Large Scale Central

What are you looking for in Garden Railway Magazine?

General Discussion
#1

This was quoted by Bruce in the other topic but it might be a good topic to start. Some of us like the magazine others dislike it. Maybe if we post what we would like to see in GR we can have a better idea of want people want. Just maybe someone from GR might read this and take some of our advise. Please try to keep it on topic and use the other one for everything else.

What would I like to see more of? I think the magazine is pretty good as is. Less adds would be nice and maybe seeing more railways and smaller sized layouts.

#2

I am with Shawn, I would like to see more layouts and maybe some more advanced how to articles.

Nico

#3

More modern (post steam) layouts…More model building (especially motive power)…And some less complicated gardening layouts.

On the last one, I want plants, I want to run outdoors, but I am not a member of the local garden club. How about some simple low maintenance garden plans?

#4

There are some thing I would like to see more of, conditional of course on material they have to choose from:

More small layouts. Yes they did run the contest but the winning layout was as large as my 2 car garage. I mean SMALL space challenging layouts like under 300 sq ft. (yes - I do intend to write up something on the Pizza Pizza)
More indoor layouts, I know they are out there, More bashing articles are always appreciated.

Now for new ideas, how about other gauges like O or Gauge 3? They are also out there
I dont really care if they do more modern or more narrow gauge, I learn something regardless of the scale .

#5

Simply more robust articles about buildings and other RR facilities that include specifications, details and better scale drawings…If Marc reads this. Trying to interpret one of the drawings in an article is nearly impossible without even minimal measurements.

#6

The ads don’t bother me that much. Ads are what help pay for the printing and other costs. It would be great to see more layout photos. I’d personally like to see more transition era layouts. Kit bash and scratch built structure articles are always great to read about. More project articles.

-Kevin.

#7

Each month they publish a drawing of a project. This month it was a grain elevator. I’d like to see an article of how someone interpreted said drawing in the month the drawing is published. (TG for spellchecker. My fingers are revolting today)

#8

Garden Railways has a long ways to go to sell a digital edition. They have NO layout costs because you use the same layout that is used for print. You have NO printing cost. You have NO postage and mailing. BUT you are going to charge $29.95 a year, the same as the print edition! Guess again!

#9
Rich Niemeyer said:
Simply more robust articles about buildings and other RR facilities that include specifications, details and better scale drawings...If Marc reads this. Trying to interpret one of the drawings in an article is nearly impossible without even minimal measurements.
I'll second that!

Plus one large layout, one beginner layout and four “normal layouts” a year. On the beginners: Explain throw down the track vs. layout planning; purpose or no purpose for a railroad, different propulsion/control systems, list of relevant fora.

Among the “normal” include an good indoor layout.

Improve picture quality.

Do “real” reviews i.e. whoever does the review purchases the item to be reviewed from a regular dealer (that way it will be random, not selected!), is really familiar with the segment of the hobby the item belongs to and doesn’t have industry connections that compromise the review.

#10

Like some others have expressed, I would like to see coverage in each issue of a smaller layout, whenever possible. I’d also like to see outdoor layouts that are off the ground. (Getting back up from ground level becomes a greater challenge with each passing year.) My next layout will be off the ground - and probably realtively small, so I would like to see what others have done.

Yours,
David Meashey

#11
Doug Arnold said:
Garden Railways has a long ways to go to sell a digital edition. They have NO layout costs because you use the same layout that is used for print. You have NO printing cost. You have NO postage and mailing. BUT you are going to charge $29.95 a year, the same as the print edition! Guess again!
Precisely my point!

It’s as simple as clicking “Publish to PDF” and the rest is handled by the online-subscriber database.

BUT since they have such an outrageous set-up (how do you spell GREED, GREED, GREED http://www.kalmbachstore.com/modeltrains-railroading-model-railroading-digital-downloads-downloadable-articles-track-plans.html http://www.kalmbachstore.com/modeltrains-railroading-model-railroading-digital-downloads-downloadable-articles-modeling-projects.html) for their downloads on MR they can’t very well break the mold, can they? I guess that’s the price you pay for not having the ads.

#12

0 Gauge Railroading Magazine does it right. They have a well done print magazine that you can subscribe to for $34.95 a year, and an online magazine that contains everything that the print magazine has plus links to each advertiser that you can subscribe to for $19.95 per year. Discounts for multiple years are available.

There is an online store where you can purchase stuff, but not like Klambake.

Yeah, I run three rail in the basement. Shame on me. :stuck_out_tongue:

#13

Since I like to build, I’d like to see them open the archives of model railroader ( yes I know it’s mostly H-O ) and blow the dust off of the old H-O drawings, that will fit in a magazine format. Since those drawings had full measurements on them we can use them in large scale building projects.
Those drawings were of Class 1 RR equipment, Narrow guage equipment, buildings and industries. Bruce chandler , not long ago , used the pickens Place drawings for his one structure. Just one set every other issue would help and they don’t have to rescale in order to use. Those who build can certainly convert the drawings to the appropriate scale needed. Just lable the drawings as being able to duplicate so I don’t have to worry about copyright laws.

#14

This should keep you busy for a while, Dave. Drawings, measurements and all.

#15

Thank you Steve. :slight_smile: I’ve got that site saved and use it quite frequently. It was a big help for the freight cars I built last year and I haven’t found a question on RR structures, track, or equipment I couldn’t get too much info on. :slight_smile:

But I still ask here to keep everyone on their toes :smiley:

#16

I quite enjoyed the How to’s in this issue.

#17

I second the request for off the ground layouts. My second one is above ground.
Also some plants that can withstand North Texas Weather–winters in the 20s & 30s and summers in the triple digits.
Building plans like the old MR had with would be a plus.

Roger
POOL RR
Caddo Mills. TX

#18

I dont think the ads are bad. It is how they pay the bills. The small price we pay for our subscription doesn’t cover their costs.

As I page through the most recent magazine I can only say that I enjoyed Kevin’s final article on lighting, because that is what I’ve been intending to do on my layout, so it gives me an idea what others are doing. I liked the weathering article. I’ve weathered with chalk for many years but I learned a couple new tricks in the article.

You guys asked for more small layouts and I see on pg 32 a pretty small layout. Of course not the size of Vic’s but still small.

I also enjoyed the article on making a through-deck bridge, which is a more advanced project. Then the beginner project was on making people and kitbashing a small rail truck. For me I’ve never attempted to make people and reading it gives me a little confidence to give it a try.

I dont know guys. I think they try to put as much stuff in there, to cover as wide of a variety as they can. We may not get use out of all the articles, but I would be willing to bet that there is something in every edition that you could learn.

In the end, who do you think writes the articles??? WE DO!!! If we dont submit article for them to publish, such as: if we built a new building and how we did it, a article on our layout or many other things. We as the modelers drive what goes in the magazine by what we submit to them. So, if it isnt in there perhaps you should write the article and submit it.

Also, I dont want to sound negative by what I’ve said. Please no one take offense. You all are free to express your opinions and I mine.

#19
Jake Smith said:
In the end, who do you think writes the articles??? WE DO!!! If we dont submit article for them to publish, such as: if we built a new building and how we did it, a article on our layout or many other things. We as the modelers drive what goes in the magazine by what we submit to them. So, if it isnt in there perhaps you should write the article and submit it.
Yes but to my understanding they do not want articles/build threads if they are already seen elsewhere ....like here?

BTW…I personally LOVE the advertisement as I have no time to search out new things or manufacturers on the internet but I sure can while sitting in my big white office a few times per day!

#20

I still enjoy seeing other peoples layouts the most, thats the main reason I keep it coming.