Here are some specifics on the subject.
ER Issue #40 - Page 4 - That's good. There is some info & 2 pictures in the space that would otherwise have been a bunch of empty sky. I'd have liked about 1/2" bigger. More like this would be a good thing.
Page 5 (contents) the picture on the right is the same as the cover photo. Why not a different picture? I can't believe that there wasn't another relevent picture that could be used. The same comment goes for the picture on the left. It is on page17. Also, I think both of these oictures convey the same feeling & information in both the full page size and the less that quarter page size. That means there could be more cool pictures in the same a mount of space.
Pete Alway Interview - as much as I like seeing Pete,I don't think all those full page pictures contribute to the interview. Maybe if there were more pictures of Pete with his model or researching something in Smithsonian library for a paper or book or model.
NSL 2004. Pages 20-21 is good although it does some hunting to find the caption.
10x Mars Lander Project. I like how Page 20 has the pictures inserted. What's up with the skinny columns? That's something high school kids do to make it look like their term papers are longer. The rest of the article loooks good although I'd either skip the picture on page 32 or use a different one.
Obtaining the permit. See comment about high school term papers. That is a one pager. Page 35 is a bigger picture of the page 34 picture! Give me a break!!
Experimental Rocketry. Ah the good old high school term paper again.
That's enough. Hope you get my point by now.
I have not made comments about the articles. I realize that not everyone will like the subject of every article.
I received the November / December issue of Sport Rocketry today. I really like there is no wasted space. There is a slight overlap of pictures in cases where it doesn't detract from the picture. Also, it's easy to find the captions. Also, they have a very good picture of Pete 'Hollywood' Alway.
Lets not kid ourselves, no one is ever going to mistake ant of these magazines for art. Since we know know that they aren't art, the magazines should concentrate on representing the hobby.