Editorial Musings

[Neil WyattModerator @neilwyatt]

Hi Folks,

I thought it might be interesting to give a little update on things happening at MEW.

After a busy few days for me, I've been working through a small backlog of emails. I'm pleased to say I have received several articles from both established and returning authors. I've also heard from some new contributors, which is always good. While I'm deeply grateful to our 'regulars', new writers bring new perspectives and often explore new subjects.

One particularly intriguing article from a returning contributor is a precision X-Y table for microscopy, the unusual aspect being that it is 3D printed. This should appear by the summer, I hope.

As for me, I'm still seeing more DIY than workshop activity but have recently found time to do some plastic modelling (don't shout 'heresy' – that's where I started this game!) Some photos below, I've been using a lot of the Lifecolour weathering sets from Airbrushes.com as well as Tamiya and Revell acrylics. So much nicer to use than the enamels I grew up with I've discovered that not all scalpel blades are equal… perhaps not a surprise.

Finally, I was contacted by a subscriber asking if we will ever publish a DVD of back issues up to date. Let me know if you would be interested in such a thing, and if there's sufficient interest it may be a possibility.

All the best,

Neil

This is a Heng Long Meng kit of a WW1 Whippet with additions to be closer to a historic photo of 'The Musical Box'.

Kit:

Original:

Edited By Neil Wyatt on 17/02/2023 16:54:17

[Neil WyattModerator @neilwyatt]

Irregular notes from the Ed’s Bench

[Anonymous]

Posted by Neil Wyatt on 17/02/2023 12:00:07:

Finally, I was contacted by a subscriber asking if we will ever publish a DVD of back issues up to date. Let me know if you would be interested in such a thing, and if there's sufficient interest it may be a possibility.

Considering the number of times this has been discussed off and on in these forums over the years, that sounds …. well, a trifle coy.

[JasonBModerator @jasonb]

Though I don't think it has been discussed since Morton's took over so outcome could be different.

Neil I think you need to set than tank down into the grass a bit rather than hovering above it

[David AmbroseParticipant @davidambrose86182]

A bit revolutionary I know, but is an online archive an option? It would require the same digital files, but not need a physical DVD to be sent out. I’m not sure I will buy another DVD player when when my current one dies.

[Jon LawesParticipant @jonlawes51698]

Maybe a memory stick rather than a DVD player. I don't have a DVD player and most a lot of laptops are made without them now.

[Robert Atkinson 2Participant @robertatkinson2]

Posted by David Ambrose on 17/02/2023 18:51:13:

A bit revolutionary I know, but is an online archive an option? It would require the same digital files, but not need a physical DVD to be sent out. I’m not sure I will buy another DVD player when when my current one dies.

There already is an online archive. Available to subscribers. The interface is a bit clunky and there are errors and a few missing issues but useful. Keep me occupied during the wet days over the end of year holidays when I could not get into the workshop.

Don't get me started on microsoft "declaring" optical disks obsolete…….

Robert.

[lee websterParticipant @leewebster72680]

Optical disks are obsolete? I still have two computers with 3 1/2" floppy drives, and one of those doesn't have a hard drive. Where do I stand?

[Anonymous]

Posted by JasonB on 17/02/2023 18:33:49:

Though I don't think it has been discussed since Morton's took over so outcome could be different.

Absolutely – Morton's might be agreeable to releasing DVDs where previous owners were not. But Neil was seeking to establish the level of interest here should they do so, which I believe is already apparent.

As far as the obsolescence of computer DVD drives, computer chains here are still selling them both internal and external (USB) versions.

[JasonBModerator @jasonb]

Posted by lee webster on 17/02/2023 22:37:17:

………………Where do I stand?

With an ever dwindling minority

[BizibilderParticipant @bizibilder]

Rather than a DVD (which could still be an option) why not simply a download from the website (or a dedicated site) for a single (very !!!) small one-off fee? Maybe the same system for earlier versions of ME as well. The only major problem may be paying someone to sit there and scan all the magazines in.  A small charge per volume would allow you to download the "words and music" for any series of articles that you required for your latest project.  After all ME and MEW are a vast repository of information that is currently only available to those with collections of magazines going back several decades!

Edited By Bizibilder on 18/02/2023 10:05:08

[JasonBModerator @jasonb]

It would be interesting to know what people would be willing to pay for a stick/CD, the German equivalent MiM have done CDs for many years and charge about £15 for a years worth (6mags) on CD, or £22 for other titles that have 12 issues per year

So that's about £500 for all of MEW

Edited By JasonB on 18/02/2023 10:19:20

[BazyleParticipant @bazyle]

Then when the Chatbots have sucked it all in we can test it with "What's the best way to compensate for the errors in the Rob Roy drawings" and gen two of them will provide fully corrected drawings.

[Chuck TaperParticipant @chucktaper]

Posted by Bizibilder on 18/02/2023 10:01:49:

Rather than a DVD (which could still be an option) why not simply a download from the website (or a dedicated site) for a single (very !!!) small one-off fee? Maybe the same system for earlier versions of ME as well. The only major problem may be paying someone to sit there and scan all the magazines in. A small charge per volume would allow you to download the "words and music" for any series of articles that you required for your latest project. After all ME and MEW are a vast repository of information that is currently only available to those with collections of magazines going back several decades!

