Hi Bob -- Back in the day of “3/16” Model Railroading”, our shop carried the magazine and generally sold out. I doubt many copies went to guys who weren’t in S scale, so its effect on building the scale was not very much, good as the magazine was. It seemed like the plug was pulled just as it was starting to become economically viable, as I recall. Other than “Mainline Modeler”, it was the only magazine I personally subscribed to until recently, when I started again with RMC.
Considering that “Newsweek,” and now maybe “Time,” have gone off paper (still the likely death of both, in my opinion), it seems unlikely that any purely S magazine can survive in any format if it isn’t tied to some organization or related business. Bill Winans ------------------------- From: Bob Werre Sent: Wednesday, March 20, 2013 9:07 AM To: [email protected] Subject: Re: {S-Scale List} 1/64's Modeling Guide? I don't know how many of us are or have been subscribers to the Modeling Guide, but nobody as mentioned that their last issue was sent a couple of days ago. Bob sited two main reasons--economics and the poor reputation. Back in the day there was a pretty good magazine started by Ed L. with the help of a few of us. Although it probably didn't make a profit (most magazines don't for several years) it was also produced in the days before the digital revolution had obtained critical mass to lower production costs. Billy Wade then tried a somewhat similar but smaller version but again it was a lot of work and likely not profitable enough either. After the sale to Richard Bendever things took (in my opinion) a deep dive of unfilled efforts and bad medicine seemed to follow. I had a subscription to all of those magazines for awhile but never saw them progress to anything near what was started in the late 80's! This brings us to the present! Mr. Nalbone seems to be willing to start another publication with the same concept in mind, but could it succeed? It might be time for us to realize that furthering S Scale through a publication isn't possible without an actual printed copy available in a hobby shop, while many of us seem to be well informed by just linking a website to a discussion. It also seems difficult for our smaller manufacturers to actually advertise beyond this list or an occasional announcement. In most cases it's the advertisers who supply the economic means for a magazine to exist. So at this point it looks like maybe S and our communications have changed to a point where speciality magazines, newsletters and similar promotions means aren't necessary for our personal needs (despite the fact the internet isn't reaching a large percentage of us). What remains is the promotional effort that needs to happen to make S progress. Since these magazines with the exception of the S Gaugian never made it into too many hobby shops we really don't know what impact they could have had on furthering S in general, their subscriber base or in moving advertiser's products. Just some thoughts this AM! Bob Werre PhotoTraxx
