Attached to the cover of the newest Model Railroader magazine is a add for one of their special issues entitled "how to build realistic reliable track" and I am just wondering if any of you are going to order it. For 6.95 it seems like a decent deal but are these special issues worth it or should I save the money.
MR's "Realistic Reliable Track"
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Nothing wrong with them making a buck or two. The information is still valid even if it's chocked full of the newest supplies and gadjets. New products sell and old products don't sell as much. You're either taking in market share and growing or your not and going out of business. I'd spend the $7.00 and get the info, use what I could and set the rest aside. The time spent trying to find everything you wanted for free is worth the money put out for that particular issue.
(WARNING. THE FOLLOWING SECTION CONTAINS PERSONAL OPINION)
I'm going to have to agree with you. Model Railroader was a great magazine, and it's still worth taking a look at... that is, checking it out from the library. I just do not find most of its content helpful anymore. Now, there was a time that Model Railroader was not the way it is today, and that was back when it was born (1930's) until, oh, say, about the 1980's. Now THOSE are the issues that I get most of my ideas from. Fortunately, you can find copies of these issues at just about any place that is selling old, used stuff, and usually you can find them for cheap. There's nothing like gently leafing through the treasure trove that is a MR from 1948.
What I tend to find to be the best part of the older MR issues is the ingenuity that the model builders show, taking junk and turning it into a beautiful model. That's something I admire and seek to imitate.
But, of course, that's just my opinion.
The information can easily be done without necessarily going the product placement route, I'd think. It's just that this approach of "selling" a product through an otherwise useful article is, to this puppy anyways, somewhat reminiscent of some movies you see that have a product, or rather several products, stuck in plain view---as if to say---"Buy me!! Buy me!!"
I guess for me it used to be ads here, show or article there----now it is all over the place---
Since I work in publishing (I do computer support for a newspaper group) I want to interject some information here.
All forms of publishing are suffering right now, the suffering started several years ago and has gotten works with the current economic climate. Publishers have to look for any source of income they can find to pay their bills. Most publishers have been involved in cutting costs deeply, jobs have been lost and many other expenses have been deeply cut.
Subscriptions come nowhere close to covering the cost of any publication, Advertising covers the bulk of the cost, and I am going to assume that all of us do know that. Advertising revenues have been declining for several years and show little sign of improving in the near future.
Product placement is everywhere these days, movies, television and publications. All sorts of manufacturers these days are paying to have their product used in most any situation they can find. Have you noticed on TV shows recently product names or logos being blurred out on T-Shirts or on boxes at times. Those are products that have not paid the producer to be shown.
Do I like it? No, I don't but I have come to accept it as an evolution of advertising that is inescapable. To remove product placement is to remove the publications, TV shows or movies that we all enjoy and want, something has to pay the freight, and right now it is a combination of advertising and product placement.
Hopefully that helps explain product placement a bit.
Shouldn't that read, the market MR sees as having more money than brains?
Sorry if that ruffled any feathers, but the deeper I have gotten into this hobby, the more useless MR has become for me. MR should be a magnet for new and cutting edge ideas, but in the last few years, those ideas have been seen in other publications, and increasingly on the internet! MR seems to be hell bent on getting newbies into the hobby. That in itself is not a bad thing, but there is a void that they seem to ignore. That void is somewhere between the newbies and the Koester's, McClellands, Sassis, Zanes and Frarys of the world. It seems that once you get your 4 x 8 set up, they are done with you.
As far as the picture taken on the tracks, somebody needs a reality check. As a kid, I walked with my Dad trackside, and I did so with my boys. Jeepers, get a life!
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stationmaster
Crusty Old Geezer
Save your money. There is enough information available for you to be able to seine what you need tht won't cost you a dime. Basically, all of the information you will find is the same. Some authors have included a few things that they have found to be pertinent and helpful. But, there is NO SUCH THING as a shortcut, no tricks, no mirrors and no hidden microphone.
