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I just got a subscription offer from Model Railroader for a years subscription for 35 bucks. Granted I did buy two Model Railroaders when we went on our Amtrak trip and couple of months ago, and I did look at the pictures, and 35 bucks isn't that much anymore...but the mag is smaller and a lot of different scales covered; but it wasn't really that interesting. I have over 70 years of Model Railroader magazines, along with MRC...but: I don't know. Has Model Railroader lost it's edge and do you still subscribe or just search the internet...?
I haven't had a subscription for over 15 years. I'll leaf through a copy every once in a while at the grocery store and don't see anything convincing me to buy it. IMO it's not what it used to be.
I still subscribe but accidentally. I had decided to end my subscription but my wife resubscribed without telling me, and then forgot and did it again because we kept getting notices. So I am now in the middle of a 2 year subscription. It used to be better and thicker than it is now. I am OK with giving the new owners the remainder of my subscription to see if they improve it. It is no longer relevant to me, and like you, I know how to use the internet.
I'm with Willie; got a heck of a deal 2.5 years ago for a 4 year price. Have until July of next year to decide. Yes, have them all since 1964 and have found the ones back to '36 I think. Advertising has gone up, building/car/RoW building construction articles down. More electronics than earlier, probably because it is more wide spread. Used to read it cover to cover; the MRR pix are sometimes excellent, sometime no so much. The new MR&T has transformed into a bedroom size thing with the emphasis on operation. There still are bonehead splashes on a lot of things and useful information. I just don't always like reading stuff on my monitor, holding mag/book/whatever in my hands gives me solitude; if that is the right word.
we visited Kalmbach 2018 I think and spent most of the day there just talking with the people that help create it, and walking around. Very gracious bunch of people. Have pix somewhere. Got two MR&T grain cars...
L8r
Oh for an after thought: If any Firecrown uppity ups are reading - dump your current forum as it just plain sux. If you are going to compete; compete! There are many different flavors out there - I used 'Simple Machines' years back ( don't know if it still exists ); take a look at the current MRR forums: this one, MRH and/or TrainBoard, all of those have a front end that is actually usable.
L8r
Years ago, and I mean years, I was a subscriber however guys in the club picked up their copy locally and had it weeks before I received my copy. I had so many issues that were still in the plastic wrapping since I had already read it.
Wound up just giving them away, penalty for subscribers we used to say.
Guys used to bitch about all the advertising, but back then that was how you learned about new releases.
I'm on so many manufacturers email lists now it’s kind of like video killed the radio star.
Years ago, and I mean years, I was a subscriber however guys in the club picked up their copy locally and had it weeks before I received my copy. I had so many issues that were still in the plastic wrapping since I had already read it.
Wound up just giving them away, penalty for subscribers we used to say.
Guys used to bitch about all the advertising, but back then that was how you learned about new releases.
I'm on so many manufacturers email lists now it’s kind of like video killed the radio star.
Now days you get the new issue at least a month in advance. Got the January issue 3 weeks ago. The local mag rack in Rosauers does not even carry MR anymore. There are the offshoots - Greatest Layouts or something like that plus others...
L8r
I sub to RMC but im going to sub to MMR also
RANK AMATEURS OF THE MODEL RAILROAD FORM FOUNDER
I never had a subscription, but I have a LOT of magazines, including some new ones (Got them from a train store free). The newest ones feel about the same as the 2000-2010 ones, but to me, in comparison to the even older ones they lack charm. What happened to scratch builds? I really like how in old MRM (And I really like old MRC!) they would almost always have a locomotive kit-bash. They did this because certain models of locos didn't exist. But why not still do this now? Not all these models are cheap. AND maybe you want to kit-bash so it is original. I miss this a lot...
iam subscribed to the Model Railroader Craftsman. I love this magazine
its my connection (and this forum) to the theme of north American model railroaders
I subscribe to RMC here in the UK, still get prompt delivery of it too which given how awful our postal so called service has become, is nothing short of a miracle. You can still get Model Railroader on the newsstands here in some places but other than their annual Great Model Railroads issue, it is rarely worth bothering with, like many of the UK outline modelling mags, it has become very samey, too many adverts and filler, too expensive and not enough engaging content.
I actually prefer to read old issues from the 1970's and 1980's now when I find them.
I get more information from You Tube and web forums than I ever did from magazines. I haven't subscribed to MRM since the early 80s. I had MRC for a couple of years too back then.
What I model now doesn't appear in those magazines so I get nothing from them.
I have used both magazines and the internet. The magazines are great but I am learning just as much online at the same time. Many great modellers online in different web areas.
I guess my wife sent off the subscription offer and I received my first issue yesterday. I took a glance at it and probably should have opted for RMC instead.
Greta discussion as I am also deciding not to renew. Their videos are good online, but I learn just as much on YouTube and here on this forum.
I pick up past issues for 50 cents or 5 bucks a dozen apiece at my local model train retailer just for diy articles that are of interest. Currently the magazine just plain sucks, especially if you don't model in HO. I still subscribe to Trains, which has good editorial and news content, but even that is getting thinner each month. I find much more relevant and helpful (and free) information on YouTube.
I have just discovered (not that they bothered to tell me) that Classic Trains magazine is no longer distributing paper copies outside of the US, this with two issues still left on my paper issue subscription here in the UK.
I wonder if this is the start of US outline magazines disappearing from the shelves outside of the US and a switch to digital only editions?
I hope not, I need physical paper, I just don't get on with digital versions.
I hope they don't decide to go the way of a lot of other paper magazines and go strictly online! A paper magazine is much easier to handle in a bathroom! My main problem with RMC is they tend to concentrate on eastern and Canadian roads. OTOH, their issues seem to be growing in pages.
Happy, Healthy and Prosperous New Year! Green board all the way!
A paper magazine is much easier to handle in a bathroom!
I thought cross-word puzzles were only allowed in the bathroom
I thought cross-word puzzles were only allowed in the bathroom
Bathrooms are secondary libraries!
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