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Author Topic: marine modeling international contents  (Read 9931 times)

LarryW

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Re: marine modeling international contents
« Reply #25 on: February 14, 2013, 11:41:05 am »

 Hi All,
      Nice to replys to topic, what is needed are pages like modelers like Bluebird..... aimed at a younger modeler ......Larry..
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Martin (Admin)

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Re: marine modeling international contents
« Reply #26 on: February 14, 2013, 01:34:50 pm »

On a slightly different matter, do either magazines sell 'digital' editions yet?

Very interesting debate regarding the future of Newspapers on radio 4 yesterday:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b01qjc39
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Subculture

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Re: marine modeling international contents
« Reply #27 on: February 14, 2013, 02:06:28 pm »

They both sell electronic versions. Model Boats seem to have got the pricing structure about right, with the online edition being a tad under half price. MMI's electronic version is ludicrously overpriced at about three quarters of the price of printed copy.
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gingyer

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Re: marine modeling international contents
« Reply #28 on: February 14, 2013, 02:54:56 pm »

Hi All,
      Nice to replys to topic, what is needed are pages like modelers like Bluebird..... aimed at a younger modeler ......Larry..

reading through this thread
I was wondering if possibly it would be worth while for a magazine to do a special edition "intro to model boats" where it shows/explains the differant types of ART/ kits/ semi kit and scratch building techniques as well as possibly a step by step build for beginers for under a certain price all ready to sail
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Colin Bishop

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Re: marine modeling international contents
« Reply #29 on: February 14, 2013, 03:44:42 pm »

Quote
I was wondering if possibly it would be worth while for a magazine to do a special edition "intro to model boats" where it shows/explains the differant types of ART/ kits/ semi kit and scratch building techniques as well as possibly a step by step build for beginers for under a certain price all ready to sail

Well, it probably would be possible but there is also a big risk that not enough people would buy it. Most of the existing readership are established modellers and probably not very interested in a beginners edition so you would be reliant on casual interest from youngsters and newcomers who are just browsing the shelves. How many would you print? Places like W.H. Smith want minimum print runs before they will stock magazines and an assurance that a certain proportion will be likely to sell. Those that don't get pulped which is a dead loss for the publisher. Also, advertisers want to be sure that their adverts are reaching the target audience - you probably wouldn't get adverts from airbrush suppliers for example.
 
Projects for beginners do get covered on a regular basis in both magazines and in the Special issues of Model Boats I have been editing but as part of the general mix intended to give the magazines maximum 'shelf appeal'.
 
There are of course things called books which specialise in boat modelling at different levels and I'm sure our members could recommend some suitable ones.  ok2
 
Colin
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Norseman

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Re: marine modeling international contents
« Reply #30 on: February 14, 2013, 04:08:03 pm »

I was interested by the comment about old mags. Peter HS93 was having a clear out and gave me about eight boxes of very old mags. I find them quite fascinating and don't mind the lack of colour or poor print quality. 40+ years old and still being read - not sure if electronic copies will have a legacy audience.

Dave
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bj

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Re: marine modeling international contents
« Reply #31 on: February 14, 2013, 04:08:23 pm »

We should think ourselves lucky ...
As big as America is it could not support the printed version of the Air Age magazine Radio Control Boat Modeler. I believe it was re-started as a digital version only.
The font size of Model Boats has always been too small in my opinion.
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NFMike

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Re: marine modeling international contents
« Reply #32 on: February 14, 2013, 04:20:27 pm »

The font size of Model Boats has always been too small in my opinion.

That is one advantage of the digital version - you can zoom in to make it readable. The downside is you then have to scroll all over as a page doesn't fit on the screen, unless you have a huge monitor I suppose. It's a shame that it is just an image of the physical magazine and not a proper electronic version which can reflow to the available space.

