Hot on the heels of the sample copy of "Volldampf" that arrived on Saturday, this morning a sample copy of another German magazine, GARTENBAHN, dropped through my letterbox (figuratively speaking - actually we have to have all our mail and papers put in a box outside, because otherwise the Schnauzer puppies turn it into confetti in about 3.5 seconds!). Like Volldampf, Gartenbahn offers a free sample issue by request. Whereas my sample copy of Volldampf was the latest issue, Gartenbahn sent me a random back issue from last year - issue 2 out of 6 issues from 2010.
So, having just reviewed Volldampf, I thought it was only fair that I did a quick review of Gartenbahn as well.
First impressions: GB has a slightly higher page count than VD (oo-er, just realised that may not be the best way of abbreviating that one....), at 66 pages rather than 58, but is printed on slightly lighter stock and is stapled rather than perfect-bound, so it actually feels a thinner magazine though it has more pages. Physically, GB looks and feels very much like the UK's Garden Rail. Unlike VD (ok, I've done the joke so I'm just going to stick with it), GB seems to have - at least going by the sample issue I received - more Live Steam content - not perhaps to the same extent that our GR has, but GB is certainly more of a balance between live steam and electric. GB also covers some Gauge 1, plus Gn15 and such, so has a broader base of articles than the exclusively G-45 approach of VD.
As with my last review, I must state that I'm going very much on appearance and the photos here, because my knowledge of German is limited. GB is full colour throughout, and the photo quality is excellent. As to articles, the issue I received has a prototype piece on the Ohsabahn in Sweden, an article on HSB railcars (model and prototype), a gorgeous Vivarais Mallet scratchbuilt in brass on LGB running gear, a Gn15 estate railway line, several assorted how-to articles, a live-steam Philadelphia 0-4-2T build, Marklin gauge-1 tank car conversions, a piece on the Piko V60 (not sure if it's a review or an article on modifying it - will have to try to figure out some of the text!!), various reviews and plenty more besides. An eclectic mix of articles, all well presented and illustrated.
Overall opinions? Well, GB is another very good magazine, and certainly recommended; if I had to choose one or the other to subscribe to, I think I'd plump for Volldampf, but I must stress that is ONLY because it is almost entirely dedicated to the specific stuff I'm interested in - ie: G scale, Euro railways and track power. If your interests include live steam, gauge 1 and so on, then you might well find that Gartenbahn offers more for you. Check it out at:
http://www.gartenbahn.de/ Jon.
So, having just reviewed Volldampf, I thought it was only fair that I did a quick review of Gartenbahn as well.
First impressions: GB has a slightly higher page count than VD (oo-er, just realised that may not be the best way of abbreviating that one....), at 66 pages rather than 58, but is printed on slightly lighter stock and is stapled rather than perfect-bound, so it actually feels a thinner magazine though it has more pages. Physically, GB looks and feels very much like the UK's Garden Rail. Unlike VD (ok, I've done the joke so I'm just going to stick with it), GB seems to have - at least going by the sample issue I received - more Live Steam content - not perhaps to the same extent that our GR has, but GB is certainly more of a balance between live steam and electric. GB also covers some Gauge 1, plus Gn15 and such, so has a broader base of articles than the exclusively G-45 approach of VD.
As with my last review, I must state that I'm going very much on appearance and the photos here, because my knowledge of German is limited. GB is full colour throughout, and the photo quality is excellent. As to articles, the issue I received has a prototype piece on the Ohsabahn in Sweden, an article on HSB railcars (model and prototype), a gorgeous Vivarais Mallet scratchbuilt in brass on LGB running gear, a Gn15 estate railway line, several assorted how-to articles, a live-steam Philadelphia 0-4-2T build, Marklin gauge-1 tank car conversions, a piece on the Piko V60 (not sure if it's a review or an article on modifying it - will have to try to figure out some of the text!!), various reviews and plenty more besides. An eclectic mix of articles, all well presented and illustrated.
Overall opinions? Well, GB is another very good magazine, and certainly recommended; if I had to choose one or the other to subscribe to, I think I'd plump for Volldampf, but I must stress that is ONLY because it is almost entirely dedicated to the specific stuff I'm interested in - ie: G scale, Euro railways and track power. If your interests include live steam, gauge 1 and so on, then you might well find that Gartenbahn offers more for you. Check it out at:
http://www.gartenbahn.de/ Jon.
