Reply To: NEW LOOK – Model Engineer & Workshop

[SillyOldDufferModerator @sillyoldduffer]

Here’s an Aunt Sally, feel free to criticise.  Just suggestions.

As we have joint editors, I hope no-one minds if for brevity I refer to Neil and Diane collectively as  ‘Neil’.  I guess their new look cover is trying to balance ME and MEW topics together, which is  tricky.  Rather than trying to jamb both together, might try alternating the images: trains followed next issue by 3D printers, trams followed by a sexy milling machine, etc.

Following Neil’s lead, I’ve decluttered the page by:

• Removing Names.  I suggest names don’t attract newcomers unless the individual is a celebrity.  Though I have huge respect for authors, none of them would tempt me to buy a magazine just because they had an article in it.  Hope it isn’t too insensitive to suggest Harold Hall shouldn’t be on the front cover of a ‘new look’ magazine because announcing a death coupled with ‘Est 1898’ is sending youngsters the wrong message – read our obituaries!   Authors and ME big hitters can and should be fully celebrated inside the magazine.
• Clipping the English, hoping for quickly read telegraphese.  Makes it easier to proof read too!
• On the green header, advertising Rod’s article, I added the words “Old School!” to signal that the magazine is modern, not stuck in the past.  ‘Old School’ has a positive connotation, and I think the mag will do well by exploiting older methods.
• I’ve emphasised modernity by adding the word Forum and enlarging the website’s URL in the blue banner.
• I de-emphasised the Issue and Volume number because who cares?  Needs to be present, but not blinged up!
• ‘Slay with a lathe’ is aimed directly at the kids.  Slay means something like ‘doing an excellent job’.  However, dangerous when old-farts like me attempt youth-speak, so ask a teenager if it makes sense.  Might be safer to avoid. Wizard prang! See you at the hop, old boy, top hole, what, what!
• The Myford picture was chosen to emphasise ‘workshop’.   Although Myfords are handsome in my opinion, a grey tool may not appropriate.   Youth might prefer a brightly painted mini-lathe or a shiny Sherline.   Also, this particular example shows how difficult it is to find pictures that catch the eye.  This Myford pic is cluttered and the colours camouflage the text.   As a front cover candidate my choice is inferior to Neil’s Twins!   Struggling to find a suitable picture, I thought 3D-CAD images might be a good compromise – a steam model presented in CAD nicely links old and new.
• I removed Traction Engine from the Casting Polyurethane blurb because traction engines are historic. I’m sure casting can be applied to any wheels, and a traction engine in the article itself is fine.  Just not on the cover if newcomers are wanted.   Might be wrong, maybe Neil has a list of buzz-words that cause sales to leap every time they’re used.
• As a style experiment, I used a sans-serif font.  Although the feel is arguably more modern I don’t like it as much as Neil’s choices.  What do others think
• Specially for Jason there’s one deliberate mistake.  Any more are cock-ups!

 

As can be seen from my example, if anyone hates a cover, make your own!

🙂

Dave