Jace, Your the first really strong negative comment I've heard. I
think most would put a "ho-hum" to the insert. You are somewhat correct
in that most of the ads are for the scale side while the copy is a bit
AF heavy--with no AF $$$ support in the ad dept. either. There was a
medium sized ad for AM announcing the new GE 25B and a hopper but
neither are anywhere new. SHS not being in the ad section is indeed
unfortunate. As far as running the editorial in a scale construction
based magazine, I'm not familiar with the writer, but I would assume
that the content would have been approved by RMC. I almost got the
feeling that from everybody--manufacturers, editorial people etc. that
it was too much work to produce something better. Or perhaps everything
was just compromised to the point of no return. I can testify that when
things get watered down everything runs on the floor and gets stepped
in. The only thing left is to mop up!
Advertising, marketing and their cousin, publicity can be fickle things
to deal with. Much of what happens is purely--best guesses, hunches or
'having a go at it'. It depends on the experience of the decision maker
if any success is ever realized. Over the years, I've helped to produce
some excellent work for companies that didn't have a clue on how to use
it--some die (numerous software companies) and some succeed in spite of
blunders (Microsoft Explorer).
After viewing the Lionel produced video this morning that someone
pointed out. I thought to myself regarding the new GE diesel... Since
the unit is partially designed for the scale guys, why didn't they
announce it in the RMC section. I would have never seen the intro in
TCA or TTOS publications.
Over the years we've had volunteers who have worked to get S more
publicity in basically a difficult market. I don't think we ever had
anybody in the real ad world running with any ideas. I've mentioned this
many times--if there are ad dollars being spent there will be editorial
articles that will go hand-in-hand. I think we got a reasonable return
for the effort put into it. I know Dick Karnes, myself and several
others have tried to get the organization to fulfill it's charter of
publicizing S Scale. What we've never had is a multi-year plan with
some semi major dollars to invest. With seemingly the whole world
tightening their belts, I doubt if progress will be forthcoming.
Just my observations!
Bob Werre
PhotoTraxx.com
>
> Although my current issue arrived last week, I only just got around to
> reading it last night. I am quite disappointed.
> I'm not sure where the support for this came from, whether from the
> advertising by S scale manufacturers
> or an editorial decision by RMC, but there was far too much AF
> material in the write-up, with only passing mention
> of the scale side. One tends to assume most RMC readers have a strong
> scale orientation, since that is largely what
> the content favors--toy train collectors and operators have their own
> publications--so how would a serious scale
> modeler in HO or N or even O scale find S scale attractive with that
> slant? Moreover, with all the excellent scale
> model railroads in S scale from which to choose, all the illustrations
> are of garden-variety ready-to-run, the majority of the same vapid
> diorama. There is no serious evidence of brass imports or even the
> history of the scale side of S (Northeastern or Kinsman or Rex are
> never mentioned), although one can read more about A. C. Gilbert and
> Plasticville than one wants to learn. Strangely, I don't believe
> Bachmann (assuming they even still sell Plasticville new) paid for any
> ads in the section. A thoroughly wasted opportunity that will
> likely not come again any time soon.
>
> It is also sad that this didn't happen a year ago (or, one hopes, a
> year from now) so the two major suppliers, SHS and AM could have
> justified display ads for inventory ready to ship. Most unfortunate
> that such a feature appears when the mess in the PRC has cut
> off most of the items that would tempt someone to try S scale.
>
> Jace Kahn
>
> General Manager
> Ceres & Canisteo RR Co./Champlain County Traction Co.
>
>
>
> [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
>
>
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
------------------------------------
Yahoo! Groups Links
<*> To visit your group on the web, go to:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/S-Scale/
<*> Your email settings:
Individual Email | Traditional
<*> To change settings online go to:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/S-Scale/join
(Yahoo! ID required)
<*> To change settings via email:
[email protected]
[email protected]
<*> To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to:
[email protected]
<*> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to:
http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
