From: micdunn (micdunn@ev1.net)
Date: Sun Oct 06 2002 - 17:25:42 PDT
David and List,
there are many, many people on this list who contribute valuable knowledge
regarding our hobby. They are also quite a few whiners. No problem, that is
just a cross section of our society in general. Freedom of speech is a
wonderful thing!
I personally save dozens of messages a month because the information and
tips are priceless, and this list is a fantastic source even when people get
overly emotional about certain subjects.
If you don't like the new Army Motors thin paper, there are several things
you can do about it. Write to this list, call MVPA and suggest a poll of
members. Would we be willing to pay the extra cost of thicker paper by
increasing membership dues? Take into account that we would lose some
members dues by increasing dues. MVPA is a business, stand up and make your
opinions heard, don't knee-jerk and cancel your membership without
explaining why.
Back to WWII jeeps versus big new 6x6's. Personally, I own an M35 and I
love it. In our local MVPA chapter (Lone Star MVPA, Austin TX - shameless
plug!) Jeeps outnumber M35's about 5 or 6 to one. Each and every one of them
is in better condition than my M35 and they are beautiful machines. If this
is indicative of our hobby nationwide, then Army Motors should be biased
towards WWII articles.
Back to David Doyle's e-mail. He ends it with "I will get off my stump now,
and prepare for the flames."
If I am ever lucky enough to meet David, I hope he will allow me to buy him
a meal. I have worked on M35's for 25 years, however I would be willing to
bet that David has forgotten more about M35's than I will ever know. I
always look forward to his contributions, because he not only knows useful
modern information, he also has comprehensive knowledge of the history of
these vehicles.
Which is what we are all about...
-Sarge
----- Original Message -----
From: <ddoyle9570@aol.com>
To: "Military Vehicles Mailing List" <mil-veh@mil-veh.org>
Sent: Sunday, October 06, 2002 5:48 PM
Subject: Re: [MV] Latest Supply Line Magazine Jeeps WWII content
> Friends,
> I genuinely hope I do not make enemies out of any friends over this, but I
simply must speak.
> As some of you may know, I occasionally have articles appear in print
about military vehicles, usually not about WWII vehicles or Jeeps. (not
knocking either the era or the vehicle, its just that both are outside of my
limited, so called, expertise) While there have been more of my articles
printed in Krause's Military Vehicles Magazine, than in Army Motors, that is
not a result of either the MVPA Board, or Reg Hodgson, the Army Motors
editor. Reg has asked me REPEATEDLY to send him more, or longer items,
particularly regarding big, non-WWII trucks.
> I even have a very pleasant letter from him asking these of me. He is
more than willing and eager to publish these things.
>
> However, this is a time consuming process. You don't get instant
results...in the current Army Motors 101 (came last week)) there is a little
piece by me, that I wrote back in 2001. As I recall from what Reg said,
there are items by me coming in issues 103 and 104. Notice how far out the
preparations begin.
>
> To create an article that will present will in a publication, there are
things at play here that, at least for the articles I TRY to write, perhaps
you fellows should know.
>
> There is a LOT of time that goes into the research, and a lot of
resources. As I type this with in two feet of me, much to my wife's chagrin,
is 30 linear feet of technical manuals, and 3000 plus photographs.
>
> A photo must be copyright free, or a release obtained (usually for a fee)
in order to reproduce it in print. As a rule digital photos do not reproduce
well.
>
> References must be checked, and double checked, before they are stated, or
a disservice is done to the hobby. How many times have you heard that the
WWII went to soft cabs to save steel? Wrong, more material in the military
open top cab than in the civilian based closed cabs in most cases. Just an
example, and there can be many. So be prepared to spend time researching
your subject matter.
>
> Then, after the research is done, the photos gathered, any charts or
tables must be prepared, as well as any drawings. Notice I never use
drawings? I have no artistic talent, and am not much of a photographer for
that matter (result, in my case-use archival photos). Now, write the text.
Then correct it, then rewrite it. Then cut it down in size....a lot, no
matter how interesting you may find it. Some of you may remember the LONG
article I did on wire rope for Military Vehicles 90. Five pages including
illustrations on rope...it started as 8 pages before illustrations!
>
> The above remarks are based on personal experience...now for the
conjecture.
>
> Been to an MVPA convention? What category has the most entrents? WWII
Jeep. Looked at the vendor tables, what are the most linear feet of selling
space devoted to? WWII Jeep.
> Go to Barnes and Noble and look for books about your favorite military
vehicle. Now count them. Count the number of Jeep books, which is more?
>
> Thus I feel the qualified pool of authors for the magazines on the subject
of Jeep exceeds the pool of authors on M114, or M35, or M4A4 by a factor of
several hundred fold. If each member of the MVPA sent in but one piece
about their favorite subject, and they all were printed, WWII Jeep articles
would still dominate the club magazine.
>
> And also since the officers are drawn from the same pool of membership,
the odds MUST be that there is a greater chance of the officers being WWII
Jeep buffs than anything else, althought I am convinced that the board tries
to fairly and equitably represent the hobby as a whole.
>
> As far as the qualitity of the paper in Supply Line....I happened to be at
the MVPA Board meeting in Dallas, and the subject of dues increases came up,
and the desire to hold down costs. As I recall there was much wailing and
nashing of teeth before increasing dues.
>
> Personally, I prefer the better paper. If it costs 5 bucks more (it
effects both printing and postage costs)per year, so what? If I can't afford
that 5 bucks, why am I looking in Supply Line....I'm gonna find something
for sale in it for LESS than five bucks?
>
> But, the choice was made to try to lower costs, to keep the color in Army
Motors, and keep the dues down.
>
> With respect to the MVPA website, dunno nothing about it, but have found a
pleasant, polite, friendly phone call to MVPA HQ always gets immediate and
effective results.
>
> I will get off my stump now, and prepare for the flames.
>
> Regards,
> David Doyle
>
>
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