website

I saw that also. Their website is still up.

bummer

And I was on the verge of letting my MRR subscription expire and switch over to RMC, even though I've never actually read a single issue of it.

Well...

I see that one forum that was claiming this has had the message deleted.

Just out of curiosity, have you called them to see if the phones still work? Rumors like this start all sorts of problems that can just be a simple misunderstanding.

Carstens

Shouldn't we wait for the death certificate before we bury the body? Rumors aside .Carstens publishes several magazines besides RMC. What is the status of the others?

Irresponsible

RMC

Paul

 Well said

Unsubstantiated rumor

The PNR official newsletter publishing a "rumor" like this is premature.

We have heard nothing official, and even if it is true, I have a hard time seeing RMC just disappear. Someone with resources would almost certainly step forward and keep RMC going ... Not unlike twinkies!

Until we hear something official from Carstens themselves, speculation is fruitless.

"Someone with resources would

"Someone with resources would almost certainly step forward and keep RMC going ... Not unlike twinkies!"

 But RMC is better for you than twinkies are :> ) 

Well Joe

If there is any Truth to this you could certainly have an in with the print media if you choose to go there. I would hazard a guess that an upgrade to the publication could be had for the folks that want to hold paper in hand by giving them a copy of this one on paper.

Some of the first magazines I have purchased in my life were railroad model craftsman. Some of the early ones were even about my home town. It cost less than a dollar then. And they were advertising color photos. I always liked the layout tours with the private car Hal Carstens used in trains. I do hope they continue to print the magazine and remain in business but many nice periodicals have failed over the years and there are several that I miss.

At any rate I will wait till I here an official announcement regarding their closing.

"Just Sayin......"

My friend who has a print subscription (until 2019!) to R&R has emailed Carstens about missing issues since June. He has not been given the courtesy of a reply. I have a digital subscription to RMC which expires in Feb. 2015, and haven't seen a July or August issue so far. I know they had printing issues previously, but this doesn't look good. 

Triple Filter Test

In ancient Greece, Socrates was reputed to hold knowledge in high esteem. One day an acquaintance met the great philosopher and said, "Do you know what I just heard about your friend?"

"Hold on a minute," Socrates replied. "Before you talk to me about my friend, it might be good idea to take a moment and filter what you’re going to say. That’s why I call it the triple filter test. The first filter is Truth. Have you made absolutely sure that what you are about to tell me is true?"

"Well, no," the man said, "actually I just heard about it and…"

"All right," said Socrates. "So you don’t really know if it’s true or not. Now, let’s try the second filter, the filter of Goodness. Is what you are about to tell me about my friend something good?"

"Umm, no, on the contrary…"

"So," Socrates continued, "you want to tell me something bad about my friend, but you’re not certain it’s true. You may still pass the test though, because there’s one filter left—the filter of Usefulness. Is what you want to tell me about my friend going to be useful to me?"

"No, not really."

"Well," concluded Socrates, "if what you want to tell me is neither true, nor good, nor even useful, why tell it to me at all?"


 

Socrates

Jurg, I love it. Thanks for sharing

I just (9:45 EDST on 8/20/14)

I just (9:45 EDST on 8/20/14) spoke with Lynn at Carstens, they are not going out of business, they are still publishing, they expect to have delays in printing and distribution through the end of the year, but they are a going concern.

Neville Wardle

Branford, CT.

Sigh

Someone spoiling a perfectly good discussion with facts. lol

Rich

Ya but...

And it was my first post on

And it was my first post on here, feel pretty bad about that really

More emails flying about

Lots of email flying about, so there's definitely something happening.

If RMC does close their doors, I expect RMC to get acquired and come back. Railroad Model Craftsman is a name with a rich history among model railroaders. Someone with resources would be getting a name with huge goodwill and respect among the model railroading community.

Yes ...

... many were in "denial"; however, the writing was clearly on the wall ... it was really only a matter of time.  Just too many things piling up with no relief in sight.  

Problem with "paper" publishing is there is a lot of "overhead" expenses up front ... paper and ink (not to mention the cost of the presses themselves), distribution/shipping, that are not always under the control of the publisher.  Digital publishing avoids a lot of those expenses, as well as the dependency on others to provide those services ... 

Hopefully something can be worked out, as losing a publisher can not bode well for the hobby in general.

Here! Here Jurg!

You came off with a great response.  I was about to try slow this thread by suggesting "that the horse has already been beaten to death" and that anymore jabs were useless.  Of course everybody loves gossip!  Gossip spreads like wild fire and grows farther from the truth with each telling.  Jurg, you handled it with great diplomacy and I think you extinguished that fire.  I applaud your response.

Of course we must not leave out Neville.  Neville had the courage to call RMC to get an answer.  (Why does this sound like a Harry Potter script?)  I don't know why someone else didn't do that in the beginning.  Or we could say, "What took you so long Neville!"  Actually, Kudos to you Neville!

This reminds me of what I tell young people who talk about wanting to know an answer from someone or some organization, but are afraid to ask.  There are three possible answers of which you will receive one.  Yes, No or Maybe.  Okay for your other guys out there I will include H3!! No!

JoeF, In this case I wouldn't think Lynn would have minded to hear directly from you and to make a statement about their future for the readers of MRH.  A lot of us are readers of RMC too.  It would kill the rumors immediately.  There it is, a quote from Lynn.  Other Railroading Forums would have access to it as many of us are active on other forums.  The truth would be spread by us rather than the untrue rumors.

Den

Awaiting the public announcement

If they do close up shop, I would expect RMC will wait for something more substantial around the buyer negotiations before making a public announcement. In the meantime, one of our advertisers did tell us RMC is not currently taking ad reservations - which makes sense if they're in the middle of changing hands.

Don't expect any public announcements from Carstens for a while.

What about

The On30 Annuals?

Great publication and about the only magazine that I bother to collect.

John

Hmm

Well, Joe, 1 downside is that you won't be able to compare circulation figures against RMC for a while, if ever.

On the flip side, maybe some of the authors will come over here and add more selection to what articles are offered here.  Hm, maybe we can go to a once a week publication with the added volume < LOL> !

Carstens Closing

I've been subscribing to RMC since 1978.  My current subscription expires with the 9/14 issue.  I did recently receive the June issue, but it looks as though, based on Joe's information, that I'll not be seeing the July, Aug. and Sept. issues.  Hopefully someone will buy them and continue publishing the magazine for those who like its content.  I've been giving serious thought to not renewing my subscription.  Based on this new information, I'm glad I didn't rush to renew since I've always renewed for three years at a time.

Bob

Dang!

Still have 22 issues left in my RMC subscription...