Before I retired, I used to purchase (always at the LHS - I usually bought other stuff at the same time, too) Model Railroader, Railroad Model Craftsman, Trains, Railfan, Classic Trains, and Mainline Modeler. All of these cost considerably more than they do in the U.S., where they're printed, so, as retirement approached, I took a long, hard look at this selection, with an eye to saving some money. Trains seemed to be drifting further and further away from the aspects of prototype railroading that interested me, and after D.P. Morgan's passing, even the writing didn't appeal, so it was dropped. Likewise for Railfan, which was dropped several years prior. Mainline Modeler, at about $9.00 an issue, was relegated to only those issues which had something
really useful, and the magazine's demise ended that habit. Classic Trains, which is issued quarterly, is still of interest to me, so I still purchase it. That left MR and RMC.
While MR is an extremely attractive product, it seems to have drifted away from being a modeller's magazine to being a purchaser's magazine: i.e. r-t-r, high tech, mega layouts, and lets-make-a-buck by repackaging and selling older articles from previous issues. There is still a lot of good modelling on display there, but the whole magazine is just a little too slick for my tastes.
RMC has always seemed like MR's hick country cousin: A little rough around the edges, (and definitely in need of better proof-reading)
, but it's always been a modeller's magazine. They continue to run excellent multi-issue articles on prototype industries, then follow up with modelling ideas. If you're interested in learning more about steam-era freight cars, check out Ted Culotta's excellent monthly pieces on "Essential Freight Cars", with lots of background info and prototype photos, plus some real knock-your-eyes-out modelling. Or for scratchbuilders, both novice and expert, Bob Walker's "Scratchbuilder's Corner", dealing with materials, tools, techniques, and helpful tips. There's a monthly column, "Collector Consist", dealing with the history of model trains, and not just in North America. And there are always layout tours: some pretty large and impressive, and some pretty small, but equally impressive in their own way. And do-able by guys like us, without mega-budgets. :-D The editorial content varies (they often have guest editorialists), but is invariably down-to-earth and knowledgeable, like talking with another modeller in a good hobby shop, friendly and personal.
Model Railroader may
inspire you, with it's excellent full-colour layouts, to be a better modeller. However, I think that Railroad Model Craftsman will better
teach you how to be that better modeller. Just my opinion, though.
Wayne
