Large Scale Central

Garden R.R. Magazine, Is it worth $7.00 ? Rant on

General Discussion
#1

I received my GR mag today and I have to tell you I’m getting more disappointed each time it arrives.

Only 90 pages this time, Seems to get lesser with every issue.

And another thing, And I say this with no disrespect but ENOUGH of the narrow Gauge stuff already,

If I see another Shay, K, 4 6 0, And such, I’m gonna vomit. It’s starting to remind me of that other

G scale magazine that went belly up a couple of years ago for doing the same thing, I forgot the name.

A little diversity is good Rite ? So I’m rethinking my further purchases of GR till they get with the Program.

Nick

Rant Off…

P.S. But I like Kevins lighting article.

#2

Is it worth $7.00?
Nope.
I dropped my sub a few years ago.

You are thinking of “Outdoor Railroader” which evolved into “Finescale” and now it puts out 4 Annuals a year.
I have most of those above.

#3

I like it. It provides inspiration…

#4

I like it! And what isn’t expensive these days? But then I’m a BIG TIME devotee of anything Narrow Gauge!:slight_smile:

#5

I like the magazine.
BUT I’m with Nick, a little more balance would be nice.
I like my Dweezuls.

#6

Brass K-28’s at near $7,000.00, Bachmann K-27’s at $700.00, average rolling stock at $70.00, and couplers at $7.00 doesn’t make $7.00 for a magazine look too bad. Cheaper than smokes!

I think you make a really good point on the modern stuff though…Really way too much NG. I tend to be going that way but I wouldn’t mind seeing a few more modern roads in the pages either.

#7

I subscribe. But I also pickup MR, RMC, Live Steam and a few misc others. All give inspiration. but we all need to keep in mind that these magazines depend on us, the modelers, to provide the articles. If we don’t at least try to send in other stuff, then we get what is submitted. Personally in Large Scale, I’m narrow gauge. If I had the room and funds I would also have 1950’s era diesels and passenger trains as that is my other craving - western roads- UP, ATSF, Rio Grande. the grand days of passenger travel. Anyway, you don’t have to be a good writer to send in articles, A few good photos of a project or RR, a 2 or 3 page type written (or PC written) description of what you are looking at and your in. I see many threads on here that would make great articles for the magazines and the magazines have editors that can take your writing and turn it into something professional. Someday when I can actually start building again, I will contribute (yeah - holler at me, it will be NG), but I will try.

anyway, my 2 cents.

#8
Bill Wright said:
I like the magazine. BUT I'm with Nick, a little more balance would be nice. I like my Dweezuls.
Marc can only publish what is sent in for publication.

You standard gauge guys take some photos, string a few sentences together to go with it, and send it in.

#9
Steve Featherkile said:
Bill Wright said:
I like the magazine. BUT I'm with Nick, a little more balance would be nice. I like my Dweezuls.
Marc can only publish what is sent in for publication.

You standard gauge guys take some photos, string a few sentences together to go with it, and send it in.


Yep I agree! I would love to write an article some day for GR and have it published, but it’s kind of low on the priority list right now (I may write an article about building correct 56.5" gauge track for 1/29 and the problems associated with moving beyond 45mm). But GR can’t publish whats not submitted. I’m happier with GR then MR. At least GR still seems to publish build articles, were as MR was publishing cover stories about layouts that the owner paid someone to design, build, etc. All the owner did was supply the $$$$.

Overall I think that GR is worth the price, I for one would like to see 12 issues a year instead of 6, but the content level isn’t there yet. I’d rather have 6 good issues then 12 crappy issues.

Craig

#10

Ya don’t like it, don’t buy it.

#11

Unfortunately for GR, the hobby collectively known as “garden railroading” covers a gigantic spectrum, from people who care more about flowers and shrubs and just see the trains as a cute decoration, to folks who are serious about operations or realistic scenery; and from raw newbies who’ve never built a thing in their life, to experienced scratchbuilders of detailed models – and everything in between.

So the mag has to cover all these topics, which means there will always be a high percentage of stuff that doesn’t interest each specific reader. Personally, I have no use for “beginner” articles showing how to glue two sticks together, and I could do without any gardening stuff at all, but that’s just me. So I take from it what I can and ignore the rest.

Other model railroading mags have the same problem but not to such a high degree. I mean, you can pick up a copy MR and although you may not like all the topics, at least they have some relationship to model railroading and not gardening.

#12

I subscribe, its way more cost effective. I only get two rags now, GR and the Gazette, I like the Brit GR mag but its so dam hard to find anymore I gave up, Narrow Gauge Down Under is also great but harder than an honest politician to find.

