298 Posted December 16, 2014 Share Posted December 16, 2014 Whilst flicking through the major periodicals that are stocked in our local Supermarket, I noticed a growing trend for the publishers to print a "mugshot" of the author or authors of articles, in addition to portraits of the editorial team. I'm not sure where this started, maybe it was an overthrow from the Model Railroader format that seemed to be adopted by ModelRail when it was a supplement as part of Rail, then a stand-alone magazine. Indeed, it was a while ago that a younger and less famous "James May" wrote (not sure if it was for a Newspaper or Car mag) how refreshing it was to see the cheery faces of the magazine team after accidentally picking up a copy of ModelRail. But nowadays it seems to be the norm for the entire club to be pictured, sometimes looking uncomfortable and usually wearing club Polo shirts. In all honesty, I don't really understand why I need to know what the builders look like, or what colour the club attire is, or form any kind of judgement based on one photo. So why is this done...? For the record I have asked to supply a photo and brief biography for Model Railroader, so deliberately chose a low-resolution still from a video taken of me driving the real subject of the article. This seemed to be lost on one reader, who took the effort to write to the editor to tell me that I should visit the museum in the US where this loco is located.... Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium James Makin Posted December 16, 2014 RMweb Premium Share Posted December 16, 2014 I kind of agree, it's worse though when you get local newspapers round at a show and trying and take your mugshot while you hold a train up to the camera ready for humiliation in the following week's newspaper! Mags are better but like you say, not a massive fan. I'd be tempted to just send in a pic of Taylor Swift and see if anyone notices, Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
edcayton Posted December 16, 2014 Share Posted December 16, 2014 Who is Taylor Swift? Ed Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
bbishop Posted December 16, 2014 Share Posted December 16, 2014 I'd be tempted to just send in a pic of Taylor Swift and see if anyone notices, What the name of his layout? Bill Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fat Controller Posted December 16, 2014 Share Posted December 16, 2014 Who is Taylor Swift? Ed Is it a type of caravan..? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
BG John Posted December 16, 2014 Share Posted December 16, 2014 I'm learning about using blogging in online marketing at the moment, and it seems that the advice is to include a photo and brief biography with each post, as it adds to your credibility. I suppose magazine articles are rather similar. Not sure what I'll do when I get round to doing it though, as most people who see my online contributions probably think I have pointy ears and a very long nose! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
CKPR Posted December 16, 2014 Share Posted December 16, 2014 It seems so very trendy but the RM used to have a 'personality parade' in the 1950s with mug shots complete with obligatory pipe and three piece suit (the polo shirt of its day ?) Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pugsley Posted December 17, 2014 Share Posted December 17, 2014 I kind of agree, it's worse though when you get local newspapers round at a show and trying and take your mugshot while you hold a train up to the camera ready for humiliation in the following week's newspaper! Mags are better but like you say, not a massive fan. I'd be tempted to just send in a pic of Taylor Swift and see if anyone notices, Funny you should say that - I was asked to send in a photo of myself and very nearly sent in a fake photo. In the end I just politely declined! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andy Reichert Posted December 17, 2014 Share Posted December 17, 2014 If it's a model magazine, send 'em a model. Andy Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ian Kirk Posted December 17, 2014 Share Posted December 17, 2014 Hi All, The problem would be having that sort of photo taken. I don't know about the rest of you but I hate being photographed (do I really have that many chins? etc.) mugshots , I D photos are the worst. How I ever get through customs amazes me as the passport photograph looks like a mad axe murderer. The comments about R M s "Personality Parade" and the Railway Modellers in suits and ties amused me. Look through the trainset adverts of the period though and Dad is inevitably in jacket, collar and tie sons are probably in school uniform too. Looking back I seem to remember that it really was like that in the 50s. The day that I thought that I had killed my Father he was definitely wearing a Tweed sports jacket (to go out and play with his son). We had a bit of walled garden which was just about big enough to fly a petrol driven model aeroplane on control lines. When the grass was too long to take off someone had to run round with the plane launch it then run out through a gate in the low wall and watch from behind this. One day I flew the thing round to find my Father still running to the gate. It hit him full in the back and seemed to knock him over (he had started to dive for cover) worse from my point of view the propeller twisted into the tweed of the Sports Jacket so that as he lay on the ground it really looked as if he had a model aeroplane sticking out of his back. I thought I had killed him. Fortunately he was not really hurt but I don't think I was trusted with the plane much after that. One other thing about dress in the past. Can anyone remember the fashion for wearing white lab coats and cotton gloves to operate layouts at exhibitions? best wishes, Ian Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
