Print

Please login or register.
1 Hour 1 Day 1 Week 1 Month Forever
Login with username, password and session length.

[chrise]

My hobbies are Model Boats, Model Aircraft, Model Railways, motoring etc & I regularily buy magazines about all of them. I find that I can read nearly all the content of my choice of magazine for any of my other hobbies & find it worthwhile but I am always seriously underwhelmed by the model boating magazines which I can "read" very quickly & having not bothered with large chunks.

Am I alone in this or is there something different about this hobby & its supporting magazines?

[Mark47]

I tend to agree with you on the boat magazines. May be it's such a diverse hobby that we all can't be given what we want every month.

Mark

[Bunkerbarge]

I think part of it is that there are very specific and clearly defined areas of model boating which you don't find to the same degree in other hobbies.  For instance those with an interest in scale quite often do not find any interest in sail and both probably don't get excited at Omra.  A model boat mag has to cater for all these areas so there is the likely hood of not being able to provide a magazine that has content that is interesting to every one.

You mention motoring and motorcycling is a great interest of mine.  When you look at the different areas of the hobby though there are specific magazines to cater for each type of area such as vintage, scooters, scrambling etc. so you have the luxury of being able to buy the mag that suits your taste.  Model boating does not have anything like the same numbers involved so you would never get the readership to be able to support such specifics as sail, scale and Omra.

So how about providing some form of feedback as regards the types of things you would ike to see in these magazines?  Editors are always looking for subjects to include that may be popular with the readership.  Have you written to any of the editors or submitted anything to the letters sections?

[tolnedra]

In which case, is it not time that the hobby magazines became more specialised, instead of trying to cater for all aspects of model boating? We all tend to have our own favourite section, and although it is nice to be able to see what other disciplines are up to, and admire the work involved, we still tend to take most interest and time reading about our own bit of the magazines.

Danny

[barryfoote]

Danny,

A great idea but unfortunately these magazines are commercial and I doubt if it would be cost effective to publish different magazines for the differing areas of interest.

[Colin Bishop]

In which case, is it not time that the hobby magazines became more specialised

In which case, as Bunkerbarge has implied, they would not sell enough copies to be viable. Model Shipwright used to do four issues a year on scale subjects but have now cut back to doing just one large annual issue.

Years ago the then publishers of Model Boats did launch a magazine called R/C Boat Modeller but it never paid its way and ceased publication - and there were probably more boat modellers about then. I can't speak for MMI but I know that, since taking over as Editor, Paul Freshney has made a policy of including more variety in Model Boats so that most boaters are likely to find several things of interest in any given issue.

Modelling generally is a declining hobby with an ageing magazine readership, especially model boating. Youngsters these days are more interested in computer games and electronics. The magazines can only reflect the market that exists - not what people would like it to be.

Colin

[chrise]

When I first thought about this I concluded that model flying is just that - about flying- and that anybody interested in model flying is inherently interested in flying any model - even though they will only build & fly specific types of model - whilst model boating is about the boats that I like (tugs & work boats) & building them. The sailing is secondary. This effectively removes much of the common ground that keeps a magazine interesting.

It is sad but I generally do not find buying model boat magazines worthwhile whilst I can happily read ANY model aircraft magazine aklthough some are obviously better than others.

[Colin Bishop]

Chris, I don't know if you are in a minority or not. Personally, my building is confined to scale models of a restricted range of types but I still find many (although not all) aspects of the hobby of varying degrees of interest. So, on average i would say that at least two thirds of one of the mainstream magazines is of interest to me. Likewise, whilst boating only shows such as Warwick are of particular interest, I also like Brighton Modelworld which showcases many varieties of modelling.

You say that you are also interested in other types of modelling but clearly your interest in Boating is a bit on the peripheral side which probably just refelects your particular preferences rather than an underlying problem with the boating magazine content. Everyone is different in that respect.

Colin

[Subculture]

Looking back over back issues of Model Boats magazines, I would say the content started to suffer from the early seventies onwards.

Model boats used to be part of Model Maker magazine, and reading through issues from the fifties and sixties was a real treat for me- these were published before I was born, so I'm not looking back through rose tinted spectacles.

Lots of lovely plans ideas and drawings with each issue. When a product was reviewed, like an electric motor, technical data was published with it allowing an informed decision.

The designs of Vic Smeed were and are still relevant today, and he come up with some lovely boats that were both simple to build, but elegant in design. They also performed well.

Another modeller from that era, Peter Holland always came up with some wild an unorthodox designs. I well remember him operating his man-sized RC robots in the foyer at the ME exhibition in the late seventies and early eighties hiding the transmitter behind his back so it looked like the robots were autonomous.

