While I know you're saving the best stuff for the January edition of the E-zine, I'm curious if it would be possible to include one or two 'teaser' articles and/or photo spreads by some of your trustworthy writers (or maybe a newbie try-out section for aspiring MRH writers) in the monthly newsletters. I diligently scan them for non-product related content (I know, I should get with the program and know I won't find anything) that will get my creative energies going but I haven't found anything that has gotten me fired up. 

Would that be a possibility? I know the primary place for content like that is in the e-zine, but maybe MRH could throw us a bone in the off-months too by way of the newsletter?

It's a long stretch of time between e-zine editions...especially when you check the site everyday to read about the progress people are making on their own layouts, new modelling techniques, etc.

Keep up the great work - love what you're doing here! 

We're going to bi-monthly come January, so that should help. Every other month instead of once a quarter.

herman,

I think you have some great ideas there, for the future.

MRH is going to six issues a year as of January 2010!  GREAT NEWS!  The more MRH the merrier, I say!

It's my feeling that right now MRH is concentrating on delivering the same high quality product we've seen so far, as they move into this new phase of the E-zine's growth and development.

I hope to see the newsletters grow along with MRH too.  I look forward to the time when MRH is a monthly publication and newsletters are out every week!

I like the new author tryout idea, but new authors would have to understand that there are certain standards that must be met to keep the quality of the publication as good as it can be.  That has to carry over to the newsletters too of course.

I think if we asked, we would find that most, if not all of the staff at MRH have "day jobs" and other commitments.  Until MRH grows a little bit more they may not have the "people" to support everything we would like to see.

Still it doesn't hurt to ask, and throw around ideas in the interim.

Truth be told, while I have naturally downloaded the newsletter, I have not got to reading it yet...maybe later tonight.

Look at that!  Before I can get my post typed up Joe has been in and gone again...the involvement the staff shows is one of the many things that sets MRH apart from ANY other hobby publication, IMO.

Well, for me personally I find the newsletters a great help.

Im in the UK modelling US outline, so having a handy place for the new and proposed releases is extremely useful, as I don't really have a local hobby shop that can keep me up to date with whats coming.

In fact, the whole 'digital' aspect of MRH has made the US model rairoad hobby much more accessible for me.

 I just wanted to let you know that your magazine and newsletter are greatly appreciated and anticipated. I am looking forward to the bi-monthly issues.  Thank you so much for the effort and I do notice which manufacturers and shops support you.

Keep up the good work.

Sam

An automotive e-zine that I read regularly, has a "news column" on there web site.  If a "spy photo" is made of a new car being tested anywhere in the world and gets to the web, or if a manufacturer issues a press release on a new model or update of an old model, it goes to this column which is updated daily.  I don't know if that is less work than havig someone to do a dedicated newletter on a monthly basis or not.  This magazine is published monthly, I can see why Joe would want to do the monthly news letters, at least until the magazine gets to be a monthly publication, to give his advertisers more "bang for their buck."  I'm mentioning this idea on the assumption that Joe's eventual plan is to grow this magazine to a monthly publication.

Joe,

    I'm having problems getting to a download.  Can you do what you did for last month and give an alternative page.

Allen

Yes, been swamped and haven't gotten the legacy download up for the newsletter yet ... hope to get it up by tomorrow.

But rest assured I'm commited to continuing to provide the legacy download option on our publications.

Okay, the legacy download is there.

Just click "what's this?" below the download button and then click the "Download problems?" link at the top of the page.

Morning,

Just short note to say the ezine / magazine and news letters are improving all the time. Content is great and it is easier to view.

Also, if I wanted tio submit articles and photos of my SP South layout and modelling tips of  for possible inclusion or for access by subscribers, how do I go about this.

Regards.

Ralph

South Africa

Ralph:

Select "Write for us" above just under the header image. It tells you all you need to know to write and submit an article to us.

Thanks!!!

BTW, my environment is Fedora 11 with Firefox (no flash) if that helps. I get just an empty page otherwise.

Allen

The newsletter is an excellent production. I enjoy reading it as it is informative and has an easy to read layout.

I'm pleased that it will be going bi-monthly.

Joe Sacca

I looks like it was every month in 2009 rather than quarterly by looking at the issues avialable.  But I can understand work, family and other things make it a big commitment to make and publish monthly.

The quality and content looks great guys!  Keep up the good work!

It is the magazine that was quarterly, but is now bimonthly.  The newsletter mainly focuses on new product announcements or model railroad industry news. 

The MRH newsletter is published standalone every month in which the MRH e-zine is not published. Last year that meant MAG - NEWS - NEWS - MAG - NEWS - NEWS - MAG - NEWS - NEWS - MAG - NEWS - NEWS. This year, with the magazine boing bi-monthly instead of quarterly that means MAG - NEWS - MAG - NEWS etc.

In those months during which a MRH ezine is published, the newsletter contents is in the ezine (so technically, there are 12 newsletters each year, it's just that some are standalone while others are embedded in an issue of MRH).

Hope this clarifies things!

Charlie

I forgot that the news letter is embedded in the e-zine when the e-zine is published, and stands alone in the off months.