Model Engineer – Editorial direction

Don't know if we're talking about the same magazine, but my sentiments echo yours. Maybe there's only so much that can be written on one subject ?

Picking up the points by Harry and Daniel, perhaps there is another aspect of all of this we should perhaps think about.

When you know something, or you have developed a skill, continued practice takes you through a cycle where you begin as a beginner and are a bit lost. Then you get into it a bit and find you can see what this new world is all about. Then you begin to increase your skills and knowledge, until one day you discover that, in the case of, say, a model engineer, you have the confidence to be able to tackle most things in the workshop (I didn't say anything about the standard of the result...).

You begin to develop insights, and a deeper understanding until, finally, you become a Zen master.

Without the detail, this roughly follows a well-known description of the learning process.

But I would say that at each stage ME, MEW and EIM are a crucial aid to learning.

The small dissatisfactions with the magazines may simply be a reflection of the feeling that you are having to look down, from the Zen position, and see little new or challenging. There are, though, those occasional nuggets which provide a different view of this world, and introduce some new knowledge or techniques. For there is no Zen, really, just a continued journey.

Oh; and it is accepted practice for those who achieve enlightenment (at any level of the process) to return their knowledge to those who might benefit from it. None of us know, or will ever know, everything, and we all benefit from the knowledge and skills of others. For me, the Master in the early days was GH Thomas, and there have been two or three others over the course of many years. I have learned a lot from them; and would not have known any of it if they had not shared it in the magazines.

I said earlier, as did others, that I had been reading old copies of ME form the halcyon days of the 30s to 60s. Halcyon? Actually, no; I really don't think so. So much has changed that most of what is written in those early volumes seems somewhat lacking compared to what we have seen in, say, the last 5 years of current magazines. The technology has changed; the equipment in a typical workshop has changed dramatically; and the standard of today's average and best quality models is light years ahead of what was going on then.

All of that takes us much, much further and makes us much more capable. And it was all because of the magazines. So; while I might be disappointed in some of the content, some of the months, I know that over a period of time I will be able to look back and be satisfied that I learned something. In fact I will be glad. So I won't be failing to renew my subs.

Marcus

27 replies before the inevitable "if you don't like the content, write your own" statement popped up !

I posted a similar sort of lament a number of years ago about MEW under the previous editor & got the same sort of reply so, after taking the first 210 or so issues of MEW on subscription, I quit. I had already dropped ME a couple of years before that for similar reasons to those initially stated.

I appreciate that there are new editors of both publications now, but the same business model is in place by the publisher and it appears to me that this is the basic problem. The editors are constrained by the publisher & until the publisher changes tune and employs staff writers (like most other mainstream periodicals) to generate content, rather than rely upon the "club magazine" format of the readership supplying the content, I am unlikely to return. I regularly pick up copies of both in the "WHS Reading Room", but have yet to feel sufficiently interested to buy a copy - that others are happy with the current situation suggests that I am in a minority (or am I ?).

I just voted for Diane by renewing my subscription!

I don't buy the magazine because it perfectly matches my tastes, I buy it because I am generally interested in what others like me are doing. I like people who make or know about ram-jets, clocks, accessories, engines, boats, radio control, fixing stuff, restoration, aircraft, industry best practice and all things similar. I like the history of technology and I enjoy reading about plans, methods, tools, materials, performance, tribulations, exhibitions and club news.

Not all editions are equally interesting to me, nor do I expect them to be. And there's always a risk that I might drift away as interests change. Like others I have a small collection of ME dating from 1919. The old magazines reflect what the majority were contributing at the time: in 1919 it was Wireless! In the 1940s model boats, internal combustion engines and model aircraft were much more popular than they are today. Then there was a time when the pages of ME were dominated by traction engines. At the time these shifts in emphasis pleased many and thoroughly annoyed others. One thing has never changed - guilty or not it's the poor old editor who takes the flak.

Cheers,

Dave

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Forget the moderator tag at the side, I am entitled to and do have a personal opinion.

Does anyone else see the TOTAL  hypocrisy in Nigel's remarks above ?

Openly states that he no longer subscribes to either of the magazines, admits to going into WH Smitt and company to read but not buy the magazine and then has the gall to come on here and say how things should be run and force his views onto the rest who have a right to be here ?

Why don't we bring back the old reader's help voucher system when you had to quote a coupon number of of the mag to get a help query published.

[edit] Added TOTAL  hypocrisy to the post

Edited By John Stevenson on 15/03/2016 21:57:56

.... and what? He therefore has no right to voice an opinion even, dare I say it, a complaint? Clive's (and others) contribution is to buy the magazine - and that, in my book gives him at least as much right as anyone else involved to say what he thinks.

