Model Rail Magazine

[SymonC]

(You could win a prize as well and even though it's OO scale you could always sell it to fund your N gauge purchases!)

That's somehow symptomatic of the whole problem.  Those of us who don't have the time or inclination to go through the rigmarole of selling unwanted stuff are hardly likely to do the survey.  Therefore N gauge will automatically be under-represented.

But if N gauge modellers want more representation then they should do the survey, the prize is just a bonus. The more N gaugers who complete the survey then more likely that N gauge prizes will be offered as well next year.

If they don't want to sell any prizes they might win, they can always be given away.

[Pengi]

There is also a larger survey being carried out through the Model Railway Express Magazine/RMweb http://www.mremag.com/ which is being supported by all of the magazines, major manufacturers and many retailers. The more people that register an interest in N Gauge the better will the chance of manufacturers recognising the true extent of N Gauge modelling.

Went to complete this survey, scrolled down the list to find the Pendolino and it is not there! Have emailed them to see if they can include it.

Also done the other survey. As has been said, heavily geared to British. As they are not asking the right questions, then they won't know the sort of stuff we want (e.g. there is a sizeable number of US layouts on this forum, as well as Japanese and there is at least one of us that like the fast EMUS).


Perhaps we should do our own survey (happy to help with this as I have written surveys in my time).

[H]

The cost of rolling stock may not be a major factor for you H but there are those of us who love the hobby but have to prioritise our finances and rolling stock can come way down the list

I think you might have missed the point there. I wasn't commenting about the absolute price but the comparative/similar price with OO as in the point made by Agrippa (to which I was replying) and as explained by Chinahand.

H.

[H]

(You could win a prize as well and even though it's OO scale you could always sell it to fund your N gauge purchases!)

That's somehow symptomatic of the whole problem.  Those of us who don't have the time or inclination to go through the rigmarole of selling unwanted stuff are hardly likely to do the survey.  Therefore N gauge will automatically be under-represented.

But if N gauge modellers want more representation then they should do the survey, the prize is just a bonus. The more N gaugers who complete the survey then more likely that N gauge prizes will be offered as well next year.

I think the point being made was that if you only offer an OO prize then it does appear that they are pandering to and more likely to attract OO modellers. And, no doubt, there will be some N gauge modellers who feel marginalised as a result and possibly put off. The underlying message given could be read by some that N gauge input/comment is not wanted. The limited prize shows little thought and it wouldn't actually take much to offer an alternative. What about O gauge modellers and other scales?

I agree that it is symptomatic of an OO bias, however, I also agree that we should encourage N gauge enthusiasts to complete the survey nonetheless.

H.

[Alex]

I did the survey even though it's heavily geared towards British outline. Answered what I could and mentioned the forum.

[H]

I did the survey even though it's heavily geared towards British outline.

If you did the magazine survey (rather than the MRE/RMweb one) then I'd have expected that; the clue is in the magazine title; BRM = British Railway Modelling. 

H.

[red_death]

MR did once produce an 'exclusive' N gauge product but it flopped. However, that seems to be because it was a poor subject choice

Yep, agreed.  I upset Chris Leigh by telling him that.  The logic seemed to be that it had sold well in OO so therefore would sell well in N without real thought as to whether that was true.

Sadly, I do fear that there is *some* truth in poorly selling or not selling as quickly as might have been expected / desired N gauge ltd editions (not all have been poor choices either IMO) eg C&M's blue 86s, GWR cl 60 from Kernow etc.

Cheers, Mike

[edwin_m]

I think there is some kind of critical market size where limited editions become viable, and 00 has passed that point but N hasn't.  It's another reason why magazines are less appealing to N gauge - Model Rail for example devotes a lot of space to selling limited editions, but as they are all in 00 it is of no interest to followers of other gauges.

[galway]

I did the survey even though it's heavily geared towards British outline. Answered what I could and mentioned the forum.

I also did the survey, mentioning the Forum, maybe next year N Gauge Forum will be on their lists as a choice! Especially if we all complete it.

