Yawn. Another less than inspiring “IUJ”

[SkyKing]

I really still  HATE the title. And what is that thing on the cover?? It’s impossible to determine. If it’s a model, shouldn’t it be obvious? We’re an organization of modelers, after all.

Like the previous issue, this will probably go in the trash cans of many members, as it will go in mine. And that’s where my membership will probably go when it’s up for renewal, even after 57 years.

Edited November 4, 2024 by SkyKing

[VMF211]

I kinda liked it. I'm not sure how that SB2A-3 build by Wayne Holmes isn't inspiring, but maybe it's just me.

[BWScholten]

The cover is a model of a Space Ship.  A model that won awards at Nats.

I like the new format overall, though the IUJ title is still puzzling (though the text underneath is good).

The staff needs to go to a Quarterly edition for a year to catch up, then back to a Bi-monthly.

[SkyKing]

3 hours ago, VMF211 said:

I kinda liked it. I'm not sure how that SB2A-3 build by Wayne Holmes isn't inspiring, but maybe it's just me.

That is indeed an inspiring model. My criticism was not directed at any of the models.

[Mark Deliduka]

I do agree with Sky King, the photo of that magnificent model should not have been cropped so closely for the cover. It did make it almost impossible to determine what it was, unless you had seen the model itself.

[PaulBradley]

I haven't been receiving mine, but it sounds as if I'm not missing anything! 

The new title is very weird - did anyone do any research before changing it? 

[ghodges]

I also agree the pic of the Judge's Grand Award winning spaceship model should have been cropped, or at least better presented so it was easier to see what it is. I also think they should ditch the "IUJ" and just continue with the old IPMS Journal title..... it does NOTHING to call attention to the fact it's the magazine for a plastic modeling society!

That said, I saw improvement in this issue in that the text was larger and easier to read, correcting that problem from the last issue. And I actually like the way they divided the genre pics cleanly by leading off with a large pic of the Best Of. However.... there did seem to be something different or odd in the way the winners pics were printed.... not bad.... just different from past years in that they seemed more like AI generated pics instead of the actual photos themselves. Perhaps it's just some newer, improved printing process....

The Nats winners Journal issue is almost always of little or only mild interest to more than half the membership simply because they don't go to the Nats, have little interest in it, and they view the magazine as one less issue with modeling articles that they want. I'm withholding more judgement on the new Journal team to see how they do going forward with the modeling issues.

 

Gil 

[dmorrissette]

For me, got it. Love the new format and ditching the editor's column for more pics. Good start and the text is very good this time.

 

Dave

[SkyKing]

On 11/5/2024 at 6:42 AM, PaulBradley said:

I haven't been receiving mine, but it sounds as if I'm not missing anything! 

The new title is very weird - did anyone do any research before changing it? 

Apparently not. There is already another “IUJ”: the International Urogynecology Journal!

[VonL]

23 hours ago, ghodges said:

 I also think they should ditch the "IUJ" and just continue with the old IPMS Journal title..... it does NOTHING to call attention to the fact it's the magazine for a plastic modeling society!

That said, I saw improvement in this issue ...

What Gil said - plus a suggestion: Many orgs that publish a newsletter, or magazine will do a year's-end recap issue, celebrating the various achievements, awards, changes, Hail-and-Farewell, Sawadee and maybe even a few obits. I recommend that the 'convention issue' of the IPMS-USA JOURNAL be morphed into that last one for the calendar year, since a printed mag will never beat the internet to the punch with the pix. The year's-end template would instead offer the Journal staff more time to collate and edit the convention pix & data, write up the respective Chapters/Members/Kits/Snuffalufagus Of the Year, a President's recap/forecast column, members' photo contest, funny stuff...I dunno. Finally, a standardized format for that particular issue could simplify the Journal crew's workload a bit, into the holiday season. What's not to love...?

Edited November 6, 2024 by VonL

[Circuitrider]

2 hours ago, SkyKing said:

Apparently not. There is already another “IUJ”: the International Urogynecology Journal!

Quoting from my response to this same issue a few weeks back:

"Googling IPMS reveals the following - Integrated Physicians Management Services; Iowa Podiatric Medical Society; Integrated Personnel Management Systems; Integrated Platform Management Systems; International Property Measurement Standards...I could go on...

Similarly, our brothers and sisters over at AMPS deal with the same issue. Google "AMPS" and see how many different things pop up. As this world gets smaller the more we will come to realize that the book of Ecclesiastes is correct when it says, '...there is nothing new under the sun.'"

So there's another journal that goes by "IUJ"...so what? So should we demand that we stop using IPMS because there are other entities that use the same acronym? Should we begin to complain and castigate the EB for having the temerity to continue to allow the International Plastic Modelers' Society to be known as the (gasp!) IPMS???

Good grief, folks...come on! If you hate the new journal and the changes (including the name), that's fine, but this particular line of reasoning is moot.

 

[Roktman]

I liked it.  New editors come with new ideas.  In the issue the editors say they will be trying new stuff.  Some may work, some won’t.  

it also mentions that as it’s been forever, they print the articles they get from the members.  Wanna see a more exciting story, sit down and write one, then send it in 

Wanna be of more help, volunteer your time to help out.  

[noelsmith]

Would ' IPMS USA Magazine ' be too obvious a new title for the Journal ?   LOL.  !!

[SkyKing]

2 hours ago, noelsmith said:

Would ' IPMS USA Magazine ' be too obvious a new title for the Journal ?   LOL.  !!

There was nothing wrong with the former title.

[noelsmith]

That was meant to be a tongue in cheek joke Michael !      Hence the LOL suffix.