I was just on the Scale Auto Magazine website. Tim Kidwell announced that the October issue of Scale Auto Magazine will be the final issue. That is really unfortunate as I enjoyed reading that magazine. Just another indication that building models is a disappearing hobby.
Ya, I just got this email:
Dear Subscriber,
Since 1979, Scale Auto has been proud to offer the latest tips and techniques to help car-modeling enthusiasts build the coolest, hottest, most realistic models on four wheels. While we remain committed to serving scale-auto enthusiasts, we regret to announce that we are discontinuing publication of Scale Auto magazine. October 2020 will be the final issue. However, the Scale Auto brand will live on in the pages of FineScale Modeler and online, where our dedicated audience of car modelers will continue to find product news, model builds and advice from the greatest modeling experts in the world.
As a subscriber to Scale Auto, you may have one or more issues of your subscription remaining. You will receive FineScale Modeler magazine for the remainder of your subscription, starting with the November issue. If you’re already a FineScale Modeler magazine subscriber, your current FineScale Modeler subscription will be extended for as many issues remaining on your Scale Auto subscription.
Not really. It’s more of an indication that hardcopy publications are gradually being replaced by virtual content online, and that this particular publication was no longer profitable.
Maybe so, but I do not like reading on-line magazines, especially in the “throne room” [+o(]
Id second what Baron says. If anything, the Hobby looks to be expanding due to all the lockdowns from the virus. Lots of folks coming back after years away, or trying it out for the first time.
Very sad. I owe getting back into the hobby to scale auto, June 1992 issue. I will NEVER subscribe to emagazines.
Wow! Didn’t see that coming. I wonder what would happen if I went over to their site and subscribed?
Yeah I am bummed about this. I enjoy Scale Auto more than Fine Scale Modeler. Sigh.
"Dear Enthusiasts,
Since 1979, Scale Auto (originally Scale Auto Enthusiast) has been proud to offer the latest tips and techniques to help car modelers build the coolest, hottest, most realistic scale replicas on four wheels. While we remain committed to serving scale-auto builders, we regretfully announce we are discontinuing publication of Scale Auto magazine. October 2020 will be the final issue.
However, the Scale Auto brand will live on in the pages and on the website of FineScale Modeler Magazine, where our dedicated audience of car modelers will continue to find product news, model builds, and advice from the greatest modeling experts in the world.
If you have any questions, please contact customer service at customerservice@ScaleAuto.info
We thank all of our customers and partners for their support of Scale Auto over its many years, and look forward to seeing you again in FineScale Modeler.
– Tim Kidwell, editor"
Ya, this blows. I just started a two year sub last year, and haven’t gotten one year yet and now it’s gonna go dark. I really enjoy this rag, more than FSM to be honest. I certainly am not interested in digital format, I just don’t read those. Now, I won’t be surprised if the FSM mag goes the same way before too long.
BK
Yep, my fear is that FSM will also go bye, bye.
I think the hobby is in good shape, but the hard copy publishing business is not! Newspapers are vanishing. The younger generations do not! The web is looked at as the source of all knowledge (or alternate knowledge).
I remember a historical novel by I believe Mary Renault. Forget the name, but it was in the time of the invention of knowledge. One of the characters was a poet, and he had distain for writing. It was going to cripple people’s memory. Poetry was invented in part because it was easier to remember a poem than a piece of prose of equivalent prose.
I agree, the death of hard copy is probably the primary reason. But, we must also consider the financial impacts of the virus and the damage it has done to the worlds economy as a contributing factor as well. Unfortunately, I think this is just the tip of a much bigger iceburg that has yet to show itself and will cause far more damage to the worlds economy and the fallout that will ensue from it.
BK
I’m with those of you guessing it has to do more with the media type than an indicator of the modeling hobby. The staff at the local Hobby Express said business was a’boomin’ during the lockdown.