Keith George Posted July 9, 2015 Share Posted July 9, 2015 I would have thought that Andy York would have jumped in on the matter of Hornby Magazine by now . Keith. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andy Y Posted July 9, 2015 Share Posted July 9, 2015 Why would you think that? There are some generalised opinions I would disagree with though. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Keith George Posted July 9, 2015 Share Posted July 9, 2015 Why would you think that? There are some generalised opinions I would disagree with though. I thought you were employed by them, sorry if I was mistaken. Keith. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium Boco_D1 Posted July 9, 2015 RMweb Premium Share Posted July 9, 2015 When Hornby mag first came out I enjoyed it returning to the Hobby I felt it a good magazine, but it has deterioated in my opnion and the over the top ammount of DCC articles really make it a dull read. The same can be said for Model Rail growing up it was my favourite magazine but recently I have found very little of intresest in the magazine, I picked up a copy from 2002 from the South Devon Railway the other day and it was the first time in ages I read the magazine cover to cover (reading the ads was more for a comparrison to today's prices) but there is certainly something lacking from the current magazine. Of course this is just my opnion and maybe I am no longer the target market for these magazines, thus why they don't suit. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium t-b-g Posted July 9, 2015 RMweb Premium Share Posted July 9, 2015 I had a little look at Hornby Magazine today and although there is little of direct interest to me in it, I thought that the content and the presentation looked quite decent. When the famous "Norris" O gauge layout appeared in Railway Modeller way back when, somebody wrote in to complain that it shouldn't be in the magazine because it was un-attainable to virtually everybody else. Somebody replied to say that we can't all own a Rolls Royce but it shouldn't stop us enjoying looking at them. I will never afford the price of, or own, a Gauge 1 model, let alone a layout but the featured layout in the Hornby Magazine looked very nice indeed. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chubber Posted July 9, 2015 Author Share Posted July 9, 2015 My usual response to anyone grumbling about content in magazines, is to get out there and write an article. I agree, to date I have had at least three printed in Hornby Magazine alone...... Doug Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
trains12 Posted July 9, 2015 Share Posted July 9, 2015 I agree, to date I have had at least three printed in Hornby Magazine alone...... Doug I also agree about writing articles Mike has so far printed three of mine Great Tunsley Dale, Glen Gillie & loch Inch, and only the other month Bridge of Muir. There is a further one to come later in the year on Watermill Halt and hopefully next year one on Porth Eithin. So if people feel that the content is not up to much then put pen to paper and get writing. Mike keep up the good work many of us enjoy it. Cheers Peter Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chubber Posted July 9, 2015 Author Share Posted July 9, 2015 It might be that Mike Wilds editorial hand is being guided by financial or business interests that we are not privy to, after all, an article propounding the benefits of a lighting system produced by a major player in model railway accessories may well produce a more profitable advertising stream than a series of amateur articles on home-made sleeper-built coal storage facilities...From my slight association with Mike, I can't wholly believe it of the man but shareholders etc must have their dividend you know. [Remember the CO-OP 'Divi' and woe betide if you forgot to get the book stamped?] Doug Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stanley Melrose Posted July 9, 2015 Share Posted July 9, 2015 Sadly Stan. Finescale Review has ended with issue 3. Bob Barlow has died suddenly. I know and that is why I "was" looking forward to it . . . As another poster has said, it might be saved if someone picks it up and carries it forward. Stan Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
andyram Posted July 9, 2015 Share Posted July 9, 2015 I have every issue of Hornby Magazine since it started. I still prefer it to all other mags. Whilst this month's issue does include some articles that seem to be beyond its original aims I have still enjoyed reading them. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Arthur Posted July 9, 2015 Share Posted July 9, 2015 I am not sure that this is correct I have not had an email to tell me it has stopped or my subscription refunded. I know Bob has sadly died suddenly but I believe others will take over when the shock has diminished. It has ceased publication Mick and is unlikely to re-emerge. In simple terms, Bob Barlow ran Greystar Publications as a sole trader. His death has left the business essentially in the proces of being wound up and it forms part of his estate. Largely because the Review was so new it was considered impossible for anyone to carry it on. There has been no direct communication with subscribers because there is simply no one to do it. A bit more here including a link for more info; http://www.greystarpublications.com/bobobit/ And some discussion here; http://www.rmweb.co.uk/community/index.php?/topic/90724-finescale-railway-modelling-review-issue-1-autumn-2014/?p=1927228 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium Dava Posted July 10, 2015 RMweb Premium Share Posted July 10, 2015 Personally I've found the gauge\scale specific magazines from the specialist societies more useful, though this does not apply so much in 00. So 009 News, Narrow Lines (7mmng), Mixed Traffic (3mm), Gauge 0 Gazette have all been required reading at various times. I suspect the UK will lose at leastbone of its generic titles in the next year or so, or be replaced by online mags. Model railroad hobbyist and 0 scale resource are both free online mags I get in Canada, I don't model North American but they're interesting & readable, well produced with techniques you don't see too much in the UK press. Dava Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
