The "new look" Model Engineer

[Ansty]

Hi all

Received the "new look" ME this morning.

New design plus new larger print. Now, being an old cynic, does this mean that there will be less articles than before especially as they say for this issue they have increased the number of pages? I do hope not.

They say they are responding to readers requests. I must say it is a bit easier to read in my old age!

Brian

[baggo]

Got mine today as well. I also find it much easier to read with my failing eyesight! It's nice to see another 2½" gauge design described at long last (although I am biased!)

John

[ron]

After buying the occasional copy in the newsagent I've taken out a subscription, so I hope the number of articles doesn't get less as it does tend to suffer from the usual speciality magazine problem of too many adverts that never seem to change year in and year out, but I suppose that's how they make their money?
Ron

[baggo]

My collection of ME's is pretty extensive and I've probably got 80% of issues right back to issue 1. It's changed format umpteen times in it's lifetime (which is not surprising I suppose) from A5 up to the present A4. I think it's fair to say that most interests have been represented over the years and the number of articles probably hasn't altered that much. In the early days the emphasis seems to be on electricity, wireless, and tools, with not much on live steam locomotives until LBSC came on the scene. It's very interesting to read some of the early features on Model Engineer's workshops. Most of those described would put a small engineering firm to shame! It was definitely a hobby for the rich in the beginning.
I wonder if the magazine now suffers from lack of contributors? The days of LBSC, Tubal Cain, Edgar Westbury, Geo. Thomas etc. who were the mainstays of ME are long gone and perhaps there just aren't the writers to fill their shoes? Maybe the future of ME lies in our hands?

John

[ron]

John
I think there is also the problem that a lot of model engineers tend to be good at engineering but not so good at writing it down, LBSC although his style is a bit dated nowadays did have a way with words.
Ron

[John Lee]

Thats very true John, gone it seems are the days of the erudite GHT for example, or Professor Craddock.

ME to me these days is about a 20 minute read, unless you happen to be building one of the projects.

I don't have as many copys as you, I have a few early volumes; but it seems to me that the 50's to the early 80's were the halcyon days.

Most articles seem to be "fillers" now, rather than "ahhhh I could be interested in that!!!!!" , because it was superbly written, with enthusiasm, and it taught you something, even if it was not your main interest.

LBSC is my hero too Ron (although you are doing M. Evans Simplex), not a rivet counter, but they do work. See the number of "Maisies" or "Princess Marina" happily going around. Now..what more do you get if you want bigger and better (allegedly).....

Your Simplex is in the LBSC tradition... just get it finished and steam it. Errr its was in the "classic" ME era.... not the superficial "new look" ;D

John

[baggo]

Ron, you've probably hit the nail on the head. In these days of computers, emailing, and texting we don't need to be able to write 'properly' any more. I am quite happy writing an article for a Club magazine or newsletter but I would approach writing an article for ME with some trepidation! As you say, LBSC had a way with words and I could read his articles all day, in fact that's why I have collected most of my old ME's, purely for his writing.

John, I tend to be the same with the modern ME. I usually have a quick glance through and probably only completely read the odd article, usually locomotive related. Letters to a Grandson I don't even bother with except for the odd occasion. Most of the subjects seem to bear little relevance to model engineering! Better suited to a science magazine.

John

[Laurie_B]

My latest copy of ME arrived this morning,and I have to say I quite like the new look.A 'make-over' seems to be the thing these days!

As for the content,I suspect the editorial staff at ME feel that they will never be able to please all of the people all of the time,but I think they do try and present a balanced content.

True,we don't have such legendary figures such as LBSC,Martin Evans,Prof Chaddock,Tubal Cain,Edgar Westbury now,but we do have Keith Wilson (he's produced some very interesting and challenging designs over the years),and some very interesting work emerging from the pen of Neville Evans (Penrose Grange etc).And for stationary engine fans there is the work of Anthony Mount.
Recently there has been some absorbing articles by Tony Griffiths on various machine tools,and not enough material,in my view, from the pen of Peter Rich.More from him please!

The hobby has moved on from the days of LBSC,what with laser and water jet cutting,lost wax castings,CNC controlled machines for the home workshop,kit building and so on.I think old LBSC would have been the first to embrace these innovations as his maxim was to try and make construction of miniature locos as easy as possible.

So,all in all I think ME is still a good read,and now even more colourful!My subscription will definitely be continuing!

[Jo]

Sorry, I do not like the new look.

Four columns per page makes it seem like a cheap newspaper rather than a technical magasine. Most of the quality magasines I subscribe to went for two columns when they increased to font size, not four to increase the amount of white space.

Having been sad enough to count words per line/lines per page even with the extra pages we have lost 4% of the original area for written material. If they reduce back to the original number of pages that means that we will have lost nearly 25% of the content.

I look forward to the subscriptions reducing by the 25% to even things out......

Jo

[modeng2000]

I must agree with you Jo. I do prefer 3 columns to 4 but as you say, there could be an ulterior motive. However the type face is clearer and no doubt helps those with waning sight.

John

[the_viffer]

laurieb said:

...Recently there has been some absorbing articles by Tony Griffiths on various machine tools...