Subculture

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Re: marine modeling international contents
« Reply #33 on: February 14, 2013, 04:32:56 pm »

I like old school magazines, but I like digital copy too. I don't have the space for heaps of books, and a lot of magazines over the years have ended up lining the dustbin. You could fit all the model boats and marine modelling magazines on a disc or two, and make it cross referenced if you really want to go to town. The information is preserved in digital aspic, and you can distribute that information much less expensively. Surprisingly, I find this sort of thing is done much more effectively by amateur organisations and individuals than the big outfits.

If you make a magazine or book digital, you don't have to concern yourself with stockists, print runs etc. The overheads are tiny. You concern yourself with content, and whether it's in binary code or black and white print, that has value regardless.
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Colin Bishop

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Re: marine modeling international contents
« Reply #34 on: February 14, 2013, 04:40:41 pm »

Paul Freshney tells me that to enlarge the font size could lose the equivalent of half a dozen or so pages of editorial material - about the same as one major feature article. Extra pages aren't the answer as the price would then have to go up! No easy answers I'm afraid!
 
Subculture:
Quote
I find this sort of thing is done much more effectively by amateur organisations and individuals than the big outfits.
Well yes, probably because they give their time for free whereas it is a significant expense for commercial organisations who have to justify the cost.

Quote
If you make a magazine or book digital, you don't have to concern yourself with stockists, print runs etc. The overheads are tiny. You concern yourself with content, and whether it's in binary code or black and white print, that has value regardless.
But you still have the issue of formatting mixed text and illustrations on multiple display platforms with different aspect ratios.

Colin
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Subculture

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Re: marine modeling international contents
« Reply #35 on: February 14, 2013, 04:59:52 pm »

No necessarily. Professionals are often brought in for cetain tasks, and costs distributed amongst the membership. Amateur organsiations may not be required to make a profit, but they do have to remain solvent.

I didn't say there were zero costs, I said they were very small in comparison to producing a printed publication. An organisation I belong to went from being a £35 a year membership to about £8 a year, just by going electronic with it's publication.
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scoop

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Re: marine modeling international contents
« Reply #36 on: February 14, 2013, 06:03:09 pm »

Hi All,
      Nice to replys to topic, what is needed are pages like modelers like Bluebird..... aimed at a younger modeler ......Larry..
Hi Larry, and others who are discussing the younger generation, how to get started, boat builds, costings etc, etc.
As a contributor to Model Boats magazine via the BMPRS News column I do try to include members other interests in Model Boats and not just the offshore racing element. I'm always keen to promote the younger generation joining in the fun. In fact over at BMPRS we have had a handful of 'junior' members rejoin (plus a few new one's as well) this season along with their mums and dads who have been around last season learing the trade so to speak, they are a breath of fresh air, their enthusiasm is right up there. They are being eased into the racing gently learning about how to behave safety wise in the pits and launch area's and they get to run their boats around during lunch breaks for a bit of fun and build up their confidence. This is something their parents have instigated, they want them to learn the 'proper' way and gain a bit of respect from fellow racers :-))  I agree with the way they have gone about this, several of the parents have said they could have bought an RTR boat or cheque booked a scratch built race boat but their kids enthusiasm deserved better, so off they went and involved them in the boat build, they learn racing etiquette by watching the racing, they are quick to jump in and watch lakeside boat repairs asking numerous questions, all part of the learning process. This season is when we hope it will all come to fruition when we start to see some of the youngsters actually entering the racing in their own right, and good luck to them.
With regard to content in the magazines as a contributor I'm always open to content from anyone regarding 'boaty bits and bobs' and I do try to cover member profiles as an added sideline. In last years MB mag I also covered a basic build on an A and D class racing boat build with costings, hints and tips etc. I would love to see contributions from interested parties who would like to see photo's of their boats in print, if it's not my cup of tea then I'm sure the editor can put you in touch with a relevent contributor to get your interest published, but it really is down to communication, communication, communication, that's you communicating with us, as we don't always know what is out there. The same goes with local clubs it is up to them to entice the younger generation into the hobby, I know it's difficult these days they seem to be more interested in their lap tops and social media (or as I prefer to call it their life support machines  {-) {-) {-) ) than get their hands grubby and build something to be proud of but there we go ! Having said that one of our youngsters that has gone through his, dare I say it, 'apprenticeship found his photo in print and rushed it off to school to show his teachers who became very interested and asked all sorts of Q's of his parents, seems he might be getting a bit of sponsorship as well, and good luck to him, so I suppose all is not lost.
Can I just say good luck to all local clubs who are trying to encourage the younger generation into model boating but a word of warning, we have to comply with certain regulations, take a look at the BMPRS website www.bmprs.co.uk where we have policies in place to cover the aspects of junior and vulnerable members. These are covered under our own intellectual rights so please don't nick them  :-))  , sorry about the longish reply but hey  %)
Cheers
Scoop
 
