Large Scale Central

Garden Railways Magazine

General Discussion
#61

I was just explaining to Dan that I did in fact write an article and submitted it to GR. It was a rather lengthy one, with many pictures. I am not trying to reach a consensus, nor garner any sympathy, I was simply telling Dan that I did try, and I failed.

To stop at each step during a project, take pictures, and write down some notes, so I can later flesh it out into an article, takes quite a bit of time and slows down the project considerably. So since I thought I was no good at writing articles, I gave up on documenting my projects for a while. Jon at LSOL encouraged me to try again, with him, and I ended up writing quite a few how to, and how I done it articles for LSOL.

Edit for my bad grammar

#62

David Maynard said:

To stop at each step during a project, take pictures, and write down some notes, so I can later flesh it out into an article, takes quite a bit of time and slows down the project considerably. So since I thought I was no good at writing articles, I gave up on documenting my projects for a while. Jon at LSOL encouraged me to try again, with him, and I ended up writing quite a few how to, and how I done it articles for LSOL.

How true! Documenting even “just” a forum post can be just as tedious. It’s a lot easier to just show the finished project rather than covering every step along the way.

However, I find that documenting the process has really helped me when I try to build my next project. I can look back and see what steps I took.

One thing that I have really enjoyed in the forum world is the feedback and neat ideas I get from others; I found that totally missing in the magazine world.

#63

It’s even worse when you submit an article, Marc likes it and asks for more detail and pics, which you send him, and again, and then never hear back. Happened to me.

I’ve done perhaps a dozen articles for GR and had about 1/3 published. If I had a project/article in mind, I would first run the idea by Marc before persuing documenting it. For example, I asked Marc if they would be interested in an article on the “Low Rider Train” but he declined and I saved a ton of time and effort preparing an article.

#64

I have to agree with Todd, I have heard the identical story from several friends.

So, I document my stuff on my site, where no one has to pay for it, and no politics are involved.

Greg

#65

Bruce Chandler said:

How true! Documenting even “just” a forum post can be just as tedious. It’s a lot easier to just show the finished project rather than covering every step along the way.

However, I find that documenting the process has really helped me when I try to build my next project. I can look back and see what steps I took.

One thing that I have really enjoyed in the forum world is the feedback and neat ideas I get from others; I found that totally missing in the magazine world.

Couldn’t agree more, Bruce. And I’ll add another reason for build threads, for me at least, is that once you start it, the interest that people show serves as an ongoing incentive to keep moving on it.

#66

Bruce Chandler said:

David Maynard said:

To stop at each step during a project, take pictures, and write down some notes, so I can later flesh it out into an article, takes quite a bit of time and slows down the project considerably. So since I thought I was no good at writing articles, I gave up on documenting my projects for a while. Jon at LSOL encouraged me to try again, with him, and I ended up writing quite a few how to, and how I done it articles for LSOL.

How true! Documenting even “just” a forum post can be just as tedious. It’s a lot easier to just show the finished project rather than covering every step along the way.

Yes, that is true. But the viewing public usually wants more detail and explanation.

However, I find that documenting the process has really helped me when I try to build my next project. I can look back and see what steps I took.

You too? I have referenced a few articles that I have written. And I kinda wish I had documented a few steps a bit better, with more detail.

One thing that I have really enjoyed in the forum world is the feedback and neat ideas I get from others; I found that totally missing in the magazine world.

Yup. And the feedback is in a few hours, not in the next issue, if a letter is even posted regarding your article.

#67

Cliff Jennings said:

Bruce Chandler said:

How true! Documenting even “just” a forum post can be just as tedious. It’s a lot easier to just show the finished project rather than covering every step along the way.

However, I find that documenting the process has really helped me when I try to build my next project. I can look back and see what steps I took.

One thing that I have really enjoyed in the forum world is the feedback and neat ideas I get from others; I found that totally missing in the magazine world.

Couldn’t agree more, Bruce. And I’ll add another reason for build threads, for me at least, is that once you start it, the interest that people show serves as an ongoing incentive to keep moving on it.