The publishers could do a lot worse than revisit a few of these earlier designs, many of whom are no longer available through the plans service.

[Colin Bishop]

Subculture,

I couldn't agree more that there was more technical content in the old days and I enjoyed it just as much as you do. The problem is that the model boating scene has changed a great deal since then. It used to be the case that if you wanted a model boat you either built it from scratch or invested in the rather limited kit market that existed then - and many of those used scratchbuilding techniques - no ready made hulls then!

Now, if you see somebody with a model boat at the pond, there are very good chances that it is a RTR, was bought on Ebay or made from one of the modern mainstream kits or semi kits. Just occasionally, you will find it was scratchbuilt by the owner.

Most of the old designs are in fact still available, either through the Plans Service or through XPlans (now available via MyHobbyStore) but I don't think they actually sell very many. I think Glynn Guest does a very good job in publishing designs for simple scratchbuilt models and of course he gives up to date instructions using modern materials and adhesives etc. A lot of those old articles used techniques and materials which are no longer available or practical (build a bread and butter hull out of yellow pine using aerolite glue etc.) so the original articles would need to be updated or rewritten. It's certainly a possibility and might make an interesting article project if the right subject was chosen. Is this something others would like to see?

Colin

[tigertiger]

I think an occasional look back in time article would be very interesting. Some other mags have done this.
Maybe re-print an old article, from 50 years ago with maybe some discussion/interpretation where required.

That would be interesting.

I do find the mag interesting when I can get it, but only read about a third of it.

[tigertiger]

One thing that might be useful to new modellers is a techniques section.

Competant scratch builders would read an item like. 'After this I constructed and installed the wheelhouse using ply and plasticard', and know exactly what was done.
New people to the hobby would maybe be able to take a stab at it, but probably not bother. Why? Because without the know how we will probably make a mess of materials.

So for me, a tutorial on how to mark out, cut, and assemble superstructure would be of great interest.
Another one on how to cut and install window frames and glazing, also of interest.

I bought a couple of DVDs on workshop techniques, some very useful stuff on them, but nowhere near enough. Perhaps 10 minutes out of the 90 were useful. There is a dire need for this IMHO. Not all of us live near expert modellers to ask.

[madrob]

I think the model boat mags do a great job in general, i like to read most of model boats mag even though my main interest is warships, i still like to see tugs etc.
In this day and age we have online forums which cover most aspects of ship modelling from which i learn loads but i think may well be hurting boat magazine sales, just look at news paper sales if you dont believe me.
Just support the boats mags before we lose them

[tigertiger]

If the mags were on-line I would subscribe.

We subscribe to The Economist online. We get text, podcasts and video downloads for $100 per year.

The online would increase the readership overseas I am sure, especially in the very large USA market. I could not subscribe to hard copy of the mags. Too expensive.

[Proteus]

My hobbies are Model Boats, Model Aircraft, Model Railways, motoring etc & I regularily buy magazines about all of them. I find that I can read nearly all the content of my choice of magazine for any of my other hobbies & find it worthwhile but I am always seriously underwhelmed by the model boating magazines which I can "read" very quickly & having not bothered with large chunks.

Am I alone in this or is there something different about this hobby & its supporting magazines?

It's a bit like Mayhem do you read every post , I don't some area don't interest me , but I scan them some time to See if there are any ideas or  techniques I can borrow, some month's there are a lot of interesting items then the next I  read it in ten min, I do put them in folders because my interest change and I go looking for ideas, you can never get a mag that suits all.

Proteus

[The long Build]

If the mags were on-line I would subscribe.

We subscribe to The Economist online. We get text, podcasts and video downloads for $100 per year.

The online would increase the readership overseas I am sure, especially in the very large USA market. I could not subscribe to hard copy of the mags. Too expensive.

If you subscribe you are able to view past issues on line , so I would have thought that MB would be able to set up a online subscription only which could be less than a hard copy subscription , however I must admit that I prefere to have the magazine to read when out and about.


Re podcast , you mean something like Colin Reading us an article he has written so we don't have to .  this could include extra footage or something.

[Colin Bishop]

Yeah, all singing and dancing.....

Colin

[chrise]

I find print & internet very different & research backs me up. Commonly those using the internet will only read half of what they would if printed & complexity kills their interest more quickly.

The internet is very good for moving images and sheer volume - for example this site where you can be interested in 10% & still find plenty of stuff.

I prefer a magazine to study & I can't imagine me sitting on a train or in front of the TV with a webcast magazine & a laptop.

The internet is immadiate -hence our conversation - which magazines do not facilitate.

I had to laugh re Rupert Murdoch saying that "QUALITY JOURNALISM" has to be paid for hence his decision to charge!