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irishcarguy

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Re: marine modeling international contents
« Reply #37 on: February 14, 2013, 06:54:29 pm »

It is nice to see you helping the young members Scoop. I am not a fan of the racing but I read every report that you do & find that interesting. It is nice too to see the ladies involved making it a sport for everyone. Your articles are also well written & makes for easy reading. Some tech stuff would add a bit of interest for the old guys like me too. thanks again, Mick B.
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Neil

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Re: marine modeling international contents
« Reply #38 on: February 14, 2013, 07:05:03 pm »

Just one further point Dave - both magazines can only print what contributors are prepared to write. There are a lot of people who can build model boats and a lot of people who can write but there is not a great deal of overlap! This inevitably does influence the content a bit as people tend only to write about things they are personally interested in - it's very boring otherwise!
 
Colin

And there are some, Colin who can build and can write about building their models and have been turned down by an editor for some reason or other   {-) {-) {-) {-)
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Subculture

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Re: marine modeling international contents
« Reply #39 on: February 14, 2013, 07:06:07 pm »

When aiming a club or society at specifically young people, I think it can open up a massive can of worms with regards to child protection. The policies are far more relaxed if the group is aimed at all ages.
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Colin Bishop

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Re: marine modeling international contents
« Reply #40 on: February 14, 2013, 07:10:28 pm »

Quote
And there are some, Colin who can build and can write about building their models and have been turned down by an editor for some reason or other

For reasons that are maybe best left unaired I suspect!
 
Colin
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spearfish99

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Re: marine modeling international contents
« Reply #41 on: February 14, 2013, 08:32:31 pm »

as for the print, i personaly dont have a issue with that. my problem with the feb. issue is that i felt quit cheated by the magazine.
in the jan. issue they promised a article about making your own propshafts.
 
and yes i know basicly how to make them, but always want to learn to improve.
 
however in feb. issue the article itself was all about modifying vendor shafts to exposed shafts, and the only mention about the scratchbuilding of them was a note at end of page that it would be next issue, wich sets me thinking ,  yeah right, thats what was said last time.
 
its a bit like,  why should i spend money on a magazine wich does not deliver a promised article, when i know i will also be able to find and print the info on the net. ( reason was for having a reliable, reputable source, and other possible interesting ideas i might get from articles )
 
for me atm, i am in doubt if i will pick it up again to even check articles. for some it might be a minor thing, but for me it comes over as a breach of promise and trust , wich i take very serious
( probably from having worked in a prison for the last 9 years, where trust and promise is just about short of life or death matter )
 
 
vidion
 
edit :  propshaft article is about mmi magazine as per thread title :)

Most magazines that give a synopsis of the next issue, usually give a codocil that this is what is intended. Indeed if you read this months Model Boats, on page 8 outlining next months issue has printed

"The listed items are in preparation, and whilst every intention is to publish them, this is not a definitive statement of content"

With such a disclaimer, you can hardly accuse magazines of breach of trust if items do not appear until a later edition
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scoop

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Re: marine modeling international contents
« Reply #42 on: February 14, 2013, 09:13:15 pm »

It is nice to see you helping the young members Scoop. I am not a fan of the racing but I read every report that you do & find that interesting. It is nice too to see the ladies involved making it a sport for everyone. Your articles are also well written & makes for easy reading. Some tech stuff would add a bit of interest for the old guys like me too. thanks again, Mick B.
Thanks for your comments Mick, much appreciated, what sort of technical stuff you after ?
 
