The slightly delayed June Magazine Wrap Up

 

Like all railfans and railway modellers I'm an avid railway magazine collector. I've got who knows how many plastic boxes full of railway magazines.

Two magazines I've purchased over the last few months were the latest issues of the The Linesider and the NZ Model Railway Journal.

The Linesider 

First up is the Winter Quarter - June 2021 issue of The Linesider. As you can tell by the photo my copy already has some wear from being read cover to cover a few times. 

The Linesider has more than adequately filled the gap created when New Zealand Railfan ceased publication last year. While similar to NZ Railfan The Linesider is more of a pictorial magazine.

The June 2021 issue is the fourth issue since the magazine first entered book and hobby shops in 2020. Like the last three issues this magazine contains a range of articles and photos to keep any person with an interest in New Zealand's railways happily turning the pages.

This issue has a short article / pictorial about the recent heritage Great Southern Train Tour, an article about the last train to Tahakopa on the Catlins River Branch in 1971, an article and pictorial on the rebuild of the DB class diesel locomotives into the DBR class, an article on the recording of steam locomotive sounds, an excellent pictorial on New Zealand trains in winter landscapes, a good railfan story on capturing the last week of widespread use of diesel locomotive hauled and diesel multiple unit suburban passenger trains around the Auckland passenger network and the standard railfan news update.

As a fan of New Zealand railways in the 1980's the DB / DBR article and pictorial was my favourite in this issue. The highlight being the very good photos from well known railway photographer Dave Simpson. 

This is a high quality magazine which the Linesider team should be justifiably proud of. The magazine contains a large number of good quality photos and the articles are well written. As good as anything I have seen internationally.

NZ Model Railway Journal

The second magazine is the June 2021 issue of the NZ Model Railway Journal. This is the 414th issue of the magazine of the New Zealand Model Railway Guild.

As its name suggests this magazine looks at all things related to the modelling of New Zealand's railways. 

In this issue there is an article on the building of New Zealand general store, building an NZ120 (1:120) scale DXC locomotive in five (!) days, building a 1940's Chevrolet pick up and truck in 1:64 S scale, NZ Finescales wonderful new 'Addington' passenger carriage kit, a comprehensive article on NZR's 4-8-2 J class steam locomotives and building the JG Models legendary J class kit, another comprehensive article on the NZR 1897-1905 30 foot brake vans and an article on the recently released kit of these vans in 1:64 scale. The magazine ends with reports from the 9mm scene in New Zealand and the Christchurch NZR modellers' group, trade news and upcoming events.

Like The Linesider this is a high quality magazine and compares favourably with the more well known international railway modelling magazines.

Overall two great additions to my magazine collections.

And that's about it.