Bob
Bob
Frankly, those MR special issues seem to be turning into product placement brochures. It will tell you about products you just have to get so you can have realistic track. As Bob said, it's not magic and not rocket science. Good roadbed, the right ballast, painting the tracks so they look used, and some white glue and water are the four main things you need. Getting some artists chalks to weather the ballast once it's down will complete the look. Just check out the photos posted here and ask any of the guys that have what you think is nice looking track how they did it. They'll be happy to to tell you and it won't cost anything.
blownoutcylinder
Active Member
Everytime I see those things I see---"Product Placement" written all over them. But then, they're after the newby market---the one's with lotsa bucks ---
It's like that with Cody's Office things---the one with WS Glue instead of good ol' white glue-----"Here, try this $5.99 glue----"
It's like that with Cody's Office things---the one with WS Glue instead of good ol' white glue-----"Here, try this $5.99 glue----"
Old 97
Hogger
Nothing wrong with them making a buck or two. The information is still valid even if it's chocked full of the newest supplies and gadjets. New products sell and old products don't sell as much. You're either taking in market share and growing or your not and going out of business. I'd spend the $7.00 and get the info, use what I could and set the rest aside. The time spent trying to find everything you wanted for free is worth the money put out for that particular issue.
Selector
Well-Known Member
If a person has no interest or capacity to find the material locally (material meaning the information and/or the ballast, glue, and weathering compounds), these items, plus an order of the requesite items, will have the reasonably intelligent user producing quite nicely ballasted track.
For those with more experience, and who know how to generate or to acquire some of those things, such publications offer very little.
MR is oriented more towards the newcomer. I happen to think they do a darned good job.
-Crandell
For those with more experience, and who know how to generate or to acquire some of those things, such publications offer very little.
MR is oriented more towards the newcomer. I happen to think they do a darned good job.
-Crandell
I happen to think MR is doing an increasingly lousy job. Every month, the articles are more and more dumbed down and there's less useful information. What really irritates me is that they only use and recommend products from the "hobby" market, like WS Scenic Cement. A recent article on building the Beer Line had a little section about making switch stands. Rather than making a working target, they recommended using WS Scenic Cement to hold the rod and target in place so it can be turned for photos. It would have been a lot more helpful to show how to make a working switch stand with a target that turned with the point position. Even if they couldn't do that, for some reason, using rubber cement to hold the rod and target is both more flexible and a heck of a lot cheaper than WS Scenic Cement. I got the Great Layouts 2009 book, expecting to see photos of actual layouts and, except for, I think, two or three, they were all just trackplans, and track plans for huge spaces at that. I think newcomers will do a lot better coming to forums like this than spending $7 to find out about laying track.
weekendrailroader
Guy with the Green Hat
(WARNING. THE FOLLOWING SECTION CONTAINS PERSONAL OPINION)
I'm going to have to agree with you. Model Railroader was a great magazine, and it's still worth taking a look at... that is, checking it out from the library. I just do not find most of its content helpful anymore. Now, there was a time that Model Railroader was not the way it is today, and that was back when it was born (1930's) until, oh, say, about the 1980's. Now THOSE are the issues that I get most of my ideas from. Fortunately, you can find copies of these issues at just about any place that is selling old, used stuff, and usually you can find them for cheap. There's nothing like gently leafing through the treasure trove that is a MR from 1948.
What I tend to find to be the best part of the older MR issues is the ingenuity that the model builders show, taking junk and turning it into a beautiful model. That's something I admire and seek to imitate.
But, of course, that's just my opinion.
Not having seen the publication, my guess is it may include a goodly percentage of reprinted articles from the last few years. They freshen the story and put some different photos with it. One or two two-pagers may be fresh material for the collection.
There seem to be two levels of special publications they do. There's the roughly $20 book by Dave Frary, Lou Sassi, Koester,or even David Popp and then the genre being discussed here that once again is a collection of previously published articles covering a theme. For the more expensive pubs, I recommend checking out Amazon. Many are there at very discounted prices not seen in stores or train meets. I just spent $25 for the two Lou Sassi books (MR Scenes) which would have cost much more in the stores.