Edited By Bizibilder on 18/02/2023 10:05:08

Make that a "Me Too". I would be more than happy to pay for copy of specific articles of interest. Many articles get referenced that frustratingly I know I will never be able to read due to being in very early copies of magazines etc. Even happy to cover the actual service cost of digitising said 'specific article of interest' for posterity. Under this model, over time, articles would accumulate in some hypothetical system.

Sigh, one can only dream.

Frank C.

[duncan webster 1Participant @duncanwebster1]

Posted by Bazyle on 18/02/2023 10:17:42:

Then when the Chatbots have sucked it all in we can test it with "What's the best way to compensate for the errors in the Rob Roy drawings" and gen two of them will provide fully corrected drawings.

Or it will tell you about a Scottish cattle rustler's artwork

[Iain DownsParticipant @iaindowns78295]

As far as I can see, my online subscription only gives me access to magazines electronically, which have been published since the start of my subscription.

I would welcome the ability to get magazines prior to that with interesting articles. Ideally in electronic format and through some kind of web interface. I would be prepared to pay something towards this, though perhaps not quite as much as a current magazine.

In my ideal world, I would be able to buy individual articles (or series of them) rather then the whole magazine. Adverts for an Asian lathe from 1962 are unlikely to be of value to me

Iain

[Martin Johnson 1Participant @martinjohnson1]

Posted by Bazyle on 18/02/2023 10:17:42:

Then when the Chatbots have sucked it all in we can test it with "What's the best way to compensate for the errors in the Rob Roy drawings".

Build something that isn't by Evans, LBSC, Young, Plastow, Greenly, Haining, …………etc

I could have been a chatbot – what a waste!

Martin

[JasonBModerator @jasonb]

Posted by Iain Downs on 19/02/2023 12:43:50:

As far as I can see, my online subscription only gives me access to magazines electronically, which have been published since the start of my subscription.

That only applies when using Pocketmags to view the magazines.

If you view via this site then you get aback to about 2001 if your sub is for ME, if it is for MEW then you will get all bar a couple of missing issues. Click Magazines at the top of the page and go from there This assumes you took a subscription out with MTM or Mortons not Pocketmags direct.

[Robert Atkinson 2Participant @robertatkinson2]

Posted by Iain Downs on 19/02/2023 12:43:50:

As far as I can see, my online subscription only gives me access to magazines electronically, which have been published since the start of my subscription.

I would welcome the ability to get magazines prior to that with interesting articles. Ideally in electronic format and through some kind of web interface. I would be prepared to pay something towards this, though perhaps not quite as much as a current magazine.

In my ideal world, I would be able to buy individual articles (or series of them) rather then the whole magazine. Adverts for an Asian lathe from 1962 are unlikely to be of value to me

 

Iain

You should have access. Note it is on a different website to the current edition

https://subscriber.pagesuite-professional.co.uk/subscribe.aspx?source=4&eid=db1f1d86-4fc2-403a-953f-13cb9f126e30

Robert.

Edited By Robert Atkinson 2 on 19/02/2023 13:15:50

[Iain DownsParticipant @iaindowns78295]

FANTASTIC!!

Not entirely sure how I didn't know about that, but better late than never.

Really, many thanks Robert.

Iain

[Neil WyattModerator @neilwyatt]

Posted by David Ambrose on 17/02/2023 18:51:13:

A bit revolutionary I know, but is an online archive an option? It would require the same digital files, but not need a physical DVD to be sent out. I’m not sure I will buy another DVD player when when my current one dies.

We do have a full online archive, it's there for digital and digital + print subscribers.

The DVD might appeal for those who want 'local' copies or who don't do digital subs.

Neil

[Neil WyattModerator @neilwyatt]

Posted by Iain Downs on 19/02/2023 12:43:50:

As far as I can see, my online subscription only gives me access to magazines electronically, which have been published since the start of my subscription.

I would welcome the ability to get magazines prior to that with interesting articles. Ideally in electronic format and through some kind of web interface. I would be prepared to pay something towards this, though perhaps not quite as much as a current magazine.

In my ideal world, I would be able to buy individual articles (or series of them) rather then the whole magazine. Adverts for an Asian lathe from 1962 are unlikely to be of value to me

Iain

A digital subscription allows you to download PDFs of a selection of pages (e.g. an article) or a whole issue from the archive. No additional charge.

Neil

[Neil WyattModerator @neilwyatt]

It looks like that discussion has helped a few folks.

Here's another musing. Editing an article today and one of the photos was barely more than thumbnail size as it had been heavily cropped. In the past it would have been unusable as blowing it up would have blurred it and traditional resharpening would have made awful artefacts.

Now there are AI-based programmes that can recover detail like you wouldn't believe. This is in Topaz Gigapixel. compare the simply resampled version at left with the AI version at right. At least we have a usable image if not a perfect one.

Neil

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