009 News Feedback

[Graeme Dunbar]

As a corollary to Tom's statement that only what is submitted for publication can appear on the page I'd like to add that we are a society and the contents of our magazine should reflect our members interests, which may include prototype information, including photos.

Given copyright issues, I expect most photos are taken by members so if a member visited somewhere of interest then it would be good to hear about it. With the ready availability of pf photo hosting sites an article might give a "taster" with as many photos that the editor feels is appropriate with others available on-line.

Indeed in a way this is what happens with some of our Roving Reporter reports.

Similarly, as a Society it is important to hear that we have active groups even though I am not an avid fan of Branchlines and think that sometimes the pieces could be a bit shorter. I might feel completely differently if there were an active group in my area and it encouraged more members to take part.

I like the balance of material - the "how tos", the research, the speculation, the discussion of operations, the reviews, the historical stuff and so on.

If there is one thing I would like to see a bit more of it is track plans. It is interesting to see what people have achieved, to read about the development and to see the photos but I think seeing how it fits together would help put it into context, especially as many 009 layouts are "compact". This includes fiddle yards and the like as I think it is informative to hear how layouts are operated.

[Scott Rixon]

To answer Tom's initial questions..

Heritage

[JulienW]

As with many things many of the comments above and in the Eggerbahn thread only go to show that you can't please 100% of the Society's members 100% of the time! :D

To pick up on Tom's post some items on the heritage collection would be welcome, especially being one of the members who was not yet born when a lot of these items first appeared in the model railway press, but also because I.m sure that not many members know what is in it, or even that we have such a collection!

As for Reprinting old material that's something I'm less convinced about - that's possibly because I have a full set of 009 News but what constitutes something worthy of reprinting?

How to articles are always useful - even if you have been in the game a long time there may be a new way of doing something out there that is worth a go, and may even be a better way of doing it you never thought about!

Prototype info is also welcome, but I do miss the scale drawings (I can't be sure but I have a feeling that the last one was published 5+ years ago). Specifically the Ffestiniog photo article didn't float my boat but then that's because I don't have much interest in the fessie! But then an article on a specific loco / bit of stock / whole line with some photos to show the detail and a scale drawing or three will always be of interest.

[Hugh Norwood]

A few thoughts from an old hack!

It's funny how people demand articles on such and such, but can't bring themselves to write one themselves. In mitigation, it is very difficult to sit down and write any article. Often the editor does have to pester for content.

(Aside - Yes, Tom, I'm working on them....)

Give the chaps a bit of a break, they are only into - is it their second or third issue?

A note on layout - I always wanted to do something with the photos - make them bigger if possible, but never got round to doing anything I found satisfactory in MS Publisher - and with the limitations of the printing. However, things have moved on; can you try taking photos to the edges of the paper (a la RM etc?) - moving photos to 2/3 page-width? The quality of the photos is such that they will take being enlarged that much, I'm sure.

[WALLSHIRTS]

Personally I am less interested in prototype articles unless they include drawings of locos and rolling stock and track plans. (I joined the NGRS many years ago primarily for prototype info.) I prefer the 009 News to focus on the trials and tribulations (and joys!) of modelling narrow gauge in the smaller scales. But Tom, good luck to you and Steve in your new joint editorship, I'm sure you won't go too far wrong!
Mal.

[invercloy]

Thanks for all the feedback, it is much appreciated.

I'll pick up on a few specific points:

I'm pleased the heritage collection idea seems well received. I'll give it some more thought as to exactly what can be done with this for the future.

Alan has mentioned spreading articles across more than one issue - we've already done this with Tim Sanderson's Alf article, and I think it's a good way to go to get the right level of detail without one article consuming much of any single issue. If articles submitted warrant this it's something we may do more of.

Trackplans - an interesting idea, I've got an agreement in place with someone who is very good at drawing trackplans for a series of articles i have planned, but I feel it's unfair to put upon them to draw trackplans for every layout article to give a consistent appearance to them. Having said that, if
layout owners/builders are prepared to submit them I think it's an excellent idea.

