The Demise of Ships in Scale

I too received a refund check and am curious to understand why. After reading this thread I am sad to say I will miss this publication, as this magazine had many interesting articles about ship modeling. What is the reason why Ships in Scale ceased to continue ? Inquiring minds want to know.

Happy modeling      Crackers  

Reading between the lines over the past year I think it is a combination of financial strain, time management & burn out of the current owner. At one time, about 2 years ago, it was for sale. A sale wasn't made & shortly after it went to a quarterly publication.

Thanks for the update.

Happy modeling   Crackers    

crackers

What is the reason why

We live in an increasingly digital age.  Printed on paper periodicals still have value in their content, but the delivery of that content is in flux.

The only reason I subscribe to JLC is for the subscriber content on their web site (after a number of requests, they now have an opt out option for receiving paper editions).  The online content is much more timely, and far more convenient for those time I have to read it.  And, I don't feel like I'm "wasting" paper tossing the copies out. 

Digital content is far easier to search, too, and you are less likely to misplace the copy you meant to save.  And, it's really hardd to spill coffee on it (not impossible, just difficult).

The process for generating copy is no easy task for publishers, either.  Authors have to generate the conctent.  Which needs to be proofread and edited.  Photos need to be sorted out.  Then all of the changes need to be approed by the author.  All before any of it can go to the compositor.  The composition thens needs a check view, often with various call-backs.  All of which is against a deadline which is as unforgiving and as certain as the tides.

Whether or not a specialist topic is published in paper is often an indicator of the age of the audience reading/subscribing to the periodical.

I used to subscribe to 21 periodicals, which was a piece of reading, but I had the time and inclination.  And, I had no other option for the information.  Only about 12 of those publications still exist in any format.  All but one have digital content now parallelling the print editions.  I only have three paid susbcriptions for periodicals at this point. 

Thanks for your insight CapnMac. A few years back Ships in Scale polled their readers regarding their willingness to move to a digital version of the magazine. The majority of the readers were not willing. Probably reflects the age of their readership. Pardon my ignorance but what is JLC?

I had never heard of this publication until I read this thread.  Too bad, as I would have loved to help out by subscribing.  I still like to hold a copy in my hand or put it down next to me when I am working.  I have parts of Connie all over my "Anatomy of the ship" book in the workshop. 

Perhaps someone who has been doing this longer than I can create a sticky which lists any or all (?) of the ship-building periodicals available.  Would be a great resource for those of us either getting back into it or just starting out.  A group effort would ensure that nothing is left out.  Just a thought. . . .

I too like paper.

I do not have or use a smartphone. I find for me, trying to navigate my desktop or laptop in the model room very cumbersome. Geeze, the bench is crowded enough already. I can open paper and put it on my document holder while I work, plus I often highlite items I want to use or incorporate into a build.

To each his own I guess. If the paper subscriptions all go by the wayside, well, so be it.

I was able to pick up a book written by our esteemed Dr. Tilley (The British Navy and the American Revolution). What a great way to start the day, reading some of it along with my morning coffee. I just can't seem to put this book down.

EJ

There was some discussion some time back about the future of SIS and how the NRG might take its place if it was to cease publication.  So the time has come.  I have grown up with SIS so it will be missed.  

Spotted Dog

Pardon my ignorance but what is JLC?

The Journal of Light Construction--serious mix of the business side of being construction; what methods are profitable/timely; and a heavy dollop of building science.

ejhammer

I find for me, trying to navigate my desktop or laptop in the model room very cumbersome.

I envy you that.

The IBM PC came out my junior year in college, the IBM AT my first year of grad school.  Some form of computing device has been part of my working life, my entire working life.

When I was called back in '98 it was to serve in Fleet Information Warfae; so, neck deep in computers even at my p/t job.  In either application, being able to produce work product in an ever more timely manner was a requirement.  And, every 18 months/2 years, the hardware and software changed/did more/went faster; something.

So, I have so much "screen" time in any given day to have developed preferences.  Phone is for commo and social stuff.  'Medium' tablet (I just can't find a way to like minis) is for books & periodicals.  My laptop actually has a convertable screen to become a macro-sized tablet.  But, for horsepower, it's the desktop.  Which is currently driving two 28" flat screens, so I can run renders, or complie code while wandering the interwebs, or blogging, or while aimlessly surfing youtube 0_O

The average age of daily newspaper subscribers is 54; the mean age, though, is 62.   The age of print may be reaching its twilight.  It will never fully die, any more than buggy building or buggywhip making.  But, it will be as specialized as wagon wheelwrighting.

