MEW 319 - Roofing A Shed??????

MEW 319 dropped through the letterbox today.

7 FULL PAGES, including photographs of roofing a tiny shed, 2 FULL PAGES (with no actual content) with a nod to vehicle customisation and 5 FULL PAGES about the London Science Museum?

I subscribe to MEW for engineering related content, not basic DIY, car maintenance or tourist information!

Surely the editorial team cannot be so hard pushed for content that they have to resort to this type of non-original content that is readily available in other (specific) magazines?

Possibly next month you can have 7 pages devoted to weeding the garden or at least devote half a dozen full pages to making a cup of tea?

I'm sure I'm not alone in being shocked by this issue and I pay for a subscription to expect to see articles on using lathes, mills etc to actually make some components or at the very least, have some relation to actual model (or other) engineering?

This was a dreadful issue and I'm sure you knew it when publishing!

Peter

Maybe it's moving towards a new title "Model Engineers' tearoom"

I have to agree, the lack of appropriate content in this months issue was shocking.

Maybe, we'll get the "tarting up" an old trailer article from a few months back republished as there seems to be no effort being made for original content anymore.

I'm sure I'm not alone at this stage in considering the future of my subscription.

Usually, with the recent lack of relevant content, I could console myself with the full page advert for Home And Workshop Machinery on the rear cover - but even that was missing this month!

Iain

But the shed in question is a workshop which is a major part of the magazine's title!

For those of us who don't buy Shed Maintenance Monthly, or avoid doing woodwork wherever possible, it was a potentially useful article - I wouldn't have considered the problems the author had with the corners.

Much the same applies to the museum visit, MEW has published them infrequently before.

It can't all be about creating fiddly gadgets to build toy trains....

Nonsense - using your logic, why not 7 pages on London Fashion Week?

Because let's face it, the designs are worn by a "model" which is a major part of the magazine's title!

Peter

Touché!

And let's face it, the Fashion Week article would be a bit more interesting!

So much depends on the eye of the beholder! The roof of my Garden Shed needs replacing and I'm into 3D printing. Don't intend to do any scraping, but always useful to know about tools and techniques. Although I'm unlikely to adapt a Shell Arbour, modify a chain, CNC any gears, or tension a band-saw properly I always read such articles to see how its done, and often pick up good ideas. Rewinding motors scores with me and I'm deep into the Free Pendulum clock. Vehicle work isn't my thing, but I have a go sometimes. Haven't been to the Science Museum in since 1970, and really should!

For me this issue was a good mix, which is usually the case perhaps because I have wide interests. Been taking MEW for several years and don't recall any I thought were a waste of money. Every so often an issue arrives which ticks all my boxes, whoohoo. I find Model Engineer more variable, but that's because it covers Model making, which isn't my thing. Still worth buying though. Tried Engineering in Miniature several times without enthusiasm: pretty sure it's because they focus on aspects of the hobby I don't care about. Me rather than them.

The ads are useful too. Ordered a copy of 'The Secret Horsepower Race' a couple of weeks ago without realising it's a Morton's book. Fortunately only cost slightly more than their offer price, or I'd have been miffed!!!

Book recommended if you want to know about high-performance piston aero-engines, how difficult they are to design and debug, and the importance of fuel chemistry. Octane numbers are rubbish!

Many of know the story of Miss Shilling's Orifice but how about the BMW Kommanogerat? It's a mechanical Engine Management Unit, made years before electronic versions were cheap enough to put in cars. Has anyone ever modelled one?

Dave

I don't subscribe as longer so maybe I should not comment but I'm afraid this is the way thing are going companies want your money but don't want to give you a lot for it an example would be on of our TV stations

H

That went right through me like a lance

I am another wondering why we had a long winded article about a rubber roof. Anyone wishing to do this can find all the info they need on the internet. Also the 2 pages on car restoration which didn’t even tell you anything.

As I now use Readly, I'll not complain too much about the content.

Jim

I have to admit the shed article did little for me, however there was Bevel gears, a free pendulum clock, making a shell mill arbor, a rotary riveting thing, rewinding a motor, a bandsaw tension meter with a nice bit about blueing. When all is said and done it's us that generates the content and I'm more likely to re-roof a shed than rewind a motor.

Stop moaning and write an interesting article.

regards Martin

I have ALL issues since No 1 and must agree that this is the worst ever.

Pity the Science Museum ( was once asked to leave as they wanted to close!) Photos had not been Photo shopped to impove viewability.

I have every issue of MEW, I subscribe (and I've even written an article many years ago).

Those articles are likely the ones I will read FIRST (OK, maybe not the car restoration one). I prefer items that are 'different' - maybe because I have been a subscriber for so long.

I accept that I am not going to be so interested in all the articles but there is always enough to keep me interested generally.

Keep up the good work Neil

Dave

Problem was it was a full 7 pages about a small shed roof that could have been covered with 50 words (or probably much less) and a single photo in the "letters" page.

No point whatsoever having the 2 pages wasted on "car customisation" that had zero content - quite obviously filler material.

Science Museum is a brilliant resource but much more information is available elsewhere - and more comprehensively with better images.

The editorial team seem to have been struggling for relevant content the past year (I also could not believe the "tidy up a trailer" article) but the fact remains that subscribers want "model engineering" articles and items made by "model engineers".

I couldn't find a parking spot near Smiths, so couldn't have a look at the latest issue. But mention restoring a car and you have me where you want me. I will try harder to find a parking spot!

Issue 300 was the one that did it for me ! I allowed my subscription to lapse ! As making tea has been mentioned may be an article on the construction of a Windermere kettle might be a good starting point ? Noel.

You might be a bit dissappointed Lee - as all the 2 pages do is mention it!

There's no actual content about restoring a car!

All it says is that you might need various tools, which anyone who actually restores cars will already have!

Is MEW available on Readly now?

Iain

There was one in ME so could be reprinted

I kind of feel the clock and museum articles are more the usual ME type content rather than MEW.

Model Engineers Workshop, Model Engineer and Engineering in Minianture are all on Readly.

Only down side is having to wait for a few days for them to appear.

Jim