But they are thinking. These $7 issues for specific aspects of the hobby, then the specials like the 50's issue. Notice they didn't do the 40's (war and steam) or the 60's (mergers and decline). They could even do a "Road to Conrail" publication for the east coast modelers...fading flags, rickety track, dying branch lines....the stuff many seem to enjoy depicting.
They realize it is most assuredly publish or perish. They are trying to both stay one step in front of the video media and at the same time embrace it with an eye to becoming an internet operation selling subscriptions to an all moving picture operation. And they have to do that by providing a superior product to the free things on the internet like this and other forums along with the Model-RR-Hobbyist operation.
You have to give them an A for effort.
There seem to be two levels of special publications they do. There's the roughly $20 book by Dave Frary, Lou Sassi, Koester,or even David Popp and then the genre being discussed here that once again is a collection of previously published articles covering a theme. For the more expensive pubs, I recommend checking out Amazon. Many are there at very discounted prices not seen in stores or train meets. I just spent $25 for the two Lou Sassi books (MR Scenes) which would have cost much more in the stores.
But they are thinking. These $7 issues for specific aspects of the hobby, then the specials like the 50's issue. Notice they didn't do the 40's (war and steam) or the 60's (mergers and decline). They could even do a "Road to Conrail" publication for the east coast modelers...fading flags, rickety track, dying branch lines....the stuff many seem to enjoy depicting.
They realize it is most assuredly publish or perish. They are trying to both stay one step in front of the video media and at the same time embrace it with an eye to becoming an internet operation selling subscriptions to an all moving picture operation. And they have to do that by providing a superior product to the free things on the internet like this and other forums along with the Model-RR-Hobbyist operation.
You have to give them an A for effort.
blownoutcylinder
Active Member
The information can easily be done without necessarily going the product placement route, I'd think. It's just that this approach of "selling" a product through an otherwise useful article is, to this puppy anyways, somewhat reminiscent of some movies you see that have a product, or rather several products, stuck in plain view---as if to say---"Buy me!! Buy me!!"
I guess for me it used to be ads here, show or article there----now it is all over the place---
jtudor
Member
Since I work in publishing (I do computer support for a newspaper group) I want to interject some information here.
All forms of publishing are suffering right now, the suffering started several years ago and has gotten works with the current economic climate. Publishers have to look for any source of income they can find to pay their bills. Most publishers have been involved in cutting costs deeply, jobs have been lost and many other expenses have been deeply cut.
Subscriptions come nowhere close to covering the cost of any publication, Advertising covers the bulk of the cost, and I am going to assume that all of us do know that. Advertising revenues have been declining for several years and show little sign of improving in the near future.
Product placement is everywhere these days, movies, television and publications. All sorts of manufacturers these days are paying to have their product used in most any situation they can find. Have you noticed on TV shows recently product names or logos being blurred out on T-Shirts or on boxes at times. Those are products that have not paid the producer to be shown.
Do I like it? No, I don't but I have come to accept it as an evolution of advertising that is inescapable. To remove product placement is to remove the publications, TV shows or movies that we all enjoy and want, something has to pay the freight, and right now it is a combination of advertising and product placement.
Hopefully that helps explain product placement a bit.
stationmaster
Crusty Old Geezer
I still believe that there is more, and better information, coming from the hobbyist themselves. MR is but a shadow of itself. As are most magazines and periodicals published today. MRC has declined in quality, and quantity of information as have most of the others.
Product placement doesn't need to be included in the article, except as a suggestion by the author. I still use the old orange and white tube Testor's glue(my feeble attempt at product placement). But, there are many other adhesive on the workbench and in the tool box. That is not to say Testor's is the only product to use.
There is SO much new happening in the hobby today that publishers seem to be as awed as the hobbyist. DCC is making quantum leaps, kitbashing seems to be the rage, and layout design is becoming so much less daunting because of the new design software technology. There is so much going on, that much is being missed by the magazines and their editors.