And sometimes, when I hit a snag, I get suggestions on how to continue. I also get “suggestions” on what I should have done…(https://largescalecentral.com/externals/tinymce/plugins/emoticons/img/smiley-undecided.gif)

#68

David Maynard said:

Dan Pantages said:

Garden Railways is going downhill, I’m sure most would agree. I’m not positive I’m right but here is my theory. Since Marc has gone there is no one running the magazine who really knows anything about the hobby.

Greg, I like your idea for articles. Producing a magazine in this hobby has it’s difficulties, this is from me, a person involved with Steam in the Garden. One other way to make a magazine more for the hobby is for more people to send in articles. When you do a project write a short bit about it and submit it. You don’t have to be a Pulitzer prize winning writer, the Editor will gussy it up.

Or they will tell you, politely, to go (censored), I mean, go away…

Yeah that was me, A few years ago when GR did a “small layout” competition, I sent in a submittal for my tiny Borracho pizza layout, and took alot of photos, and included a rendering, pretty much everything and then some. Thinking its certainly small, its innovative, it’s approachable, it always got loads of attention at shows, so it should at least get a mention.

When the winners were announced I was really shocked to find the winning layout, was 20’ x 40’! WTH? small layout? TWENTY FEET ?? by FORTY FEET ??? and absolute zip on my entry. I responded to Marc by pointing out that the winner was bigger than not just my then indoor layout (9’x20’) but was bigger than my two car garage with attached studio, in fact, larger than my entire available backyard at the time!

Marc hemmed and hawed in his reply without really saying anything, basically that my layout didn’t express the contests or the magazines ‘vision’ for “garden” railroading despite it being the epitome of “small” and the rag previously featuring several indoor layouts, then more or less told me to politely “go away”. I always got the vibe that Marc really disliked my stuff, but I never understood the rags fascination with massively huge layouts that almost nobody has room or budget for, thats been one of the biggest detractions for me. ‘Go Large or Go Away’ was the motto under Marc and I don’t see much of a change since then.

I hope the new editor will see what makes the British magazine so popular, its almost entirely SMALL layouts, that are easily accessible, easier to build and frankly way more engaging than the 1/2 acre bison ranges they tend to always favor. Time will tell, but I for one won’t be sending anything in until I see a positive change in content.

#69

Vic Smith said:

Time will tell, but I for one won’t be sending anything in until I see a positive change in content.

I was told they had enough of my stuff.(https://www.largescalecentral.com/externals/tinymce/plugins/emoticons/img/smiley-cry.gif)

I have no idea what makes a magazine sell, so I couldn’t object. I have been greatly inspired by Model Railroader early in the hobby, so I just wanted to keep the “tradition” going, but I think times just changed and I didn’t.

Now, I don’t miss the magazine at all, and prefer the interaction available on forums.

#70

I offered to do an article for MR and GR about growing the hobby by way of schools and was told they “don’t publish club news.”

#71

Bruce Chandler said:

I have no idea what makes a magazine sell, so I couldn’t object. I have been greatly inspired by Model Railroader early in the hobby, so I just wanted to keep the “tradition” going, but I think times just changed and I didn’t.

Now, I don’t miss the magazine at all, and prefer the interaction available on forums.

That puts you in the best of company Bruce, because, obviously, they don’t have any idea either! (https://www.largescalecentral.com/externals/tinymce/plugins/emoticons/img/smiley-laughing.gif)

Unfortunately, we seem to be witnessing the downward spiral… I am in a club that was doing just that, cutting costs and effort because the club was shrinking, and then the club shrunk more, and then they cut costs/services more, etc.

We broke out of the vicious circle, but it took hard work and dedicated people and a certain amount of risk taking.

If it was me, since ClamBake is so large, I would give it a shot… pack the magazine full of stuff… yes it costs more to print more, but a magazine that gets thinner with every issue is not a confidence booster.

