N Scale Magazine Subcription Suggestions

[Sokramiketes]

Most likely Kirk was unaware that the Mini Modutrak had been featured online.  His preferred position is to not feature venues that have had online exposure.

To be fair regarding the magazine preference -- a number of people who have contributed magazine content (myself included) should recuse themselves from commenting one way or the other because the appearance of being unbiased is suspect.  I've written multiple articles for both, and my only advise is to let people sample both magazines and arrive at their own preference.

For the Modutrak article, all new photos were submitted that hadn't been featured online before.  Kirk is pretty well aware of what is online. Brian's second comment is fair, so I'll recuse myself otherwise.

[u18b]

To be fair regarding the magazine preference -- a number of people who have contributed magazine content (myself included) should recuse themselves from commenting one way or the other because the appearance of being unbiased is suspect.  I've written multiple articles for both, and my only advise is to let people sample both magazines and arrive at their own preference.

I'm biased.  I've published in both.

I have every issue of both.  Get Em all!

[pnolan48]

I'm overexposed??? He-he-he, a joke, right?

When the layout was up in Albuquerque, I just didn't have time to photograph all of the work I had done. Photography is my bottleneck, as I am a writer with about 100 publications a year for more than 40 years, some of them book-length. I wish I had written more, but miniature photography was always my bugaboo. I'd rather be photographing bears in Alaska.

Now the layout is down in my basement in Ohio, in pieces, the only cool photographic adventure would be to shoot each module head on, and then assemble them into a true photographic aerial journey. I couldn't do this when it was assembled, because the decks would interfere one on top of the other. Except most of the buildings were removed. Bad idea, after all, though it might be a cool computer experience in rendering a trackplan. I'd rather build ships and see if I can make some money to supplement my income.

Kay and I have just decided that the layout will be moved to Alabama and reconstructed there. That's an even bigger space! But the walk out basement there has to be gutted first to remove mold and 80 years of utter neglect--I believe that's asbestos dropping in strands from the ceiling.

I've published seven articles in NSM. So I am biased. I believe there is not as much overlap between the Internet and the magazine's subscription list as is commonly assumed. Those of us who post here regularly sometimes believe everyone else reads this or other forums with the same regularity. That is false, in my opinion, based on my own research over the past 10 years on participation in forums and some number crunching way back when my employer asked me about overlap.

Way back when was about 2009. Here are my guesses based on that study (which is not available due to sensitivity) and my general feeling about what's happened in the past two-plus years, which is declining participation for both magazines and forums:

If NSM (or NSR) has, to pick an easy number of 10,000 subscribers, then perhaps 1,000 have seen an article that was essentially published on two forums.

If two forums with a combined 20,000 members, then perhaps 1000 subscribe to one magazine, 1000 subscribe to the other, and 750 subscribe to both.

Unscientific, to be sure, but the overlap between Internet and publishing is not as extensive as commonly believed--yet.

If you need more stats, look at the NYTimes decisions about online access or, recently, the Boston Globe's (owned by the NYTimes).

[bbussey]

Those numbers are fairly accurate.  It is generally accepted in the manufacturing realm that 10% of the consumer base has an Internet presence.

[John]

I'm overexposed??? He-he-he, a joke, right?

Pele (Soeborg) or Malcom .. not Pete   LOL .. was just taking a cheap shot at Lee ..

[R L Smith]

+1 for elnscale's perspective.  I've subscribed to MR for a few decades, never miss an issue of NSM or NSR at my LHS, and pick up about a third of the RMC issues.  My overall hobby budget must also cover the occasional railfan publications too, not to mention several trips a year to railfan or visit hobby shops or trains shows more than 100 miles away.  I'm not often able to purchase the newest freight car or locomotive because of overall budget limitations, but having a fairly narrow modeling timeframe helps with that.  (Although the new PiggyPackers and brown TTX flats are really going to mess that up!)

For example, due to budget obligations I had to choose between the N scale Collector and the NMRA.  I chose the NMRA because the modeling info contained therein is more valuable to me than the collector info of NSC.  Others will obviously make other choices based on their needs, but I've chosen to be an NMRA member and "give up" a Trainman-quality loco each year to be able to afford it.  Again, it's about perspective...

