47 replies to this topic

[Spence]

Well, it would seem that the secret is now out - Military In Scale is no more. Traplet have decided to close the title down and the October issue will be the last edition to be published in it's current form. Traplet are planning to hold on to the branding, and perhaps release specials and books under the name Military In Scale, but I have no further information of what form that will take, or whe
n those releases will appear.

I would like to thank everyone who has helped and supported me over the last sixteen years; all of those who have written for me and those that have supplied models and bought copies of the magazine.

It's been a blast.

I'm sad that it is to be no more - but time and the hobby will continue without a magazine that I am very proud to have been associated with.

Thanks a lot.

Spence

[Greased Lightning]

Very sad to hear Spence.

[Mike]

Cripes... that's a shame. What're they planning on doing for subscribers?

[Jens]

Now I'm glad I didn't renew my subscription, and that I have only one issue left (assuming remaining issues are 'lost').

Sad though, it was a great magazine!

Jens

[crobinsonh]

Very sorry to hear that as I personally loved the magazine and have so for a number of years.

[Alpha Delta 210]

i am a subscriber and really enjoy the magazine. A real shame to see such a quality publication go.

As Mike says, will the subscribers be reimbursed for unpublished issues?

[Jon Kunac-Tabinor]

Well Spence - very sorry to hear that.

I guess that MIS's mix of proper articles and detailed reviews finally lost out to the current fad of "glossy nothingness" that seems to be in vogue in certain other magazines. The scene is now free for other mags to become what they virtually are anyway - long advertisements for the manufacturers, edited by toadying acolytes, with little thought given to how the average modeller may work.

Our UK modelling magazine scene used to be really, really good, but its been populated of late by those who either joke their way out of any confrontation, or who are just are plainly so interested in mere decoration and self-agrandissement that they ve forgotten what their proper role is: Right down to the point of editorials that laugh at other editors, despite their own lack-lustre efforts.

As the production values of these mags go up, their credibility goes down.

Yes - I'm biased, yes I'm a bit angry, No I'm not a bit sorry about what I've just written.

Cheers Spence - and good luck with the new project, and apols to those who contribute to these mags - its the so-called editors Im gunning for.

Jon Kunac-Tabinor, miffed

PS to any other editor - I have every issue of your mags going back for at least 3 decades with the oldest. I don't do "Smiths as a library" ( how arrogant is that from you know who you are): I buy, so I reserve fully the right to criticize. And I will, so watch out.

Edited by Jon Kunac-Tabinor, 14 September 2012 - 08:14 PM.

[Jon Bryon]

I am with Jonners on this. Very sad, although I think this will guarantee that MiS goes down in UK modelling magazine history as one of the best: great models, authors of articles who believe in text (and know the meaning of the words they use), low on cliches, low on typos, eclectic choice of modelling subjects, respectful of its audience, not dominated by ads.

I am really looking forward to Cold War Modeller.

Right down to the point of editorials that laugh at other editors, despite their own lack-lustre efforts.

Didn't you read the latest editorial? He was defending other editors, not criticising them... ;-)

Jon

[pigsty]

i am a subscriber and really enjoy the magazine. A real shame to see such a quality publication go.

As Mike says, will the subscribers be reimbursed for unpublished issues?

Yes. By now you should have had a letter about the closure that hints that they'd like you to transfer your sub to another magazine. However, they'll happily reimburse you instead, via your credit or debit card.

[Paul J]

Lets hope your new venture Cold War.... magazine will survive when it hits the shelves.

[eagle]

Military In Scale(IMHO) was the best of all the modelling mags. It just was.
I very much looked forward to it hitting the door mat.And would read perhaps 75% of the words in it every issue and it would be next to my chair for me to browse at will until it was replaced by the next one.
For me a crying shame..A big and meaningful................... Uhhh!!

As it happened I only had one months subby left so I opted for a back issue pre 2009 (I hope its not one I already have).
So I save £40 a year or I take out yet another subscription.OR another kit. mmmmmmmmmm .The options are bountiful.

[rs2man]

I too find this very sad news . I’ve subscribed to MIS for a number of years & it really is one of the best mags out there . Since my main modelling interests are aircraft & military vehicles , the mix of articles suited me down to the ground .

I have to agree with Jon K-T that the standard of UK modelling magazines in general has dropped dramatically – in fact , I recently decided to discontinue my subscription to Scale Aircraft Modelling after buying it since the very beginning , since it had become so poor & I find it really depressing that this dross continues to be produced whilst the magnificence which is MIS will not .

Many thanks to Spence & all his contributors for all the inspiration they’ve given me over the years .

[Dave Fleming]

Sad to hear that. I guess no-one could replace Spence!

We probably should have a thread on what people would like in a magazine, as it seems the market isn't serving all it's customers.

[Seahawk]

We probably should have a thread on what people would like in a magazine, as it seems the market isn't serving all it's customers.

Hmm. I'm reminded of that Simpsons episode where Homer bankrupts his brother's car company by designing a car based on what the man-in-the-street wanted. Remember that magazine that specialised in frank unvarnished truth reviews of new releases? That didn't last long enough for its name to register on my memory.

Q. How do you make a small fortune out of publishing model magazines? A. Start with a big one.

[Eric Mc]

Sad to hear. I'm not really an armour modeller buty came to MIS when Traplet's short lived aviation title merged with it. It even inspired me to dabble a bit with a few tank models.

[David J Ross]

Yes. By now you should have had a letter about the closure that hints that they'd like you to transfer your sub to another magazine. However, they'll happily reimburse you instead, via your credit or debit card.

I received my letter a few days ago. There was no other magazine I was interested in but I came up with an alternative option. I rang Traplet and managed to order binders to the value of my outstanding subscription. I was six months into a two year subscription so that's just short of sixty pounds worth of binders.

[Andy K]

Well Spence - very sorry to hear that.

I guess that MIS's mix of proper articles and detailed reviews finally lost out to the current fad of "glossy nothingness" that seems to be in vogue in certain other magazines. The scene is now free for other mags to become what they virtually are anyway - long advertisements for the manufacturers, edited by toadying acolytes, with little thought given to how the average modeller may work.

Our UK modelling magazine scene used to be really, really good, but its been populated of late by those who either joke their way out of any confrontation, or who are just are plainly so interested in mere decoration and self-agrandissement that they ve forgotten what their proper role is: Right down to the point of editorials that laugh at other editors, despite their own lack-lustre efforts.

As the production values of these mags go up, their credibility goes down.

Yes - I'm biased, yes I'm a bit angry, No I'm not a bit sorry about what I've just written.

Cheers Spence - and good luck with the new project, and apols to those who contribute to these mags - its the so-called editors Im gunning for.

Jon Kunac-Tabinor, miffed

PS to any other editor - I have every issue of your mags going back for at least 3 decades with the oldest. I don't do "Smiths as a library" ( how arrogant is that from you know who you are): I buy, so I reserve fully the right to criticize. And I will, so watch out.

Which mags in particular John? I do articles for Model Military Int'l and I'd be interested to see what you want in them.

[Jon Kunac-Tabinor]

Which mags in particular John? I do articles for Model Military Int'l and I'd be interested to see what you want in them.

Hi Andy, drop me a PM

Cheers

Jonners

[Alpha Delta 210]

I have finally received my letter from Traplet and after a quick call to them have arranged a refund of my outstanding balance.

[Haggis]

Hi Andy, drop me a PM

Cheers

Jonners

Why not go public Jonners, I'd like to know as would many others I suspect.

Jamie

(SAM contributor)