#13

I was new to largescale in 2006 and I always looked forward to getting GR and I would pour over every page multiple times until the next issue finally arrived. The multi page ads were great and if I had the money I would have bought one of everything! Today it is different my RR interests have been focused and though I still scour the ads I’m more shocked at the prices then overcome with the “gotta have its”
I agree that the magazine is geared more toward the beginner and garden railroads cover such a broad range that it is very difficult for one magazine to satisfy everyone. In the last issue there was a story from a guy in Switzerland about him building a steam turbine electric. I would never build one and it would look as out of place on my layout as a UFO but I sure was impressed by the modelling. The same goes for the cover RR. How cool is the line! it has inspired me to build some derelict buildings.
I for one like to see what others are doing and read about how they do it so I will continue to subscribe to my favorite magazine and send them ideas.
Todd

#14

After 13 years subscribing I finally called a halt to my engagement with Klambake. The ascending cost to here was not commensurate with the content, IMO. I’ve got all the wondrous stuff built by the likes of our own Kevin Strong as the other top-class modellers - none of which ever tapplied to MY track, but was great to see nonetheless. I’ve got all the free plans I’ll ever want - to build all the stock I’ll ever need - mostly logging stuff that Richard Smith and I share over the longest short line on the planet.

So it’s goodbye and thanks from me to Marc H and the gang over there, not that they’ll ever miss me.

tac, ig and the Ross Island Bridge Boys

#15

The other thing that has impacted the periodical business is this very format! It was not too many years ago when if you wanted to get some model rr ideas, you had to purchase either a book or a magazine. Now, you can simply Google millions of images for ideas and inspirations. In the old days, you needed to either purchase a book or a magazine to learn the “how to” regarding anything related to the hobby. Now…this forum and a few others can provide the all important “how to” answers in less than a second and for FREE. No wonder the magazine costs $7! Look a the panic associated with the newspaper industry! The net has changed the way the entire business world works. Young people today, don’t even know what a newspaper looks like!

What concerns me even more than the $7 for the magazine, is the out of site prices for Large Scale Engines, Rolling Stock and forget the TRACK!

I still like browsing through the magazine! However, I have to wonder if all magazines will disappear sooner or later.

#16

I gave up my subscription to GR for a number of reasons. One was my poor eyesight made it really hard to read it. I wrote Marc several times about this problem and never got any kind of answer.

I was hoping that the magazine would go online but they’ve never made any attempt. That way I could increase the size and be able to read it.

I’m still getting promotions about returning as a subscriber but they have never made any attempt at reducing the cost even for readers who have dropped out. If they sincerely cared they would try to get their old subscribers back.

I find my inspiration from the great work I see on this list. Between this list and my 30-year-old MR and many others I have I find plenty of ideas to keep me busy.

#17

Kim likes to read my ancient back issues oncet awhile. Mostly, they just take up space. When it got to the point where I could read the whole thing in one trip to the loo, I decided I had better uses for my hobby dollar (singular, even)…

A couple thoughts: 1. If you want to see something, submit it… except they already have probably 2 years worth of submissions that they haven’t bothered to print - 2. yet they still turn out a thin magazine that’s half ads for sh-- most folks can’t afford, and 3. much of the rest is fairly obvious shill pieces masquerading as ‘reviews’ because they’re more afraid of losing advertisers than giving bad advice to the consumer.

The question I have is… who’s fault is it? The editors? The parent company? Us hobbyists for being lazy and complacent?

As for prices, on one hand we’re all being Mal-Wart conditioned to be cheap, not frugal - bloody skinflint cheap. On the other, I think that a few folks playing commodities games just to make their next easy $billion (that they’ll never spend in this lifetime!), have managed to screw everyone else… what’s “trickling down” ain’t wealth, and it’s too yellow for rain. (I’ll stop there before I get Bob’s Irish up…) It’s a perfect storm.

#18

I stopped getting GR a few years ago when the content/ad ratio hit my personal limit. I find more inspiration in NGSL, MR and RMC.

#19

There has to be something really outstanding in GR for me to buy it. Unlike Mik, who gets some relieve while reading :D, I get through it right there at the bookstore in about 3 minutes flat. Don’t even have to read the ads since they very rarely apply to what I’m doing.

Now on those reviews … GR can’t handle real reviews! It must be something in the water(cooler) in the MR and GR section at Klambake. :lol:

#20

I don’t think we can place the blame on the readership submissions alone. GR has an editorial staff that determines what goes into the magazine. If they do not like the content they are receiving then it is their job as editors to go find it (or write it themselves). Again, I am lucky as the current content appeals to me.

I also think Doug makes a very good point, GR needs to get a decent web-based operation going.

I found the editorial in the February issue most interesting. Having seen several friends families go through this issue with R/C aircraft, I am doing what I can to “clean up” my mess now. That validation alone was worth my 5 bucks this month (subscription rate).