CKPR Posted December 18, 2014 Share Posted December 18, 2014 Hi All, The problem would be having that sort of photo taken. I don't know about the rest of you but I hate being photographed (do I really have that many chins? etc.) mugshots , I D photos are the worst. How I ever get through customs amazes me as the passport photograph looks like a mad axe murderer. The comments about R M s "Personality Parade" and the Railway Modellers in suits and ties amused me. Look through the trainset adverts of the period though and Dad is inevitably in jacket, collar and tie sons are probably in school uniform too. Looking back I seem to remember that it really was like that in the 50s. The day that I thought that I had killed my Father he was definitely wearing a Tweed sports jacket (to go out and play with his son). We had a bit of walled garden which was just about big enough to fly a petrol driven model aeroplane on control lines. When the grass was too long to take off someone had to run round with the plane launch it then run out through a gate in the low wall and watch from behind this. One day I flew the thing round to find my Father still running to the gate. It hit him full in the back and seemed to knock him over (he had started to dive for cover) worse from my point of view the propeller twisted into the tweed of the Sports Jacket so that as he lay on the ground it really looked as if he had a model aeroplane sticking out of his back. I thought I had killed him. Fortunately he was not really hurt but I don't think I was trusted with the plane much after that. One other thing about dress in the past. Can anyone remember the fashion for wearing white lab coats and cotton gloves to operate layouts at exhibitions? best wishes, Ian The white lab coat and gloves look had a revival at the marvellous one-off MRJ show at Central Hall in 1990 - I think the Wild Swan/MRJ chaps were just trying to be self-consciously retro ! I always find it very funny as my favourite band, Hawkwind, also go in for the white lab coat look on stage... Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
janner Posted December 18, 2014 Share Posted December 18, 2014 Brown dust coats were also popular with operators at exhibitions at Central hall in the late 50s and early 60, although I recall the Model Railway Club people sporting blue blazers with the club badge on the breast pocket, For the more casual look there was always the woollen cardigan worn with a collar and tie. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
grahame Posted December 18, 2014 Share Posted December 18, 2014 Its so you know who to avoid (or who to blame) when potentially meeting new people at exhibitions. G Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
coachmann Posted December 18, 2014 Share Posted December 18, 2014 RM used to have a 'personality parade' in the 1950s with mug shots complete with obligatory pipe and three piece suit (the polo shirt of its day ?) Fecking dyslexia, I read 'mug shots complete with obligatory pipe and three piece piano..........'. I spent all of a minute trying to work out what I was reading... 'Rail' mag used to run a featured-photographer and we were obliged to provide a mug shot. Never lived it down trackside, as folk would ask, "What film and equipment do you use and how does one get photos published?"..... Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Peter Kazmierczak Posted December 18, 2014 Share Posted December 18, 2014 I wonder what Andy Y really looks like? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Judge Dread Posted December 18, 2014 Share Posted December 18, 2014 It's when the local press ask you to point at some aspect of your layout. I've taken to refusing their requests, telling them "I have an exclusive contract with the "Police Gazette". Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Talltim Posted December 18, 2014 Share Posted December 18, 2014 I wonder what Andy Y really looks like? Wouldn't bother if I were you... Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
coachmann Posted December 18, 2014 Share Posted December 18, 2014 I wonder what Andy Y really looks like? You mean tis not he...............? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andy Y Posted December 18, 2014 Share Posted December 18, 2014 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andy Reichert Posted December 18, 2014 Share Posted December 18, 2014 He's almost certainly been air brushed to look that good . . . . Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold Worsdell forever Posted December 18, 2014 RMweb Gold Share Posted December 18, 2014 ^ Yep, just like that but with less hair... Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
298 Posted December 18, 2014 Author Share Posted December 18, 2014 It's when the local press ask you to point at some aspect of your layout. I've taken to refusing their requests, telling them "I have an exclusive contract with the "Police Gazette". There was a bit of a competition amongst club members to hide when one of the local journos, they usually come in disguise (ie without a "Press" ticket in their hat band). The best distraction technique is to tell them Pete Waterman is here, and is usually good for a quick quote, then watch them scutter off like they've got the scoop of the century. Sorry Pete... Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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