Repeat Projects

[David Marks 2Participant @davidmarks2]

Why have MB decided to review a kit for the August 2015 issue that was reviewed as recently as August 2014 but in a different scale? The kit in question being the Wildcat 53 from Models by Design. Surely there are other kits that could have been reviewed.

[David Marks 2Participant @davidmarks2]

[Dave MilbournParticipant @davemilbourn48782]

Possibly for the same reason that you've posted this question twice on the forum, David, in which case you already know the answer. B******d if I do.

DM

Edited By Dave Milbourn on 20/06/2015 23:18:54

[David Marks 2Participant @davidmarks2]

David – The reason that it is posted twice is the fact that I would have expected someone from MB to have responded to the first post. sorry it has caused you offence but fail to see the reason why.

David

[Dave MilbournParticipant @davemilbourn48782]

No need for an apology, David – It hasn't caused me anything but mild amusement.
The two models are vastly different scales – one is twice as big as the other – and so I imagine present very different problems in building, equipping and operating them. There is also the probability that some modellers have been waiting for the smaller version to be produced but want to know more about how it goes together and performs before they buy one – so they will buy the magazine to read the review, and that's the name of the game as far as the Editor and publisher are concerned.
If the review holds no interest for you then don't bother reading it. Simples.

DM

[Colin BishopModerator @colinbishop34627]

David, your first post was after 10pm on Friday and your second on Saturday.

I'm afraid the editor Paul Freshney (who decides what goes into the magazine) doesn't work 24/7 and has weekends off as do a lot of other people.

As website editor I manage the forum but have no involvement in compiling material for the magazine.

I expect Paul will see your post over the next day or so, no need to repeat them.

Colin

[The Long BuildParticipant @thelongbuild]

I think D.M,s post is pretty well the answer, different sizes different problems.

[David Marks 2Participant @davidmarks2]

Just have to see when the August 2015 issue is received. Regarding DMs comment about don't read it. Like many my preference is to build from plans and manufacture as much of the model myself. That is where I get my pleasure from the hobby. However, I do respect others that prefer kits, semi kits and ARTR. I do read the articles on building kits and semi kits as there is always an element of read-across to my scratch building. Always something new to learn.

[Paul FreshneyParticipant @paulfreshney24971]

As Colin correctly points out, when MyTimeMedia pay me to work 168 hours a week instead of 37.5 for Monday to Friday, then an instant forum reply will be forthcoming at weekends or in the evenings. One employee (me), prepares the submitted content for publication 13 times per year and Colin, on very much part-time basis, is paid to keep an eye on the forum and manage the editorial part of the website homepage.

With regard to kit reviews, like all specialist hobby magazines , Model Boats is 100% reliant on a group of freelance contributors who nowadays build what they want to build, as distinct from what we give them.

The days of FOC kits regularly arriving in the editorial office have long gone, and the vast majority of review models published now, have been purchased by the article's author.

There is nothing to stop forum members submitting genre and I will happily give advice on how it should be presented. I rarely reject submitted articles.

In the case of Wildcat 53, Brian Roberts liked the 1:24 scale version so much that he decided to build the bigger 1:12 version, which as has been pointed out is a very different kettle of fish. If you check the Contents Pages for the August issue, it also includes a submarine, fast electric boat and a yacht review, thus covering most aspects of our hobby.

Paul Freshney

[David Marks 2Participant @davidmarks2]

Paul – My apologies, I was under the illusion that the magazine were offered kits for building as a form of product promotion. Thank you for correcting me.

David

[Paul FreshneyParticipant @paulfreshney24971]

David,

No need to apologise, but yes, the days of large kit boxes arriving here unannounced have gone, in part due to the fact that apart from the notable exception of Ron Dean, new UK kits are not being produced in anything like the volume they were in the 1990's. Ron does kindly supply kits for review if we ask nicely, but again it has to be something that appeals to the reviewer as he will be giving up some month's of his time to build it.

We have coming up much later this year, a review of the current Mountfleet Models Cruiser kit, not a blow by blow account of construction, but more how the builder has added bits and pieces.

Brian Roberts, Wildcat 53 man(!), is working on a J class yacht for later in 2016, but in the meantime we have HMAS Sydney coming in November with firing missiles, a steam powered QE 2 model in September MB and of course the excellent Norman Ough article as well. Ron Rees is just testing his new Streamlinia model at our lake, but the article will not be in-house for some months yet as he is still developing the model which has some unique features. He has also been playing with his new 3D Printer and the first fittings are now coming off it.

In the 2015 Winter Special, Ron has a major piece on making figures which demonstrates how once broken down into 'body parts' it really is quite easy to make bespoke figures in different scales for our models. Roger Suitters, after a long delay owing to illness and a house move, is close to getting his NR-1 submarine fully functioning and there are some other unusual projects in the pipeline.

So some articles to look forward to – hopefully!

Paul Freshney

 

 

Edited By Paul Freshney Editor of Model Boats on 23/06/2015 15:59:17

[Bob Abell 2Participant @bobabell2]

Paul

Your description of the ModelBoats Magazine facilities is most disappointing

I've always assumed you worked in a ten story office block…..In your shirts sleeves, wearing a green eye shade

drinking endless cups of coffee and chain smoking etc

The reality of it all, is that you share the kitchen table with the missus's ironing

That's brought us all down to earth with a bang!

Bob

[Paul FreshneyParticipant @paulfreshney24971]

Bob

Spare bedroom actually – but yes at this very moment (6.10pm), there are encouraging noises coming from the cookhouse downstairs, so calling it a day now!

Paul

[David Marks 2Participant @davidmarks2]

Paul – As previously stated I find most articles in the magazine of interest as there is often a read-across from the way someone has tackled a kit or semi-kit assembly e.g. installing the prop shaft in the correct alignment to the way I tackle the same aspect of the assembly of one of my scratch built models. I have gained great pleasure from my modelling since I retired much of this due to subscribing to MB.

Regards – David Marks

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