What Is Next For Fine Scale Modeler?

And it's at this point that I'm locking this thread. 

Look guys, I'll be as open as I can about the direction of FSM and what we're doing. But this is the FSM Forum. And FSM is my livlihood. If you prefer other magazines or other forums, you are free to go there. If you want to go there and bash on FSM, do so to your heart's content. However, Aaron, Elizabeth, and the rest of the team here work their butts off for this magazine. We do so because we love the hobby and believe that it should be championed. We do so because we want to bring you great how-to stories and entertain our audience. If you, for whatever reason, find that lacking, we would love to hear your suggestions, but just bashing FSM or predicting its demise isn't what this place is for, nor is it helpful.

Have a better one,

TK 

MJames70

Surprise! Not everyone agrees with you!

 

Surprise!  Not everyone agrees with YOU 

Back to the bench

I won't really express opinions on how FSM measures up to other magazines, but for me personally I still enjoy every issue. However it occurs to me it's worth remembering that for the vast majority of us this is a hobby we have varying degrees of passion for. To those editors and other staff members at SA and FSM this was/is their livelihood. I sincerely hope that those staff at SA that were caught out by these events were able to find other positions at Kalmbach or elsewhere and my best wishes for all of the FSM staff in the future. 

 You are right on the money cobber. I agree with you wholeheartedley

Back to the bench

I won't really express opinions on how FSM measures up to other magazines, but for me personally I still enjoy every issue. However it occurs to me it's worth remembering that for the vast majority of us this is a hobby we have varying degrees of passion for. To those editors and other staff members at SA and FSM this was/is their livelihood. I sincerely hope that those staff at SA that were caught out by these events were able to find other positions at Kalmbach or elsewhere and my best wishes for all of the FSM staff in the future. 

 

the Baron

 

 

JohnnyK

 

tycobb2522 

For my money, the British modelling magazines FAR exceed FSM in every way. Lots of pages, step by step builds, extensive new product info, and content related to what I'm interested in; not a "something for everyone" format. I know all of the old excuses, such as "an aircraft modeller can learn a lot of neat tricks from figure painting", blah, blah, blah. 

You refer to a British magazine FAR. What is the name of that magazine? 

 

 

 

I think he meant, "...the British modelling magazines far exceed...", not a magazine called "FAR".  Unless you were kidding?

 

JohnnyK

 

tycobb2522 

For my money, the British modelling magazines FAR exceed FSM in every way. Lots of pages, step by step builds, extensive new product info, and content related to what I'm interested in; not a "something for everyone" format. I know all of the old excuses, such as "an aircraft modeller can learn a lot of neat tricks from figure painting", blah, blah, blah. 

You refer to a British magazine FAR. What is the name of that magazine? 

I think he meant, "...the British modelling magazines far exceed...", not a magazine called "FAR".  Unless you were kidding?

Surprise! Not everyone agrees with you!

MJames70

Most of the Euro 'magazines' are sad, cookie cutter clones of each other. 80 pages of product announcements, mostly. The 'articles' are 80000000 tiny pictures of how someone added every available aftermarket item to the kit, with no text or explanations. They can go die, too. They will not be missed. 

 

I won't really express opinions on how FSM measures up to other magazines, but for me personally I still enjoy every issue. However it occurs to me it's worth remembering that for the vast majority of us this is a hobby we have varying degrees of passion for. To those editors and other staff members at SA and FSM this was/is their livelihood. I sincerely hope that those staff at SA that were caught out by these events were able to find other positions at Kalmbach or elsewhere and my best wishes for all of the FSM staff in the future. 

Most of the Euro 'magazines' are sad, cookie cutter clones of each other. 80 pages of product announcements, mostly. The 'articles' are 80000000 tiny pictures of how someone added every available aftermarket item to the kit, with no text or explanations. They can go die, too. They will not be missed. 

tycobb2522

 

For my money, the British modelling magazines FAR exceed FSM in every way. Lots of pages, step by step builds, extensive new product info, and content related to what I'm interested in; not a "something for everyone" format. I know all of the old excuses, such as "an aircraft modeller can learn a lot of neat tricks from figure painting", blah, blah, blah.

 

tycobb2522

I don't expect FSM to be around in a couple of years - I think they lost their way quite a while ago. They try to be everything for everyone, and with the demise of Scale Auto, I think it's going to be much worse. Add that to a diminished page count, and for me, the magazine has very little to offer. I love magazines much more than online content, but I think I am in the minority, and with the huge amount of quality online modelling sites, I just can't see FSM lasting much longer.

I completely agree.

