New international section on MRL

[SteveCole]

Hi all,

We are in the process of launching a new 'international model railways' section on our website, Model-Railways-Live.co.uk. We'll be working hard at populating it over the coming few weeks, but we have a couple of layouts already on the site: https://www.model-railways-live.co.uk/Articles/-67/International_Model_Railways

My main reason for posting this topic is to ask if any of you would like to submit any articles to the new area of the site? We after quality international articles: layouts, product reviews, instructional articles... anything with an international theme.

If this interests you, could you please email us at brm@warnersgroup.co.uk, outlining your idea and submitting a couple of pictures if possible. We'll then aim to get back to you ASAP.

Many thanks in advance,

Steve
Brand Editor
BRM, MRL, RMweb and Shows

[trisonic]

That's very good. There are some extraordinarily talented people working in the UK on North American models, some of whom have had their UK modelling efforts published already.

Articles on Prototypes welcome too?

 

Thanks, Steve.

 

Best, Pete.

 

PS As I write this "your links no worky". Early days yet, though, but!

[Andy Y]

 

PS As I write this "your links no worky". Early days yet, though, but!

Yup, the MRL server is on a bit of a go-slow at the mo but it's being investigated.

 

A few people have flagged up that Steve has posted this in multiple areas but we've done it solely to try and reach people in particular Special Interest areas that may not see the topic in an area they don't follow. Yes, it means it appears on the VNC several times but it'll drop down shortly.

[trisonic]

Andy, you might have guessed that "we" would be the first group to respond to a very welcome development! This is really very good, indeed.

 

Hopefully this kind of action will get over the "only another US layout" that some exhibitors have noted overheard.

 

Good Modelling is good modelling, etc.

 

Thanks, Pete.

[Andy Y]

Good Modelling is good modelling, etc.

Oh absolutely Pete, I'm currently working on some continental material on the PC and I've stopped to question why it's some of my favourite material and I've concluded it's because I don't know that much about the stock which means I can just get on with admiring artistry.

[Lawrence]

Hi Steve

firstly I don't want this to come over as negative and I must admit to never having visited your site (until now) or bought any of your magazines, however I would be curious to know how you came to this decision.

There are any number of already established websites and magazines out there for international modellers, is there no concern that you may alienate your core membership of British modellers by doing this?  And will you, in reality, be able to compete with the already established websites out there?

I say all of this as a Brit, who knows nothing about British railways and have, rather curiously, chosen to model (I use that very loosely) a now defunct American road and a mish mash of Japanese stock.  Getting hold of info on the B&ORR was not too difficult but Japanese railways are a lot trickier, fortunately there are already some superb websites and publications out there which I use extensively.  I am curious to know how you will fit in to all of this.

Please do not take this too negatively as I said, but I am interested to know what your aims are by introducing this section.

[pH]

I saw the title and thought 'Why are RMweb starting a new section dedicated to Montana Rail Link?'

[trisonic]

Hi Steve

firstly I don't want this to come over as negative and I must admit to never having visited your site (until now) or bought any of your magazines, however I would be curious to know how you came to this decision.

There are any number of already established websites and magazines out there for international modellers, is there no concern that you may alienate your core membership of British modellers by doing this?  And will you, in reality, be able to compete with the already established websites out there?

I say all of this as a Brit, who knows nothing about British railways and have, rather curiously, chosen to model (I use that very loosely) a now defunct American road and a mish mash of Japanese stock.  Getting hold of info on the B&ORR was not too difficult but Japanese railways are a lot trickier, fortunately there are already some superb websites and publications out there which I use extensively.  I am curious to know how you will fit in to all of this.

Please do not take this too negatively as I said, but I am interested to know what your aims are by introducing this section.

Maybe it is because a lot of British modellers who model North American Railroads feel underrepresented in their own country? Maybe they feel that Model Railroader or any of the other North American magazines fail to represent them either?

 

Layouts of American Railroads by the British often are uniquely different than those  by people that live over here (the USA). They have a lot to offer American Modellers in terms of utilizing available space, use of fiddleyards (still not fully understood by Americans), etc., etc.