I would venture to say that much more information is exchanged on forums such as this than in any 20 periodicals published today. And all of us have no one to thank but ourselves. Kudos to all of you.
Not only is the single hobbyist the backbone of this hobby, we are the ones giving it life in a modern communication era.
I also think that manufacturers are finally listening to the customer. In the past they seemed to say, "Here's what we have, this is what you'll buy." Not so any more. The power curve has changed to the hobbyists' side of the board. And it's about time.
When I started in the hobby, and from my recollections as a child, looking back, I can't imagine, or fathom, the changes in quality and selection. Many of you are not as old as my seniority in railroad modeling. In my 50 years, we have come from the "stone ages" to what the hobby is today. Some will understand, and surely support, that statement. The future hobbyist will not even know, understand, or even perceive what DC is with its power districts. Or how we coped with such an archaic system. There are layouts that are completely computer controlled now. Who would have thought that 25 years ago?
Bob
Product placement doesn't need to be included in the article, except as a suggestion by the author. I still use the old orange and white tube Testor's glue(my feeble attempt at product placement). But, there are many other adhesive on the workbench and in the tool box. That is not to say Testor's is the only product to use.
There is SO much new happening in the hobby today that publishers seem to be as awed as the hobbyist. DCC is making quantum leaps, kitbashing seems to be the rage, and layout design is becoming so much less daunting because of the new design software technology. There is so much going on, that much is being missed by the magazines and their editors.
I would venture to say that much more information is exchanged on forums such as this than in any 20 periodicals published today. And all of us have no one to thank but ourselves. Kudos to all of you.
Not only is the single hobbyist the backbone of this hobby, we are the ones giving it life in a modern communication era.
I also think that manufacturers are finally listening to the customer. In the past they seemed to say, "Here's what we have, this is what you'll buy." Not so any more. The power curve has changed to the hobbyists' side of the board. And it's about time.
When I started in the hobby, and from my recollections as a child, looking back, I can't imagine, or fathom, the changes in quality and selection. Many of you are not as old as my seniority in railroad modeling. In my 50 years, we have come from the "stone ages" to what the hobby is today. Some will understand, and surely support, that statement. The future hobbyist will not even know, understand, or even perceive what DC is with its power districts. Or how we coped with such an archaic system. There are layouts that are completely computer controlled now. Who would have thought that 25 years ago?
Bob
stationmaster
Crusty Old Geezer
I must make some "adds" here. After thinking a bit, I had to make a few of my opinions more known. These are my opinions alone and do not reflect anything, actual or perceived, on anyone or anything else.
Our hobby is loved by almost everyone, even though they do not participate. Their fondest memories are those of the model train set the received one childhood Christmas. That has not and will not change. That is the bug that has bitten us all. The difference is that we were infected by that bug to the degree of nurturing playtime into a full blown hobby.
The problem is that these periodicals have not kept up with the times. Kalmbach Publishing HAS branched out into other forms of media, CD's books, the old VHS tapes..... All to stay on the leading edge, but misplacing the cutting age.
Yes, advertising pays the bills. The manufacturers and suppliers pay THOUSANDS of dollars for a 2x3, 3x5, even full page ads, in our magazines. They compete by getting our attention. But, the bottom line is quality. Does the stuff work, do the cars look good and perform on our layouts? If they do not, all of the advertising in the world won't keep the company afloat.
Rerunning old stories, articles, does not have to be. There is plenty of new information and technology to write about. And what of the layouts of the readers? I understand that not everyone has a layout similar to the legendary Gorre & Dephetid, but many are very spectacular in their own right. Although I am impressed with the G&D, I am quite numb when I hear about another article about it.
My layout, for instance is quite drab to many. There is a lot of movement and action with the yard, industrial switching, the interchanges, and such. But, it is basically an agricultural scene. I willingly, and proudly, admit that. And it is not even a comparison to such layouts as the G&D. And I'd bet many of your layouts are the same. I've seen them on these pages and am quite impressed with many. They are magazine quality. I will assure you of that fact. But, they are "stuck" on the pages of forums.