We'll try and include more 'how to' articles - in fact the editorial we've just finished has sent out a plea for these.

Drawings - this was one area I was wondering about making use of old material, I don't recall seeing any in the News for many years. There are other sources of drawings other than what the Society has published previously, I'll see what's possible.

Hugh - thanks for the update :)

Photo sizes - one thing we'd like to do is make better use of larger images, point taken about taking them right up to the border, we'll see what fits in with some other slight design changes we've been thinking about for the start of the next volume.

Thanks again.

[B.Meldon]

As a regular contributor to 009 News over the years I have to agree that writing an article for 009 News is not easy. It takes me a lot longer to do one of the Egger articles for 009 News than it does to do a similar thing on a forum for example.

This is partly because the stuff on the forums can be edited later or added to to correct any errors, but for me it is more about the difficulty getting the bare bones of the article into a concise and coherent form that is suitable for publication with the appropriate photos included as necessary.

I find the problem with

[Frank]

Brian may be right that a detailed list of the Heritage collection might be difficult to generate, but perhaps an article on a few chosen items, with photographs, might not be too difficult if you started with ones for which there is good information already known.

In other words, start with the easy ones first.

Frank

[MickT]

..................................Anyway what would I like to see in 009 News; well the no1 item I would like to see in the News is a series of articles detailing the items in the society heritage collection with photos, and when it is known, the history and construction details of each item.
I know that I am not alone in this, quite a lot of other members would like to see this as well.
Even a basic list of what is in the collection and its status, that is if it is owned by the society or on long term loan from its owner and its condition, would be a good start.

But for various reasons unfortunately I do not think that is going to happen any time soon.

Brian Meldon

I

[petersmith1942]

Mick all very reasonable except that last sentence seems a bit business speak to me. How can queries about the collection need policy directives from the Committee. And why is what a lot of us want unlikely to happen (not your comment, Brians). What exactly is the problem, resources, the info itself or is there something a bit "precious" about the collection?
Peter Smith

[rod335]

Peter

There is, as far as I am concerned, nothing 'precious' in the sense that I think you intended about the collection. Questions have been raised 'in the other place' about whether or not ANY work at all should be carried out on the collection. I had felt that, within reason, the items in the collection should be made presentable and made to work wherever possible. Some people do not agree with this concept so I have referred the matter to our Committee for a decision.

As regards the 'don't hold your breath' aspect, the subject of articles, details etc has been raised many times in the past and has always petered out. Nothing sinister, just died from, presumed, lack of impetus. Things might change now.

Rod

[invercloy]

Rod, I have an idea which I'll send you an email about.

Mick, if you've ideas feel free to let us know, we're not going to hand the towel in after a few issues as we've not achieved what we want to yet. As long as it's constructive it's fine by me.

[Krizzy]

Having just returned from exhibiting the 'G&WR Rly' at the Perth show, Scotland not Western Australia, and catching up on this thread I don't mind having some 12in to the foot articles in the News. So long as they portray some of the more obscure industrial railways and not the well known tourist lines. The tourist lines are well covered elsewhere and by accessing their Facebook pages for the latest news of your favourite preservation railway. With many small industrial type 009 diesel locos becoming available in kit form, or even the new Minitrains steam and ic locos, an inspirational article by someone would I believe be accepted by members when reading the NEWS.

Roger

[petersmith1942]

Rod
thanks for that and understand the points you make; its just that I hoped I had given up business speak when I retired; anyway now youve put all my ducks in a row. No criticism of you either Mick and keep the photos coming!
Enjoying the contbns. on this thread
Peter Smith

[B.Meldon]

Thanks for the prompt answer to my post Mick.

Also thanks to Rod for explaining the situation about working on items in the collection.
I can see both sides of this argument reguarding the restoration and repair of items in the collection and I think it is indeed wise for you to seek  clarity  from the committee on this matter. I do hope an answer will be forthcoming  sooner rather than later.

Brian Meldon