 

Besides if you notice Steve is addressing all modellers  of Overseas railways not just those that model North America.

 

Wouldn't you like to see your layout featured in a British publication?

 

Best, Pete.

 

Edited for spelling and clarity only

[steve1]

"Wouldn't you like to see your layout featured in a British publication?"

 

Yep!

 

As Pete says, it would be nice for those of us who model non-UK prototype to have something more relevant to the British approach to modelling.

 

steve

[298]

 

Maybe it is because a lot of British modellers who model North American Railroads feel underrepresented in the own country? Maybe they feel that Model Railroader or any of the other North American magazines fail to represent them either? Layouts of American Railroads by the British often are uniquely different than those  by people that live over here (the USA). They have a lot to offer American Modellers in terms of utilizing available space, use of fiddleyards (still not fully understood by Americans), etc., etc.

 

Besides if you notice Steve is addressing all modellers  of Overseas railways not just those that model North America.

I think there's a danger of grouping everything under "Overseas", because it just sounds like a way to differentiate from a purely British modellers point of view, when in fact most UK based followers of the US scene may have more of an interest in certain elements of the past or current British one instead of somewhere like Australia or Italy (insert your own references and locations to suit).

 

And one point that is often forgotten is any home interest magazine would be foolish to reject a well written and relevant article, regardless of where it came from, even if this means some degree of re-writing it on their part. In fact, it can be a bit of a bonus for them as it's something a bit more unusual and shows percieved modelling boundaries can easily be broken. Although Pelle Soeborg is very fluent in English, it isn't his main language and the fact that he writes for a US magazine must be in the forefront of his mind when describing methods and materials used. That said, It has been suggested to MR that they do a special edition of British based US layouts with additional tips that US readers might find useful..

 

Wouldn't you like to see your layout featured in a British publication?

 

Best, Pete.

 

As the Indian in Wayne's World II said, "If you book them, they will come" - basically, if your article is good enough, they will print it. The problem with the perception of US layouts in this country is they are all urban switching scenes, so when submitted they tend to stay in the "pending" folder until a lean month comes along.

[Lawrence]

Must be me, I still don't get it   an overseas layout in a magazine with British Railways on the front? doesn't make much sense to me I'm afraid.

Pete, at no stage did I say it was just for North American modelling, I was aware it would/might encompass anything not British.

Steve, I have never been a prototype modeller but I am sure that there are those who would make themselves heard if you dared apply the British approach to modelling anything but British

It strikes me as trying to reinvent the wheel really, I am not sure that they can do 'international modelling' justice, which is why all the specialist mags and websites are out there.

I look forward to the thoughts of the OP on this and I take Pete's comments on board too, but I do still find this puzzling. 

[Andy Y]

 I am not sure that they can do 'international modelling' justice,

 

There were no complaints but quite a few positive comments when Pempoul was slipped inside the pages of BRM. This is about web content and showing we're not as parochial as some may think. It's not trying to take anything away from anyone else but to show that modelling can be a broad church with inspiration to be gained from looking beyond the norm.

[trisonic]

The modelling of American railroads is as susceptible to fashions just like the trends we see in some British layouts. Pelle was mentioned, a superb modeller, of course, he is inclined more to the American way of long, snakey mainlines as any of the Basement Empire builders residing in the Mid-West, which is why he is so popular over here. There are others that concentrate on purely operational systems too where scenery is of secondary importance.
We, the British, also have a positive effect of getting the most bang for the buck per square foot, in my opinion.

My next layout under planning (with the immense help of Jack "Shortliner" - for which I cannot thank him enough) will be based upon an actual interchange between an interesting, mostly rural, real shortline in western New Jersey (yet within an hour or so of Manhattan) that traverses bucolic countryside and small industrial estates and connects to the "outside world" via NS (and CSX). Planned to be 16 foot long yet it will be to 1/160 scale. A return to this scale for me from the early '70's.
I'm hoping to get a "spacious" feel to the operation even with such a short overall length by not filling up the boards with trackage. I'm actually a huge fan of urban "grot" but wanted to try something a little different. It will also have two fiddleyards - not at each end but rather behind the backscene. I'm not claiming anything new; except for me.

