We have long terms plans with Truck Model World. There is a global following of truck replicas and modelling so there is certainly continued scope for a magazine for the foreseeable future.
Our move to bi-monthly as of issue 217 has not been by choice, but necessity to keep the title going. There simply would be no more magazine if we carried on as is. There was a huge amount of cost involved in producing TMW as a monthly and unfortunately, revenue coming the other way has been minimal. Looking over the figures for the past few years, the magazine has simply not sold on the newstands. Something we are addressing in some detail as each of our TMW issues is published.
TMW's core will remain as a modelling magazine but we do want to broaden the scope of the title, opening it up to other elements of the truck replica hobby. New Diecast content, More Product Reviews of both kits and other models, Collector / Enthusiast features and interviews, Show Reports. These all have a place in the magazine. Rest assured, the core values of TMW will not simply be wiped clean but more so, it will be expanded upon, hopefully attracting new readers as a result.
As for the editor. It will be impossible to replace Peter but inevitably at some stage, we will look to bring someone new on board who has a passion for truck modelling. We are in no rush and hopefully by attending the big shows in 2015 and speaking to as many modellers as possible, we will be able to make a decision later next year.
And lastly, I notice some comments about the forum. We have relaunched the TMW forum using SMF. Reasoning for this? I used SMF for almost 8 years with the Farm Toys Forum. It's a simple easy to manage system that works well. We want the TMW forum to remain as a core supply base for articles. I have restructured it slightly for the better I hope!
As for Pinching ideas? I think a point that does need to be made quite loudly is that whether you're on TMW or this forum, or any other for that matter, we are one community of like-minded enthusiasts. We should work together to support every element involved that we can. We have already agreed to promote this forum in TMW and vice versa. The hobby needs forums and the magazine certainly does. It's what powers the supply chain of many articles. Which is why I will be encouraging you all to endeavour to get yourself in TMW. We are happy to feature modellers of ALL abilities. If your just to starting out on your first build, or completing your 1000th. There is a place for you in TMW. From my own experience of editing Model Farmer Magazine, enthusiasts love nothing more than seeing themselves in glossy hard copy print. Whether the content first appeared on a forum is irrelevant because reading your work in hard copy print in your hands provides a feeling a forum cannot. We are in a digital revolution but in my opinion nothing beats a good magazine.
Another point I have noticed too is the issue of cross posting. Does it really matter if a topic is duplicated on two or more forums and you've already read it once on one? We have the same thing in the farm modelling world but there's always someone who has not seen the content no matter what forum content is posted on.
I'll be happy to answer any further questions on here about TMW but to end my essay! I do look forward to TMW's affiliation with this forum and working together with it to benefit both concerns going forwards!