Who is V.P. Pidpoda??

[bbussey]

It's also food for thought that the manner in which the layout was featured, traveling the layout from an extensive "on the ground" perspective similar to the first NSR appearance of the Reid Brothers' Cumberland Valley, was far more conducive to NSR than to MR. 

Without giving too much inside info away — suffice to say that it's inconceivable that Kalmbach would not have given its blessing on this endeavor.

[peteski]

I wouldn't automatically assume Mr. P was turned down, take his n scale article and beat it. It's possible he didn't give MR a chance at the article and did it as his own freelance venture, choosing to write for fun rather than for riches or fame or to contribute to the big wheel. Perhaps it gave him some personal satisfaction beyond his career goals.

That makes perfect sense. I also assume that due to possible conflict of interests, he most likely had the blessing from his employer.

[conrail98]

My guess is that since the N Scale Collector's convention was in Milwaukee this past year, overtures were made to get his layout published at that time (or all the photos taken). The track plan is from MR with permission as noted so I'm guessing there was support from them for this article to be published. David's layout has been featured many times over in the magazine itself including the entire Building a Model Railroad Step by Step, 2nd Edition book from Kalmbach Publishing,

Phil

[Roger Holmes]

Using a nom de plume is nothing new at MR.  1930's  through 1960's author Allan Rice Lake often wrote under the name Eric LaNal.  He was named an NMRA Pioneer in 1994.

It's kinda fun that David P is carrying on the tradition.

[C855B]

Using a nom de plume is nothing new at MR.  1930's  through 1960's author Allan Rice Lake often wrote under the name Eric LaNal.  He was named an NMRA Pioneer in 1994.

It's kinda fun that David P is carrying on the tradition.

And don't forget Ray L. Rhodes.

[John]

So, before anyone gets the wrong impression .. I know who V.P. Pidpoda is ..  ..   this is probably one of the best written layout articles, in either of the Nscale mags in a while .. glad that David and Kirk got this article into the magazine ..

[Rossford Yard]

A bit odd to have an MR editor featured in another mag, but not unheard of.  MR had his layout featured first and most often, which in press is most of what matters.  And, MR probably blessed it, hoping to introduce N scalers who may not read their magazine to the fact that MR does have a few N scalers on their editorial roster, just to put MR in a better light with us.  My theory anyway.

[Blazeman]

Using a nom de plume is nothing new at MR.  1930's  through 1960's author Allan Rice Lake often wrote under the name Eric LaNal.  He was named an NMRA Pioneer in 1994.

Had forgotten about the man. He literally lived around the corner from me. I did reach out to him to "visit" and he graciously hosted me one evening. A rambling discussion on various aspects of the the hobby and traction history. In real life, a professor at Ursinus College.

Back to the thread topic now.

[peteski]

..   this is probably one of the best written layout articles, in either of the Nscale mags in a while ..

...as it should be, since the author is a professional...

[pnolan48]

This happens all the time in the so-called trade magazines--i.e., the special interest mags. The article isn't right for one magazine, or has been over-exposed in one magazine, or any of a hundred reasons. There's rarely anything nefarious happening. I published about 3000 articles in my career, the vast majority under my own name, but probably another 300 or so under a nom de plume. I'd say 298 of those were completely above board--the mag had already covered the story--and editors from my primary mags certainly realized I could use some extra bucks now and then for a good article that just didn't fit their needs at that time. OK, I did do two articles that were somewhat scurrilous under a completely different name, but that's 2 out of 3300 or so.