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Continuing Articles

This topic has 38 replies, 16 voices, and was last updated 19 October 2010 at 19:42 by John Olsen.

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17 July 2010 at 19:34 #37436
ChrisH
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@chrish
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17 July 2010 at 19:34 #53497
ChrisH
Participant
@chrish
Some articles are serialised over several issues. Understood. But not understood is the logic as to when to expect the next ‘continuation’.

For example, I have been following the series on constructing the Yarrow boiler. The serials appeared in every even numbered copy of ME. Until now, when the next in the series following on from issue 4380 is to be in 4383, I think.

Now to a subscriber of ME that is not a problem, but I cannot justify subscribing to ME and MEW at the moment, so I just buy ME when there is something there that interests me, or ask my wife to in this case as she was going shopping and I was expecting the Yarrow article to be in issue 4382, but it was not. Not too much of a problem this time as the ‘Anzani’ article is of considerable interest, but you can see where I’m coming from I hope.

So, is there a logic to it all? Perhaps a solution is to note where it says at the end of the article “to be continued” to add in which issue, for those of limited means!

Edited By ChrisH on 17/07/2010 19:47:17
17 July 2010 at 20:16 #53506
Ian Abbott
Participant
@ianabbott31222
As far as I can remember, it’s been going on for ever, I think that it’s usually ‘cos the next bit hasn’t been written yet.

Ian

The infinitely patient.
18 July 2010 at 00:09 #53513
Flying Fifer
Participant
@flyingfifer
Hi Chris

Agree with Ian. I stopped ME purely for this reason when MEW was first published as I thought that MEW provided a better & more constant or should that be complete follow on for the articles as most were spread over at most 2 to 3 issues except for one recently which seemed to go on &on & on. Wouldn`t have been so bad if I was interested in 3D modelling but as I cant afford the machine to make this type of item sorry but for me that was one big waste of space.

Alan
18 July 2010 at 11:05 #53523
ChrisH
Participant
@chrish
What I forgot to mention regarding the logic to it all, is that some articles follow on in each issue, some in every other issue and some at random intervals.

You never, at least I never, know when the next article in a series is going to appear, and that is the problem.
18 July 2010 at 13:25 #53534
Terryd
Participant
@terryd72465
I presume that issue 4382 is in the news shops now? My local newsagent claims that he has not yet received the copy he reserves for me (I’m collecting the Darjeeling series).

Terry

Edited By Terryd on 18/07/2010 13:27:15

Edited By Kelvin Barber on 18/07/2010 18:03:52
18 July 2010 at 21:33 #53551
ChrisH
Participant
@chrish
Yes TerryD, 4382 is in our newsagents yesterday, the Darjeeling is in, but not the Yarrow this time. Case in point, the Darjeeling is in EACH issue, the Yarrow was in each OTHER issue but not in this one – most confusing to someone easily confused!
19 July 2010 at 23:45 #53623
Brian in OZ
Participant
@brianinoz24148
On that subject, I was wondering when we might see the continuation of the “Minnie” ME Traction Engine series ???

Brian in OZ
20 July 2010 at 10:19 #53637
Keith Wardill 1
Participant
@keithwardill1
Brian in OZ wrote:

On that subject, I was wondering when we might see the continuation of the “Minnie” ME Traction Engine series ???

Seconded!!

It seems over recent weeks that there has been little or no subject -relevant change to the website, apart from forum contributions (old magazines still ‘current’, still selling same old CDS, etc.). I wouldn’t go as far as TerryD and cancel my subscription , because we never had a website (as far as I know) until the change of editor, but at least don’t let it become stagnant – I for one greatly enjoyed reading the contents of the old magazines published on this site (most of them containing good technical articles and construction features), so I for one would like to see far more archive material made available on the website – how about reprints of LBSCs articles, for example?
26 September 2010 at 16:07 #56131
Richard Shute
Participant
@richardshute14275
It strikes me that this is extremely short sighted on the part of the publishers. Those people who want to subscribe will do so, but there are many others who have some specific interests and would buy a ‘series’ if it were easily accessible.

I bought one issue for an article the continuation of which I have not yet found, but I may have missed it. There’s not even something as simple as an article index available on the web-site. The publication is all electronic so it would be little more than a CtrlF9 in Word or something similar to generate the index.

Life’s too short and there’s no way I’m buying every issue on the off chance I might get Part 2 or it might be Part 4 if I’ve missed some. They’ve lost my custom before it started.

Richard
26 September 2010 at 16:21 #56133
The Merry Miller
Participant
@themerrymiller
I think that the policy may be for you to keep on buying the magazine in the hope that this time your continuation article will be in it.

Oh s****, it’s not in it again, Oh well I’ll just have to buy the next issue just in case, and so on.

Len P.
26 September 2010 at 19:58 #56141
David Clark 13
Participant
@davidclark13
Hi There

The Minnie articles were all up for several weeks including the ones claimed to be missing..

The authors son got very unhappy about them being on the website so they were removed. Also George Thomas family objected as well.

