Article ideas, likes and dislikes

[Stuart Taylor]

What type of articles do people want to see in 009 News?


The goal of any editor is to create a magazine that appeals to the majority of the membership (after all, their subs pay for it), whilst attempting to have something for everyone. We are a VERY broad membership with a wide variety of interests.

What do you want? What do you like or dislike? What do you find most encouraging?

Stuart

[Hobby]

I'd agree with David Weber on that other thread, more prototype.

[JulienW]

Something that seems to have been missing form 009 News for some time are scale drawings. There seemed to be a phase in the 1980s & 90s for short articles that covered a prototype that would be illustrated with a scale drawing, or if not 'dead scale' then something guestimated from photographs and known dimensions, so that someone with a spare chassis and a few bits of plasticard or brass (or to bring it up to date a 3D printer) could have a go at building one, whether it was a loco, coach wagon or whatever...

[David Weber]

I'd also like to see articles on modelling techniques, tools and technologies. Both a review of traditional techniques that may be getting overlooked because of being assumed 'outdated' or something that 'everyone' already knows, and the wealth of new gadgets. There's a lot more than just 3D printing! Silhouette cutters for example may actually be more useful for the average modeller. As a Silhouette fan myself I'd be interested in contributing an article but having only made a few simple things with it, it might be better for a more experienced user to contribute.

Re; prototype articles. I completely understand the concerns raised in the other thread about prototype content too easily devolving into some printed equivalent of an amateur travel blog. Indeed as a 16mmiller as well, I've noticed that association's magazine featuring less and less prototype content precisely because of this problem. Since the intention of discussing prototypes in the magazine is surely to inspire modelling, perhaps such content should focus on looking at a particular theme or subject area rather than a specific railway or period. Eg; "The Evolution of Diesel Railcars" or "Transporting Livestock by Narrow Gauge".

An obvious issue with this is sourcing prototype pictures since unless it's a modern subject then the author will probably not own copyright on any appropriate images. Using public domain photos from the internet might not be welcomed even if it is technically legal. An traditional solution was for the author to draw pictures instead, but while this gives a certain character if done well I'm not sure that it would be accepted these days.

[Stan Williams]

Cannot argue with any of the suggestions put forward, but somebody has to write these articles and send them to the editor.

So we need people to step forward, then Stuart can fill the newsletter.

Stan.

[Stephen Rainsbury]

I would like to see more "How To" articles, but from what I have picked up the new handbook might be covering that quite nicely.

I also like to read about other peoples layouts, especially any problems they had realizing their vision and what they did to over come the issues.

Stephen

[engerth399]

"There's a lot more than just 3D printing! Silhouette cutters for example may actually be more useful " thank you David.

I would certainly like to see an article on these cutters.

[Graeme Dunbar]

If I may add 'all of the above'. I think it is good to see a wide range of topics, styles and 'levels'. It is great to see what experienced modellers achieve but can also be inspiring to see what new modellers do and articles aimed at beginners.

[clayliner]

I would like to see more "How To" articles, but from what I have picked up the new handbook might be covering that quite nicely.
Stephen

This forum is also a good place to show techniques and hints, not least because it allows for 'instant' feedback from others who have done the same thing / found a different way of doing it / found useful hacks and hints and so on.

I'd also agree with the request for more drawings, which are always interesting and maybe even useful.

David.

[B.Meldon]

I never finished the Egger-bahn series articles.
I stopped because I thought that interest had waned.

Yet to complete are:
The stanchion wagons. (Easy enough info for a complete article with the cars and the cement mixer!)
Four-wheel bogie vans and open wagons. (Including the crane wagon and mineral water van.)
Four-wheel vans and open wagons.
Tanker Wagons.
Livestock wagon and Hopper wagon.

However, perhaps the interest in what colour the horses and cars are, the origins of some of bodies, the width of the couplings and if some have no axle box detail are perhaps all a bit meaningless to many 009 modellers!

[Stuart Taylor]

Please keep the thread going. I like some of the ideas mentioned so far. It's helping me think about the variety we could include. Stan's right that it needs people to step up and write something but I think there is value in having the discussion.

[MickT]

I never finished the Egger-bahn series articles.
I stopped because I thought that interest had waned.


However, perhaps the interest in what colour the horses and cars are, the origins of some of bodies, the width of the couplings and if some have no axle box detail are perhaps all a bit meaningless to many 009 modellers!

Maybe to a few of the newer arrivals into the hobby who are not aware of the history/provenance of it, but to MOST of us, your series was and still is very much appreciated Brian. Please keep it going, it is an invaluable and also very interesting reference work.

Mick

Mick

[WALLSHIRTS]

I never finished the Egger-bahn series articles.
I stopped because I thought that interest had waned.


However, perhaps the interest in what colour the horses and cars are, the origins of some of bodies, the width of the couplings and if some have no axle box detail are perhaps all a bit meaningless to many 009 modellers!

Maybe to a few of the newer arrivals into the hobby who are not aware of the history/provenance of it, but to MOST of us, your series was and still is very much appreciated Brian. Please keep it going, it is an invaluable and also very interesting reference work.

Mick

Mick

More Eggerbahn please!

Mal

[Peter Boulter]

Definitely some more Eggerbahn please. I found those articles really interesting.

[Frank]

I like to see articles that show me something I could do, which could be building a loco, or other rolling stock, or a layout, or maybe an unusual idea for a layout or for operating.   Articles which include some information on how to do it as well as just "here is one I did earlier" photos. 

As we are the 009 society, things to build that are particular to 009, or at least small scale narrow gauge, and which you might not find in bigger scales or standard gauge layouts, are pretty obviously squarely in the middle of our interests.  However, good ideas can come from anywhere!

Frank