Add pages, add departments about used products, how to buy, how to sell, how to repair. Tips and techniques to support those people maintaining equipment, not just buying new.

It’s not rocket science, but you need huevos of a minimum size and some forward thinking.

Greg

#72

Greg Elmassian said:

Bruce Chandler said:

I have no idea what makes a magazine sell, so I couldn’t object. I have been greatly inspired by Model Railroader early in the hobby, so I just wanted to keep the “tradition” going, but I think times just changed and I didn’t.

Now, I don’t miss the magazine at all, and prefer the interaction available on forums.

That puts you in the best of company Bruce, because, obviously, they don’t have any idea either! (https://www.largescalecentral.com/externals/tinymce/plugins/emoticons/img/smiley-laughing.gif)

Unfortunately, we seem to be witnessing the downward spiral… I am in a club that was doing just that, cutting costs and effort because the club was shrinking, and then the club shrunk more, and then they cut costs/services more, etc.

We broke out of the vicious circle, but it took hard work and dedicated people and a certain amount of risk taking.

If it was me, since ClamBake is so large, I would give it a shot… pack the magazine full of stuff… yes it costs more to print more, but a magazine that gets thinner with every issue is not a confidence booster.

Add pages, add departments about used products, how to buy, how to sell, how to repair. Tips and techniques to support those people maintaining equipment, not just buying new.

It’s not rocket science, but you need huevos of a minimum size and some forward thinking.

Greg

Greg,

I would like to be invited to this clambake sometime since it’s so large. Perhaps I’m not allowed to attend because I model Amtrak ? I bet the sweet corn at the clambake is amazing !

#73

From observations over the years of “Garden Railways Magazine”, and often purchasing it, at the LHS, or by subscription; I’ve often wondered if the name of the magazine caused a rather strict direction towards Model Railways/Railroads, as more “Animation” in the garden setting, rather than a hobby in their own right, as “Outdoor”, true Model Railroads.

So often, and MOST often, track plans offered in the pages of GR, gave little if any thought to the modeling of a true MODEL RAILROAD, instead dwelling on how it fit into a garden with a whole interest in strictly watching a train go through a garden, but having little attention to much physical connection between humans and the train, besides a tethered power pack, to make it stop and go.

The fact is that there are a multitude of interest groups connected to modelling the Rail Transportation Industry, that were never addressed or acknowledged by the editorial staff.

Having an “Outdoor” Large Scale, Model Railroad, is more than just “Animation through the Tulip Bed”, although, no-one should ever suggest that it isn’t one of many interested groups.

Broadening, to acknowledge other interest groups, might help to attract more subscribers, and one area that continues to show growth, in all scales is OPERATIONS, driven by the new control methods, which Large Scale has pioneered, as batteries and technology were miniaturized.

I have watched the decline in active so-called “Garden Railway” clubs, which in so many cases were more strictly “Social Clubs” with their small railways just an excuse to show off what people had purchased, and how cute it looked.

Please note that I’m not in any way suggesting that one interest group is better than another, or that DC/DCC/RC,Battery has one better than the other; it all mostly depends on what seems to work best for your interest.

The bottom line, to me; seems to be; Can the Magazine, rejuvenate itself, and appeal to a greater variety of “Outdoor/Indoor” Large Scale interest groups…???

As a side question… Does anyone from Kalmbach, or the editorial staff monitor this site, or are all suggestions posted here just going to float away in the next breeze ?

Fred Mills

#74

Yeah that was me, A few years ago when GR did a “small layout” competition, I sent in a submittal for my tiny Borracho pizza layout, and took alot of photos, and included a rendering, pretty much everything and then some. Thinking its certainly small, its innovative, it’s approachable, it always got loads of attention at shows, so it should at least get a mention.

When I won for best layout that primarily uses diesels, featured in the 35th Anniversary issue, I received $770 for 1st place, the article with the pics and centerfold, and the magazine cover. That pays for a lot of years of subscription. I always write my subscription off my taxes every year as Kalmbach reports these earnings to the IRS.