What is the goal of the new Model Car Makers Forum?

[peteski]

With the MCM magazine seemingly floundering, I figured I'll try to get some answers. I hope someone  @Dave Ambrose in charge can provide some insights.

Before the separation when the forum was being hosted by the Model Car Magazine, was it being ran strictly as a free service to modelers (whether they were MCM subscribers or not), or was it generating any profits (beyond covering the cost to run the forum) to the MCM magazine?

The other question I also have is now, that MCM(akers) forum has become independent operation, is it now a for-profit operation, or just for the love of the hobby, with the ad revenue and possibly paid optional membership just covering the cost of running the forum)?

 

[Dave Ambrose]

I'm not at liberty to discuss any Model Car Magazine financials. I can say that the forum was started as outreach, a way for the magazine to connect with its readers, and offers a way to support the model car community. It was never intended to be a profit-making business entity. 

The new company is organized as a for-profit enterprise. While non-profits have some advantages, being a nonprofit would limit the types of partnerships we can use to support this community. That said, nobody is expecting to get rich from this venture. The profits we get will be put back into the forum and website to make them more valuable. 

When Gregg started this forum, it worked with Model Cars Magazine to promote the hobby and provide a place for people to share challenges, find solutions, and also share what they've built. It's evolved a lot although it still fulfills its original purpose. But, the world around us has changed. The magazine and the forum need to go in different directions, hence the spin-off. 

Our goal is to foster a great resource for modelers. Emphasis on car models, but most of what we do here is readily applicable to other modeling genres. We're also dedicated to keeping the essential content accessible to all.