I always find the argument "if you can't do any better you can't complain" so specious. I can't lay bricks, but if a have a bricklayer build a wall and that wall then collapses, I will most certainly complain. He's presenting himself as a professional and taking my money for doing the job. I don't see that editors are any different (albeit, I'm arguing in the abstract here - I don't read ME at all and haven't read MEW much in the last few years so I don't really know how Diane and Neil do).

Clive was actually castigating Diane for not chasing people to get them to contribute; I don't think he can complain if he then gets chased!

Notwithstanding Nigel's perspective, ME and MEW are very much magazines written by their readers, and I know both Diane and I see them as a 'virtual club'. This forum is our clubhouse and the Exhibition is our big get-together.

It's interesting how popular this forum is seeing as its written largely by readers without ANY editing. And this forum is VERY popular if you compare its web rankings with other websites for model engineering and similar hobbies.

Anyone who doesn't ship over Smoke Rings when reading back-issues will know that this is exactly how Percival Marshall thought, indeed he had the notion of a 'worldwide brotherhood of model engineers' bound together by ME. I think this forum probably realises that idea more than ever.

There is no obligation on any reader to write for the magazines. But the majority of people who write for them ARE readers and naturally new authors are most likely to come from the readership.

I would urge everyone who has waded into this debate without reading the magazines within the last few years to go out and buy a copy of each. In fact I think some copies of ME in WHS will have a free MEW packed with them this month, so you can see both magazines on the cheap!

You may actually be surprised by what you find between the covers.

Neil

Actually that was Julian, who I might add, with his wealth of experience is probably far more capable than I at making a worthwhile contribution to ME.

Clive

I think the concept of a "virtual club" is an excellent one, and this website, most of the time is indeed a VC. I subscribe to MEW and generally enjoy it, of course there are some bits that I don't enjoy, 3D stuff and CNC stuff in particular, but that's my problem. It's not the fault of the magazine that occasionally there is an article or two that doesn't float my boat. ME magazine doesn't appeal, mainly because I'm not into steam, sooo 19th century!! Just joking.

The amount of help and advice that's available on this forum is amazing, got me out of the mire on several occasions.

I suppose that it goes with the territory but some members of this virtual club still surprise me with their lack of humour, thin skin and general pomposity. But it's all grist to the mill. There are always the others who frequently write something of real interest, or make me laugh out loud. Just like a Real club really, I suppose!!

keep up the good work

cheers

Bill

I'm with Bill P.

IMHO, some members need a chill pill

Thanks Diane and Neil for a great duo of mags of which I have also just renewed my sub for.

Regards

Bruce

I purchase MEW from my local newsagent. Apart from the subscription 'horror stories' that regularly surface, in a small town the local newsagent is handy to have around so don't mind waiting for my 'reserved' copy and help keep the local economy going.

As for the cheapskates that think that the local newsagent is a free reading library, sometimes it is difficult to get past them to even see which magazines are in, and then one has to buy a second hand copy with all grubby piggy finger marks - yukk!

ME is a different (personal) thing, nothing wrong with it but I'm not into steam (we do have an excellent local club - Lake Hume Model Engineers) although occasional issues do have something of interest (I still remember the Jones I.C. engine article) so purchase as required. Upcoming content read about 'online' btw.

What actually does concern me is that Dianne (& presumably Neil) are at this 53 weeks a year. No time off! No holidays! No break!

I could imagine the howls of protest (probably from some muppet in his deckchair in the Costa de Lot) if the editorial and support staff announced "There shall be no September editions as we are going on holidays in August - like the rest of you".

We should all be greatful that many of us live in a country where we actually have the choice of which magazine to purchase.

To both the editors, well done. You can only depend on the submissions, so keep them coming in people.

* Danny M *

Edited By Danny M2Z on 16/03/2016 05:45:49

Sorry Clive,

Neil

Beaver away in the background and practise at being unsung heroes.

Stew

Forget the moderator tag at the side, I am entitled to and do have a personal opinion.

Does anyone else see the TOTAL hypocrisy in Nigel's remarks above ?

Openly states that he no longer subscribes to either of the magazines, admits to going into WH Smitt and company to read but not buy the magazine and then has the gall to come on here and say how things should be run and force his views onto the rest who have a right to be here ?

Perhaps before going all "Outraged of Nottingham" you might review the original post and read all of my comments before picking up on one part ?