If you can really only afford just one subscription, take a good look at Model Railroader.  Although a "general" magazine, it is a monthly publication (which helps keep the enthusiasm high since you're not waiting two months between issues), has on-line content like trackplans and videos available to subscribers, and is now available digitally.

My $0.02...

Ron

[Ali Kenneth]

I subscribe to all 3 mags. NSR is my favourite, it shows modelling to the standard i always aspire to. NSM has improved a lot recently, and yes i do like Lee's articles, but i did consider dropping it earlier this year. MR is generally a good read and keeps me abreast of non - N Scale stuff, i probably would not get it if i only modelled N.

All 3 have a place in my reading time, it is just a matter of personal preference.

Alasdair

[Puddington]

I would never buy a magazine that would publish me.........

Both fine publications !

[Roger Holmes]

I would never buy a magazine that would publish me.........

Both fine publications !

Now that's funny!  Actually if you have an article in an issue they send you a free one.  Ironically,  "little" NSM sent my freebie before the article ran, NSR at about the time the issue hit the street,  while RMC and MR freebies came after.

[pnolan48]

Oh, Pele, not Pete. Sorry. I've developed something called macular pucker, so I sometimes read things wrong. It's not a real threat to my vision (yet), but just another thing that is driving me mad.

[John]

Oh, Pele, not Pete. Sorry. I've developed something called macular pucker, so I sometimes read things wrong. It's not a real threat to my vision (yet), but just another thing that is driving me mad.

No problem .. it was a good retort though

[pnolan48]

John,

I think you Navy guys will be a little pleased in a few weeks when I finally show my first N Scale ships. Actually the Army guys might be pleased too, as the later (Hayden and Hastings) Santa Fe tugs were Army tugs to start. That Santa Fe Historical and Modeling Society puts out a most impressive quarterly magazine, The Warbonnet. It's cover price is $9.95, and the issue on "Santa Fe Marine Operations" (First Quarter, 2011) was worth five times that. It reminded me of Model Railroader in its heyday, with a well-documented, photographed and illustrated 25 pages of interesting material. If I were a Santa Fe modeler, this one issue would vault it to No. 1 on my list of publications for my limited subscription dollars. This was a stunning issue, and I presume others are of similar quality.

[JDouglasFisher]

You know,

I asked just about the same question of these guys a little over a year ago and the consensus then was that I subscribe to both, which is what I ultimately did.

Both subscriptions I let expire, and I forget who, but one of the two did send me a reminder that my subscription was about to expire, the other I heard nothing from them.

Personally, I think the best mag/rag out there right now is Model Railroad Hobbyist, the free e-zine that you can download from the net. Seems like that crew really got their act together.

As for the print media, both of the N scale mags are either hit or miss, but I do agree with the comment that they compliment each other, cause in actuality, although it may not be their intentions, they do... (imagine mixing those two together to get a monthly N scale related competitor to Model Railroader, WATCH OUT!!!)

As for RMC vs MR, I'd take Rail Model Craftsman any day over Model Railroader. Kalmbach publishes good books, but their monthly I feel is aimed more towards a beginner audience. Rail Model Craftsman I believe is more geared towards a experienced, or at least, more educated consumer. Not that Model Railroader sucks, just to me, it seems they wash, rinse, repeat the same articles over and over every year or so.

I'd try and find a way to subscribe to both, even if it means missing a couple lunches one month to pay for it (I think someone suggested that to me at the time...)

Was it worth it? Yeah I'd say so,. Might do it again soon once I get my Subaru squared away.

J...

[Nato]

         "Whoo hoo !" Too many magazines and not enough time (to read them all) and I don't mean only my Railroad Rages er-a Mags. Buy a copy of the Sports Illustrated Bathing Suit Issue,no wait a minute,never mind.Buy a copy of "Plowboy" and look at the Tractor Pull Centerfolds. Seriously though do as suggested in the first reply. Buy a copy of each for several issues then subscribe to the one you like.       Nate Goodman (Nato). Salt Lake, Utah.

[Ike the BN Freak]

I get every issue of N Scale Railroading, and if I see an article or something I like in N scale I get that one.

For the poll, there is no N Scale Railroader, its Railroading.