BK

I was a subscriber to scale auto, i liked it. I got the last two issues of fs, not real impressed but its somthing to read and i think it will progress. Problem for me is i aint paying 50$ for digital. I wouldnt spend that on paper, no way for digital. Gotta get that price down fellas. 

Mr Mike

What is next?  With Scale Auto gone and supposedly moved to Fine Scale Modeler, what are the plans for the future?  Will we see automotive articles in FSM and how much?  Having received the latest issue of FSM, I was very disappointed in that magazine.  Not a way to end my subscription with a magazine that is geared towards military, ships and planes.  Scale Auto modelers expect more than what Kalmbach has done to Scale Auto.  I feel like this was a last minute decision by Kalmbach and we want something much more positive from them.  SA modelers want more than to be ripped off by Kalmbach especially if they want our subscription money.  So Fine Scale Modeler, what is next?      

 

I don't expect FSM to be around in a couple of years - I think they lost their way quite a while ago. They try to be everything for everyone, and with the demise of Scale Auto, I think it's going to be much worse. Add that to a diminished page count, and for me, the magazine has very little to offer. I love magazines much more than online content, but I think I am in the minority, and with the huge amount of quality online modelling sites, I just can't see FSM lasting much longer.

For my money, the British modelling magazines FAR exceed FSM in every way. Lots of pages, step by step builds, extensive new product info, and content related to what I'm interested in; not a "something for everyone" format. I know all of the old excuses, such as "an aircraft modeller can learn a lot of neat tricks from figure painting", blah, blah, blah.

Actually, for the price of FSM, I would much rather buy one or more of the old Scale Modeler magazines from the 60's, 70's or 80's, or some of the British magazines on Ebay.

As to the notion of paying for an online subscription to FSM, are you kidding? I don't know if that will ever be seriously considered, but I wouldn't pay a penny for it, again, given the huge amount of quality free sites on the internet.  

midnightprowler

I noticed a car article in the December issue. Kudos. Looking forward to more. 

 

Thanks Lee.

The Mat Irvine story was moved from the Scale Auto (SCA) December 2020 issue. As I wrote in an earlier post, we were deep into December when things went down with SCA, so I needed a quick fit for FSM December 2020. It's a follow-up to a story by Mark Jones in SCA June 2020. January 2020 focuses on paint, and there's a great story by Marcos Cruz in that one. 

 Now, we're working on April 2021!

TK

I noticed a car article in the December issue. Kudos. Looking forward to more. 

goldhammer

That sounds like it might open up more reviews as well, if not actual builds, then open box like A & E do on the new stuff video.

Thanks for the quick explanation.

 

Hi Goldhammer,

NPRD will continue to be one per month. However, you should have already noticed that Aaron and I release about a video a day (One Shots and Fast Tracks) where we do box openings. And we purposely don't go through the boxes before because we like being surprised, too.

Thanks,

TK

Tim Kidwell

 

 

Justinryan215

,aybe one of the items that can be addressed is the damned ads that I get when visiting from my tablet, the ones that surround the whole screen and then swell p to eave only a small amount of the screen visible for 15-30 seconds?  I mean, I gethink the need for ads to offset costs and what not, but maybe eliminate the invasive ads?  They are some of the reason for my limited traffic to the site...it's a pain to browse uninterrupted.....

 

 

 

 

Hi Justinryan215,

 

The site is opened up for Google ads. I must report those aren't going anywhere. For me, because I spend a lot of time on the website, I have ads for Tamiya and FSM, so they look like they're part of the site. I do get a popup at the bottom of the screen that is usually some random ad--often for shoes. I just close it. Like ads on TV, I've come to expect ads to be part of the online landscape. As Tojo and others have said, you can us an ad blocker to supress them. 

TK

 

I totally understand the need for ads.  and you are correct, it is just the landscape that we have.  My problem is the ones that surround the entire screen, and then swell, taking almost 1/3, maybe more of the usable screen, and then trying to tap the smallest little x to close it (but that is honestly, my problem with these big fat sausages I've been given!). and as I noted, it only occurs to me while on mobile... Comcast business is the most notorious of the two or three ad companies, but I will try to grab a screen shot.

If it is out of your control, so be it, and I will just avoid the site while on mobile....

That sounds like it might open up more reviews as well, if not actual builds, then open box like A & E do on the new stuff video.

Thanks for the quick explanation.

Justinryan215

,aybe one of the items that can be addressed is the damned ads that I get when visiting from my tablet, the ones that surround the whole screen and then swell p to eave only a small amount of the screen visible for 15-30 seconds?  I mean, I gethink the need for ads to offset costs and what not, but maybe eliminate the invasive ads?  They are some of the reason for my limited traffic to the site...it's a pain to browse uninterrupted.....

 

Mr Mike

 My question is, will FSM have more pages?  

