magazines are pretty boring with reviews that in some cases are not worth the paper they are written on, layout reviews and new products that have been released and in some cases sold out before they even get to the shop display cases.

I get more of a kick out of reading Steam World and British Railways Illustrated mags, I bought over 250 of these mags for £10 some time back and enjoy the nostalgic trip into the past.

[H]

I find Model Railway Magazines are pretty boring with reviews that in some cases are not worth the paper they are written on, layout reviews and new products that have been released and in some cases sold out before they even get to the shop display cases.

New product reviews are certainly a problem area with all the commercial magazines (and also the NGS journal it seems; http://www.rmweb.co.uk/community/index.php?/topic/72625-ngs-journal-reviews/). Hornby Mag are the worst, Railway Modeller and BRM not a lot better and while Model Rail were once the pick of a poor bunch, a lot of mistakes seem to creep in lately. But perhaps we should be making it clear what we expect them to include and what we want to read. Which is?

But I'm not sure what you mean by layout reviews. In general they are written by the ayout builders.

H.

[Pengi]

I find Model Railway Magazines are pretty boring with reviews that in some cases are not worth the paper they are written on, layout reviews and new products that have been released and in some cases sold out before they even get to the shop display cases.

I get more of a kick out of reading Steam World and British Railways Illustrated mags, I bought over 250 of these mags for £10 some time back and enjoy the nostalgic trip into the past.

I used to buy the railway mags and found that there was precious little N and even less on current day  . I get the Modern Railways magazine delivered now and find all the advice I need for N gauge from this forum (and a tiny bit from other forums too)

[H]

I used to buy the railway mags and found that there was precious little N

For me there doen't have to be lots of N gauge in commercial magazine although it would nice and more would be appreciated.

There is much to be learnt from other scales (like modelling techniques) as well as inspiration, eye candy and ideas. Many things (like baseboard construction and electrics, and products like tools) are applicable to all scales. Expecting them to be chokka full of N gauge is just not going to happen. And relying on one source, no matter how good, will ever provide the full picture.

H.

[Trev]

I'm the same as H.
Yes it's good to see N Gauge articles but there is so much unspiration that can be gleaned from modelers in other scales that there is always something of interest to me.
They have also proved invaluable in planning my layout - pinching ideas from different bits.
I suppose it's the same as being involved in model forums that aren't specifically N Gauge. I can see some great models and learn how they were created and apply the ideas to my own plans

[macwales]

Hi

I took out a year's subscription to 'Model Rail' in January (for a great bargain price). I don't think I will ever buy it at the full price so unless there is another great offer at Xmas this year I will stop it.

I find that some articles issue to issue are very repetitive and it must be hard trying for a new angle. My main plus is the contact web addresses I find in the adverts and these have led me to products new to me that I have bought. Also there are always tips and these can be in the articles for any gauge. The latest one I have used is to PVA some scatter on the otherwise not realistic foam hedging I bought a bout a year ago.

My main gripe is about the reviews that I suspect are very biased and rarely deal with proper running with loaded trains and rarely tell about noisy running or poor pickup or not going round first radius or over points.

I often wonder about the overall scores given. How can you award 85% to a coach that has no pickups and no fitting for adding cabin lights? The reviews, especially for locos, seem mostly to be about how accurate the model is when compared to the prototype, but how the authors know these fine details is a puzzle.

On the other hand, the photos are great and it is a joy to see other people's layouts.

Cheers

Mac

[silly moo]

What about N'spirations? The publisher H, is a forum member and it's a great read. Back copies are available on eBay the latest copy will be announced on the forum.

If you do a search for N'spirations you will find lots of info.

My favourite mainstream mags are Model Rail, Hornby Magazine and Railway Modeller all of which I get digitally because overseas subscriptions are so expensive. I can now get all three for the price I used to pay for one.

[davidinyork]

I tend to only buy model railway mags if  thier is something of interest in them now a days...

But I do just pick up rail express with out flicking through it

Likewise! I buy Rail Express every month, and other real / model railway magazines only if there's something of particular interest in them.

Rail Express (both the general magazine and the modelling section) are diesel-era only, and the modelling section frequently has well-researched articles on particular types of freight wagon (and occasionally passenger carriage) and typical formations of trains where they would have been used.

[longbridge]

I really enjoy reading a magazine but find the Model Railway Magazines are a waste of money, instead I but "Steam World" and "British Railways Illustrated" a far more interesting read than seeing one layout after another and reading one review after another, like digital camera reviews they are not worth the paper they are written on.