Regards
Scoop
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Colin Bishop

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Re: marine modeling international contents
« Reply #43 on: February 14, 2013, 09:31:10 pm »

Quote
"The listed items are in preparation, and whilst every intention is to publish them, this is not a definitive statement of content"

With such a disclaimer, you can hardly accuse magazines of breach of trust if items do not appear until a later edition

Quite! The editor does depend on the contributor coming up with the goods, but if the contributor is unable to finish the article due to personal circumstances or perhaps the completed model can't be run because the only available local water is frozen solid then there will be delays.
 
There can be many reasons why it is not always possible to publish material as intended and I do rather feel that some people may be over reacting a bit. The decription of delayed publication of an article on model boating as being a 'breach of trust' justifying potential legal action strikes me as being a bit over the top to say the least. Is it the intention that the hapless editor should be sent to prison or stood in front of a firing squad?
 
Colin
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Vidion

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Re: marine modeling international contents
« Reply #44 on: February 14, 2013, 10:01:48 pm »

nobody is talking about about justifiying potential legal action, i just stated that for me holding word and promise is important, and in this case the article was something different, it touched on it, but was just not about what was announced. it was not making from scatch but modifing bought to something other appearance. dont know where the whole legal action comes from , but its not from me.  articles delayed due to frozen pond and such i can understand, not like maybe , but at least understand.  but ill just drop from this thread as it is taken to never mentioned heights
 
 
vidion
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irishcarguy

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Re: marine modeling international contents
« Reply #45 on: February 15, 2013, 12:08:42 am »

Hi Scoop, I would like to see some of the work & the layout inside the boat & what can be done to the motors to gain more power & still keep them reliable. I am sure there are a lot of tricks of the trade, thanks, Mick B.
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irishcarguy

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Re: marine modeling international contents
« Reply #46 on: February 15, 2013, 12:19:49 am »

I would think there is an endless list why things go wrong & get delayed. I would suspect that most editors try their best to deliver what they promised but life sometimes gets in the way of our very best intensions & nothing is left to save the day. I am sure the propshaft article will still be revellant when it arrives despite some of us been disappointed with the delay. Overall the Model Boat Mag delivers 95% of the time & that is a pretty good average where I sit.Mick B.
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Re: marine modeling international contents
« Reply #47 on: February 15, 2013, 01:15:51 am »

I think Videon was just saying that the article was actually delivered but the content was not as described on the previous box ..... It was not scratch building but modding.

Dave
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irishcarguy

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Re: marine modeling international contents
« Reply #48 on: February 15, 2013, 05:59:35 am »

Yes Dave you are correct, but if you follow what was done I think it was O/K, but then not every one can think it through to a conclusion. We hope they do it again better than the first time. Mick B.
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scoop

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Re: marine modeling international contents
« Reply #49 on: February 17, 2013, 09:54:18 pm »

Hi Scoop, I would like to see some of the work & the layout inside the boat & what can be done to the motors to gain more power & still keep them reliable. I am sure there are a lot of tricks of the trade, thanks, Mick B.
Hi Mick,
March and April 2013 issues of Model Boats mag contain details of boat handling, recognising faults and how to rectify them in the BMPRS News column. I will take on board what you have requested but not every builder uses the same engine bay set up, they seem to find one they are happy with and use it for all boats. Regards tuning etc I will put in the odd bit of info at the end of my race articles as and where space allows.
Cheers
Scoop
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