Need help - what model rail mags do you read?

Double-O gauge society Journal Model Railroader Model Railway Journal

Model Railroader

Railway Modeller ("old reliable") Gauge O Guild Gazette Historical Model Railway Society Journal

All good in their very different ways.

It depends what you want.

The best modelling is in the Model Railway Journal. Even if we don't have that skill level it shows the state of the art and what we can aspire to.

But it's not for people who who run Hornby or Bachmann out of the box.

The bigger circulation magazines are obviously more popular. (tautology alert) so look at the circulation figures.

What do you want to advertise?

Buy one of each at W.H.Smith and see if the modelling content fits what you want to advertise and then compare the circulation figures.

Once upon a time these were displayed somewhere in the magazine in small print but they are also available from the Audit Bureau of Circulation.

Here is their page on Railway Modeller...

If you are a cottage industry manufacturing something for a specific scale or railway you might do better advertising in a specialist society journal.

In message , Christopher A. Lee writes

As many British outline modellers also model American I'm considering advertising the NMRA British Region in the model press. As always cost is a very important factors, especially as I have to get it approved by the Board of Directors !

That's why I want to find out what people read so that we can target the advertising.

Thank you all who have already responded please keep them coming.

If you model the scene in the last 30 years then I'd say that Rail Express is the one to buy, although it a covers the full size "models" as well as our smaller ones!

Fred X

What about the web? I'm sure I'm not the only one who doesn't buy mags for one reason or another. There's any number of forums, info sites etc, both general and focused, out there.

Cheers Richard

Surely the whole point of WH Smith is that you don't have to *buy* magazines to read them...

I'm from a generation where you didn't use book shops as reading rooms. It's something I never noticed until I moved to the USA 20 years ago and was surprised how many people would take magazines off the shelves, read them and put them back.

They even provide comfy chairs to sit and read them, and a Starbucks for when you get a caffeine craving.

Bad burned corn craving

I have a subscription to Model Rail, and every now and then I'll buy one of the others from the newsagent if there's something interesting on the cover.

The information is in all the mags themselves, so just buy one that you're interested in using and look there.

Mark

Mike Hughes wrote in news: snipped-for-privacy@mikehughes.demon.co.uk:

"Model Railway Journal" "British Railway Modelling"

... and sometimes ...

"Railway Modeller" if I see it on the shelf, the other two are sent to me:-)

Buy (or take a seek peek in a newsagent) they all have their contact details in there

Not getting caught out on that one again. Bought BRM this month cos said editorial by Simon Kohler, it didnt lie but he was just saying how wonderful BRM is.

Cheers, Simon

"Mike Hughes" wrote

There's no such thing; some months one magazine is best, the following month it's another - in other words it depends on the month-to-month content and your own personal interests.

The only two magazines I take on an 'every issue' basis are

UpDate - journal of DEMU (Diesel & Electric Modellers United) and Model Railway Journal,

but the current issue of 'Railway Modeller' is excellent as its content appeals to me.

John.

I subscribe to MRJ and BRM. No newsagents on the island so I only see RM when a friend in England sends it to me about once a year - that's sufficient for me.

People have done this with Magazines in Smiths for at least 30 years, maybe forever.

MBQ

When I was a wee lad (before moving to the USA 58 years ago), I'd read the Beano in WH Smith and buy sweeties with the thruppence I saved.

In the late 50s/early 60s my dad had a newsagent's business, so I got to read all the comics for free the day before they were delivered to the customers! Dandy, Beano, Topper, Beezer, Eagle, etc.