Special Edition SCR

[Rogue Sub]

It is my intention to create a special edition SCR geared tword drawing new membership to the sub committee.

This special edition of the SCR will include SOME of the best new and old articles that the SC has put together over the years. Additionally I want to include a good representation of available vendors and websites throughout the pages. The goal is to not only draw in new membership but also provide a guide to people just joining the hobby. I.E. Where do I find this part or how much is this going to be. I also want to include an article that tells the history of the SC and has a run down of the many years of regattas. I will of course need membership help on this one due to the fact that I do not know the history of the SC.

This issue of the sub committee report is not intended for print. My plan is to create digital only copies of this issue. It will be readily available for download and there is a possibility of distribution through CD depending on cost.

All I need to know is who would be interested in assisting me in this venture and what vendors are interested in having a place in this issue.

All thoughts are welcome on the issue. Please post here or pm/email me if interested.

Kevin

[tom dougherty]

This special edition of the

This special edition of the SCR will include SOME of the best new and old articles that the SC has put together over the years. Additionally I want to include a good representation of available vendors and websites throughout the pages. The goal is to not only draw in new membership but also provide a guide to people just joining the hobby. I.E. Where do I find this part or how much is this going to be. I also want to include an article that tells the history of the SC and has a run down of the many years of regattas. I will of course need membership help on this one due to the fact that I do not know the history of the SC.

Sounds like a reasonable idea, but the question I would have is]Where do I find this part or how much is this going to be. [/quote]

[ricknelson]

Tom raises some very good

Tom raises some very good points. We may not be aware of why people joined SC in the first place. By offering a broad variety of topics related to submarining the SC is of more interest to a broader group of people. Then, maybe their interests change or expande.

In my case SC was recommended to me as a source of information for submarine model building. Even though I am qualified in submarines I was looking for detailed information on fleet boats. You can see that joining paid off when you read my 5-part series about my Lionfish build in the SCR. But because of my exposure to the SC my interest level increased to the point where I've made the big "plunge" and am now building a RC submarine.

The broader the topics the better the chance of attracting people of varied interests. Another advantage of keeping SC multi-dimensional (ALL things Submarine) is it improves the quality and viability of the organization and publications. I was not that interested in our sister organization, SubPirates, because of what I perceived to be its' narrow focus. The cross-pollination of the various topics promotes growth.

[JWLaRue]

I too very much like

I too very much like having a diversity of sub-related articles appear in the SCR.....but I do feel that it needs to be pointed out that the SCR relies on the submission of articles by its members. What you see in the magazine is what gets submitted.

If folks would like to see more articles on static modeling, real subs, etc.....then please help get the articles written and submitted.

-Jeff

[tom dougherty]

If folks would like to

If folks would like to see more articles on static modeling, real subs, etc.....then please help get the articles written and submitted.

Jeff.
I've been working on it for awhile, as you know.

My point was if we are going to assemble a special online edition of the SCR for recruitment purposes, let's cast the widest net possible. Sure, let's have some great R/C articles, but let's also pull out some past articles on submarine history, display models, some book reviews and even throw in some of the recent humorous articles from our former submariners.

I've been the liason between the SC and IPMS for the past three years. The SC is considered an active "Special Interest Group" by IPMS. Number of queries I have handled about the SC since I took over? Zero! Yet the IPMS magazine has had three extensive submarine model articles in the past three years. Somehow we are not getting the message across when people visit our web site. I think the suggested special online version of the SCR is a great idea; we just need to execute it for the broadest audience.

[Rogue Sub]

I would be glad to

I would be glad to take suggestions for articles to include.

[tom dougherty]

And I will be glad

And I will be glad to help you assemble it.

[Rogue Sub]

excellent! Glad to see someone

excellent! Glad to see someone else thinks this is worth while.

[Guest]

Some good points raised here.

On

Some good points raised here.

