MRJ 200

[bogusman]

Hi Guys
Sorry I haven't posted anything lately but between an operation and in the process of being made redundant I have only just finished the collett goods chassis mechanically and been running it in on the rolling road . I hope to put some more photos on the site soon.
Anyhow I was wondering what you guys think of the latest MRJ (200) as i think it is one of the best for quite a long time and reminds me of the early days where I just couldn't wait for the next quarterly one to arrive .

Regards
Pete

 

[adrian]

Hi Guys
Anyhow I was wondering what you guys think of the latest MRJ (200) as i think it is one of the best for quite a long time and reminds me of the early days where I just couldn't wait for the next quarterly one to arrive .

I can't wait to get the latest MRJ, I have always found articles or photo's of interest in each issue so I wouldn't consider any issue to be "poor", just different. That said I'm a little ambivalent with MRJ (200) [sic], I suppose I was just hoping for some undiscovered magnum opus for the "celebration issue"!

It was nice to see some of the background to Bristol Barrow Road and I liked the articles on the waggon etches and Chris Pendleton's article on the coaches, but 12 pages on modifying RTR 2-8-0's didn't really enthral me. I don't know about any one else but I found it a little disjointed, the last bits of articles finished off in later pages such that when I got to the signal for Maiden Newton I had to check it wasn't a continuation of the 4mm telegraph pole article ( the lineside clutter all looks the same to me!).

Still a thoroughly enjoyable issue which I shall enjoy digesting over the next couple of weeks.
Adrian

 

[28ten]

I take Adrians points, but from my (Western) point of view it was something of a return to form for MRJ. I found myself nodding in agreement with the editors musings, I wouldn't go as far as contemplating 4mm, but he is so right about layout building in 7mm.
The other sobering thought for me is that I have been buying it from issue 8 and my modelling has grown alongside the magazine for the last 25 years

 

[bogusman]

Hi CME
Just a short overview
Mineral wagons by Craig Welsh (using his under frame etches)
Editors musings Gerry Beal (VERY WESTERN FLAVOUR)
GWR bracket signal by Karl Crowther (very nice)
A western 8F by Chris Pendlenton and Gerry Beal (long article but interesting)
Barrow road shed by Robin Whittle
These are just some of the article's in this months MRJ to give you a taster.
I must admit Adrian is quite correct by saying that some of the article's are disjointed but all the same it is still a very good issue.

Regards
Pete

 

[28ten]

The other interesting theme runing through the issue us the issue of RTR stock because of the time taken to build 'finescale' kits, having finished a couple of highly detailed kits I can quite understand this point of view as I simply don't have the time to build everything to the standard I would wish.

 

[Dikitriki]

Hi

I found it a bit of an odd issue. I really don't expect a significant chunk of MRJ to be given up to RTR conversions, however good they are: I somehow see MRJ as being more cutting edge, pushing the boundaries. I was disappointed with the Barrow Road shed article, but only because there was so much more that could have come out than did - perhaps it was too early in its life cycle for publication.

I was impressed with the photographs comparing the RTR Hall with the Finney one. My, how far RTR standards have risen since Albert Hall. I liked Craig Welsh's work too, I wish he did them in 7mm scale.

And as for the problems of reasonably sized finescale indoor 7mm scale layouts....that's worth a thread in itself. I was nodding at every word, except I do just about have the space and resources to undertake such a project. Good job I was so naive when I started the project - ignorance is bliss I think.

Richard

 

[Dan Randall]

I liked Craig Welsh's work too, I wish he did them in 7mm scale.

Richard - I started drawing artwork about 3 years ago for some etched 7mm brake gear to replace the rather clunky stuff that Slater's insist on including with their rather nice wagon kits. It's about time I pulled my finger out and got it finished....... :lol:


Regards

Dan

 

[28ten]

+ 1

I havent got a full collection of MRJ's yet on the whole they have inspired me no end, I know other may not agree, yet I enjoyed it when Tim Shackleton was Editor.

Cheers CME :wave:

My totally unscientific impression was that Western and O gauge had less coverage under Tim Shackleton, although I am probably totally wrong statistically

 

[bogusman]

I must admit that there are some articles I would like to see in the MRJ so I mentioned this to Paul Karau when I saw him. His answer to me was that they are always open to new articles that are submitted to them :scratch: . From what I have seen on this forum there are enough quality models that are good enough for the MRJ so why not drop wild swan a line to see if you get a nibble

Pete

 

[Simon]

A great issue I think.

I liked the editorial and completely agree that the hobby owes Paul Karau a huge debt of thanks for his unstinting efforts with MRJ, not to mention the rest of Wild Swan's prodigious output in both books and magazines.

The day that Paul bungs the typewriter in the skip and puts away the cow gum and scissors will be a sad one for our hobby. I would have thought this is quite likely at some point as he may well want to get back to some modelling before he falls off his perch.

I do not know Paul and don't intend to imply any imminent changes, but.................

If it were to happen then quo vadis MRJ? If the title were sold on then it would be bound to change dramatically, or perhaps it would just stop?

Anyway, speculation apart, I thought Graig Welsh [sic] wrote a superb article on etched wagon bits, an example of great modelling and very good writing, both in terms of grammar and readability. He is a completely new contributor and I'm sure we'll be seeing more from him in MRJ - well done Craig.

I also liked the way that the magazine juxtaposed two completely differing if not downright opposing approaches to modifying RTR within its pages, with Roy Jackson's pragmatic O4 on the one hand and Chris Pendlenton's more engineered chassis for Gerry's 8F on the other, either a great piece of editorship or a happy accident :lol:

Then there was that fantastic GW van in 7mm (why oh why is Gauge One so generally crap ) but of course there was then Steve Cook's lovely Dungeness Siding to show that even Gauge One can sometimes get its act together :shock:

As for Gerry's comments re scales, well yes, but that's what garden's are for isn't it?

Plus the signal, a wicked pairing of Hornby versus Martin Finney locos, photos of old Bristol and those beautifully shot gangwayed mk 1s

As I have said before, MRJ has got to be one of the most worthwhile ways of spending ?3.75 known to mankind

Let's enjoy it while its still going.....

 

[28ten]

MRJ wouldnt be the same if the title was aquired by another publisher. For all its little quirks its the only modelling mag i buy.