Model Railroader and the Modern N Scaler...

[nscalemike]

I can understand easily that MR's not publishing a lot of N because its solicitations in N are minimal. But don't hack it. To me that fact just points out that N scalers are largely a different demographic than other scales - most likely younger, still working, with limited time to model let alone write. NSR and NSM are in an excellent place to capitalize on that presumption given these modelers are 'growing up' with them, but they'll need to compete with outlets such as Railwire and N Scale Limited, which offer convenience.

I would agree with this statement.  Being one who is "younger, still working, limited time to model" I find that even if I did have anything to write about I would rather use that time making progress on my own layout.  Second, maybe its just because I've never looked into it, but I wouldn't have the first clue how to go about writting/submitting something to MR (or NSR or NSM either).  My model goal though is to get a finished layout (and it will be N scale) into MR at some point in time. 

I want to say sometime in the last year or so I did read something about MR in need of N-scale articles and wanting submissions.  I can't remember where I read that or maybe I just dreamed it, but if it is true I would think that shows they are not anti-N and maybe it is more of 'our fault.'

[pnolan48]

I might be one of those modelers who could or should have written for MR, as I've written for much larger magazines. But my railroad knowledge is scat compared to my writing and photography skills. So my photos of my layout showed scenes that were questionable in the prototype, to be kind.

Submitting an article to MR probably implies that you are a committed model railroader. If you are not the submission will be rejected. There's nothing wrong with that.

In rebuilding my layout, I will have time to research my prototype. That might make my submissions more accurate and publishable.

I was once in the supposedly typical N-scaler profile--young, involved in a career, raising a family of four children--who had time to write or, in those time, light ans shoot a railroad with a film camera?

I tried, and eventually got published. I hate to say this but that wasn't worth the effort. Slide film was expensive, and bracketing was an art.

Once digital came along, it was much easier, so subsequent articles were worth the effort.

MR is a worthwhile dinosaur. I fear it will be extinct by the time I get to writing about my layout again. The irony is that I'm finally learning enough about my prototype just in time to see any avenue to publish accurately about this knowledge disappear forever.

[SkipGear]

Pete,
 I really don't think prototype correctness has anything to do with an articles chances in MR. There are plenty of freelance railroads published, many that aren't as far along as you had gotten. I don't even think it has to be a basement empire, just a well done, well thought out layout. Sometimes I don't think those are even qualifications.

[cv_acr]

Chris,
Do you remember which MR issues featured that layout? Or does anybody know of a link to that layout?

I remember seeing a MR sponsored N scale layout at the 1997 NMRA National in Madison, WI.  Just don't remember if it based on the WC, although it sounds right.

Allen...

I'll try to dig into my collection later and find the dates of that series. I don't have all the articles, but I can get you the time frame. 1996-97 does sound about right though.

[wm3798]

It would be interested to see an original as-submitted manuscript vs. what MR finally prints...  I've heard they like to do a lot of rewriting to fit their "newspeak"...

Lee

[Brakie]

It would be interested to see an original as-submitted manuscript vs. what MR finally prints...  I've heard they like to do a lot of rewriting to fit their "newspeak"...

Lee

They do and they can reject it as well.

[cv_acr]

Chris,
Do you remember which MR issues featured that layout? Or does anybody know of a link to that layout?

I remember seeing a MR sponsored N scale layout at the 1997 NMRA National in Madison, WI.  Just don't remember if it based on the WC, although it sounds right.

Allen...

I'll try to dig into my collection later and find the dates of that series. I don't have all the articles, but I can get you the time frame. 1996-97 does sound about right though.

OK, In my box of magazines I found Jan and Feb 1998 which has Parts 7 (Scenery) & 8 (Structures) of the series on the WC layout. There was also an interesting series going on at the same time on scratchbuilding a brass steam engine in HO scale, and the cover articles in those two particular issues were on the V&O and Eric Brooman's Utah Belt, respectively.

About a year earlier was the Carolina Central series, which several people here have used for inspiration on door layouts.

[DKS]

I've heard they like to do a lot of rewriting to fit their "newspeak"...

I can confirm they do. Their editors are also known to introduce grammatical errors where none existed.

[robert3985]

A few comments about this thread:

I really enjoyed this issue of MR, especially Popp's article.  Ol' Jim's commentary gave me the feeling that perhaps he needs more powerful Optivisors nowadays.  The sectional track layout article had (if I remember properly) only six or seven photos of the layout.  The quality of the work wasn't noteworthy, but it IS N-gauge for hell's sake, so I can't really gripe (well...I CAN, but I won't).  The decoder article was waaaay too complicated and showed a difficult way to do an easy thing. This issue was what I read most last month in bed before sleep and in the bathroom.  'Nuff of a review.

Other comments on several a$$hats' comments here.  It's absolutely true that Popp's article was not scale specific and could have been written about any well thought out and constructed layout in any scale. However, that's not a negative thing. The IMPORTANT thing to perceive in his article is that he wrote about operating (OPERATING) an N-scale layout!  Yes, that's nothing special to us, but there are plenty of model railroaders out there who still think that N-scale is only for running in circles.  Maybe some of them will see the light that you CAN run trains in N-scale at least as well (or better) than in the larger scales. I also like it very much that Popp usually includes the idea of LDE's which he has incorporated into his layout, and what better scale than N to attempt to reproduce a prototype scene? Actually, IMHO, the non-scale specific nature of Popp's article was a big win for N-scale.  Every time he writes an article about his layout it's a win.

Track:  Since one of my major interests is model railroad photography, there is no comparison between Atlas 55 and Micro Engineering 55 (even the new stuff) unless you're standing 3' away. At least, "spikehead" detail on ME flex looks like "spikeheads", whereas that same detail on Atlas 55 looks NOTHING like prototype track furniture.  However, if I were to discontinue building my own turnouts, I would probably use some of Atlas' #10 turnouts where applicable, but ME's #6's in code 55 everywhere else.  Yup, I applaud Atlas for the introduction of their N code 55 line of track products, but, it will never appear on my layout in any visible area.

Model Railroader N-scale bias: I've had some of my photography published by MR in the past, and I enjoyed working with them very much.  They were very complimentary about my work as well as my photography and I did not discern ANY condescension from them...none.  It is my goal this year to write several articles about my N-scale projects and have them published in MR.  I believe they get too few quality articles from the N-scale a$$hats who are too damn busy being "in the weeds" to plan, photograph and write something for publication.  Time to belly up and promote N-scale (not "gauge") by devoting some time to the above and actively dispelling old myths about N-scale that still permeate the thought processes of many model railroaders in the larger scales.

Uh-huh...MR is in the business to make money, and need their advertisers, but, every now and then they'll accept an article that's about brass and solder, rather than kit-bashing.  However, there's still plenty of kit-bashing to do in N-scale and I'm very happy about that fact.  Hell, I remember the days when I was turning my MT flanges down on my lathe to an N-scale RP-25 contour because that was the ONLY way to get low-pro flanges in N-scale on rolling stock. I am more than happy to support and include manufacturers names who make great N-scale products that I use in my projects.

Hahaha...loved the comment about Gordie not answering his phone!  I miss him...

[bbussey]

One additional thought - seeing the continued success of the two N scale publications provides some incentive to the larger-circulation magazines to provide more N scale coverage.  And that is a good thing.