Magazines, such as MR, need to step outside of the box. The hobby is much larger than many can imagine. There are many superb layouts around. Articles that would depict these layouts, the labor involved, the personalities behind them would be most appreciated from this chair.
The new, cutting edge, technology is amazing. In years past, one could only dream of hearing the synchronized chuffs, hearing couplers crash and lock up, the clickity clack of wheels on the tracks, the sound of a steam whistle or a 5-chime Leslie horn. They were just a dream. Now we have that. Being able to build a layout to be able to run more than one engine, even MU'ing engines, on the same line was only accomplished by the most sophisticated of modelers. Now, we have DCC. Switches can even be thrown from a small controller in one's hand.
The publishing companies need to catch up to the times. Recognize the modelers that are able to understand and take advantage of the new technology. They will not survive being mired in the '50's. And that is where most magazines are.
One thing that I must make a point. Product labeling in articles is not ethical. It gives the perception of favoritism by the publisher/editor/writer. It also has the possibility of directing the hobbyist to a worthless, or less quality, product. Such a practice also seems to challenge our intelligence as hobbyists. We are pretty good at making up our own minds as to the credibility of a product.
Bob
Our hobby is loved by almost everyone, even though they do not participate. Their fondest memories are those of the model train set the received one childhood Christmas. That has not and will not change. That is the bug that has bitten us all. The difference is that we were infected by that bug to the degree of nurturing playtime into a full blown hobby.
The problem is that these periodicals have not kept up with the times. Kalmbach Publishing HAS branched out into other forms of media, CD's books, the old VHS tapes..... All to stay on the leading edge, but misplacing the cutting age.
Yes, advertising pays the bills. The manufacturers and suppliers pay THOUSANDS of dollars for a 2x3, 3x5, even full page ads, in our magazines. They compete by getting our attention. But, the bottom line is quality. Does the stuff work, do the cars look good and perform on our layouts? If they do not, all of the advertising in the world won't keep the company afloat.
Rerunning old stories, articles, does not have to be. There is plenty of new information and technology to write about. And what of the layouts of the readers? I understand that not everyone has a layout similar to the legendary Gorre & Dephetid, but many are very spectacular in their own right. Although I am impressed with the G&D, I am quite numb when I hear about another article about it.
My layout, for instance is quite drab to many. There is a lot of movement and action with the yard, industrial switching, the interchanges, and such. But, it is basically an agricultural scene. I willingly, and proudly, admit that. And it is not even a comparison to such layouts as the G&D. And I'd bet many of your layouts are the same. I've seen them on these pages and am quite impressed with many. They are magazine quality. I will assure you of that fact. But, they are "stuck" on the pages of forums.
Magazines, such as MR, need to step outside of the box. The hobby is much larger than many can imagine. There are many superb layouts around. Articles that would depict these layouts, the labor involved, the personalities behind them would be most appreciated from this chair.
The new, cutting edge, technology is amazing. In years past, one could only dream of hearing the synchronized chuffs, hearing couplers crash and lock up, the clickity clack of wheels on the tracks, the sound of a steam whistle or a 5-chime Leslie horn. They were just a dream. Now we have that. Being able to build a layout to be able to run more than one engine, even MU'ing engines, on the same line was only accomplished by the most sophisticated of modelers. Now, we have DCC. Switches can even be thrown from a small controller in one's hand.
The publishing companies need to catch up to the times. Recognize the modelers that are able to understand and take advantage of the new technology. They will not survive being mired in the '50's. And that is where most magazines are.
One thing that I must make a point. Product labeling in articles is not ethical. It gives the perception of favoritism by the publisher/editor/writer. It also has the possibility of directing the hobbyist to a worthless, or less quality, product. Such a practice also seems to challenge our intelligence as hobbyists. We are pretty good at making up our own minds as to the credibility of a product.