daftbovine Posted July 10, 2015 Share Posted July 10, 2015 I didn't enjoy the latest issue of Hornby magazine but I think it depends on the indivual readers interests as to whether an issue appeals to them or not. All the magazines seem to go through boring patches and then get revamped. I read digital versions of magazines and the production values in Hornby magazine and Railway Modeller are very good, I wish I could say the same for Model Rail. I've always enjoyed Model Rail but they've started to use grainy photography for layout shots which apparently works very well in the paper version but looks terrible in the digital version. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
kandc_au Posted July 10, 2015 Share Posted July 10, 2015 I only restarted to get the Hornby mag when they started the items about period trains with RTR loco's and rolling stock. I think for me personally, Railway Modeller is still the one. Model Rail was a close second but it has changed since the Editor went to BRM and BRM now has more of a Model Rail feeling to it. The one thing I am over with ALL the mags are the reviews....pages and pages and pages of the same thing. To me the mags could just as well share the cost of producing an insert for reviews and just place them in all the mags. Might save them some money! BUT, in the end I suppose it is about what rocks our boats as individuals. khris Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chubber Posted July 10, 2015 Author Share Posted July 10, 2015 Hornby reviews followed, often on the next page or two by a 'Reality Check' are IMO one of the best parts of the publication. Mike Wild rarely fails to mention real or perceived shortcomings, the photography is crisp and clear. The reality checks often feature archival photographs that I would be unlikely to ever see, and are well written without resort to 'then, such and such happened..' followed by another 'and then...' etc, a trap that is too easy to fall into when reporting chronologies. Doug Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold JohnR Posted July 10, 2015 RMweb Gold Share Posted July 10, 2015 It might be that Mike Wilds editorial hand is being guided by financial or business interests that we are not privy to, after all, an article propounding the benefits of a lighting system produced by a major player in model railway accessories may well produce a more profitable advertising stream than a series of amateur articles on home-made sleeper-built coal storage facilities...From my slight association with Mike, I can't wholly believe it of the man but shareholders etc must have their dividend you know. [Remember the CO-OP 'Divi' and woe betide if you forgot to get the book stamped?] Doug I doubt it - the owners of the magazine have no connection to the model railway trade that I am aware of (the name does not indicate any connection, and was, I understand used after testing with the public for recognition). I recall a few years ago, RM was widely accused of similar, and while I think its reviews at times were timid, and often just a rehash of the manufacturers Press Release, that could be down to a number of things - and there wasnt a bias against any one manufacturer - it was just how they did things. They have improved, and i still look forward to the articles detailing use of PECO products! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold tarifa Posted July 10, 2015 RMweb Gold Share Posted July 10, 2015 I stopped buying it when the shelf price went above £4.00 same as my reaction to the BRM price rise. I also wondered why DCC Concept products justified an editorial article. For the moment I'm staying with Model Rail until the price passes £4.00 Mike Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
ParkeNd Posted July 10, 2015 Share Posted July 10, 2015 I like the magazine but do find the name unusual given its independence. Unless a "Hornby" to some people is a generic term for a model train - a bit like "to hoover a carpet" or "to write with a biro". These latter two brand names achieved such a generic status that I have seen traders adverts for "Parker biros" and "Dyson hoovers" but I don't think the brand Hornby ever achieved those heights. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
bike2steam Posted July 10, 2015 Share Posted July 10, 2015 The few times I have read Hornby magazine I've always thought it aimed at the novice end of the hobby, and a pretty good job it seemed to do - perhaps it's changed, as I haven't seen one for a while. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
kandc_au Posted July 10, 2015 Share Posted July 10, 2015 I think the reality is that it is aimed for the novice. There was another thread here where members felt that the Formations articles should also have had kits etc included. But I think for the novice, RTR is probably a very good starting point. Not being bought up with english rail I have found it interesting to read about. Covers Steam and diseasel! Khris Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
GordonC Posted July 10, 2015 Share Posted July 10, 2015 Too many Southern and Great Western articles .... same as some of the other magazines Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold NHY 581 Posted July 10, 2015 RMweb Gold Share Posted July 10, 2015 Having bought HM from issue 1, I still buy it every month. However as of late I have started to notice what appears to be a drop in quality. I will just wait and see if it picks up. Over the years they have had some fine features on some fine layouts. It is the only mag I buy on a regular basis. Rob Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold Zero Gravitas Posted July 10, 2015 RMweb Gold Share Posted July 10, 2015 I think it's also telling that nobody has seen fit to start an RMWeb thread about the latest issue of Hornby magazine since the October 2014 issue... Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chubber Posted July 10, 2015 Author Share Posted July 10, 2015 I think it's also telling that nobody has seen fit to start an RMWeb thread about the latest issue of Hornby magazine since the October 2014 issue... Given some of the foregoing dismissive posts, p'raps folks ain't goin' to admit reading it le'st they be branded as unambitious bumkins... Doug, chewin' on a straw.. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chubber Posted July 10, 2015 Author Share Posted July 10, 2015 Too many Southern and Great Western articles .... same as some of the other magazines Impossible! (Trying to keep it on a light note...) I'm begining to feel a bit like the sorcerers apprentice. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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