Free eZines... Love 'em? Hate 'em? Use & Keep 'em?

[jmlaboda - RIP]

Over the past couple of years there has been a lot of development in regards to articles and even entire magazines available on the internet that are, for the most part, Free for the taking.  I am not referring to some of the eZines that are available for a price and I have yet to evaluate on of them.  Specifically I am speaking only of eZines that are free to anyone who comes by their site.  All of these eZines are offered in .pfd form and they are resources that are invaluable in a number of ways.

As Jerry Britton has worked to inform modelers of one of the free eZines, The Keystone Modeler, which is put out by the Pennsylvania RR Technical & Historical Society, there are other free eZines that, while not specifically directed at N-scale, has many great things to offer including prototype information as well as tips and ideas on how to model a specific scene, locomotive, car (including specific passenger cars) or building.
http://www.prrths.com/Keystone%20Modeler/Keystone_Modeler.htm

The Keystone Modeler is probably the best known of the bunch, but there are others...

The B&O Modeler, the second oldest of the group, is put out by the Baltimore & Ohio Historical Society, is a great free eZine worthy of acquaintance.  This publication has had a number of great articles that are useful even to those who do not specifically model the B&O, either as their primary interest or as a connection.  This free eZine is very well done!!!
http://borhs.org/ModelerMag/index.html

The Seaboard - Coast Line Modeler, published by the ACL/SAL Historical Society, is the third eZine of this group and has had some very interesting articles since publishing there first issue, with articles about affiliated lines and acquired lines also being included (great write-up on Piedmont & Northern freight cars was recently featured).  This free eZine is one I value a lot because it deals with subjects specific to the southeast, where I live.
http://s-clmodeler.aclsal.org/

One of the newest free eZines on the block is the CNWHS Modeler, which just recently started publication.  Like the others put out by historical societies, it looks like it is going to develop into a great resource for the Chicago & Northwestern.
http://www.cnwhs.org/modeling.htm

And there's one more worth looking into, though it is not put out by a historical society, and that is the Model Railroad Hobbyist.  Free to any who want it, this magazine is the only one employees advertising to support its publication and likely will yet be an example of what others should go to.  Its content is much the same as you would find in some of the main modeling magazines but for the price (FREE!!!) it is well worth looking into further (in my not so humble opinion this is what Kalmbach and Carsten publications should be).  Some N-scale specific material has already been presented and I look for even more in future issues. 

One thing to be aware of is that the 1st issue has both a full dynamic version and a "Lite" version, because of a large usage of Adobe Flash advertising... although the full version of the 1st issue is interesting because of all the bells and whistles the "Lite" version is really a better one specifically for its size. (I recommend subscribing because special on-line features and a monthly blog dealing with new offerings and other information is also available, in addition to the eZine itself, with the subscription costing nothing.)  I also hope that Atlas will look into this one as far as advertising goes... could be good for them.
http://model-railroad-hobbyist.com/

On the horizon, also, be looking for a Frisco eZine called The Meteor.  Under development, this one also could prove to be very useful in many, many ways.

One other thing I should mention is a special issue that was jointly put out by The Keyston Modeler, The B&O Modeler and Seaboard - Coast Line Modeler, and that issue is specifically dedicated to the documentation of Fruit Growers Express early reefer cars.  Included in the coverage are cars operated under the National Car Co. (meat reefers) as well as the Burlington Refrigerator Express and Western Fruit Express.  Currently this issue is only available on the Seaboard - Coast Line site, but it is a resource that is very, very valuable for any modeling pre-1960 eras.  For earlier modelers it is a must have issue!!!  The link below will take you directly to the issue, where it can be viewed and saved.
http://s-clmodeler.aclsal.org/currentissue/fgexwoodencars.pdf

I wish I could say that I keep every issue that has been offered, but I simply do not because of available storage space.  I can say that a lot of the information presented in these eZines is worth the cost of subscribing to the printed magazines, yet their publishers choose to make them available to all of us for free.  These resources could prove to be very valuable to many... if you get a chance, check them out.

Oh, did I mention that all of these are FREE!!!  And if you happen to be interested in the lines mentioned above, please consider joining those groups.  There are a lot of truly great people in the historical societies mentioned and the fellowship is well worth it all!!!

[up1950s]

As I stated on the Atlas forum

"Hate internet mags , and don't want to be locked on a site that may or not be secure . I want hard copy like what the UPHS has in its quarterly Streamliner , something I can lie in bed and read , or research ."

[Mark5]

Jerry,

The FGEX thing is great! I downloaded it and will probably print it out sometime. Cool stuff.

Mark

[VGN50]

Jerry,
Thanks for the info.  Very helpful.

Mark K.

[wcfn100]

As I stated on the Atlas forum

"Hate internet mags , and don't want to be locked on a site that may or not be secure . I want hard copy like what the UPHS has in its quarterly Streamliner , something I can lie in bed and read , or research ."

LOL, you're on this (unsecure) site longer than it would take to download one of those magazines to your computer.    Plus you can always print out anything you want to.  Seams like a classic case of old-man-itis. 


The PRR mag does nothing for me but the SAL/SCL magazine is really a great resource.  I've been close to collecting some SAL equipment because of the mag and with all that Atlas has been coming out with.  Plus they were a big buyer of PS stuff like the CGW was which usually means you can find the right rolling stock.  But, alas, pretty much all the SAL 40' boxcars need 8' doors which, of course, there are none.

