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Author Topic: Do you find Model Boat Magazines Interesting?  (Read 6856 times)

Bunkerbarge

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Re: Do you find Model Boat Magazines Interesting?
« Reply #25 on: August 07, 2009, 07:47:51 pm »

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.

He had a very interesting article on trepanning in the August edition.  I don't know if he's back regularly but I'm sure Colin will know more.
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Colin Bishop

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Re: Do you find Model Boat Magazines Interesting?
« Reply #26 on: August 07, 2009, 07:50:25 pm »

I think Brian made a good recovery and, as far as I am aware, will be continuing to write fairly regularly although not necessarily every month.

Colin
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Bee

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Re: Do you find Model Boat Magazines Interesting?
« Reply #27 on: August 08, 2009, 12:00:04 am »

I remember avidly devouring each issue of MB as a teenager as it was the only such magazine I knew of, no internet, and living in the country I did not actually meet another boater until I was 23. My other hobby interests were in a similar position.
A decade ago I gave up all  mags as I did not have time to read them, found most stuff had been covered a dozen times over the years and so I already knew more than the expert articles let alone the beginners ones (not just talking boats here).
Now I only buy on holiday to have deckchair reading and to see if the adverts have changed.
Regarding specialisation; I think this is a problem rather than a solution and has damaged other hobby magazines. There are only limitted advertisers. so each time a mag splits or a publishing house starts a 'me too' title the revenue is stretched, the number of articles degrades and people with diverse interests have to fork out more or miss out.
The same applies with exhibitions. The very sucessful and diverse ME exhibition was severly damaged by a rival company and now one of the exhibition venues  puts on separate boating and engineering exhibitions effectively doubling the entry and travel costs.
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Peter Fitness

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Re: Do you find Model Boat Magazines Interesting?
« Reply #28 on: August 08, 2009, 01:24:17 am »

I subscribe to Model Boats, and receive it, here in Australia, within a week or so of its publication. It actually costs me significantly less to subscribe than buy it in a newsagency, plus I get my mags about 2 to 3 months earlier than I would by buying in a shop here.

As far as content goes, I read and enjoy most of each issue, although I confess to not being at all interested in the OMRA section, mainly because we cannot run IC powered boats on our lake. I also subscribe to Model Rail, as I have been a modeller of British outline railways for over 40 years.

Peter.
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Jimmy James

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Re: Do you find Model Boat Magazines Interesting?
« Reply #29 on: August 11, 2009, 12:07:37 am »

I read Model Boats and Marine Modeler and can usually find at least one article worth reading. I haven't bought a kit in over 40 years as I find them over expensive and any way most of my models are out of the mainstream... :-)) Not only that I find that I have almost no trouble with rivet counters  {-)because I build a type of ship that most of then know little about --Sailing medevil warships --- Privateers ---- the odd Pirate or Letter of Marque--- It's great fun and nobody can point at them and say thats wrong ;)I pick up some good wrinkles from the mag's but must admit that sometimes when these people blather on they lose me... so only the gods know how some of the folk new to the hobby follow whats going on
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tony52

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Re: Do you find Model Boat Magazines Interesting?
« Reply #30 on: August 11, 2009, 07:56:24 am »

Like most I buy MB and MMI, and find some items useful. Obviously these magazines can't keep 'all the readers happy all the time' and as long as I keep finding some items of value, I will continue to buy them.

I also find 'Ships in Scale' from the USA to be a usefull source of information. They now have a European Contributing Editor.

It would be a great shame to lose any of them.
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Howard Q

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Re: Do you find Model Boat Magazines Interesting?
« Reply #31 on: August 19, 2009, 11:44:51 pm »

I subscribe to only one magazine purely on a cost basis, and buy the other well known one on an adhoc basis, although the contents are not always to my exact taste, are non the less still of interest. I build scale boats, but within my circle of boat modelling friends are people of other disciplines, the mixed content of the magazine does not lessen the interest, as somewhere within the information printed could be an item useful to me or my colleagues.
The only people who can speed read a magazine do unfortunately have a tunnel vision outlook on the aspects of our hobby, non the less if the content is not to ones satisfaction, the Editors are Human, they can and will; take on board any constructive points that you wish to establish.
One finite item to keep in mind is the advertising revenue available, if this is spread to thinly then everybody suffers.
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polaris

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Re: Do you find Model Boat Magazines Interesting?
« Reply #32 on: August 20, 2009, 08:18:40 pm »


Dear Howard & Tony,

You both raise very pertinent points - and my apologies to others who have replied with similar but I have only had time to read the latter two's Posts.

