What's Neat This Week in Model Railroading

[@redbubbaneck]

I'm excited for the future of Model Railroading!

[@darenhamill9881]

Hi happy new year 🎉

[@stephensievert8560]

The best thing going for MR is it's digitized Historical content. Promote this. Demonstrate this. Highlight this. The historical archive is worth the subscription

[@CV4014]

Ken, i believe you have a Bachman K-27 sitting on your shelf . i have developed a robust replacement pilot truck as some have broken. details on the Bachman Large Scale Forum

[@Joe-d7m6k]

The older MODEL RAILROADER, and TRAINS, were the best. In 65 to 100 pages, they had more info than anything now. They had excellent writers, and did complete research. The new stuff is just not in the same league.

[@bengray2820]

Did anyone catch what brand the 1:87 scale Morris mini vehicles were?

[@mikebudde2570]

I believe they are from Herpa, Ben. I will double check

[@bengray2820]

Thanks Mike, been looking for some of these for a while too 🙏

[@andychandler153]

For Firecrown: Will your focus be upon teaching modeling skills, integration and learning of those skills?. Or arranging ready to run products on a pre formed layout"?

[@johnbanicki7232]

I have been a subscriber to Model Railroader for over 40 years. Look forward to seeing the changes that are coming to the magazine. Mike’s stuff was awesome as usual. I have drawers full of those Walmart cars. For the price you could not go wrong. Hope everyone had a great Christmas.

[@zekeblaster1771]

I like the walk arounds. It would be so much easier to watch your walk arounds if you folks used a steady cam portable fixture and a spot mike with your camera. Stops all the jerkin around, fast pans and sound drop outs. Thanks for all your hard work and wonderful content every week. I'm learning.

[@manimal22]

Interesting that Craig didn't mention the purchase of Entertrainment Junction. Maybe it wasn't final at the time of this as he announced it on the 26th

[@kd5gsp]

Good show! I enjoyed seeing Mike's boxcar for Galveston Wharves. I have one myself, Athearn Ready-To-Roll, that I run on my layout from time to time. I received an East Camden & Highlands Railroad boxcar, Atlas Master Line, for Christmas. Nice to see rolling stock and automobiles from the era that I model, mid 1960's to 1980.

[@mikebudde2570]

Thank you. I’m right there with you. 1980 is my cutoff.

[@michaell.maloney4026]

Yea….the pop up ads trying to get to the videos are really, really BAD! I hope they get that crap out soon!

[@andychandler153]

For Firecrown: I did not have much trouble navigating the old forums and received much interactive help. I do not think it was as bad as you lead us to believe. I actually had more problems with customer service online.

[@jcure]

Eric White gets my vote as jerk of the year. He wrote an Editors story asking what happened to Bill Albertson's hand built brass. Since I played with these as a kid I wrote a nice reply. Never heard a word back. And yes, I've been a subscriber since 83'

[@ghewitt94]

Another good show Ken and Co. Looking forward to the 2025 year and show 300. Happy New Year to all.

[@Tom-xe9iq]

MR is in a tough spot: there are tons of FREE digital sources. You need to have a compelling reason for the modeler to invest in MR, print or digital. I love the in-depth drawings of subjects, engines to bridges, etc. like MR of old or Mainline Modeler. There is going to be some adjustments as you get started, but I'm sure you will get there!

[@jamessbca]

They are in a tough spot! I will likely subscribe forever simply out of dedication / habit. It's just a part of life, like a cup of coffee!

[@amyreynolds3619]

The magazine is what I use to kitbash and scratch build the cars and buildings. The hobby has not thought about modelers with any disabilities. I am a deaf disabled veteran who does Southern railway in DC without sound.

[@kevinmacomber1336]

Starting at minute 16 states the problem they have had forever . . . they want to be something to everyone. The ship left the port.

[@jackoesterlejr.3454]

What a great show! I've been reading Model Railroader since the 70's! Now i get to see who's in charge of the magazine! I love all the goodies that is brought to the "Round Table"! I can't wait to see what's next in our hobby! This is "The Greatest Hobby In The World" Till Next Time! MoPac Jack "May All Your Signals Be Clear" Happy New Year 2025! Please Be Safe! 🚂 12/ 27/ 2024

[@johnd8892]

From 27:31 that train length of 261 cars beat the Arid Australia exhibition layout that had 240 iron ore cars simulating the iron ore railways of Western Australia. They had two locomotives on the front. If they had distruted the power like the iron ore railways do, they could have pulled more. There is a video called Arid Australia Record Trains from 2008 showing the record run.