On the subject of Submarine history, I might comment that there is a lot of books, literature etc, out there already on that subject. Static modelling again is well covered, and most aspects of static modelling are incorporated with making a functioning model too.

What there is a shortage of is publications on building functioning models from scratch. We do have Norbert Bruggens excellent 'Model Submarine technology', which is the closest thing to a bible for this hobby. however that publication is now over 13 years old, and some things have moved on since then.

There was also Steve Neills 'Submarine modelling for dumb asses', which covered the building of model submarine hulls and fitting out with commercial WTC's.

It would be nice to see a publication, electronic or otherwise, which presents all this information plus gives an unbiased opinion of various ballast systems, from worldwide vendors and builders etc. etc.

[pirate]

I would caution against a

I would caution against a show all, tell all issue that is given away free. If there is a free source with all this stuff in it so any newbie could get started, up and running, then the attraction of a membership and the printed SCR goes away.

Be judicial in how much is contained. Maybe it's more of a teaser issue that is free, not complete articles. Then the complete digital issue, along with each new printed issue of the SCR, would be available once they joined.

Then you create interest and incentive.

Pete

[Guest]

I don't think anyone was

I don't think anyone was considering giving it away were they? Or have I missed something.

[pirate]

Yes, they were. Kevin's plan

Yes, they were. Kevin's plan is to create a special edition, digital issue of the SCR, available for free download. Just one.

[pirate]

FYI
Here is one example of

FYI
Here is one example of what another newsletter is doing to attract new subscribers. It was solicited with an email subject line that said, FUSION sneak peek. You would need to click the link "amazing article here" to get to see it.

http://netmail.verizon.net/webmail/driv ... eipt=false

[tom dougherty]

Two things:
First to Pete's

Two things:
First to Pete's point-dead on. The electronic, once only version should be more a "teaser" issue. Get people interested in joining by putting out a small variety of articles. Strictly there as a recruitment tool, not an on line resource.

Second:

On the subject of Submarine history, I might comment that there is a lot of books, literature etc, out there already on that subject. Static modelling again is well covered, and most aspects of static modelling are incorporated with making a functioning model too.

Once again this kind of narrow attitude is, I believe, at the root of our failure to not only grow as an organization, but to actually suffer an erosion of membership since the late 1990's. We were up to almost 1000 members at that point; I think we are down 20-25% from that high. Yes, R/C submarines are a very important component of the SC, but as I and others have pointed out above, it is not the exclusive reason for the existence of the organization. That is reflected in the pages of the SCR over the years by the variety of articles. It should be a broader submarine interest organization. In fact, to continue to exist into the future, it may need to be a broader organization. Given the current economy the number of people who might choose to spend significant money on R/C subs is not going to increase any time soon. Go get an SCR from a few years ago and look at the ads, then look at a recent issue. You will see how few R/C sub component vendors are left.

Most people are curious about submarines in general, so let's draw them in as well. Maybe eventually they will get interested in submarine history, modeling and maybe in building an R/C submarine. Everyone wins.

What there is a shortage of is publications on building functioning models from scratch. We do have Norbert Bruggens excellent 'Model Submarine technology', which is the closest thing to a bible for this hobby. however that publication is now over 13 years old, and some things have moved on since then.

It would be nice to see a publication, electronic or otherwise, which presents all this information plus gives an unbiased opinion of various ballast systems, from worldwide vendors and builders etc. etc.

What you are speaking about is really a full scale book project. That's a totally separate issue! In my 14 years here, there have been several (aborted) projects to put together such a book by the SC. Unfortunately, these efforts seem to stall. Short of that, there are many excellent articles in each issue about various aspects of R/C sub building. As Pete points out above, you sure don't want to bundle all those and stick them on the web site. That will be the death of the SCR.

The point of the proposed "SCR Light" exercise is to grow the SubCommittee!! Be as inclusive as possible! The point is not to place a manual on the web site for the convenience of all who pass by or fill a gap in knowledge.

[pirate]

You said it, Gork.

You said it, Gork.