Magazine MRJ Thread
- Thread starter 28ten
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Dan Randall
Western Thunderer
The MRJ thread
I too found it a rather disappointing issue and it takes a lot to disappoint me when it comes to the MRJ. :cry:
The whole issue seemed to have a very heavy early Northern slant to it, which is great if you're in to that kind of thing, but which won't please everybody. It?s not that I dislike railways of the North as such, I just prefer to see them modelled in BR days, with lots of 16t minerals, 12t vans and Mk1s to drool over.
It?s the same with any part of the country for me ? I always prefer stuff in the BR period.
I think the problem is that with this "guest editor" business (sorry, I'd not heard of this guy before 
), the content is very much geared to the interests of the guest editor and perhaps, to a certain extent, who his chums are.
I dare say, if I were given the opportunity to don the green visor (not that I'd want to), the whole issue would have a very heavy WR bias (steam & diesel). Again, this wouldn't please everyone, though it might go down a storm with the members on here! :lol:
I think the ideal solution has to be a mixture of regions and timescales and perhaps, a permanent editor again? To a certain extent though, this may be dependant on the available submissions at the time.
Given some of the excellent stuff that?s gone before, I think the MRJ can be excused the occasional lacklustre issue. I wonder if they have anything special planned for the 200th?
Regards
Dan
28ten said:
I too found it a rather disappointing issue and it takes a lot to disappoint me when it comes to the MRJ. :cry:
The whole issue seemed to have a very heavy early Northern slant to it, which is great if you're in to that kind of thing, but which won't please everybody. It?s not that I dislike railways of the North as such, I just prefer to see them modelled in BR days, with lots of 16t minerals, 12t vans and Mk1s to drool over.
It?s the same with any part of the country for me ? I always prefer stuff in the BR period.
I think the problem is that with this "guest editor" business (sorry, I'd not heard of this guy before ), the content is very much geared to the interests of the guest editor and perhaps, to a certain extent, who his chums are.I dare say, if I were given the opportunity to don the green visor (not that I'd want to), the whole issue would have a very heavy WR bias (steam & diesel). Again, this wouldn't please everyone, though it might go down a storm with the members on here! :lol:
I think the ideal solution has to be a mixture of regions and timescales and perhaps, a permanent editor again? To a certain extent though, this may be dependant on the available submissions at the time.
Given some of the excellent stuff that?s gone before, I think the MRJ can be excused the occasional lacklustre issue. I wonder if they have anything special planned for the 200th?
Regards
Dan
P
Puds
Guest
The MRJ thread
A very uninspiring issue, and I fully agree on the above.
Editor means exactly that, you're purpose/role is to edit others work, not your own, nor your friends! For some time now people have said MRJ is becomming cliquey, and it really is.
One interesting quote from the Lowburn Park article is this........
"This layout is not of the sort usually featured in this magazine. There are no grand schemes, no big express engines pulling long trains through sweeping scenery, no new inventive techinques and definetly no cutting edge modelling."
.......and it makes you wonder what many a modellers perception of MRJ is these days. Certainly isn't the inspirational mag that it used to be in it's earlier days, when it contained a dozen articles, several being of the shows-you-how variety!
My issue came with the renewal document enclosed, and I'm seriously wondering whether to bother filling it in!
A very uninspiring issue, and I fully agree on the above.
Editor means exactly that, you're purpose/role is to edit others work, not your own, nor your friends! For some time now people have said MRJ is becomming cliquey, and it really is.
One interesting quote from the Lowburn Park article is this........
"This layout is not of the sort usually featured in this magazine. There are no grand schemes, no big express engines pulling long trains through sweeping scenery, no new inventive techinques and definetly no cutting edge modelling."
.......and it makes you wonder what many a modellers perception of MRJ is these days. Certainly isn't the inspirational mag that it used to be in it's earlier days, when it contained a dozen articles, several being of the shows-you-how variety!
My issue came with the renewal document enclosed, and I'm seriously wondering whether to bother filling it in!
