NEW LOOK – Model Engineer & Workshop

[derek hall 1Participant @derekhall1]

I realise that all involved in the ME and MEW amalgamation are very busy, but if you want us to subscribe to the “new” magazine, then please update the link(s) on the website to make it far more clearer than it currently is.

As a lapsed subscriber for both magazines many years ago, when I think about subscribing to the “new” magazine it still seems to suggest that I am about to subscribe to MEW…

Got to say that if anyone does subscribe then access to all the MEW and “some” of the ME does present good value…

As for the front page of the new magazine then first impressions count, especially if you are trying to encourage new readers. Less clutter on the front page, more consistent use of fonts etc, and if market research says loco building is not popular don’t have 2 pics of them on the front cover of the new magazine!

I used to work with industrial equipment that was installed in almost every food processing factory in the world. The operators were relatively unskilled so the user interface had to be clear and unambiguous. Many times we used to have to reign in the software engineers for having put “stuff” on the machine that was unclear or not even needed – there was a definite sense of “showing off” and ” look how clever we are, we can do this!”

Technical publications department were the same.

Regards

Derek

[JasonBModerator @jasonb]

I also think the ME with the beam engine shown earlier looks a lot better than what is in the first post. Not quite F&C which I also took for a long time but it is a lot less cluttered.

No background behind the engine lets you see the subject.

Main content items three short headings in a decent size font not the whole content crammed into a corner

One main colour trend all be it green ties the whole cover together.

 

I suppose the main market is the hobbyist and that separated it from more trade orientated publications, whether hobby or home is the better word is the question but both cover the main proportion of the readership present and future.

[Michael GilliganParticipant @michaelgilligan61133]

Sorry … Amidst all the clutter, I have only just noticed the [witty ?] self-referential nature of the new cover.

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Perhaps only Mr. O’Hara can tell us whether this was by accident or design.

MichaelG.

[DiogenesParticipant @diogenes]

There are (were?) a number of journals for professional Mechanical Engineers, I don’t think a hobby magazine needs to go anywhere near that territory.

Personally I don’t mind ‘Hobby-‘ or ‘Home-‘, but I’d bet that ‘Home-‘ turns out to be the favourite choice by far just because it carries no judgement of ‘amateur’ status..

Will we ever move on from green..?

[Michael GilliganParticipant @michaelgilligan61133]

Such a pity that the word ‘amateur’ has become so degraded.

🙁

MichaelG.

[Julie Ann]

On Julie Ann Said:

Why hobby engineers; are professional engineers excluded?

Julie

Hi, no disrespect to anyone, but if it had a professional tag, would it exclude amateurs? I think most people don’t really understand the meaning of the word amateur, and link it to people who don’t have a clue as to what they are doing. Amateur simply means non-professional, but of course professional doesn’t necessarily mean you have knowledge above and beyond others, it simply means you do it for a living, albeit, you are more likely to have much more training in your area of work, which is often more diverse in many areas that you won’t find in many home workshops. The word amateurish doesn’t mean you’re stupid, it just means you don’t apply things in a professional manner, or have the same skill set, but this type of magazine would help you find a way to achieve you’re goal. I was an “Engineer” in various forms all my working life, but I have no shame of being a “hobbyist”, which is what this and many other magazines are aimed at, but it doesn’t stop me applying the professional training that I had, to my hobby. I dare say that many of the contributions in this magazine are made by people in a professional position, or have been, but it doesn’t stop those that don’t have a professional background. I do think if it had a more professional tone, it would probably put more people off from buying it, because they may think it’s above what they are able to understand, and I wouldn’t be surprised if there are many who read it just out of interest, and without any intention a of making anything, but it could spark them into starting something in time.

Regard Nick.

[JasonBModerator @jasonb]

Just like the contents the title and what is written on the cover will never suit everyone and has to be a bit of a compromise.

I’ve no engineering background so does that make me an Amateur

I do what I do as a hobby but also take on the odd paid commission so does that now make me a professional or mean I’m in the trade

My workshop is at home but should we exclude those that may have their workshop in a lockup or similar, I know there are a few members here in that situation.

And what is a professional Engineer these days? someone who repairs washing machines or someone with letters after their name?

[Michael GilliganParticipant @michaelgilligan61133]

https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/amateur

 

It’s simple enough … or at least it was

 

MichaelG.

[BazyleParticipant @bazyle]

MG That Twins… completely bypassed me too! I (now retired|) understand that the new world of work has most professional engineers working at home anyway.

[noel shelleyParticipant @noelshelley55608]

I agree with Michael and Nick about terms and the degraded common  use of the word Amateur, and in the current context it is the common acceptance of the word that matters. Nobody would view the work of dear Cherry Hill or Jason as Amateur, and in my life I have met a few Professionals who were a long way from competent. I don’t like the word Amateur and I’m not sure about the term Home. A word used for many years by various publications was PRACTICAL, implying COMPETENCE, a way to get a job done NOT Amateur or Professional just a can do frame of mind.

While the hardened fan of ME may well know the running sequence of issue numbers, for mere mortals the absence of the MONTH on the front cover may make finding a particular issue or article difficult. Since the new magazine will be monthly the date is less important but PLEASE put the Month and Year on the front cover !

Lets not let the ship sink while we worry about the meaning of a few words, a patch will do for now, a proper job can be done later.    I for one are looking forward to the new look magazine. Noel.

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