Hi Mike,

FSM will not have more pages. The car content within the print magazine will become part of the mix. We are moving reviews online for more timely release where subscribers can read them and access them anytime. This will free more pages for how-to content in the print magazine.

Thanks,

TK 

Justinryan215

as for more Automotive content, Mr. Mike, read the reply, fully, by Tim.  It's on the horizon. 

Justin, I have read the reply from Tim Kidwell, several times!  My question is, will FSM have more pages?  

Tojo72

Those ads are from your browser not FSM,for example I get pop-ups from Ingles a local chain and local car dealers,they appear on all the sites I browse  not just FSM.

Access FSM using a ad blocker you will never see them again.I use Ad-Blocker Ultimate.It works great.

 

these ads are only on this site, and only when I try to access via either my phone or my tablet.  When I am on the desktop site (like when I am at work and nothing is going on....), I may get a banner ad or two, but nothing as invasive as the ads I get when on mobile.  Does not matter which browser I use, chrome or safari.

again, it is only this site that surrounds my screen with ads...I will attempt to screenshot my next one...

as for more Automotive content, Mr. Mike, read the reply, fully, by Tim.  It's on the horizon.

I'm wondering right now, will FSM have additional pages with the addition of Scale Auto content?

Those ads are from your browser not FSM,for example I get pop-ups from Ingles a local chain and local car dealers,they appear on all the sites I browse  not just FSM.

Access FSM using a ad blocker you will never see them again.I use Ad-Blocker Ultimate.It works great.

Tim Kidwell

Hi Baron,

"Kludgy" site: The FineScale website and the FineScale Forum are two separate issues, though they may look like one in the same. Upgrades to both will be dealt with in  phases. The focus of Phase 1 will be the redesign and replatforming of FineScale.com, where FSM-generated content resides. We are certainly looking at plugins with the replatforming that will constitute the foundation for a new FSM Forum, but we have only so much dev firepower at any one time and it's spread over many Kalmbach projects. I can't give a timeline yet, but we're in the prelim stages.

And we do have a long list of suggestions for the next iteration of the Forum.

Off to shoot video!

TK

 

,aybe one of the items that can be addressed is the damned ads that I get when visiting from my tablet, the ones that surround the whole screen and then swell p to eave only a small amount of the screen visible for 15-30 seconds?  I mean, I gethink the need for ads to offset costs and what not, but maybe eliminate the invasive ads?  They are some of the reason for my limited traffic to the site...it's a pain to browse uninterrupted.....

Tim Kidwell

Hi Baron,

"Kludgy" site: The FineScale website and the FineScale Forum are two separate issues...

Thanks for clarifying, Tim, sorry, yes, I'm referring to the forum rather than the FSM site.

Hi Baron,

"Kludgy" site: The FineScale website and the FineScale Forum are two separate issues, though they may look like one in the same. Upgrades to both will be dealt with in  phases. The focus of Phase 1 will be the redesign and replatforming of FineScale.com, where FSM-generated content resides. We are certainly looking at plugins with the replatforming that will constitute the foundation for a new FSM Forum, but we have only so much dev firepower at any one time and it's spread over many Kalmbach projects. I can't give a timeline yet, but we're in the prelim stages.

And we do have a long list of suggestions for the next iteration of the Forum.

Off to shoot video!

TK

Mark Lookabaugh

...Any idea how much time and money goes into the nifty easy to use websites like Amazon, Google, etc. ? 

Yes, Mark, I do.  I have worked for the past 20 years in software development, as a QA tester and as a business analyst.  I've gathered requirements from customers, written requirements, worked with the developers as they write the code, tested it for bugs, including usability, and then worked with customers when an application is rolled out.

Before that, I was a support analyst, working directly with external customers to help them use my company's software.  I got to hear how they used, what they liked, what they didn't like.

And before that, I was a banker.  I jumped to IT, after working on implementing a new computer system for our bank.  That was when desktops had become common, and a rack of servers in a closet replaced the old mainframe that took up a whole building.

So I've got 30-odd years in customer service in one way or another.  I learned that you listen to your customers.  Not everything they say or ask will be possible, but you listen.

And looking at the items in the Forum Errors section, to get an idea of existing issues and complaints, is certainly part of developing a new version.

The Baron Posted

"Just make it more user-friendly.  There's a ready-made punch list down in the forum issues subforum.  Content doesn't mean anything, if a website is kludgy to use."

Any idea how much time and money goes into the nifty easy to use websites like Amazon, Google, etc. ?   Do a bit of "back of the envelope" estimation about how much this company receives for each user of this forum vs the cost.

Honestly, we're pretty lucky this forum is still online at all. 

Mark