Maybe the model railroad magazines could fight their slumping circulation numbers and declining ad revenues by adapting popular TV programming themes. For example, they could start running a regular feature called "Extreme [Layout] Makeover" where they take someone's mediocre (by their standards) layout and show step-by-step how they turn it into a showpiece worthy of being published in their magazine!
Extreme [Layout] Makeover?
- Thread starter riverotter
- Start date
It'd be okay if you wanted to settle for someone else's ideas, but have you seen the lack of taste on some of those home makeover shows? 
Wayne
Wayne
I think their problems are not going to be solved by any change in format. I used to subscribe to MR & RMC. My wife doesn't object to my hobby, but she hated the circulation depts of those two magazines! Their constant attempts to get me to renew my subscription, even if I had just renewed for multiple years was worse than spam. I dropped the subscriptions, don't miss those magazines, and won't subscribe to them again. I now browse the latest issue at the local hobby shop and if they have something of interest, I buy. I think I have bought about 2-3 issues per year. 90% of their content doesn't apply to anything I'm modeling.
RonP
Member of the WMRC
They make a killing even on a bad day Sir.
150,000 subscribers with a $5G + ads they aren't hurting in any way what so ever.
150,000 subscribers with a $5G + ads they aren't hurting in any way what so ever.
Unfortunately, like Russ, I feel the same way about some of the RR magazines out there. I haven't been in the hobby too many years, but I've already seen many duplicate pictures, stories, ideas. I understand that they're trying to market a magazine to many different levels of hobby'ers...but there seems to be little of interest in each issue of MRR. So I buy only the issue I'm interested in. Saying that, I do think a complete extreme makeover of someone's layout would be an interesting idea.
Wow, I had no idea those numbers were so high. What's the source of your data? That's truly amazing...
That's an interesting point. Club layouts aren't the product of one person, and no one objects to that. Maybe the Extreme [Layout] Makeover could proceed along the lines of "Givens and Druthers" so the person who built the layout being made over would have input into the makeover...
Maybe if the mag brought in experts to critique and advise, and left the owner to rework the layout with follow-up to see how it came out? That way, the modeler has the final decision as to what advice to follow and precisely how to do it.
L
lester perry
I let my subscription expire also a few years ago. they sent me a letter saying they were sorry I was no longer in the hobby and if I get interested again they would welcome my return. Well guess what MRR mag, I never left the hobby I just got tired of the same stuff all the time.
Les
I'd enjoy seeing a layout makeover feature as long as the refurbishers conferred with th owner and they arrived at a vision together. Some of those makeover shows end up creating a room the owner hates! 
It would be cool to see how a group of experienced modelers might change my layout. Will they provide the budget?
Ralph
It would be cool to see how a group of experienced modelers might change my layout. Will they provide the budget? Ralph
It's A cool idea for a show but some things could go very wrong, like;;;
You may end up with a volcano on layout.
your new brass steamers may end up color coordinated with the window treatments.
someone may wash off all your weathering because the rolling stock was dirty.
And do you really want a code inspector to check your bench work.
You may end up with a volcano on layout.
your new brass steamers may end up color coordinated with the window treatments.
someone may wash off all your weathering because the rolling stock was dirty.
And do you really want a code inspector to check your bench work.
OTH, maybe they print "the same old stuff all the time" because that is primarily what the majority of modelers are doing?
volcano on layout...and if you were modeling Hawaii's sugar cane railroads?
Don't know about the "Queer Eye for the Straight Line" concept. though...
I have not purchased MRC or MR for about 15 years, in my opinion it is the same authors, same articles, and the attitude of you have to have this or your not a real model railroader, along with your layout has to be masive or its not a real model railroad.. one thing that is killing the mags here in western Canada is their price. When the Canadian dollar was not worth very much agains the US dollar they listed the Canadian & US prices. It use to be about a $3.00 difference, now that the money is even, they still have the same difference in price but have now dropped posting the US price and have kept the Canadian price very high. I know many modelers around here refuse to pay the inflated price, couple of the hobby shop owners in the area say they have had to cut down their orders as very few of the mags are being sold. With the bad pricing, same content, attitude, and such high number of adds no wonder they are having problems selling their product. Just one persons observations...Ron..
I think my biggest disappointment with MR was a few years ago when they touted a switching layout in next month's MR featuring the Los Angeles Junction Rwy. I couldn't wait for the next issue to arrive featuring my favorite modern railroad. When the issue arrived, I discovered that MR's view of a switching layout is an oval or circle with all three yards modeled on 3 of the 4 sides, but not one single industry.