Well it is that time of year again. Time to select what yearly subscription I want and don't want. In the past when this subject has come up I always went with the two N scale specific magazines. However, this time I am going to drop both of them and go with Model Railroader. They have surely upped their game of late when it comes to N scale. I have been routinuely disappointed lately in the two N scale mags. All pictures and no substance. I buy a magazine to read not to look at pictures. $6.00 US for a lot of pictures is a bit much in my mind. And while on the subject of Model RR mags I have not seen 'Model Railroad Craftsman' in a long while. Is it still around? Last time I recall seeing it in the hobby store it was considerably reduced in size.
Interesting how we all see things differently. I think MR has been sliding downhill the last couple of years. If they do highlight something in N Scale it's more than likely the latest Kato passenger train offering (boring). I was optimistic when MR added the new N Scale Insight article, what a disappointment, month after month it has been non scale specific dribble. I was blown away to see the Lance Mindheim article about building an N Scale turnout, very well done. Cody G. and David Popp have both done some great articles, but they are few and far between. I prefer NSR as they show what can be done in N Scale. MRC has some great articles, but most simply highlight the fact that HO is the "preferred scale" (Cannon and Co., why can't you make all your parts in N Scale?!?). We all look for something different in these magazines, you just need to find the one that gives you what you want. Good Luck.
I've actually been quite impressed with the quality of articles and features from Model Railroad Hobbyist (free, web-only railroad magazine). The price certainly matches my budget, but I'd even consider paying for it. As for MRR, I think the quality has improved, I just can't afford it. And RMC is certainly still around (and also quite good, in my opinion).
RMC is going digital, too. You can download issues through their app. I still dig N Scale Magazine and N Scale Railroading. Both have some great scratchbuilding / detailing articles. Model Railroad Hobbyist is the best mag out there, I think: wide variety of articles for many scales by great modelers. All articles are indexed & searchable. The free is nice, too.
RMC going digital? Excellent! Of course, they'll probably skip having a BlackBerry app. Grrr... I like the N-scale mags, too, but I can see the opinion that they're a picture mag. Very nice pictures, but I like the features. MRH just sorta came out of nowhere and keeps getting better. I've got all of their issues on all of my machines (and my son's computer, too) and find them to be great resources and interesting reading. And with that and Tracks Ahead now available with full-length episodes free on YouTube, I'm gettin' jiggy with it... er, something to that extent, anyway.
I read MR as my only model railroading mag, and in the January issue the Virginian project layout will be showcased, which me and others Virginian fans are happy about.
"Interesting how we all see things differently. I think MR has been sliding downhill the last couple of years. If they do highlight something in N Scale it's more than likely the latest Kato passenger train offering (boring). I was optimistic when MR added the new N Scale Insight article, what a disappointment, month after month it has been non scale specific dribble. I was blown away to see the Lance Mindheim article about building an N Scale turnout, very well done. Cody G. and David Popp have both done some great articles, but they are few and far between. I prefer NSR as they show what can be done in N Scale. MRC has some great articles, but most simply highlight the fact that HO is the "preferred scale" (Cannon and Co., why can't you make all your parts in N Scale?!?)." I'm in complete agreement with Karl....IMO, the two 'specific' Nscale periodicals offer much more 'bang for my buck'...the nscale-specific articles have been much too far and in between to my taste...yes, the N scale 'insight' is a bust... While not every article in the Nscale periodicals appreals specifically to my era or interest, the mere fact that is IS Nscale specific generally means that I can glean something from the article. I will be curious to see how MR handles the Mike Danneman layout this month...AND their website IS filled with nonscale-specific stuff...but, again..if I had to 'pick'... The N scale specific stuff for me... sincerely, Bruce
Maybe you should read the new MR with Mark Danneman's N scale D&RG. That article blows N Scale Railroading's West Virginia Southern article to hades. The West Virginia Southern has nice photos and one can tell it is a nice layout but there is dang little to read. The two just don't compare. And on top, the N Scale Railroading mag is more expensive.
While I love Mikes layout, and MR did a great job showing it (my issue of MR arrived this morning) NSR has featured that layouts construction going back to May/June 2001, May/June 2002, Sept/Oct 2002, Spt/Oct 2003, Jan/Feb 2007, Mar/April 2009, not to mention 7 other articles by Mike Danneman showing his techniques for modelling. Last months MR has a port based layout with 14" isles, it wasn't my cup of tea, but I'm sure some other people thought it was the best layout they've ever seen. Cost can be an issue, but I like that the N Scale mags don't have all the ads MR does. Different strokes...
If I were a multi-scale modeler/collector/hoarder, with HO being one of the scales, then Model Railroader magazine would be the one to get. But... I am firmly in N scale and feel that supporting the scale specfic magazines is the right thing to do. I do agree that the format and text of the MR magazine seems to be more complete than either of the two N scale specific magazines... but... I just feel that the pictures (in any of the magazines) themselves say volumes (a picture is a 1000 words). Articles written for other scales may not be completely inappropriate for N scale, but, I still would rather see pictures of the results in N scale than in another scale. Both magazines are doing a good job of presenting N scale layouts and projects and I hope they can continue to do so for a long time. I wonder if the fact both N scale magazine are completing for the same audience... and a relatively small one at that... may be drawing down on the 'potential quality' of the overall content. There is a smaller 'field' of potential articles to choose from and certain quality standards they want to achieve. The lack of articles would lead the magazines to put a lot of 'fill' information as opposed to several complete articles, because, they have to spread those complete layout articles out over the six annual issues. Also... MR magazine is very choosy because they can be. They often get the best articles of the best layouts... because they can afford to pay the most. That is not necessarily the case with the two N scale magazines. In fact... there have been reports of contributors that have gotten NO financial remuneration (payment/fee/reward) for submitting articles to at least one of these magazines. Of course... that was because of the generousity of those contributors to help the publication(s) stay in business. Not everyone is that generous... articles contributed are intellectual property... which most authors expect to be paid for. One could say... the finest work is paid for in 'Benjamins' not 'Atta-boys'. In conclusion, I feel that N scale is fortunate to have their own scale specific magazines. However, as I had once said, there may only be room for ONE top notch publication which can bring the very best in N scale modeling. The publication should be a MONTHLY... not a bi-monthly edition. There would be no question that publicaton would be very well supported. The finest N scale die-hard modelers would contribute articles and be properly compensated. The best N scale work would FIRST be seen in that N scale magazine... not MR or MRC... etc. So... until that day comes to pass... I will support both N scale specific magazines. BTW... I do not subscribe to either one... I buy the magazines at my LHS because it gives me a good reason to go there. If I didn't have an LHS that carried them I would definately subscribe... but I'll always been concerned that one of them may not make it.
I just signed up for Model Railroad Hobbyist, and had a look at the current issue, it looks very good, and you can't beat the price (free) and videos (you don't get them in a paper magazine)!
