(emphasis mine) A magazine that is skewed towards HO articles (even with subject matter that may technically be scale-neutral, but is demonstrated/illustrated in HO) is also gonna have a skewed representation of subscribers and contributors, towards HO modelers and advertisers seeking them. And one that less commonly shows N scale content, will attract fewer N scale modelers and advertisers. So a survey of their readers is naturally going to be skewed towards HO, and away from other scales. Case in point: how many HO modelers subscribe to N Scale magazine? Likely only those that model in both N and HO, and/or even have an HOn3 layout to run both. What mix of scales would a survey of N Scale magazine readers likely reveal?! At a recent train show in the Dallas-Ft Worth metroplex (Plano to be precise), the mix of vendors' booths was definitely skewed towards HO, but the modular layout displays were closer to neutral, perhaps even in favor of N scale. Some T-track (N-scale) layouts were mixed in amongst the vendor tables lining the hallways outside the main room. I noticed their operators seemed more engaged with visitors, while the main hall's modular layouts' operators seemed to be huddled in the middle of their layouts, not paying nearly as much attention to their visitors. But this is just my observation, and is doubtlessly skewed by (and toward) my pre-conceptions and interests. Go figure.
For me it was brought on by moving over 120 miles due to employment. I changed from N & O and wanted to go to HO. But then I was removed from my 4th home and had to move to an apartment. So the HO DCC streamers had to go. The only club in many miles is O gauge so it was back to N because the neighbors complaints to the police and lack of income.
As long as we've strayed way off topic anyway (and I am still waiting for my April MR to read about Mark/Spookshow)... I have a rather interesting dilemma for this month's forthcoming UMTRR, which is late due to family issues and the extra work in preparing pre-order coverage of the HO Scale "Grit and Grime" Center Flows. Even as I was doing those three pending releases, I was wondering, "Is anyone actually going to READ that coverage?" I would be surprised if it was more than accidental for anyone outside N and Z Scales to be regular readers of the UMTRR. Or do I do some "marketing" to HO Scale venues? (I'll probably post something here in the HO Section.) I have to decide quickly since the pre-order window closes in just a few days as I type this...
Jeff, Agreed, for our manufacturers from Atlas to Walthers, we rely on the HO market to prime the smaller market for N scale. Fortunately, we do have two primary N-Scale manufacturers in Kato and MicroTrains that do a great job. Also, interestingly the Union Pacific railroad steam preservation efforts have primed the market for Kato N-scale models of the UP FEF 4-8-4, Challenger, Big Boy and passenger car sets. Also, here are some Model Railroader circulation numbers for Model Railroader from their January 2018 to January 2024 issue. I have taken their bottom line circulation number from the back of each of my January issues, slightly different from Jeff's number. I think that we are very lucky to still have some print magazines, so many magazines and newspapers have closed. I still really enjoy all the magazines and I think that they show some excellent modeling and photography. MR 2018 108,000 (Average number of copies for each monthly issue during preceding 12 months) MR 2019 104,000 MR 2020 97,000 MR 2021 91,000 MR 2022 90,000 MR 2024 72,000 Tonkphilip
Seeing various posts on the Internet, it appears that prototype magazine circulation has on a steady decline as well. I dropped Trains Magazine in 2005, shortly after excellent Editor Mark Hemphill moved on and the quality of its content fell. I immediately replaced it with Classic Trains and most recently, Trains & Railroads of the Past, both of which are quarterly and quite enjoyable.
I've had Classic Trains since Issue 1. It grew out of the short-lived Vintage Rails, an excellent publication by Pentrex that unfortunately only lasted 20 issues. I find it to be a good read, and occasionally useful for background information for the UMTRR-- like for a few bytes on the Clinchfield Railroad to accompany my pre-order coverage of the Micro-Trains CSX/Clinchfield Ice Breaker Flat Car Three Pack in the just-distributed February 2024 UMTRR. I'm not ready to call things I remember seeing as a child "Classic" but oh well...
I have every MR issue from 2004-2015 and I stopped after that. I realized that many of their articles were just rehashes of something previous. I have what I need for reference for now. I do cherry pick an issue every now and then but don’t rush out to get every issue. I will likely pick this one up.
Still waiting for the April MR... it's not at the local (as in, walking distance) hobby and craft store yet either. Those of you who've already read this piece: was it online, or hard copy?
We all know that Kalmbach Publishing, William K. Walthers Co. and the NMRA are the co-conspirators behind the HO Scale Industrial Complex.
I used to ba an MR subscriber in the 1990s (when I was an HO scaler, so it wasn't a big deal back then). When I converted to N scale in 2006, I'd pick up an MR copy every so often when I'd visit a hobby shop. I did notice that every other issue I bought had a "How to install a DCC decoder" and a featured a warehouse-sized HO scale transition-era layout (with 40" minimum radius curves) article in it for some reason. Okay, to be fair there was SOME N scale coverage - usually a re-hash of the Kato Unitrack Salt Lake Route layout plan. I'm not as interested in MR these days because aside from the HO bias, I think paying $8 for like what - 50 measly pages now? - is a ripoff.
Agreed. It discourages casual readership I think. How can a young person with a budding interest in model trains afford that or even an adult these days? The last issue of MR I bought was on the newsstand prior to a long trip and upon seeing the price, I almost put it back. With a grimace, bought it, read it on the plane and was through it in less than ten minutes. A total waste.
George, The April edition will come out and be delivered to my mailbox around March 5th. I read the April addition online, as annual subscribers can read it online. Tonkphilip
These are for printed magazines? I wonder what the number is for any paid electronic versions? If that (somewhat) balances out the declining printed editions?
Eisenhower warned us about them… And isn’t that what triggered Gen. Jack D. Ripper in Dr. Strangelove? His mutterings and doodlings about “Purity of HO…”
That is a great question, Boxcab. I don’t have any facts but my gut feeling is that the internet has taken a lot of readers and advertisers away from magazines. There is so much model train content available from forums and social media that magazines are not needed. Advertisers can reach out to customers directly through emails and have alternative options like advertising here on TB. I no longer subscribe to any train magazines but I do have a Trains Unlimited subscription. I can read all five Kalmbach train magazines, both the current issues and the archives going back to the first Model Railroader in 1934, plus a lot of other content like videos, articles, layout visits, etc. I think that both electronic subscriptions and free internet content have drawn people away from hard copy subscriptions.
I agree. I said subscriptions but really meant all printed magazine sales and probably covering all interests. Older folks generally prefer hard copy books and magazines but younger people do everything on their phones and tablets.
My slightly wet hard copy issue of the April MR arrived this afternoon... Nice writeup on Mark "Spookshow" Peterson indeed. And two N Scale layout features, and an editorial generally positive about N Scale.
My only beef with the April issue, and it’s a small one, is that both N scale layouts are basement sized. It would have been nice if one of them was more modestly sized.
