Model Boats Forum RIP ??

This topic has 11 replies, 8 voices, and was last updated 1 month, 1 week ago by Philip Oxley.

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28 April 2026 at 14:13 #127627
Ray Wood 3
Participant
@raywood3
Hi All,

As one of the people that’s posted quite a lot of stuff on here for the last 11 years, it is sad to see the activity level is a shadow of it’s former self 🙁 I think at one point last week there had not been a post from anybody for 6 days !!

This is due to the site not working properly on Android devices ie Phones and Tablets since the change of format and is generally weeks behind real time, also new members at my club have had trouble joining. To this end I have dropped Lindsey an email recently reporting this fact, she seemed unaware and said she will pass this information on the the publisher to see if this will bear fruit 🙂

This currently only works properly on my laptop. It would be a shame if it did die 🙁

Regards Ray
Advert

28 April 2026 at 14:57 #127628
Tim Rowe
Participant
@timrowe83142
Hi Ray

We lost a lot of people when the format changed. Putting up photos was made a lot easier because you now don’t have to transfer from an album. Other useful features however were lost and that’s a shame.

Model flying forum has survived a lot better having changed before both this one and the model engineering forum. Model flying is a different set-up and in my opinion a lot better.

What I find slightly strange is that there seems to be quite a few contributors to the magazine who bever appear on the forum. I wonder why that is unless they are using pseudonyms.

I only use use it from my own desktop so I don’t see the problems you mention but they can’t help. I hope Lyndsey can do something.

Tim R
28 April 2026 at 15:33 #127629
Chris Fellows
Participant
@chrisfellows72943
Yes, I’ve complained before about the performance on Android devices. If it wasn’t for using a PC and laptop as well, which many folks don’t nowadays, then I would have given up a long time ago.

To be honest I don’t post updates very often now as I don’t see the point really, a viscous circle I know!

It’s sad to hear that possible new members are having difficulty joining as that is critical to the forum.

As the model flying forum is better than maybe a joint forum could be the answer as many folks are interested in both and there is often an overlap with components and equipment? Does that one work OK with Android devices?

There is a precedent for this as RC Groups covers all aspects of RC.

Chris
28 April 2026 at 15:58 #127630
Tim Rowe
Participant
@timrowe83142
Hi Chris

There have already been a few postings in Model Flying who have a Model BOats section. It get used from time to time. The most recent is a nice fishing boat and there have been some posts on a Thames barge.

Tim R
28 April 2026 at 20:45 #127631
Colin Bishop
Moderator
@colinbishop34627
The Model Boats Forum was never fully developed to the extent of the Model Engineer one as the sale of the titles to Kelsey interrupted the process. hence the problems with Android. Kelsey are not really into Forums and just inherited what was already in place. I can’t see them spending any money on improvements.

The Model Flying forum used different software and, althougn it is now outdated, does seem to function better than what we have here. If you are still using a PC as I do then this forum functions pretty well and offers access to much of the resources of the old MyTimeMeda Forum with the feahture articles. It was intended for larger screens than typical Android phones. Personally I would not want to access it on my phone due to my eyesight.

I doubt if Lindsey can help as I don’t think she ever looks at the forum.

It is all unsatisfactory really as these days traditional Forums often fall into the gap between print hard copy and social media such as Facebook etc.

It is very noticeable that activity on the Mayhem Forum has declined considerably over the last year or two. I rather think that this just reflecs the decline in the number of active model boaters.

Colin
28 April 2026 at 22:36 #127632
Stephen Garrad
Participant
@stephengarrad28964
It would be a great shame to lose the forum. I check in every evening on my laptop and although I don’t post very often I do if I think I have something useful to contribute. I have learnt a great deal from what I have read and would miss you all.

Stephen
28 April 2026 at 23:14 #127633
Ray Wood 3
Participant
@raywood3
Hi All,

An interesting point Colin raises, I don’t see any decline in the numbers of model boaters at the lakes I go to, but only a decline in actual modellers building boats, many being happy to buy the models on ebay and enjoy the social side of the hobby, this forum and the magazine would have little interest for the majority of them 🙁

Regards Ray
29 April 2026 at 15:15 #127634
Tim Cooper
Participant
@timcooper90034
I access the Forum using my Android phone. I think I have just got used to the problem with logging in now. It easier to add photos straight from my phone. The problem with fewer posts is that I sometimes wonder if the site is not working.

Tim
29 April 2026 at 21:34 #127635
Chris Fellows
Participant
@chrisfellows72943
I visit a number of model boat forums and activity has reduced on all of them. To some extent this has been compensated for by Facebook Groups (but as we know are a different animal) and the Mayhem one is quite active. But they are easy to setup and new ones keep springing up all the time and there are too many now with not many members in some cases and they keep posting the same stuff on multiple sites. Also many comments are from folks who don’t really know what they are talking about!

But nothing stays the same for very long. I’m happy that I entered the hobby when I did (around 9 years ago now!) and enjoyed the forums when they were still strong and I learnt a lot from them and still do of course from the guys on here.

Chris
29 April 2026 at 22:07 #127636
Colin Bishop
Moderator
@colinbishop34627
I have over 12,000 posts on Mayhem since 2006!

Colin
3 May 2026 at 17:15 #127646
ashley needham
Participant
@ashleyneedham69188
Unable to log in this morning on the phone….BUT…logged in ok on laptop (after rebooting and waiting 5 mins for it to sort itself out).

I used to dip in every day but unless i can get in straight away i find I cant be bothered.

Its a bit catch 22 regarding posters and logging in issues. Even if I just look at the site on the phone without logging in the posts are weeks old.

Not offering helpful suggestions…its a case of money to set things right, which is not forthcoming.

Ashley
4 May 2026 at 08:51 #127661
Philip Oxley
Participant
@inonowt
Hi.

Apologies for not posting sooner but I’ve been building my MTB.

As a relatively new member/reader, I agree it would be a shame if the forum were to close. I’ve found everyone to be helpful and I’ve learned a fair bit, either from positing/conversations or from reading blogs/articles. I do enjoy reading your all your posts, though don’t often feel I can contribute. It has given me encouragement to try new things.

I don’t belong to a club. I did but the ‘rivalry’ was too intense. I now go to a public boating lake. There are some builders there but mainly ‘toy’ boats. Despite that, it’s great to see Dads out with their sons.

Seems I’m lucky too as it generally only take me 2 attempts to log in.

The demise of the hobby is evidenced by the decline in model shops. Buying on-line can be a pain since sometimes it’s difficult to see exactly what your buying until you get it, and delivery times are frustrating when you want something ‘now’.

Still, I’ll keep on reading and comment when I can, and hope that the magazine/forum long continues.

Best wishes

Philip
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