It is indeed impossible to please everybody all of the time... there are those with interest in fast power boat matters, those with sailing interests, obviously all those with deep interest in merchant marine, navy, tugs, and those with deep interest in all things technical. I would not like to have to run any such magazine covering this subject, since it is a very fine balancing act, and needs a great deal of careful management. I would also not like to have to make a living out of such pbls., as even without the present financial situation, the costs of printing and distributing must be a constant concern.

What I call 'the New Industrial Revolution'... viz., the I.Net - and all it entails - and the increasing paperless society and gnrl. business processes, make for a general situation (whether we like it or not), that is not probable, not possible... but inevitable. The trouble is, if general pbls. become increasingly paperless, it inevitably affects jobs in all sorts of directions... thus why I call why I call what is increasingly going on 'The New Industrial Revolution'. But... if one can eliminate printing and distribution costs, such pbls. we are talking about would be far more viable since all it would require is a subscription cost to view on-line... a very difficult scenario. A very difficult decision, and one I would not like to have to take - I do like to buy gnrl. magazines from time to time, but do 'wince' at things of £3 or so +, and this does certainly restrict my buying, but what are publishers to do??? - printers have costs, distributors have costs, postage costs (if they are sent out), and the retailer must make a profit otherwise what point him/her stocking same. All in all not easy, and just yet another symptom of the World we live in today sorry to say.

Regards, Bernard
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polaris

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Re: Do you find Model Boat Magazines Interesting?
« Reply #33 on: August 20, 2009, 10:03:16 pm »


Just noticed the typo..

"thus why I call why I call what is increasingly going on 'The New Industrial Revolution'."

Should read: "thus why I call what is increasingly going on 'The New Industrial Revolution' "

Regards, Bernard
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tigertiger

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Re: Do you find Model Boat Magazines Interesting?
« Reply #34 on: August 20, 2009, 11:49:13 pm »

I think this is just a continuation of the process of post-industrialisation.

Britain was the worlds biggest manufacturer in 1890. More than half of the worlds manufactured goods were made in GB.
Now Britain is a service industry.

Jobs in traditional industries went, forever. New jobs were created. The trend is for service and hi-tech jobs at the moment.

So print jobs will be replaced, as the need for printed product reduces. But there will still be a need for advertising. And in an increasingly global economy these advertisers are increasingly becoming international traders. I know for a fact that there are several model boat traders on mayhem sending stuff out to China. I know because I am the customer. This would not be possible without the internet. Look on the RC groups website, lots of advertising on there, most traders send overseas, another benefit of the website.

The internet opens up new markets. This creates new jobs in web publishing, advertising (and selling advertising space), specialist manufacturing, supply, and logistics. So it is not all doom and gloom. It is a 'New Industrial Revolution'

People bemoan the decline of the UK economy. In 1900 we were No.1 in the world, by 1903 we were No.2, and by 1910 we were no.3, today UK is no.6. But this is a relative decline (compared to other who grew faster). However in absolute terms the UK economy has grown. GNP and percapita income (in real terms) have increased. Notice also the use of the term GNP (gross national product) and not GDP (gross domestic product). The term GDP does not apply anymore, it is about the money made at home. GNP includes all the money made by the UK multinationals that is comming back to UK. Most of it in the service industry.

The past is slipping slowly behind us, it always did. The only thing that has really changed is the rate of progress. But it is progress.
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andygh

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Re: Do you find Model Boat Magazines Interesting?
« Reply #35 on: August 21, 2009, 08:27:35 am »

In answer to the question, I subscribe to both UK mags and I find something of interest in almost every issue and I generally read through even the less interesting stuff. I favour MB, I find editorially MMI is a bit naive.
I used to enjoy the free plans but in recent times they seem to be designed either for the very new boat modeller or the very experienced, something in between would be nice
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Colin Bishop

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Re: Do you find Model Boat Magazines Interesting?
« Reply #36 on: August 21, 2009, 03:59:29 pm »

As has been said before, to some extent the modelling magazines have to take what they can get which obviously influences the content. The Internet is certainly a fine thing but Forums do not in themselves replace the magazines, they are complementary to them. Forums do not generally commission and publish build and other articles, nor do they publish plans or even give out free ones. Only a very few of the build and other threads you see on Forums would be up to the publishable standards demanded by a magazine, useful though they are. If plans were not available from sources such as MyHobbyStore or Traplet then usable drawings would be very hard to get hold of indeed as the material you get from museums, ship owners and shipbuilders is not aimed at the modelling community and can be difficult to interpret if you are not experienced. Modelling plans strip away all the unnecessary detail to concentrate on what is useful to the modeller and it takes some special expertise to be able to do that which usually has to be paid for. Years ago I built an Isle of Wight ferry from National Maritime Museum plans. Model Boats ran it as a feature article and commissioned a modelling draughtsman to redraw the plans in a suitable format for modelmakers. 