Bob
Anyone else get the e-mail from Kalmbach about Father's Day specials followed up by a most humble apology? Seems the original e-mail showed a father and son walking on the railroad tracks. Even though anyone with an ounce of sense could tell the tracks had been taken with a telephoto lense and the father and son were Photoshoped in, apparently enough "politically correct" railfans raise a stink about the very idea that someone would walk on the tracks, and that such a picture would encourage all of us to get out and hang around the middle of the tracks to see if a train was coming.
Thise is a good example of why publications are in trouble. I thought the original picture was very nostalgic and touching. Rather than Kalmbach telling the whiners to go pound sand, they issued an apology for promoting unsafe practices. The interesting thing is no one apparently asked about the original photographer, who had to stand in the middle of the track to get the base photo. I guess he was a "professional", though, not like us little people, who wouldn't know how to get out of the way of a moving train.
Thise is a good example of why publications are in trouble. I thought the original picture was very nostalgic and touching. Rather than Kalmbach telling the whiners to go pound sand, they issued an apology for promoting unsafe practices. The interesting thing is no one apparently asked about the original photographer, who had to stand in the middle of the track to get the base photo. I guess he was a "professional", though, not like us little people, who wouldn't know how to get out of the way of a moving train.
Selector
Well-Known Member
Jim, I am going to have to respectfully disagree with you about your last post.
Kalmbach has an internal policy, not unwise, of refraining from depicting or in any way countenancing unsafe and criminal acts, but especially as they relate to, and impact on, the public and the railways. It would be arbitrary and hypocritical of them to publish the image in question and to then command me, a moderator on their trains.com forums, to expunge all threads and posts dealing with dangerous and criminal acts. The message would have been that it is okay if we show this stuff, and take advantage of it in an unethical way thereby, but not okay for anyone else.
The photographer may have been one of the railroad's. Who knows? It may have been a private citizen who had permission to be there. Who knows? It may have been wilfull trespass on the part of the photographer. No matter what, the depiction, whether artificially inserted or not, of the adult and the child walking between the rails was a bad call because the two had no business being there on the face of it. True, they may have been given permission and it was all professionally accounted for and supervised, including being sanctioned by the owner of the right of way, but on the face of it, it gives the strong appearance of trespass.
I'll be the first to agree that it was a nice image and issued with the best of intentions. It was, though, against the corporate policy, and could hardly be justified. It was unfortunate, and then doubly so when an outsider or twenty emailed them to complain, but they did the right thing when they realized their error.
It is clear and simple. If you have a policy, of what use or utility is it if you only enforce it unequally and arbitrarily? A policy must have equity at its roots, and that is why Kalmbach's staff apologized...they had transgressed one of their own rules.
-Crandell
Kalmbach has an internal policy, not unwise, of refraining from depicting or in any way countenancing unsafe and criminal acts, but especially as they relate to, and impact on, the public and the railways. It would be arbitrary and hypocritical of them to publish the image in question and to then command me, a moderator on their trains.com forums, to expunge all threads and posts dealing with dangerous and criminal acts. The message would have been that it is okay if we show this stuff, and take advantage of it in an unethical way thereby, but not okay for anyone else.
The photographer may have been one of the railroad's. Who knows? It may have been a private citizen who had permission to be there. Who knows? It may have been wilfull trespass on the part of the photographer. No matter what, the depiction, whether artificially inserted or not, of the adult and the child walking between the rails was a bad call because the two had no business being there on the face of it. True, they may have been given permission and it was all professionally accounted for and supervised, including being sanctioned by the owner of the right of way, but on the face of it, it gives the strong appearance of trespass.
I'll be the first to agree that it was a nice image and issued with the best of intentions. It was, though, against the corporate policy, and could hardly be justified. It was unfortunate, and then doubly so when an outsider or twenty emailed them to complain, but they did the right thing when they realized their error.
It is clear and simple. If you have a policy, of what use or utility is it if you only enforce it unequally and arbitrarily? A policy must have equity at its roots, and that is why Kalmbach's staff apologized...they had transgressed one of their own rules.