Both of these series are available as books. Perhaps that is why we got complaints.

Reprints of all articles are available from the office.

regards David
26 September 2010 at 20:51 #56142
Axel Bentell
Participant
@axelbentell
Glad someone lese but me likes the Yarrow boiler series! I made a thread on this exact subject not long ago!

Well, Im very patient, so for me its okey, but some aren´t, and it would be nice with more “ordnung”; not all readers are British…

On my wish list is a book with Geometer articles, it would be a good read for many, and a must have for beginners methinks!
27 September 2010 at 01:06 #56144
John Olsen
Participant
@johnolsen79199
Well, the series on the Leak compound marine engine had “to be continued” with a promise of details of the condenser and some other bits….that was back in 1983.

You have to remember, some of the writers are not so young, and sometimes health issues can interfere with getting the articles out. No doubt it would be nice if the whole series could be in the editors hand before it starts going to press, but I suspect it is not always that easy.

regards

John
15 October 2010 at 04:22 #56936
Jim Greethead
Participant
@jimgreethead
And as for Rina, we get a miserable 2 pages every second issue. Very poor. I was patient when I thought it was because David was laid up but even then it should have been farmed out in the interests of the readers.
15 October 2010 at 07:09 #56938
John Olsen
Participant
@johnolsen79199
The every second issue bit has been around for so long , it is pretty well a tradition. I would not of course know why only two pages, maybe the writer can only write that fast?

But I would say, don’t underestimate the time and commitment that the writers of the longer serials must have put into get their articles done. I have only written short construction stuff that would fit into one, or maybe two issues at the most. Even with that sort of thing there is a lot of work making sure you have a reasonably coherent set of drawings, photos, and words that do not contradict each other too badly. (Not to mention trying to keep the self appointed OSH inspectors happy.) As the size of the project goes up the difficulty must increase exponentially. Of course we actually have it rather easier now than the old timers did, with CAD systems, word processors, and digital cameras.

regards

John
15 October 2010 at 10:47 #56947
Axel Bentell
Participant
@axelbentell
Posted by John Olsen on 15/10/2010 07:09:30:

Of course we actually have it rather easier now than the old timers did, with CAD systems, word processors, and digital cameras.

regards

John

I´ve thought about this, and I am very impressed by the nice work they did in older days producing magazines. Just have a closer look; trimetric GA was common, and the projects weren´t any less complicated. And I usually find the language much better then, more articulated. I´ve been working on translation of a catalog for a while, and writing is alot harder than most imagine I belive!

Btw I wish we could se more trimetric drawings in the future, they are a nice compliment to any set of drawings. MEW/ME has a very good artist, I bet he´d like the challage once in a while. They do take some time to make but are very good nice. And as I usually say, you can´t build what your hand can´t draw. CAD is a sad excuse for drawing, though its great for industrial use!
15 October 2010 at 10:50 #56948
Anonymous
But you can draw what you can’t build – Andrew
17 October 2010 at 12:07 #57026
David Clark 13
Participant
@davidclark13
Hi There

No chance of fancy drawings, he does not have the time.

regards David
17 October 2010 at 12:09 #57027
David Clark 13
Participant
@davidclark13
Article time,

Ray MacMahon tok about 5 years to do the Darjeeling series write ups.

regards David
17 October 2010 at 12:11 #57028
David Clark 13
Participant
@davidclark13
Hi There

We can not always do enough drawings in the time available so sometimes articles get spread out.

The illustrator has to do several magazines, not just Model Enigneer and Workshop.

regards David
17 October 2010 at 23:46 #57045
John Olsen
Participant
@johnolsen79199
Hi David,

So what is the best CAD format to send in drawings so the illustrator will be able to work with them easily? (I’m assuming that for those of us who use CAD, it is useful to you if we can send in a file copy as well as a printed one, so that you can possibly add things we might have ommitted.)

Most common programs will do dxf, the one I am using now will do four versions of .dxf and will also do four versions of Autocad .dwg, as well as of course using its own native format, which is only useful if your illustrator happens to have that program too. I have found that older programs will not necessarily open later versions of dxf, so there may be a version that you would like to specify.

regards

John
17 October 2010 at 23:47 #57046
Nicholas Farr
Participant
@nicholasfarr14254
Hi Andrew, I know this is off topic a bit, but I believe you are correct. I was given a drawing similar to the picture below, some 40 years ago. I was asked if I could build one, I still havn’t figered out how it can be achieved.

This is my own humorous interpretation of the original drawing, it was supposed to be some sort of gate made from wodden planks

Regards Nick

Edited By Nicholas Farr on 17/10/2010 23:48:07
18 October 2010 at 08:08 #57047
Jim Greethead
Participant
@jimgreethead
Are you familiar with the drawings of M.C.Escher? He has done some wonderful woodcuts along similar lines.

Jim
18 October 2010 at 08:29 #57048
Nicholas Farr
Participant
@nicholasfarr14254
Hi Jim, just Googled M. C. Escher, wasn’t familiar with the name but, yes I’ve seen some of the illustrations.

Regards Nick.
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