[@ajkleipass]

Re: MR online content: There is a good amount of online content from the early days of MR using the website to expand its print articles that is now 404-missing. Whether this is completely lost or just misplaced on the server isn't obvious. These need to be restored - especially in light of the entire archives being available online.

[@donaldshannon5367]

Ken , you are an outstanding modeler and a real asset for the hobby. Too, you are a great podcaster. On the latest podcast with the guys from Model Railroader the subject of “being overwhelmed” came up. Great subject, so much to do in the hobby. I have been “overwhelmed” for years despite being retired. Trees, water, rolling stock loads etc. etc. Too, you are very much for everything that enhances the hobby! Look forward to seeing future podcast. Thanks for promoting the “best hobby”.

[@morganfbilbo4659]

My only comment is about the magazine, MR and RMC. When will they get digital in pdf format? That is the future.

[@stevenallen9613]

I hope the new ownership of the Kalmbach catalog of print media makes the necessary changes to bring them back from were they once were. As a longtime subscriber to MR (35+ years) I was recently shocked and disappointed in the renewal price vs the cheaper introductory pricing that comes with magazine. I also hope the customer service operation changes from not really caring about customer satisfaction and loyalty. Your MR Video Plus has been a total waste of money versus what had been promised. They have a group of talented people back has fallen short. MR has also fallen short in representing the skills of other scales such as O and S, they've pidgeoned holed them tinplate/toy train market.

[@azmike1]

" Leaning into A.I." MR Mag should realize that A.I. is useful but it tends to go on about one subject, "beat a dead horse," and say the same thing over and over again in a different way. Understand? Listen to A.I. closely. it sounds intelligent, but to me, it draws out specific content to excess. Useful? Yes. But be careful.

[@RobertinoCammile]

Thanks for the analysis! Just a quick off-topic question: My OKX wallet holds some USDT, and I have the seed phrase. (alarm fetch churn bridge exercise tape speak race clerk couch crater letter). What's the best way to send them to Binance?

[@mikebudde2570]

US Mail.

[@michaell.maloney4026]

Yes, I got my “reinvite” to forums a couple of weeks ago….it really is Great now….i had totally given up on them before… really happy with the changes!

[@willannand9988]

I love Mike's little Shih-Tsu puppy. We have 2 of them.

[@jerryslater5173]

Happy New Year ❤🎉😊

[@kimmarsh5387]

And the tariffs on China a large amount of product is imported.?

[@tony2007fl]

will the prices of engines and rolling stock ever come down ?.

[@MarkNieting]

Do you want salaries to go down? Quality to go down? Quit complaining.

[@stephenhottle6783]

16oz is 1lb

[@johnd8892]

But Ken was saying the new BLI die cast locomotive was 1 lb 14 ounces. So nearly two pounds. Just two ounces short.

[@stephenhottle6783]

​@johnd8892 no he said 14.7 oz

[@epacm50]

James Wright is still the "King of Trains."

[@1208bug]

😊👍

[@MarkNieting]

Eric White didn’t have a lot to say, did he.

[@wyzig]

Some you needed to take the dog out!!!

[@Tom.Gregory]

I’ve been a model railroader for over 40 years. I quit MR about 20 years ago….have no regrets…. Left Trains Mag a few years ago

[@JCNUMBERand]

See you next year!!!!!!😅

[@Bradley38]

Who thought it was a good idea to have a dog whimpering through this whole episode?

[@mikebudde2570]

I thought you unsubscribed! Good to have you back.

[@tompetty1880]

Craig Fuller, you come over as one helluva highly motivated guy.

[@mikebudde2570]

Tom Petty! My wife and I are big fans. Love your music. 😉

[@garyweber2867]

gotta make the puppy a reg on the show

[@mr.shadestrains6033]

Awsum!!!!!!!!”;-)”🚂🚋🚃🚋🚃🚋🚃👍