Fine Scale Modeler

[stavanzer]

I hear you Bob, but digital is obviously failing for many magazines, so I do not see Online/Digital/Cloud, ect. ect. working either.

I wish I knew what the answer is.

[NYLIBUD]

I have to say,imo i think it absolutely SUCKS!!!,that so many magazines have simply disappeared from the news stand.I used to look forward to hitting the book stores,BnN and Borders,(when they were still around),and grab all my magazines and just read them over and over.Plus not to mention,but believe it or not,not everyone uses a PC,or an I phone.I mean i do have stacks of magazines,and i still use them for reference.Like i said a lot of the magazines that i used to read have just disappeared.No more Car Craft,JP(Jeep),4Wheel and Off-road,SAE,and the list goes on.Plus several magazines that i use to buy don’t even have a web site.I don’t know,i mean i just use to like to sit and read a good magazine,u know on the throne,?????.Lol.

[bobthehobbyguy]

Just got the latest issue of Contest Cars and thought TV it was pretty good. Some interesting ideas.

I remember years ago I would but 8 or more magazines in a month. Some off the newsstand and some subscription. I enjoy sitting down to read a magazine. I do search online more these days for information. However in bad weather would rather read a paper magazine and preserve the batteries in my phone for making phone calls. 

I agree with others that there are situations where a paper magazine is better than reading it electronically.

I don't think magazines will go totally away but I suspect they will be smaller niche magazines. 

[Bills72sj]

On 12/9/2021 at 4:05 PM, NYLIBUD said:

I have to say,imo i think it absolutely SUCKS!!!,that so many magazines have simply disappeared from the news stand.I used to look forward to hitting the book stores,BnN and Borders,(when they were still around),and grab all my magazines and just read them over and over.Plus not to mention,but believe it or not,not everyone uses a PC,or an I phone.I mean i do have stacks of magazines,and i still use them for reference.Like i said a lot of the magazines that i used to read have just disappeared.No more Car Craft,JP(Jeep),4Wheel and Off-road,SAE,and the list goes on.Plus several magazines that i use to buy don’t even have a web site.I don’t know,i mean i just use to like to sit and read a good magazine,u know on the throne,?????.Lol.

I agree completely. I used to have 5 (give or take) car magazine subscriptions hitting my mail box for years. Now I only have two left. Hot Rod and Hemmings Muscle Machines. Other magazine reviews of cup holders in the latest generic mini-SUV or the latest $250,000 exotic have no interest to me. I have found my solution though. I have saved all my car magazines in boxes since the late 80's. I just cracked a couple of them open and now sprinkle them in to my reading rack. Is the info dated? Sure. Do I remember reading the articles I read 30 years ago? Nope. The cars are still pretty cool and best of all they are FREE.  I now have another 30 years of (recycled) magazines to enjoy.

[NYLIBUD]

33 minutes ago, Bills72sj said:

I agree completely. I used to have 5 (give or take) car magazine subscriptions hitting my mail box for years. Now I only have two left. Hot Rod and Hemmings Muscle Machines. Other magazine reviews of cup holders in the latest generic mini-SUV or the latest $250,000 exotic have no interest to me. I have found my solution though. I have saved all my car magazines in boxes since the late 80's. I just cracked a couple of them open and now sprinkle them in to my reading rack. Is the info dated? Sure. Do I remember reading the articles I read 30 years ago? Nope. The cars are still pretty cool and best of all they are FREE.  I now have another 30 years of (recycled) magazines to enjoy.

Exactly,that’s what i’m saying.Someone (editors),or whomever just decided to axe tons of magazines that i use to enjoy reading.Like whose job was it to kill off one magazine and keep others?Now there are so many stupid uninteresting rags on the news stands,or home subscriptions.I would ask book store workers what happened to a specific magazine,and their answers would always be the same,”Oh we just don’t carry that magazine anymore”.What,ok whatever.??.Like I said,magazines such as Super Chevy,Chevy Hi Po.A bunch of Mopar mags,Mini Trucking,Car Craft,Jeep(JP),4Wheel,and off Road,Suv,Off-Road,Muscle Car Review,Scale Auto.And so many more,just gone,almost overnight.Why?????!!!!!!?Blows my mind.Lol.

Edited December 12, 2021 by NYLIBUD

[bobthehobbyguy]

The thing is that there are several strikes  against print  magazines. Advertisers  can get more  advertising bang for the buck with electronic media than being confined to a print magazine. In addition there is virtually no lag in how fast information gets a out. Typically the info is 2 months behind with a  print magazine. In addition the cost of printing and shipping have gone up dramatically. 

Print magazines need to find a way to adapt to survive. The old business model is no longer going to work.

[peteski]

The only magazine which has not changed since  its inception is the Collectible Automobile magazine.  Still has thick glossy covers and quality paper pages.   It also has no ads, other than few of its own products, But it also costs a lot more than other "regular" magazines, so the subscribers are actually funding the magazine.

[stavanzer]

The Rodder's Journal. (TRJ) was doing great, until a move from the Bay Area and Covid hit. The move took longer than planned, and dragged into the first Covid hysteria. Both factors seem to have killed my favorite magazine.

Drat!

I read the few issues I have.

[bobthehobbyguy]

The rodders journal was also one of my favorite magazes. I had #2 through about 69. However I did notice that some of the issues started to have more pages of ads. However at least they were car related and not for viagra or other things. Plus they avoided the how to articles which in some cases just ads in some of the other mags. 

I think that magazine can survive if they follow the rodders journal or collector cars magazines model but it will take some work. However I thing those are more niche magazines and they aren't printing 100k issue run and they are going to fewer venues. Definitely not super markets or drug stores.

I still have plenty car magazines to read as I've kept most of them. I've never been one to get rid of them because they are a great inspiration reference source.

[Bugatti Fan]

Years ago just about all modelling magazines had good scale plans (yes plans) printed within them.

Now the tendency is to print numerous photos and less words.

[NYLIBUD]

Thankfully there are still plenty of model railroad mags,including Model Railroader,and Model-railroad Craftsman,plus a bunch of European model railroad mags.There are still a few off-road truck and motorcycle magazines still in publication.FourWheeler,Dirt-Bike,ADV,Adventure dual sport,And of course there is still Hemmings Muscle car Machines.(great rag).But there are no All Jeep (JP)mags,no Four-wheeler,and off-road,and no RPM (drag racing mag).It seems like every time I go to BnN,there are less and less magazines on the stand.Arrrrggggg??????☹️.