28ten
Guv'nor
The MRJ thread
It doesnt appear to be the force it once was, but in the 25 odd years i have been buying it I have changed as well :scratch: what was new back in the 80's is now everyday modelling and it is that much harder for any magazine to wow the reader, I dunno.... I buy by because I have always bought it but like you I do wonder why by now
Puds said:
It doesnt appear to be the force it once was, but in the 25 odd years i have been buying it I have changed as well :scratch: what was new back in the 80's is now everyday modelling and it is that much harder for any magazine to wow the reader, I dunno.... I buy by because I have always bought it but like you I do wonder why by now
Simon
Flying Squad
The MRJ thread
I would tend to agree that this isn't one of the best MRJs, not helped by an odd "colour cast" to the pictures - all too brown I think.
I too find the earlier issues generally more compelling, although as Cynric says both the world and I have changed since the halcyon days of double breasted suits and Mrs Thatcher :shock:
I also worry (in my case) that a lot of what I think is coloured by nostalgia for "then", whenever "then" was.
But then I look at the other magazines and still think that MRJ still does a stunnning job, most of the time.
I can confirm that issue 200 should please those present here, knowing as I do who the editor will be, although having said that the two features for that issue that I am aware of are quite "lateral" from a WR perspective
Of course more I cannot not say for fear of being dragged off to a shed near Didcot and being beaten over the head with wet kippers and out of date "Railex" advertising copy until I agree that a certain show near Aylesbury is the true show, the right show, in fact the only show that I should ever want to see :twisted:
I would tend to agree that this isn't one of the best MRJs, not helped by an odd "colour cast" to the pictures - all too brown I think.
I too find the earlier issues generally more compelling, although as Cynric says both the world and I have changed since the halcyon days of double breasted suits and Mrs Thatcher :shock:
I also worry (in my case) that a lot of what I think is coloured by nostalgia for "then", whenever "then" was.
But then I look at the other magazines and still think that MRJ still does a stunnning job, most of the time.
I can confirm that issue 200 should please those present here, knowing as I do who the editor will be, although having said that the two features for that issue that I am aware of are quite "lateral" from a WR perspective
Of course more I cannot not say for fear of being dragged off to a shed near Didcot and being beaten over the head with wet kippers and out of date "Railex" advertising copy until I agree that a certain show near Aylesbury is the true show, the right show, in fact the only show that I should ever want to see :twisted:
Steve Cook
Flying Squad
MRJ 200
Thanks for sending me a copy by 'express pigeon' from Bath, much appreciated
Steve
Cheers SimonSimon said:
Thanks for sending me a copy by 'express pigeon' from Bath, much appreciated
Steve
Simon
Flying Squad
Is now out.
Guest editor Steve Hall, liked the editorial and a nice mixture of mainly constructional articles including second part of Robin Whittle's amazing laser etched Barrow Road.
Layoutwise, Steve Hall details progress on his huge 4mm West Riding project which reminded me of the late David Jenkinson's "Little Long Drag".
It also makes me wonder whether my whole G1 thing isn't more than I will ever cope with, but then the journey is just as enjoying as the arriving - I think :lol:
Guest editor Steve Hall, liked the editorial and a nice mixture of mainly constructional articles including second part of Robin Whittle's amazing laser etched Barrow Road.
Layoutwise, Steve Hall details progress on his huge 4mm West Riding project which reminded me of the late David Jenkinson's "Little Long Drag".
It also makes me wonder whether my whole G1 thing isn't more than I will ever cope with, but then the journey is just as enjoying as the arriving - I think :lol:
Dan Randall
Western Thunderer
MRJ 201
I discovered mine propped against the window of the front porch about 9 o'clock last night!
Our Postman is such a twat - he never comes before about 2 o'clock in the afternoon and despite the fact we have a doorbell, he just leaves packages and things outside, when on many occasions, there was someone there to answer the door. One day, he delivered a valuable package containing some jewellery that had to be signed for, but on this occasion, nobody was home, so he signed it himself with an anonymous squiggle and just left it outside the door! Luckily it was still there when someone came home.
Anyway, regarding the MRJ, it looks like another good one, though nowhere near as good as number 200!