Babies. I was in beta testing for the HP 35 in High School. $ 600 handheld calculator that knew the trig tables  and could calculate square roots. Seemed like the most incredible machine ever.

Had to learn RPN.

I have no interface between my various computers and the bench. I have a home office so I have the various Windows machines in there.

My set up is pretty similar to the Capn's, except I don't have a tablet, I don't use kindle, and I still mostly read books.

I read the fish wrap every morning. I can't see losing that. It's as much a ritual as an info platform to me. 

Ah ! Tis sad !

 Yes , I recieved my refund too . I will miss this publication .Why ? Well , the articles and how they were presented . The Historical Articles especially and those wonderful photos .

 I like paper Books and Mags because I read a lot at the table when I am alone or during the day as a break for my Neck when working . Remember I told everyone about my accident last year and it is showing the full after- effects now . I have to break for an hour or more sometime .

 So I settle in with my magazines or books and relax . Not a Kindle or Pad but a real paper publication !

GMorrison

$ 600 handheld calculator that knew the trig tables  and could calculate square roots. Seemed like the most incredible machine ever.

I have no interface between my various computers and the bench. I have a home office so I have the various Windows machines in there.

except I don't have a tablet, I don't use kindle, and I still mostly read books.

I read the fish wrap every morning. I can't see losing that. It's as much a ritual as an info platform to me. 

 

Yup. In the office, have two desktops, one for internet use running windows 10, one for business / financial use that has never been on-line, that runs Windows XP. Never had bugs or problems with it.

The laptop is used as I move about the house and for travel. 

No e-reader, tablet. Not even a smartphone with a data plan.

EJ

Tanker - Builder

Ah ! Tis sad !

I will miss this publication .Why ? Well , the articles and how they were presented . The Historical Articles especially and those wonderful photos .

My subscription ended about 3 months ago. I don't know if I even got the last issue.

Tanker - Builder

 

 I like paper Books and Mags because I read a lot at the table when I am alone or during the day as a break for my Neck when working . Remember I told everyone about my accident last year and it is showing the full after- effects now . I have to break for an hour or more sometime .

 So I settle in with my magazines or books and relax . Not a Kindle or Pad but a real paper publication !

 

Me too.

EJ

Went looking and found:

Model Ship Journal

Ship Modeler Magazine

Model Boats

Marine Modeling

Model Ship Builder

Appear to be defunct:
Scale Ship Modeler
Model Shipwright
Ships in Scale
Model Ships & Boats

It's rather depressing google searching, really.

GMorrison

I read the fish wrap every morning. I can't see losing that. It's as much a ritual as an info platform to me.

I used to.  But, I was living between Houston and Dallas, and the Dallas paper stopped bothering to circulate in my area.  The Houston paper was underwhelming.  The local paper only had two sections, and the non-classified bits could be read before one's toast got cold (and, a graver sin, the crossword was wretched).

Once you get out of the habit, it's hard to take up again.

UComics will gie me any "funnies" I care to read, and I like my morning read through the trades--AIA, AUGI, ENR, etc.

CapnMac82

Went looking and found:

Model Ship Journal

Ship Modeler Magazine

Model Boats

Marine Modeling

Model Ship Builder

 

Appear to be defunct:
Scale Ship Modeler
Model Shipwright
Ships in Scale
Model Ships & Boats

It's rather depressing google searching, really.

 

Marine Modeling International shut down last year- Model Boats is the only UK magazine left.

i was a SiS scale subscriber for a about 4 years.  I originally signed up because I had joined the online mailing list/discussion group.  Also, they tried to expand to include RC scale models, and I wanted to support them.  I also wanted to write for them- and did sell two articles.  At one point they wanted me do do a regular column-  but I wasn’t up for that kind of commitment. ( I did that for another mag in the early 90s- it was a lot of work!)

I finally let it go a couple of years ago.   Why?  I never really warmed to the format— I found the many-part articles very tedious. More often than not, they’d be on some obscure subject that I had zero interest in, and run for 8 or more issues....

 The owner decided to do a lot himself that previous owners farmed out.  I can imagine it would be a big effort, so can understand burnout.

Hi There ;

 Just would like to let everyone know , starting with you . I have Not heard one word from Nautical Research Guild about this supposed arrangement .Unless we are supposed to contact them !

There is info from NRG on their Model Ship World site. Go to https://modelshipworld.com and click on "Nautical Research Guild News". Took some digging to find it.