I'm hoping the CNWHS mag will get to be as nice as the SAL/ACL one.


Jason

[Ed Kapuscinski]

I loved the article in the SxL one about the 50' Trainman cars. It was a perfect example of a timely article.

[tom mann]

The CNW one is pretty nice.

Richie, how strongly do you "hate" these free downloads that are helpful and well put together?

[wm3798]

In defense of Richie, there's something comforting about the printed page.  I like to cull through my stacks to either dig out an article that pertains to something I'm working on, or just to randomly grab something to read while perched upon the "throne"...

On the other hand, I can see the hobby press scrambling in this direction, at least for their "regular" issues.  I think if Kalmbach put their monthly on-line and only offered the premium edition stuff (basically a "Best Of") in print, they'd find themselves in a very happy place financially.

I also enjoy looking at MRH's efforts, and some of the ads are genuinely fun to look at.  So far the articles are kind of typical in terms of mix, but I think they do allow them to run a little deeper and longer than MR does.  I don't see myself climbing into bed with the laptop, but if there's an article that captures my interest, I have the  option of printing it out and carrying it to the night stand.

I also would have to imagine that indexing and searching articles will be a whole lot easier on line.  I've often gotten myself stumped digging around to find something.  Even if I don't "store" the files locally, I'm sure the publishers would keep an indexed archive of articles that would be easy to access via clickable links.

So, in the end, I like them, and I think we're looking at the future of print media...

Lee

[up1950s]

The CNW one is pretty nice.

Richie, how strongly do you "hate" these free downloads that are helpful and well put together?

Don't be fooled , history will repeat itself . We were told that , and it was at first , that gas will be less expensive if we pump ourselves . Guess what happened , now kids and others are out of jobs , gas cost whatever and at no discount compared to a attendant who pumps my gas . What is free now , an excuse to kill the jobs of printers and paper cost , they will charge us for later . Suck us in ( hey girl want a cookie ) , burn the bridges behind us ( escape to revert back to printed copy eliminated ) , then they own us to obey their plan ( now we can't offer the Imag for free and you have to subscribe to view via password ) . Everything a business does is about money , everything . Do you not enjoy reading in bed ? Do you use the computer for everything ? Have information that you once enjoyed on the net without warning vaporized ? I have a hundred or two books and God only knows how many mags railroad wise . I like to read them in bed or on the couch , and know they will not vaporize . The last thing I need is to help a company turn itself into a pay per view , and hope I will always be able to access that info . I also don't want to eat up my time and finances printing a sub quality hard copy of the info .  Oh , I dislike PDF's as they in the past sometimes have been able to thwart my efforts to save photos , or make copies . All I could do is save in my doc's . Not sure if I had it , or just a link to it . PDF's stink .  

[TiVoPrince]

For
vanishing web content 'The Wayback Machine' is your friend. 

Printed magazines, newspapers and the like will eventually vanish based on the economics of printing and content delivery.  Internet pay per view is already here from newspapers requiring subscription for premium content.  If you want everything in print better start stockpiling now because the future is almost here...

[wm3798]

Yes, and we used to butcher our own chickens, and we had to walk 7 miles in the snow to school... uphill both ways!

But here's the big difference...
If the New York Times wants to say something, they can put it on-line, or if they want, they can "buy ink by the barrell" to say it.

If Ed Kapuscinski wants to say something, he can put it on-line, too.  I dare say there's a whole lot more Eds than New York Times' in the world.  The majority of the market place will be able to post and share for free all they want, as long as the software publishers like making money from the majority of the market place.
But the distribution of ideas is no longer captive to the fellow with the giant press and the distribution network.  I can share my thoughts with the entire planet as quickly and efficiently as Time Warner, the Chicago Tribune, or Pravda (is that still around?)

If the largest share of audience wants to have free downloads, there will be someone out there making sure it's provided.  

Consider the lack of success of satellite radio?  Yes, some people like it.  But there's a lot of people who when driving want to know where the traffic back up is right now, or where those fire trucks are going, or when it's going to stop raining, and you can only get that on your local radio.  Maybe GPS can help, but when I'm driving, I'd rather listen to something other than a disembodied voice telling me where to turn...

Lee

[tom mann]

But these ezines are not intended to replace printed content.  They are offered freely to supplement all the existing printed materials. 

I do like to read in bed, but not necessarily read about caboose paint schemes. ;D  I don't mind to look at a pdf for this.  But I wouldn't want to read Dickens on the computer.  Time-and-place.

[Bob Bufkin]

He has some valid points.  Look at Model Railroader and Trains, etc.  Everything was free at first and now you have to subscribe to one of their mags to get certain portions of their site. 

That being said - I do enjoy the freebies provided by history groups, be it rails or military history, etc.  And I also enjoy reading a mag in my recliner while watching the boob toob.

[John]

grab something to read while perched upon the "throne"...

Laptop & wireless = happy reading  ;D

[Robbman]

Maybe GPS can help, but when I'm driving, I'd rather listen to something other than a disembodied voice telling me where to turn...

Lee

My son wanted a GPS system... so I got him a Delorme Atlas.