Regards
Dan
I discovered mine propped against the window of the front porch about 9 o'clock last night!
Our Postman is such a twat - he never comes before about 2 o'clock in the afternoon and despite the fact we have a doorbell, he just leaves packages and things outside, when on many occasions, there was someone there to answer the door. One day, he delivered a valuable package containing some jewellery that had to be signed for, but on this occasion, nobody was home, so he signed it himself with an anonymous squiggle and just left it outside the door! Luckily it was still there when someone came home.
Anyway, regarding the MRJ, it looks like another good one, though nowhere near as good as number 200!
Regards
Dan
Captain Kernow
Western Thunderer
MRJ 201
Our postman tries to be helpful as well, but he's never forged our signature so far, and if he ever did, I don't think I would be very happy...Dan Randall said:so he signed it himself with an anonymous squiggle and just left it outside the door! Luckily it was still there when someone came home.
28ten
Guv'nor
MRJ 205
My good lady brought me a copy home today, and I have to say i was pleasantly surprised after a couple of really poor issues. Totnes is simply stunning and really does show what can be done in 2mm/n, I think Barry Norman would make a rather good editor as he seems to have compiled a well balanced selection of articles
My good lady brought me a copy home today, and I have to say i was pleasantly surprised after a couple of really poor issues. Totnes is simply stunning and really does show what can be done in 2mm/n, I think Barry Norman would make a rather good editor as he seems to have compiled a well balanced selection of articles
Dan Randall
Western Thunderer
MRJ 205
Definitely a much better issue than the previous one, though my most recent "favourite", has to be No. 200 edited by Gerry Beale and with a strong Western Region/GWR theme.
I'm reading the "St. Merryn" article at the moment and if you find this interesting, or simply like the pictures, I can thoroughly recommend the book describing how they built the layout.
http://www.scalefour.org/eshop/eshop.html
Regardless of which scale, era or region you model, it would be ten quid very well spent.
Barry Norman would also get my vote for a long term stint in the Editor's chair (unless Gerry Beale could be persuaded to have another go!).
I'm en-route to Paddington at the moment and have the current issue in front of me. I see on the Editorial page that issue No.206 is due out on 7th April - that's today....
Regards
Dan
28ten said:
Definitely a much better issue than the previous one, though my most recent "favourite", has to be No. 200 edited by Gerry Beale and with a strong Western Region/GWR theme.
I'm reading the "St. Merryn" article at the moment and if you find this interesting, or simply like the pictures, I can thoroughly recommend the book describing how they built the layout.
http://www.scalefour.org/eshop/eshop.html
Regardless of which scale, era or region you model, it would be ten quid very well spent.
Barry Norman would also get my vote for a long term stint in the Editor's chair (unless Gerry Beale could be persuaded to have another go!).
I'm en-route to Paddington at the moment and have the current issue in front of me. I see on the Editorial page that issue No.206 is due out on 7th April - that's today....
Regards
Dan
S
Simon Dunkley
Guest
MRJ 205
He'd be quite interested in a "managing editor" role, where he oversaw things whilst still having guest editors for each issue. To my mind, this would be an excellent idea, as it would get continuity between issues, yet have interesting variety as well.
Barry wouldn't want to do it - I know, I asked him.Dan Randall said:
He'd be quite interested in a "managing editor" role, where he oversaw things whilst still having guest editors for each issue. To my mind, this would be an excellent idea, as it would get continuity between issues, yet have interesting variety as well.
28ten
Guv'nor
I picked up a copy in smiths this morning and I am most pleased to say the imptovement shown in the last issue has carried over to this one
Some excellent buildings by Trevor Nunn, and a lovely layout by Peter Kazer although I was strangely unmoved by the centre spread of D1011 - it just didnt do it for me.
Barry Norman would certainly get my vote for editor based on the last two issues
Some excellent buildings by Trevor Nunn, and a lovely layout by Peter Kazer although I was strangely unmoved by the centre spread of D1011 - it just didnt do it for me.
Barry Norman would certainly get my vote for editor based on the last two issues