But aren't they heavily based on info available from his splendid website www.lathes.co.uk ?

I don't often get ME these days but I was given one which included an article about Colchesters. I don't recall much that wasn't available for nowt on his website.

[John Lee]

You have hit the nail on the head t-v

Much of what is appearing now is either regurgitated information from elsewhere, soft sells (see the article on the metal bender in the related MEW for February, describing mainly the advantages of this design, and then the adverts appear) or as Baggo says, things belonging in a science magazine.

I would not have said it a few years ago, but EIM is now, after a lot of years, overtaking ME as the read of choice IMHO.

I don't know about others, but what I want to see is designs, tooling ideas, how to overcome problems (I will post one soon!! ) etc etc

Perhaps they have run out of practical engineers who can string two words together, and are not totally commercialy orientated.

A few on here could certainly rectify that

John

[the_viffer]

johnleepbs said:

You have hit the nail on the head t-v

You are not my wife and I claim my five pounds.

[dscott]

I prefer E.I.M. what a selection of models to choose from, I pass 3205 twice a day as I drive through Buckfastleigh but not my size in 7 1/4" Then thers the B.R. standard class 4. Shame Ive got so many of my own projects but the M.E. does get a look in sometimes.
Best to photocopy A4 toA3 for a good read without glasses.

David.

[albertsell]

I have to agree with jo,I dont like the 4 columns and first thoughts- what is this rubbish I have subscribed to.
Albert

[gugger]

The standard of the contents in the ME is defined by the number and quality of the articles supplied by the readers for publishing.
Walter

[Nexuas]

Remember they pay for articles so get your pens out and write something you would expect others would want to read.

Being a locomotive fan, I would like there to be more coverage of exhibitions or club open days etc... The only time you see a number of model locos featured in one issue is the IMLEC write ups. I know this could soon turn into the same old, same old, but I am sure this would take a while there must be thousands of completed models around the country and we all can't get to see them in the flesh.

I am undecided on the new layout, and reserve judgement till the next issue to see how it fairs with the reduced number of pages v content.

Being a new comer to the hobby, it would be nice for them to run some articles on the basics of machining. Maybe working up to more complex operations. (I liked the article on making the curved corner fairings for tenders, but have no idea how to go about producing the curved arc on a lathe...) Gone are the days of most school leavers going into engineering, most don't do any form of metalwork at school (I didn't), and so people need to be shown the basics before they can get into the hobby???

[Smifffy]

"Being a new comer to the hobby, it would be nice for them to run some articles on the basics of machining. Maybe working up to more complex operations. (I liked the article on making the curved corner fairings for tenders, but have no idea how to go about producing the curved arc on a lathe...) Gone are the days of most school leavers going into engineering, most don't do any form of metalwork at school (I didn't), and so people need to be shown the basics before they can get into the hobby??? "

Have you put that suggestion to them ? I have and I'm sure that they want to hear from their readers and try to meet their needs. Nowadays with email, there really is no excuse for not writing to the editors.

Personally, I think it's a great mag - sometimes the contents have little of interest to me, but more often than not there is something that makes my subscription worhtwhile.

Mark

[Myford Matt]

In my day job I'm a magazine editor - mostly professional medical/nursing titles. I have some sympathy with the current editor. Readers expect glossy paper, full colour and professional layout, coupled with a constant supply of fresh an interesting articles. All of which has to support an advertising subscription/newsstand base. It's very difficult to make a profit in publishing - knock out print, distribution, retailer and editorial costs and you're not left with a lot. That said, I do think ME makes a lot of fundamental mistakes.

First, it really does not merit being fortnightly. Cut out the fillers and copious padding and you really are not left with a great deal of true model engineering. When they were a weekly, articles on clocks, radio control, scale boats were a good idea, but nowadays there is a magazine for every conceivable interest and they should stick to what it says on the cover (as in EIM).

Second, they face a serious challenge from 'us' - well the internet. We can find so much useful info and help online that ME is no longer the sole authoritative resource that it used to be. They need to get online and reinvent themselves as a web resource - they have thousands of articles and models just gathering dust. Magicalia may be more imaginative here.

Third, they have covered almost every conceivable topic probably three or four times during the century they have been in print and much of the copy from the thirties onwards is now easy to get hold of via ebay. So being original is difficult, but they should make a virtue of a necessity, look back and see what worked and was popular and update projects and tools.

What to do? They should play to their strengths and follow the example of EIM - a good steady supply of projects, mostly locos and stationary engines. They can only print what they are supplied with, but they don't seem to be very proactive in looking for new ideas and authors. They should also have a constant supply of authoritative 'how to dos' - like Geometer, Ways and Means or Duplex.

A redesign is easy, but it won't save them from an ageing readership and good competition.

I like ME, it's flawed, but still produces some nice articles. I just wish it didn't print so much hot air and waffle. For some reason 'Letter to a Grandson' seems to annoy me...

MM

[chris vine]

Hi MM,

One of the things I find annoying about some ME articles is when they start off in great detail before telling the background IE what the tool/gizmo is for or how it works.

An article with the first sentence "The woggle sprocket is cut from a piece of 1/2" steel plate......." makes me skip to the next page.

Grumpily
Chris.