Topic: Model Boats magazine Digital subscriptions (Read 6857 times)

Martin (Admin) · « **on:** September 02, 2022, 02:38:25 pm »

Seen this on Facebook;

https://www.facebook.com/modelboatsmag/photos/a.169983233176247/2172257116282172/

1. Is this legit? Does Classic Magazines now own Model Boats?
2. Is anyone here on Mayhem using this service?
3. What is the quality of the digital edition ?

Colin Bishop · « **Reply #1 on:** September 02, 2022, 02:57:43 pm »

Mortons Publishing took over Model Boats, Model Engineer and Model Flying (RCM&E) on 1st April. Various associated procedures and facilities have been progressively transferred to the Morton's servers from My Time Media since then including the three websites and forums and the subscription service which includes the digital archive.

There is some more info on a MB Forum thread here:

https://www.modelboats.co.uk/forums/postings.asp?th=180328&p=4

Colin

Martin (Admin) · « **Reply #2 on:** September 02, 2022, 03:24:52 pm »

Quote from: Colin Bishop on September 02, 2022, 02:57:43 pm

There is some more info on a MB Forum thread here:
https://www.modelboats.co.uk/forums/postings.asp?th=180328&p=4
Colin

Thanks Colin, interesting read!
Can you ask someone if I could see a sample before I sign up please, any issues before 2015 should do ....

Colin Bishop · « **Reply #3 on:** September 02, 2022, 03:56:45 pm »

I'm not involved with the marketing side but the archive facility works well enough. The usual page turning software, zoom it etc. plus you can download editions and print out selected pages. There is also a very useful global search facility. -What's not to like!

Colin

Martin (Admin) · « **Reply #4 on:** September 08, 2022, 10:51:21 pm »

Thoroughly miserable experience.

Link from Model Boats confusing jumps around 3 different company websites,
Even more confusing order acknowledgment,
It does work eventually, if you have work it all out for yourself.
NOT simple, NOT Slick!

Rating 2:10 😡

Colin Bishop · « **Reply #5 on:** September 09, 2022, 10:53:28 am »

Sorry to hear you are disappointed Martin, I will pass your comments on.

I am already a subscriber so didn't need to go through the signing up process but I didn't really experience any problems in finding my way around the controls and was able to do a global keyword search withing a few minutes but maybe a few pointers wouldn't come amiss as you say.

Colin

Tug Fanatic · « **Reply #6 on:** September 09, 2022, 11:13:42 am »

I think that they are still changing the system to the new publisher. In the last month I lost my new copies on Pocketmags until I got advice from MB because they were changing over.

The new archive is really a great improvement on the old one so it wll be worth it.

Colin Bishop · « **Reply #7 on:** September 09, 2022, 01:51:23 pm »

Martin,

Mortons have come back to me as follows:

It sounds like it's just the purchase procedure that's the main problem, but it would help if there was something specific. It's probably just how it is. The website jumps you to the subs shop (this was the same at MyTime Media), then you should get an email pointing you to the archive. And the archive links are all over the site too.

Could someone ask him which bit was confusing/not working then we can look at fixing it.

Could you be a bit more specific? The subscription functions are not built into the MB website and never hve been.

Colin

Colin Bishop · « **Reply #8 on:** September 11, 2022, 06:05:33 pm »

The 2010 60th Anniversary Special Issue is now in the Digital Archive.

I have just sent off the 2011 Construction Special to Mortons for publication.

The Special Issues I edited in 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013 & 2015 were an opportunity to collect together some really useful features of general interest, many from well known modellers no longer writing for the magazine. I hope to get the other three online soon but they have to be reconstructed from files on my PC as they were not included in the material Mortons inherited from MyTimeMedia. All good fun....

The 2014 Warship Special was produced in house and I do not have the digital files for that one.

