R/C Tank Enthusiasts Magazine

[Allan Webster]

Some of you may remember the quarterly magazine that used to be produced by Tony Volante for what has since become the SW Tank Club, now part of the UKTC. I have been involved, together with Stuart Holden, Rachel and others from the SW Club, in bringing back a club magazine. The first issue, 32 pages of A5, has now been printed and distributed to SW Club members. I understand that copies will be distributed to UKTC members shortly.

The magazine doesn't claim to be a fount of wisdom. It is written by r/c AFV enthusiasts for other enthusiasts. We do, however, hope that it covers a wide range of different aspects of the hobby and that it makes an interesting read.

Although the original magazine was a strictly SW Tank Club affair we are moving to much closer involvement with the UKTC and others. In the first issue there is a dedicated UKTC column and the UK club has agreed to contribute to printing costs. Nothing is fixed for future issues but current thinking is that there would be a mix of one-off articles and regular columns. The regular columns would include:

a dedicated UKTC column
a column contributed by UK 1/6th enthusiasts on figures and accessories relevant to 1/6 vehicles
a dedicated 1/16th scale column
a new products section
book, film and TV reviews
profiles of individual AFVs
articles on military history

All of these feature in the first issue too.

Future issues will be different to the first one. This was produced wholly in colour and it is simply far too expensive for future editions to be wholly in colour. Options under discussion for future issues are (a) to distribute the magazine by email with an option of printed copy for those members (of the SW Club or the UKTC) who are willing to pay or (b) to continue with a printed magazine mainly or wholly in black and white. Printing most or all of the magazine in black and white reduces the printing costs greatly.

Another topic for discussion in both clubs is whether to go further in the future and make the magazine a fully joint effort rather than one led by the SW Club.

It is likely (but also open to discussion) that copies of the magazine will be made available in the future for sale to those who are not members of the South West or UK Tank Clubs. If any non-member would like a copy of the first issue (see image), these are available for sale at £2.50 plus postage. Contact me at: allandwebster@yahoo.co.uk .

Please note that the price and availability of future issues will not necessarily be the same. UKTC members should be receiving copies via Robert Bruce.

The front cover:

[Derek Attree]

Hi Allan
What a great idea Good luck to all involved.

Derek

[Mike Stannard (toyrific)]

Allan

Have those involved considered selling advertising space in the magazine. I for one would be interested. There is very little printed media for us to advertise in that is 6 scale orientated.

Mike

[Allan Webster]

Mike,

Those of us closely involved - Stu, Rachel and myself - have given a lot of thought to trying to secure advertising. We thought that we would produce one issue first so that advertisers would have a better idea of what is involved. I am delighted to hear that you are interested in advertising and will be in contact by email.

Allan