Many boat modellers do not frequent internet forums at all. Indeed, the entire membership of Mayhem (of which only a relatively small proportion is active) is only a very small fraction of the combined monthly readership of MB and MMI who all pay for their reading material. This does suggest that the magazines will be with us for a while yet as they continue to underpin the hobby. The internet certainly opens up new areas and is invaluable for answering questions, sharing practical knowledge and encouraging informal contacts across the globe. The net has also transformed the trader situation for better or for worse. It can be argued that the traditional local walk in model shop has had its day due to declining demand but the web has opened up new markets for those willing to grasp the opportunity as many traders have done. I think there will indeed be an increase in web publishing but ultimately this will depend on portable document readers which are easy and comfortable to use becoming widely available. I wasn't too impressed with the one I tried out in Waterstones the other day, the technology still has some way to go. And none of my magazines or books require batteries!

Colin
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Peter Fitness

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Re: Do you find Model Boat Magazines Interesting?
« Reply #37 on: August 22, 2009, 12:35:28 am »

Andygh raises a good point regarding the "free" plans with magazines. On the one hand, it's good to see plans that are fairly simple so as to encourage newcomers to the hobby, but on the other hand it would be nice to see some intermediate plans as well. I have found plans drawn by Jim Pottinger to be excellent, but they are largely aimed at the more experienced modeller, as they usually do not include any model construction information. They do cover a wide range of prototypes.

The magazine publishers are constrained by size when it comes to choosing a suitable plan, but it is not difficult, or too expensive, to have the plan enlarged to a size of the reader's choice. In most cases, the accompanying article is of great assistance, too.

With regard to the magazine versus internet debate goes, I find both very helpful and interesting, particularly this forum, for the reasons Colin Bishop mentions; they complement each other and, at this stage, I would not even consider dropping my magazine subscription.

Peter.
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Seaspray

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Re: Do you find Model Boat Magazines Interesting?
« Reply #38 on: August 22, 2009, 09:54:35 am »

The magazine is o.k. but to have to buy it to gain access to the subscribers part of there site. I think is a little too much. After all I have contributed to their site with photos of builds and help to the forum questions.

Sorry Colin



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Proteus

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Re: Do you find Model Boat Magazines Interesting?
« Reply #39 on: August 22, 2009, 10:17:50 am »

I subscribe to the mag so I think it's ok that the I get a little extra for my £50 quid
Proteus
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Colin Bishop

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Re: Do you find Model Boat Magazines Interesting?
« Reply #40 on: August 22, 2009, 10:24:21 am »

Not quite with you there Seaspray,

At the moment the only subscriber content is what you are already seeing in the magazine anyway. There are some interesting developments in the pipeline but that is the case at present. As far as contributing to the site is concerned the publishers run it at a significant loss as a general amenity to boat modellers. At the last change of ownership there were proposals to drop the Forum altogether as MMI don't have one but Paul Freshney persuaded the powers that be not to do that as many people find it useful.

Your contributions to the Forum and photos are very much appreciated but the people you are helping are your fellow modellers not the publishers,

Colin
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Seaspray

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Re: Do you find Model Boat Magazines Interesting?
« Reply #41 on: August 22, 2009, 11:58:04 am »

Colin
It  does seem awful quiet on the MB forum, perhaps they should drop it and put a link to Mayhem as a substitute /partner. That'll give us modellers the best services from  both businesses.
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Colin Bishop

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Re: Do you find Model Boat Magazines Interesting?
« Reply #42 on: August 22, 2009, 12:41:28 pm »

Seaspray,

Well, Mayhem did originate from the old Model Boats Forum when the company that then owned the magazine went bust and their Forum was closed down. Martin stepped into the breach and the rest, as they say, is history. However, I don't think either MB or Martin would favour an explicit link. MB makes no bones about being a commercial site and their Forum is an integral part of that. Mayhem is independent and you can discuss all sorts of things on it, including other magazines, which would not be appropriate on a commercial site.

The MB Forum may be quieter than Mayhem but a lot of people do visit the site and have participated in the competitions which is what the publishers want to see. It's just a different animal from Mayhem really.

Colin
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andygh

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Re: Do you find Model Boat Magazines Interesting?
« Reply #43 on: August 22, 2009, 08:34:02 pm »

Yes the MB forum has got me out of trouble when I couldn't get a result on here. It is what it is, different from Mayhem and so it should be
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