Colin

Martin (Admin) · « **Reply #9 on:** September 11, 2022, 07:53:37 pm »

Quote from: Colin Bishop on September 09, 2022, 01:51:23 pm

It sounds like it's just the purchase procedure that's the main problem, but it would help if there was something specific. It's probably just how it is. The website jumps you to the subs shop (this was the same at MyTime Media), then you should get an email pointing you to the archive. And the archive links are all over the site too.

Could someone ask him which bit was confusing/not working then we can look at fixing it.
Could you be a bit more specific? The subscription functions are not built into the MB website and never hve been.

During the sign-up process, the process seems to jump around 2 (3?) seemingly unrelated websites / companies ... non of which maintain the same name, branding or product. All other companies make it abundantly clear what item you're buying and which company you are buying from it from on EVERY PAGE during the process... ie. Amazon, Argos, eBay, Sainsbury's, etc. etc..... when I clicked to the "Model Boats" website for the subscription, first click you off into the wide blue yonder!

I think my issues here is, other companies are also offering Model Boats magazine subscriptions, I would like to know whom I'm dealing with, throughout the whole process.

Colin Bishop · « **Reply #10 on:** September 11, 2022, 08:27:09 pm »

Thanks Martin, I have passed your reponse on.

Once you do have access there is a huge amount of info available which is fully searchable so it is really worthwhile persevering.

Colin

Colin Bishop · « **Reply #11 on:** September 14, 2022, 10:31:55 am »

The 2011 Construction Special is now live on the Digital Archive. Lots of really useful stuff from Brian King, Paul Freshney and Glynn Guest among other well known names. Also Contains a pdf of Vic Smeed's famous Bustler tug.

Colin

Alan52 · « **Reply #12 on:** September 14, 2022, 10:57:40 am »

Hi Colin

I took out a digital subscription, which is delivered by Pocketmags. Could I use the archive.

Thanks

Alan

Colin Bishop · « **Reply #13 on:** September 14, 2022, 11:30:40 am »

I don't kbow for certain but if you follow this link (or the obe on the Model Boats Website) I think you will get access.

https://subscriber.pagesuite-professional.co.uk/subscribe.aspx?source=4&eid=8494e886-8bc1-41d1-b749-ddc7c99c017e

Colin

Alan52 · « **Reply #14 on:** September 14, 2022, 02:33:36 pm »

Thanks Colin

Unfortunately it doesn’t work. I only have an order number and not a customer number.

Thanks anyway

Alan

Colin Bishop · « **Reply #15 on:** September 14, 2022, 03:14:54 pm »

Alan,

Try contacting Mortons Subs People:

01507 529529
subscriptions@mortons.co.uk

Colin

Alan52 · « **Reply #16 on:** September 14, 2022, 08:27:06 pm »

Hi Colin

Emailed them today

Colin Bishop · « **Reply #17 on:** September 29, 2022, 09:58:13 am »

The 2012 Plan Features Special issue has now been uploaded to the Digital Archive. Some classic articles here including Dave Metcalf's Celia Jane Thames Barge.

Colin

Colin Bishop · « **Reply #18 on:** September 30, 2022, 05:36:52 pm »

The final two Special Issues are now available in the Digital Archive. Fittingly the last one in 2015 includes Tony Hadley's excellent article about Vic Smeed and includes a list of all Vic's model boating designs.

There is no Special for 2014 as this was produced in house and I don't have the material.

Colin

Colin Bishop · « **Reply #19 on:** December 05, 2022, 02:12:39 pm »

Starting from the January 2023 Issue of Model Boats, the Free Plans published in every other issue will now be available to digital subscribers. See announcement on the website:

https://www.modelboats.co.uk/news/article/model-boats-january-2023/27706

I imagine that will be welcomed by a lot of people.

Colin

Martin (Admin) · « **Reply #20 on:** December 05, 2022, 02:49:34 pm »

News:

Author Topic: Model Boats magazine Digital subscriptions (Read 6857 times)