A quick rough & ready calculation suggests I spent more with the various publishers of MEW and ME on subscriptions than I spent on buying, refurbishing & toooling my Super 7. Any normal business would be interested to find out why they had lost a regular customer - do Aldi (for instance) look upon my answers to their survey question as to why I don't regularly buy their fresh produce as hypocrisy, seeing as I say I don't regularly buy their fresh produce due having a had poor experiences with the quality in the past ? Or do they use the exercise to establish if there may be an issue to be addressed that may make me return if they addressed it ? And in the mean time, would they take issue with checking the quality of the produce prior to each purchase and deciding on a week by week basis if the purchase is warranted ?

Why don't we bring back the old reader's help voucher system when you had to quote a coupon number of of the mag to get a help query published.

And while you are at it, why not make these "closed" forums & put off a few more potential subscribers ? Or put your Moderator's hat back on and cull anything that doesn't toe the party line ?

[edit] Added TOTAL hypocrisy to the post

To continue to blindly purchase something that is not meeting your needs, just because you have done so for a long time, is stupidity in my book.

TOTAL stupidity ?

Nigel B.

Mods - time to close this thread me thinks

I also have to support Neil on his stance about the "hecklers" when challenged to write an article.

I have been submitting articles to various publication on several topics for probably 35 years. My very first one looking back now - was dreadful! I sent it to three different magazines in a hand written format with some hand drawn diagrams, as that was the best I could manage. It concerned some experiments I had been working on a new concept. Of the three magazine, one sent a one line reply saying "thanks - but no thanks". One magazine never even had the courtesy to reply but the third one must have taken pity on me and sent a very nice letter to me.

In it the editor explained that although the subject would indeed interest the readers I would need to do some extra work and then listed the things I needed to tidy up or change. If I resubmitted it with the requested changes they would consider publishing it. Which they eventually did and I was over the moon. My very first published article in a real magazine, with my name on it. What a boost to the esteem!

From that day on I had the confidence to write more articles and gradually improved my writing and presentation. Many good ideas are never heard of because, either the writer either thinks nobody would be interested in it, or they are just too busy or lazy to find the time to put something down on paper. Neil and Diane will tell you that even if you sent the article scribbled on the back of an old envelope and it was topical and something that the readers would be interested in, then they would move heaven and earth to knock it into shape for publication. Maybe not on an old envelope, but as long as it legible and coherent so they could get the main parts clarified it could and would be given the magic treatment to go into print. They would of course much prefer the article in electronic format with correctly annotated picture or diagram numbers and captions sent separately, but that is merely details as it reduces the work they have to do to convert into DTP format. But you would quickly learn the details and the better the presentation and format greatly increases the success rate of it being published. And don't forget they also pay by the page! Diane and Neil have published some of my work of late, but I use several different non de plume's depending on which magazine type I am writing for. My technical books are published the name you see here but my fictional books uses two different other names, which I will let you try and puzzle out!

So you will never know if you just sit on your backside and don't pick up your pen and sent it to the editor. Who knows you could have some brilliant new idea which could start a chain reaction as others picked up on the idea and did their own work and it could be a game changer. If the subject matter isn't what the editor requires right now often it will be kept on file and could be used later. Diane has told me she is working on a special edition which will appear soon where it will be a collection of articles which cover a common theme, but I won't spoil the surprise!

Diane and Stewart

"Diane tells us that she produces the ME single handed and I quite accept this .

In this case what are all the other people listed on the first page of every ME doing?"

I had no ulterior motive for asking this question. It is my way to ask for explanations or clarifications when I do not fully understand things rather than just guess at the answer.

Diane has kindly given a very clear answer for which I thank her.

Eric

Nigel,

I think that John's comment was based on the fact that BOTH magazines have change considerably since you were a subscriber.

Thumbing through copies in WHS and properly reading through a few issues are not the same thing; I am personally more likely to give attention to well-informed criticism.

Neil

But unfortunately one that repeatedly gets taken too far. In a "real" club, the club magazine is put together by members who (presumably "lovingly"  ) freely donate their time and energy to it. Under those circumstances it is reasonable to expect the other members to cut them considerable slack and to assist by donating articles or by other means. And it's reasonable to say they shouldn't complain if they aren't contributing.

But that's where the concept breaks down here. These magazine are commercial ventures with paid staff and subscribed to at market rates by the reader. There is no expectation or onus on those readers to contribute directly to the magazine nor any justification for denying their right to express an opinion if they don't ..... in that respect it's no different from any other commercial product.

edited to remove spurious "winky"

Edited By Bandersnatch on 16/03/2016 14:18:40