Model Railroader to have a N Scale Column

[Denver Road Doug]

I agree I think MR has given N it's fair shake over the years.  As an N-scaler I would have preferred more, but it's just all about the numbers....HO is bigger in the marketplace...period.   There have been some outstanding N-scale series over the years that haven't been mentioned, including the BN layout, the WC, and several 4x8 style layouts done for the Christmas issue.  And of course the recent UP layout, which was heavily criticized by many n-scalers for not "keepin' it real".  Please.

Now the NMRA on the other hand...  

[DKS]

Guys,Maybe you haven't notice the small changes in MR over the past 4-5 years toward  N Scale?

Again I urge you to check the past issues of MR-at least back to the 90s and you will see this slow change to more  N Scale exposure.

N Scale has been my primary scale since 2008 and I dabbled in N before that..I guess I notice these changes  because I also model in HO...

I dare say any perception of bias is strictly in the eyes of the beholder. I've been modeling in N since '65; before that, HO; I've had MR from the '50s through the '90s. MR has shown N in good light since shortly after its introduction, including several multi-part, front-cover articles. Changes in editorial staff may influence how much material reaches their pages internally, but it doesn't influence policies toward or against any scale. Again, it's all circumstances, and it's mostly down to how much we contribute. As Ed points out, we have three choices for what little new N scale content is generated any more; which one would you choose to contribute to?

Want to see more N in MR? Start contributing. That's the only way it's guaranteed to happen.

[Blazeman]

In support of DSK's urging of N modelers to contribute, it seems the MRH staff is also begging to get N contributions. Their format, as we've discussed, should be more friendly in terms of being photo-centric and without space limitations. But that then demands decent photography skills, but from what is seen on this forum, most of the posters can easily meet that requirement.

With all the blogs outthere, there may be some content lost to the monthlies that otherwise would be of interest.

[chuck geiger]

[Puddington]

I will wait and see if this column is actually an n scale modeling column or a product review/commercial for their advertising clients....time will tell

[John]

OTOH - I think it's easier to model in HO than N and make it believable .. all those little parts, oversized rails, etc ..

[93cram]

FWIW I find MR's coverage of N scale to be quite decent.
Actually, I fell in love with US trains through an article in a French magazine about a freelance 1960/1970 era
North American prototype N scale layout from a group of French modelers.
The next step was a visit to a shop in Paris which offered some N scale US models (Atlas, Kato,etc...) and press.
Bought a copy of MR there.
It was in 1993.
I've been a subscriber ever since, and untill recently, it was the only magazine I had ever subscribed to (now NSR too  ;D)
I don't really care what scale is a published model/layout, provided I get inspiration/skill from it.
MR has a fair international selling base for a hobby magazine I'd guess, and IMHO N scale can be a good media to let North American prototypes
be known and modeled in many parts of the world, especially where space/money is at a premium.

'nough said  

[Sokramiketes]

The BN project layout was the cause of my original interest in N scale.  So if MR was trying to be biased, they failed miserably.

[cec209]

This new column is good news and certainly can't be other than a good thing for N Scalers.  I'm sure more N Scale contributions to MR might encourage them to expand their N coverage.

Charlie

[cec209]

93cram
I get to Paris every couple of years. Do you remember where that train store is?

Charlie

[93cram]

I get to Paris every couple of years. Do you remember where that train store is?

You bet I remember Charlie, every time I went there I spent more bucks that I was ready to admit, and had to spend even
more with my then future wife to 'ease things' later on ;D

Transmondia, rue de Douai, Metro Place Blanche (don't remember the street number, but that should be #48)
They have a 'brother' shop further in the same street, which is Transeurop (they carry some HO and O scale US stuff)

I'd suppose the only stuff worth buying an American can find there are old Morning Sun books, 1990's hobby magazines
past issues, and various 'no longer manufactured' N scale bits and pieces.
The last thing those guys would understand are the words 'inventory listing'  : ;D
They also share with mices and rats a common love for dirt and fading/crumbling paper products.

Be prepared to drain your wallet heavily though, because they imported their stuff from the US at a price, and had
comfortable margins  ;D
Internet and a planned municipal holocaust towards cars and drivers has considerably reduced their US N scale business now.

Otherwise, they are N scale French specialists, so if you want to run bizarre stuff on your layout, this is probably a good place to shop 
They carry German and Japan N scale models too.

I you go there, ask for Claude Fontaine and tell HER you got the address from Marc, de Compiegne

Marc

[sirenwerks]

^ As a former contributor for Kalmbach, you're very wrong.  It's driven by contributions.

No N scale?  Get pissy at N scale modelers, not MR.  Or go read the other N scale publications, as that's where they're going.

These ridiculous "conspiracy theories" are getting old.

You know, I get the contribution thing, but I've seen plenty of back issues with articles, good in depth articles, produced by mag staff. Whole issues in fact. What do these guys get paid to do? Play with trains? Maybe their rep for not being N scale supportive keeps people from submitting and they need to spend time working at their PR? There sure is some nice stuff on the web. Maybe they need to get off their keaster (or is it Koester?) and contact those folks and get them to pitch articles. It works both ways.

[ednadolski]

Jim Kelly worked for Model Railroader magazine for 25 years and retired as its managing editor. Jim is also an avid N scale model railroader and is the newest columnist for the magazine. Beginning in March 2011 you can read Jim's N Scale Insight column, which will appear in every other issue.

Jim Kelly is quite the Tehachapi fan:

http://www.pbase.com/atsf_arizona/jim_kelly_tehachapi_n_scale

[conrail98]

He also wrote the back page article on MRP 2011 where he talked about always learning and that he's on his 4th Tehachapi layout so I'm not shocked to see him back in the fold with a column,

Phil

[Brakie]

OTOH - I think it's easier to model in HO than N and make it believable .. all those little parts, oversized rails, etc ..

John,As I mention I model in both scales..HO has lots of pluses let there be no doubts or misgivens about that.

Where  N Scale really shines is you can have more in less space.

A side note about all those itty biddy details on HO locomotives and cars that seems to be all the rage these days..They can't be seen under normal operation viewing.