I really welcome Warner's interest in something other than British Railways, if it is successful who knows where it may lead?

Best, Pete.

[dullsteamer]

I say all of this as a Brit, who knows nothing about British railways and have, rather curiously, chosen to model (I use that very loosely) a now defunct American road and a mish mash of Japanese stock.  Getting hold of info on the B&ORR was not too difficult but Japanese railways are a lot trickier, fortunately there are already some superb websites and publications out there which I use extensively.

 

Japanese, eh?   Tell me more!

[dullsteamer]

There were no complaints but quite a few positive comments when Pempoul was slipped inside the pages of BRM. This is about web content and showing we're not as parochial as some may think. It's not trying to take anything away from anyone else but to show that modelling can be a broad church with inspiration to be gained from looking beyond the norm.

 

A very good point, Andy. I've seen Pempoul featured in a number of publications, and was hugely impressed and inspired by each one. My main modelling interest is Japanese railways in HO, but I regularly buy a number of British modelling magazines including BRM, for the same reason. The ideas, methods and materials used by British modellers are very applicable for me, even if the subject matter isn't. And without wishing to start a flame war, I think that the standard of modelling that I see in British publications is often superior to that found in comparable US magazines.

[Lawrence]

I am not trying to poo poo this idea, just trying to understand it and from what Andy says it will be online content only so perhaps that is more understandable.

The only magazine I get now is Model Rail (SWMBO gets me a subscription every year for my birthday so who am I to argue) and I do find some of the workshop articles useful along with some suppliers I may not be aware of, but most of the info I need I get from specific websites or the books I have managed to buy.

Pete, I too have found Jacks encyclopaedic knowledge of great use in the past, I look forward to seeing your new project develop.

Mark, very early days on the Japanese front (I'm out in an 8x6 shed and haven't done a thing for about 8 months) but it is essentially just a double loop with a couple of sidings, n scale on Kato track and a variety of rolling stock, I find JNS a great forum for info on all things Japanese,

 

I am going to add  www.model-railways-live.co.uk to my bookmarks and look forward to seeing how it grows

[goodmayes]

It strikes me as trying to reinvent the wheel really, I am not sure that they can do 'international modelling' justice, which is why all the specialist mags and websites are out there.

 

Of similar concern, I never saw any reply to my earlier post on the duplicate thread, which makes makes me doubly bothered. But the "international" credibility gets off to an awfully bad start when the first featured layout is heavily advertised as located in the "California Rocky Mountains". Bit like a US layout having the "Bournemouth Belle" running through Lincolnshire.

 

Ted

[Andy Y]

Hi Ted, prompted by your post I've had a look at the link. I'm not sure where the geographical faux-pas originated but it's good modelling.

[Guest oldlugger]

I think it's an ace idea. Railways are railways wherever they are and there are so many that are hugely interesting. I think a fair number of British modellers have a very narrow minded view of anything south of the Isle of Wight, but in France alone there are still proper trains with locomotives aplenty on all types of train, and the vast majority of the network still intact, unlike the UK where 9 out of 10 trains is a featureless multiple unit with a few class 66 and class 70 (monstrosities) thrown in.

 

Simon

[Oldddudders]

I would like to suggest that Brian Harrap's amazing Quai 87 demonstrates what can happen when British modelling ideas & skills meet an overseas prototype. And not a few RMwebbers seem to quite like it, too. It transcends any prejudice against foreign trains, surely.

[dullsteamer]

Railways are railways wherever they are and there are so many that are hugely interesting.

 

Couldn't agree more, Simon. Whenever I meet someone who is dedicated to one particular railway/company/period to the exclusion of all others, part of me admires their focus. But another part of me feels a bit sorry for them, for missing out on so much else.