O-Scale Trains Magazine

I received a new issue, within the last month. I just sent my subscription renewal in this week.

They are indeed in business.  Martin spent several hours last week taking photos of my layout for an article.

Wes

I can find it in the hobbyshop in Strasburg, but it definitely is not easy to find on most

newstands.....

Mine came in the mail yesterday.

Wes

Glad to hear that. Its about time your impressive layout gets some press!

A round robin group of us all got ours.  tt

It's currently available at SE PA Barnes & Noble bookstores.

I have to wonder about the viability of the magazine when 4 pages are devoted to setting up tables at the Strasburg meet and only one 4" by 5" picture makes it into the Modelers' Showcase.

Ed

That's too bad. I hope it survives. I buy it occasionaly.

Survival depends on three things:

subscriptions

submissions

enthusiasm of the publishing crew.

The way I figure it, two thirds of that are up to us.  I would love to see a move toward a less formal presentation, where less talented modelers can contribute.  But that model died with OSN.

Chris,

You are being a bit harsh and it is unwarranted.

Ed

The owner & publisher died this past year, and his wife and friends are trying to get OST back to normal.

Great little magazine, especially for us two-railers. I wish them well, and hope they not only survive, but also grow, with more pages each issue, and more subscribers.

Jeff

Thank you, Chris. 

We have skipped 1 issue, just 1, and have been on time, business as usual for our subscribers since that singular event.  That we have been willing to shoulder the operations through a reconstruction and discovery process should define our willingness to keep a publication going that we believe to be of value to this community. 

Content comes directly from this community and not from some shadowy staff of writers or from some magical domain.  Instead of being a critic of the content, try being being constructive and being a contributor which would be more supportive of this publication.  I have delivered my columns, 2 layout shoots, and 2 full articles in the past 3 months and have recently discussed at least 4 proposed articles with authors in the past week. 

However, the simple true of the matter is that we will always need authors and articles that span the range of entry level basic fundamental topics and simple hints up through to specialized construction and electronics as well as reviews of new products.  That has to come from this community, and this magazine lives and breathes on your support and action. 

I would love to see a move toward a less formal presentation, where less talented modelers can contribute.

I really have no idea upon what basis or from what reality you make that statement, Bob. 

All modelers(!!!) that have an idea for an article or an article for the magazine are strongly encouraged to contact Brian or myself.

I have seen no discernible difference in the presentation of articles, photos or information in the past few issues. The transformation (Joe- no Joe) has been incredibly seamless in my book which is a credit to all of the talented and dedicated people bringing this magazine to us.

Each magazine has its own personality and I expect OST will evolve somewhat as it has done since day one. I only hope Brian, Martin, Jani and the rest of the crew have the energy, desire and health to continue bringing us such a great magazine. I'm sure this is no simple process.

Butch

I'd like to pare Bob2s three points of magazine success down to one...that being submittals. A publisher can't sell blank paper, and if there's nothing to publish, the subscribers go away. I'll state that Bob's other two items are quite important as an "involved" publisher can pick up quite a bit of slack when things are slim, but that too can only go so far. So, I'd suggest the best bet is to write up what you can and know. The publisher will be very happy to receive fill-pieces just as much as full-length articles. It takes a variety of items to blend into an interesting magazine, even setting up tables at York. Remember, too, that if everyone wrote in articles on refineries and tank farms, the bulk of the readers would think the magazine is favoring "big" oil - or coal - or agriculture (fill in your topic).

MWB, would you email me at oldtown24@charter.net   Thanks!

Neil  

And us 3-railers too

I miss reading Joes thoughts on battery control and haven't even been over to the forum lately, shame on me

The couple of articles I've written/submitted have been to the S-CL Modeler, only because of the close affiliation with the Seaboard Air Line.  If I ever get around to another project, I'll let you know Martin and maybe we can "tune it" for publication in OST.

O Scale Trains is a fairly formal magazine.  It has its beauty, and I appreciate all that Joe and his fine staff have done.

I have written several articles that have been published.  Joe told me exactly what format would be required, and I happily adhered to that format.  My other choice was to not submit anything.

O Scale News, especially in the beginning when Dan Henon ran the show, would print anything in any format.  It was really newsy.  Folks did not hesitate to take a photo of a doorstop, and submit it.  Dan would even print spelling and grammatical errors.  It had a different charm.

Normally I would say there is room for all philosophies, but there really isn't.  OST is all we have, and if we want it to continue, we have to subscribe and contribute.  It is unlikely that there will ever be a second O Scale 2-rail magazine.

Opinion.

Bravo, Chris and Martin!!  Joe was the "Right Stuff" in my book.  And his wife and close friends who have rallied around the magazine to ensure it not only survives but thrives are the "Right Stuff" in my book.  I eagerly await each and every issue of O Scale Trains  -- same as I eagerly await every issue of O Gauge Trains.  For me the combination of the two mags more completely covers the spectrum of my interests in the hobby than either does by itself.

  I look forward to every issue. I miss even the fact that Joe's RR won't be moving forward. I thought it was becoming a work of art. I never felt worthy of publishing my attempts when there are so many more talented people doing great things. I have always felt like two railers were an underground breed that weren't into public displays of their stash. So seeing each issue was a treasure for me. Kind of a invited look into the private RR's of some of these guys.

 My favorite column besides each model layout visit, was from Gene. I think it ended? I hope the mag can continue into the future. I know I've been influenced by it.  I personally think the two rail side is ( or could be) getting bigger again with current product releases. Always seems to be a set back in every road traveled.