Discussion on the Future Direction of Model Engineer and Workshop

[Martin KyteParticipant @martinkyte99762]

Some people actually like to ‘build it in their head’ even if they never make a real one.

[noel shelleyParticipant @noelshelley55608]

Never mind about what to publish and the format,One of the biggest problems will be how to write an article bearing in mind the range of skills and equipment that readers will have. Here we have one of the best reasons why newcomers should join a club, informal training and access to machine tools.

Jasons beautiful little dynamo has used a lathe and no doubt a CNC mill to get these results, does one have to write the code or will it somehow be in the article ? His knowledge and skill is obvious ! When I get round to making mine I may take pictures of making a similar dynamo using possibly a lathe, a drill, a hacksaw and files. This to illustrate that a working model can also be made with simple tools.

To write on welding, which I don’t remember being covered recently ( not in ME ) may be needed as a friend of mine has just bought a Lidl welder for under £40 and asked me to show him how to use it. Again I may take pictures and write a short article giving the bear bones, as this is a skill where practice is the key, along with half decent rods .  That will do on this one ! Noel

[JasonBModerator @jasonb]

Sorry to disappoint but the dynamo was all done on the manual lathe and mill. If anyone wanted to put their mind to it then it could actually all be done on a lathe. If you read a few of my builds on here you will see me say “I used the CNC but it could be done without” Or just look at all the engines made before I had the CNC or even those before I had a mill like the Minnie in my avatar that was just lathe and drill press. It is something I am conscious of though and would not publish something that could not be done without the CNC or even some of the more complex fabrications or manual chopping from solid as there are only a few who may take it on.

The big problem is those that do write are unlikely to be beginners so they will write about how they made something. If the mag needs articles specifically aimed at the beginner then it really needs a commission or for someone to make something with the beginner in mind from the start and take more photo of things that they would otherwise consider not worth mentioning and write it up in more detail. If that Clarkson one gets published then you will see what I mean as I built it with exactly that in mind, even some filing !

Oh and as for code well that is very much machine dependant so not ideal to include in an article but those who actually make some of the things I show have been known to ask nicely and get a suitable STEP file or more which will allow them to resize, 3D print or CNC a part or outsource laser or waterjet cutting, a lot of others have had a full size set of drawings so don’t have to work from the small ones in the mag. Quite easy to put a QR code into an article though which would take a reader to where they could download whatever an author wants to provide.

[JasonBModerator @jasonb]

Noel’s comment also brings up the point about encouraging authors to also run a concurrent thread on the forum where anyone with a query can raise it and hopefully get help and by making it public also help others.

As you will see I specifically say it can be used for those with queries on making parts with what machines they have as it is impossible for an author to cover what each reader may have available to them.

The article also carries a link to the thread so anyone with a question or wanting to see the additional images can find there way there. I’d like to see more of the same. A beginner or someone new to the forum may be a bit put off by starting a new thread with a query but if the thread is already there then it may encourage them to speak up.

[BazyleParticipant @bazyle]

Long series can perhaps be shortened by more careful selection of photos and, as LBSC did, referring to previous articles for some of the standard items – eg a water gauge is the same on every boiler so arrange just one detail description per year.
Having just caught up with December MEW hopefully the padding reduction will allow more small articles per issue. Two pages of file rack only needed a couple of pictures with one including a ruler (yes wooden ruler not rule with almost invisible graduations) and no text, 5 pages of chainsaw vice only needed two good pictures and fifty words so both could have been condensed into one page, and the Universal Wrench has been discussed before.

Every picture can be critically examined – is is clear and showing me relevant information in sufficient but not excessive magnification without extraneous views of the rest of the lathe which I’ve seen before. Text – well remember those exercises we did at school called ‘precis’.

[BazParticipant @baz89810]

Maybe we should ask the question how many steam locomotives will be built from the long running article compared with how many stationary engines will be built following Jason’s articles. Many years ago Kieth Wilson serialised Ariel, a merchant navy class locomotive, to this day hardly any have been built, mainly due to dozens of errors on the drawings. Very few people are going to build locomotives when they can buy beautifully detailed models from the likes of Silvercrest, one club I belong to has about 50 members and only about 5 actually build anything from scratch. Maybe we drop the steam locos and publish stationary engines that beginners could attempt because they can learn the skills needed there such as cylinder boring and making crankshafts, turning eccentrics etc. Regarding steam locomotives, I feel that there are more than enough designs around to satisfy most people, from beginner to expert with plenty of build instructions available.

[Colin HeseltineParticipant @colinheseltine48622]

I have taken MEW since around 2006 and ME since around 2012.  I am not really into locos but there was a series on either a piece of equipment or a stationary/IC engine in ME that I was interested in.  I kept up the subscription to ME but was tempted to stop it a number of times.  The majority of the time I have been reasonably happy with MEW.  I’m afraid I get more annoyed with editing/proof read errors in both magazines.  I appreciate being editor is a thankless task.  Many many years ago I used to write articles for a local paper and have had to write software test scripts and user guides so can appreciate how difficult this task can be.

I enjoyed the first few Butterside down articles but then felt the topic moved to far from engineering of any sort and I was not a fan of the writing style.  The part of the series covering his trailer build was informative but went on way too long, and I dread to think the cost of building that trailer in the UK with the various rack mounted clamps etc.

The loco builds which go down to the exact rivet location I find a very heavy read.  As others have said, highlighting how to carry out particular difficult tasks and with interesting setups would be of more use.

The recent articles on “Unseizing a steam cylinder” in ME were to my mind very heavily padded and could have been shortened significantly, maybe to 3 or 4 pages max.

I think that series need to be a lot shorter.  With the magazine moving to a monthly basis a six parter will now take six months not three.  As with most things todays todays young people want instant gratification and an article lasting longer than six months will not interest them.  They seem to want much quicker results.

I joined my local club to help support it as it was possible going to lose its venue (and still may). They have couple of members under 18. This year the club put in a small gauge 1 layout.  This was to a) aid as an attraction to younger members who could not afford a large loco and b) for some of the elder members of the club who were beginning to struggle moving large 5″ and 7 1/4″ locos.  A number of the members now have 3D printed locos running (most with radio control).

I can appreciate the work that has gone into building the various steam locos (and battery) but certainly could not find enough time (or even maybe live long enough) to build one.  This year whilst recovering from prostate surgery I 3D printed a gauge 1 loco to run on their new small layout.  Perhaps an article on the trials and tribulations of 3D printing a small loco.

I’m sure that a lot of readers have purchased items on ebay or from a club auctions, etc that needed remedial work to make operational.  Articles for instance on how they recovered from the poor work to get a running item.

Where people have done long builds then I think this site is the place for the full build, with a subset highlighting critical points and setups etc. in the magazine.  Some of Jason Ballamy’s builds have done this very well.

I have documented a couple of builds on this site, but following a recent breakin to the house and theft of wife’s car am loathe to put too much info into posts/articles regarding equipment.

Colin

 

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