I would love to see a video on the web site of a model reviewed etc in the magazine & would effectively be an advert for the magazine. 

[gondolier88]

Regarding the technical content and the instruction for beginners- why not combine the two in maybe a series of articles showing how an experienced modeller builds a particular model- maybe a scratch build- this would capture the ageing demographic and keep expereinced readers interested- however along with the interesting subject matter why not have a step-by-step box at the side of the pages showing different techniques- so you could show the designing stage- explaining in the article technical details and project summary- then at the side show photos of plans being drawn, lofting techniques, lines diagrams and a couple of photos of the full size subject.
As the series progresses and the articles describe how the hull has been planked and such- again boxes at the side to describe the technique adopted- then same for superstructure, decking, detailing and perhaps also a description to beginners on the importance of knowing the different suppliers and their specialities- for example pointing out that one manufacturer might make fantastic fairleads but their nav. lights leave a lot to be desired so a different manufacturer was sought etc (non-biased of course!)

Greg

[tigertiger]

The danger with having to indepth a build, is that it then becomes a part work. With all the inherant problems. I don't think publishers would be fond of this.
The boat I am building now was covered by MM, over 4 months. It still does not have all detail, it couldn't.

If more generic articles, independant of a build, are written as free standing articles this meets the needs of the magazine for short but complete pieces of content.
The example I gave of doors and windows is something that could be transfered to many types of model. And would perhaps be of more general interest to the readers. Whereas an indepth build, of perhaps a years duration, on a tug would be of little interest to me. Even though I would be seeing how a window was done, it would not feel like I was getting a complete anything.

I hope I am making sense.


With regards to online.
The wider readership should lead to increased advertising revenue. That should appeal to publishers.

[Colin Bishop]

TT is right about content. Magazines generally prefer articles that will stand by themselves with a wide appeal. However, short series on particular topics do get space such as Richard Simpson's six piece on model boat steam in MB plus a subsequent follow up.

Also, those people who would like to see this or that in the magazines need to remember that there are people who can build model boats and people who can write. People who can effectively do both are a bit thin on the ground and those that can don't necessarily want to write magazine articles which don't actually pay very much.

With regard to online publishing, I think this is something which will come but, as has already been said, most people prefer to have a hard copy if possible which they can read by the TV, in bed or even in the smallest room. At the moment, on line publication means that you are stuck in front of a computer screen which is not the best environment for concentrated reading. There are also knock on effects. If a magazine already has a significant foreign readership then a proportion of these are likely to switch to reduce their costs. Printing overheads are likely to be relatively static so the unit overheads on the remaining hardcopy readership base are likely to increase. Unless you get your sums and pricing just right you could end up with a reduction in income but I do think myself that a two level subscription will be the eventual way forward. We shall see. MB has some plans lined up for additional subscriber content which should prove to be interesting when they are launched shortly.

Colin

[Colin H]

Whilst I buy boat magazines and find some interest there, guess where my first port of call (no pun intended) is if I have a problem or any kind of question.

The one and only Mayhem.

Colin H.

[Bunkerbarge]

Strangely enough I think most of the things being suggested here are already done in Model Boat magazine at some time or another.  We are currently on part twenty four of the aviation cruiser Kiev build so you can't say you don't get in depth serialised builds and you have an article every month by Brian King sharing some superb techniques and tips.

Thr trouble is every one wants something specific to thier own needs which gets very difficult to cater for.

[Bryan Young]

Perhaps one of the problems is that so many people just want a "quick-fix".  Personally, I'm not interested in racing yachts (or any other sort of wind power) or fast electrics etc. My interest lies with scale ships. Mainly scratch built, but I do have a look now and again at the "kit" sector. Even when designing and building a marketable kit someone somewhere has had to sit down and work out how to make something. Scratch building is the same. When building any of my models I would say that a good 30% of the time is taken up by looking at a "bit" and working out how to make it.
A lot of the questions asked on this forum come into this category, "what paint", "what glue", "what thickness of Plasticard" and so on and so on. Some are trivial beyond belief. I acknowledge that some are serious and need some thought. But in this hobby there is no way to get an easy-fit manual that is a substitute for a gentle application of the abstract thing called "thought".
Having said that, I can understand why many newcomers to the hobby ask such simple questions. But my answer remains basically the same.....work it out for yourself, and learn from your own mistakes.
I still refer to "mind-jogging" articles and so on, but "mind-jogging" is all it is. Cheers. BY.

[Subculture]

Is the Brian King column back? I haven't seen it in a long time, as Brian hadn't been too well by all accounts. Generally I used to occasionally purchase the mag for that article alone.