-Crandell
stationmaster
Crusty Old Geezer
Nitpickin'.
I think the picture is classic in every way as it refers to the roots of our hobby. Should the image be real life, which it is probably not, I can foresee a new modeler being briefed for future endeavors. I really kind of picture myself with my Dad. I do not, and did not, see it as a blatant depiction of Dad and Son committing a crime. Just a little quiet time, following an abandoned spur near the farm. Brings back some memories. But, some, in our society, have ruined the simpler life. We need to go back to those times.
By the way, Kalmbach's policy SUCKS!!! They, too, need remember their roots and what made them what they are. A gleam in the eye of a modeler, a "can't wait 'til the next issue" magazine. They are a far cry from that now. There was a time when they were cutting edge. Now, all they seem to be is a collection of reworded articles that are repetitious at best. The only ones that would have complained about the photo are the grissly old geezers that seem to have these "delusions of grandeur". I've been in the hobby longer than many here have been alive, as has Jim and many others, I'm sure. We relished in the memories rekindled by that photo.
Maybe the "holier than thous" should go back to their layouts and remember the time when the "Da Bug" bit them..... I'd bet that a similar picture would come to surface in their memory.
Sorry for the rant.
Bob
I think the picture is classic in every way as it refers to the roots of our hobby. Should the image be real life, which it is probably not, I can foresee a new modeler being briefed for future endeavors. I really kind of picture myself with my Dad. I do not, and did not, see it as a blatant depiction of Dad and Son committing a crime. Just a little quiet time, following an abandoned spur near the farm. Brings back some memories. But, some, in our society, have ruined the simpler life. We need to go back to those times.
By the way, Kalmbach's policy SUCKS!!! They, too, need remember their roots and what made them what they are. A gleam in the eye of a modeler, a "can't wait 'til the next issue" magazine. They are a far cry from that now. There was a time when they were cutting edge. Now, all they seem to be is a collection of reworded articles that are repetitious at best. The only ones that would have complained about the photo are the grissly old geezers that seem to have these "delusions of grandeur". I've been in the hobby longer than many here have been alive, as has Jim and many others, I'm sure. We relished in the memories rekindled by that photo.
Maybe the "holier than thous" should go back to their layouts and remember the time when the "Da Bug" bit them..... I'd bet that a similar picture would come to surface in their memory.
Sorry for the rant.
Bob
kbkchooch
"retired" conductor
Shouldn't that read, the market MR sees as having more money than brains?
Sorry if that ruffled any feathers, but the deeper I have gotten into this hobby, the more useless MR has become for me. MR should be a magnet for new and cutting edge ideas, but in the last few years, those ideas have been seen in other publications, and increasingly on the internet! MR seems to be hell bent on getting newbies into the hobby. That in itself is not a bad thing, but there is a void that they seem to ignore. That void is somewhere between the newbies and the Koester's, McClellands, Sassis, Zanes and Frarys of the world. It seems that once you get your 4 x 8 set up, they are done with you.
As far as the picture taken on the tracks, somebody needs a reality check. As a kid, I walked with my Dad trackside, and I did so with my boys. Jeepers, get a life!
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stationmaster
Crusty Old Geezer
Karl, I can remember a time that I had "more money than brains". I'm almost sure everyone here has had those beginnings. But, I understand what you are alluding to.
I've gained a lot of experience in 50 years. At least now I can argue that my experiences have given me a bit of intelligence. Not much, mind you, but I now know how to spell kitbash. I can now wire a switch and solder(not very well). I still have trouble deciphering the front and back of certain locomotives though. Some of my roads prototypically, ran long nose forward.
Bob
I've gained a lot of experience in 50 years. At least now I can argue that my experiences have given me a bit of intelligence. Not much, mind you, but I now know how to spell kitbash. I can now wire a switch and solder(not very well). I still have trouble deciphering the front and back of certain locomotives though. Some of my roads prototypically, ran long nose forward.
Bob
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