Last week I asked if anyone on here had seen a copy of a German-published G scale magazine called VOLLDAMPF - apart from a couple of people who responded that they had seen/got the odd copy, it seemed like most folks over here were unaware of it (or if they knew of it, hadn't actually seen one). So, on finding that their website offers a free sample copy (posted anywhere within Europe free of charge), I thought the best thing was to ask for one - which I did, got a very polite email in response, and the copy turned up in the post this morning, just five days after I'd requested it online. I said that I'd review it here when it arrived, so here goes.....
I was sent issue 1 of the 2011 volume, which has a cover price of 5 Euros.
Physically, it's an A4 magazine, 58 pages plus stiff card covers, perfect-bound, and printed in full colour throughout on a very nice quality semi-gloss art paper. It's a VERY well produced mag - for print, paper and production quality the best thing I can liken it to is those very upmarket, glossy modelling mags that you find in WH Smiths - Air Modeller and AFV Modeller. If you've ever leafed through a copy of those, you'll know the sort of thing I mean.
Of course, no matter how nicely produced a magazine is, it stands or falls by its actual contents. Well, from what I can see, VOLLDAMPF is very good in this regard too. I say "from what I can see", because I don't read much German. What I do know is from a couple of years of school lessons (mostly long forgotten) plus many holidays in Germany and Austria as a kid (from which I probably picked up and have remembered much more of the language than I did from school!). Basically, I can read most of the picture captions, and figure out SOME of the text - already being familiar with the context helps. But, even with this limitation, I still consider the magazine to be a good buy - it is filled with excellent colour photos (model and prototype), inspiration and ideas which make it well worth the money, in my opinion - and if you can read the text as well, consider that a bonus!
There is a LOT in the issue I was sent - a comprehensive multi-page article on the 2011 Nurnberg toy fair, covering all the G-scale manufacturers there; a very well-illustrated layout report; prototype articles on the HSB, RHB and the Orange Empire Railway Museum (USA); a piece on coach lighting and other electrics; new product reviews; a full-page review of the new HSB KoF; "special freight on the RHB" (with a dismantled LGB croc being moved on LGB flat cars!); and an excellent photo article on the winners of a competition to customise a Stainz - the results of which are quite amazing and very inspirational. There is more too, news pages, hints and tips, etc etc. There are adverts, of course, but the don't dominate the mag and it's very interesting (and useful) to see ads from German suppliers and manufacturers.
Of course, the other thing I must say is that it's ALL G SCALE; LGB features heavily of course, but Piko, Trainline and others get a good showing too. It's mostly Euro stuff, though some US stock gets a bit of coverage. The only live steam I could see was Regner, who had a full-page advert. Being into Euro G and track power, I liked it a lot, as you can probably tell; live steam fans and US prototype modellers would find less of use in it, but there would still be some stuff in there for them, and it's all excellent eye-candy.
Overall verdict? Very impressed, both in presentation and content. I will be ordering a subscription based on this sample issue, and will probably buy a couple of years' worth of back issues as well. Highly recommended - take a look!
http://www.volldampf.org/
Jon.
I was sent issue 1 of the 2011 volume, which has a cover price of 5 Euros.
Physically, it's an A4 magazine, 58 pages plus stiff card covers, perfect-bound, and printed in full colour throughout on a very nice quality semi-gloss art paper. It's a VERY well produced mag - for print, paper and production quality the best thing I can liken it to is those very upmarket, glossy modelling mags that you find in WH Smiths - Air Modeller and AFV Modeller. If you've ever leafed through a copy of those, you'll know the sort of thing I mean.
Of course, no matter how nicely produced a magazine is, it stands or falls by its actual contents. Well, from what I can see, VOLLDAMPF is very good in this regard too. I say "from what I can see", because I don't read much German. What I do know is from a couple of years of school lessons (mostly long forgotten) plus many holidays in Germany and Austria as a kid (from which I probably picked up and have remembered much more of the language than I did from school!). Basically, I can read most of the picture captions, and figure out SOME of the text - already being familiar with the context helps. But, even with this limitation, I still consider the magazine to be a good buy - it is filled with excellent colour photos (model and prototype), inspiration and ideas which make it well worth the money, in my opinion - and if you can read the text as well, consider that a bonus!
There is a LOT in the issue I was sent - a comprehensive multi-page article on the 2011 Nurnberg toy fair, covering all the G-scale manufacturers there; a very well-illustrated layout report; prototype articles on the HSB, RHB and the Orange Empire Railway Museum (USA); a piece on coach lighting and other electrics; new product reviews; a full-page review of the new HSB KoF; "special freight on the RHB" (with a dismantled LGB croc being moved on LGB flat cars!); and an excellent photo article on the winners of a competition to customise a Stainz - the results of which are quite amazing and very inspirational. There is more too, news pages, hints and tips, etc etc. There are adverts, of course, but the don't dominate the mag and it's very interesting (and useful) to see ads from German suppliers and manufacturers.
Of course, the other thing I must say is that it's ALL G SCALE; LGB features heavily of course, but Piko, Trainline and others get a good showing too. It's mostly Euro stuff, though some US stock gets a bit of coverage. The only live steam I could see was Regner, who had a full-page advert. Being into Euro G and track power, I liked it a lot, as you can probably tell; live steam fans and US prototype modellers would find less of use in it, but there would still be some stuff in there for them, and it's all excellent eye-candy.
Overall verdict? Very impressed, both in presentation and content. I will be ordering a subscription based on this sample issue, and will probably buy a couple of years' worth of back issues as well. Highly recommended - take a look!
http://www.volldampf.org/
Jon.