[Calnefoxile]

Here's a question for you all:

How many non-railway modellers buy any of the big 4 mags???

By that I mean, are we trying to preach to the converted?? I that the majority of people who but the any of the big 4 mags are already modellers of whatever scale they model in (If that makes sense  ) and some, not all, are not really interested in anything else.

There are those who admire modelling in whatever gauge/scale/era it is, and it is probably those that are not bothered what is in the mags.

Regards

Neal.

P.S. I'm one of those who admire good modelling whatever the scale/gauge/era 

[Lawrence]

Neal, I do get Model Rail and the NGS magazine although there is little that applies to my American or Japanese collections, but as you say good modelling is good modelling whatever the scale and I am certain that several of our members have produced projects and layouts easily good enough for publication.

To be honest we can knock these ideas around all day but I posted this in the hope that it would encourage members to submit their work to the magazines for consideration.  I do despair a little at times when something that was posted in the hope of infusing some positivity ends up getting dissected to the ultimate detriment of why we are all here.

[galway]

P.S. I'm one of those who admire good modelling whatever the scale/gauge/era 

I'm with you Neal its the modelling I'm really interested in, the scale is secondary, however I am more impressed when someone can get such super detail in N Gauge.

Paul

[Bartercode]

The day N gauge really joins the elite will be when MRJ does a special N gauge edition. Can't see that happening somehow, no matter how good our modelling may be!

[Calnefoxile]

Neal, I do get Model Rail and the NGS magazine although there is little that applies to my American or Japanese collections, but as you say good modelling is good modelling whatever the scale and I am certain that several of our members have produced projects and layouts easily good enough for publication.

Lawrence,

Of that there is no doubt, and has been stated before Mr Ando of this parish is a regular contributor to Model Rail. Also, I must admit, the Toddler has been getting much better lately with lots more N and 2mm stuff in its pages.

Can I ask, what does the Continental Modeller have in its pages?? Is that any better for N content??

To be honest we can knock these ideas around all day but I posted this in the hope that it would encourage members to submit their work to the magazines for consideration.  I do despair a little at times when something that was posted in the hope of infusing some positivity ends up getting dissected to the ultimate detriment of why we are all here.

Well you know what we're all like  we'd rather blather on about the whys and wherefors rather than spending the time on writing articles.

Ahh well, nice try mate 

Cheers

Neal.

[dr deltic]

Keep the faith Lawrence, it has inspired me to do something.
Currently have 3 different 25kv EMU's to build up having assembled all the required components. These will join the rest of my fleet and will record the construction process to form an article as all 3 have different methods and technique's required.

This will be a 303 (unrefurbished GMPTE), a mix of scratch building and off the shelf parts, a re-furbished 309 from Worsley Works and one of Captain's 310's. (i did the master for the cab front's from photo's and drawings so all the neg comments are my fault not his!!).

We do need to inject some creativity back into N gauge,  far more capable modelers than I out there and we can't just leave it to Graham Hedges to do all the work, and he has produced some very inspirational stuff.

Those old enough to remember the work of Monty Wells back in the early 80's in Railway Modeler may remember that excitement of seeing someone produce a different loco not available off the shelf at a time when availability was so much more restricted.

We are totally spoilt, I have spent the best part of a quarter of a century modifying various RTR loco's, building kits etc so we are really fortunate to have the range we have now.

On the subject of recent releases and sales, all i can say is yes, some odd choices but at the same time wow.
Spent a fortune on 58's, 86's 26's and all host of long awaited first and second generation units, 03,08 etc. 
To be honest, looking at my 03 the other night, it crossed my mind that 2/3years ago, i would have happily paid 4/5 times the £46 i paid Hatton's for this total gem. Outside frame 08 was the preserve of the hardcore 2mm boys until recently.

It saddens me hear that sales have not been what was anticipated, but we have also had releases at a far faster rate the ever has been seen before so this may be part of the root cause, notwithstanding a recession.