Article for the BCM mag???

[robertglines1]

Where is the intrest?  Building tips     how I did it     technical     pictures of finished projects    outside the box   oops-that didn't work!    travels--- hobbies that compliment our busnut addiction     what else???     Ideas!  We all have talents:although mine be few and very rough. To share and have made mistakes(I have allot of them to share).   Please feel free to use this thread to brain storm (I know that hurts) to how we can better our media and what we want from it. I love all kinds of Bus types From the old Silver Sides to the New Factory Conversions. Each has a place in my heart and admire each for it's beauty.   Bob   Definitely a economy do-it -yourself builder.

[luvrbus]

That is a tough one Bob all the stuff has been covered for 20 years I don't see anything new in the magazine but I did renew to try and help a little

good luck

[Melbo]

I did the renewal thing too --- always good stuff and good to be reminded of some old stuff.

Melbo

[chev49]

Success is simply fixing your mistake in construction for the 5th time...

[Jeremy]

Sometime ago I was invited to write an article for BCM, as I have done on several previous occasions for other publications. I was very happy to do this, until it turned out that BCM was unable to pay for any such contributions. I know various forum members have written articles for BCM, and I appluade them for doing so - I'm well aware that a good quality and accurate magazine article is a time-consuming thing to prepare, especially when data has to be collected and photographs produced etc.

Being in the magazine business myself I fully realise what a struggle it is to run a traditional print-publishing business in the face of rising production & distribution costs, falling ad revenue etc. But content is king, and I'm not sure you can expect to maintain and grow circulation if your business model is reliant on 'amateur' content (meaning not-paid-for, not necessarily low quality)

Just my thoughts. I must admit to not having seen any recent copies of the magazine so I don't know how it compares to when I used to subscribe

Jeremy

[travelingfools]

Although things have been covered for twenty years, a bunch of us have only either seen a few back issues or Im sure some have seen none. Maybe some reprints or rewrites ?

[robertglines1]

A rerun article from the past issues wouldn't be a bad idea. one in particular I remember of a guy with a Eagle that had a ramp that he parked a small suv in the bedroom. maybe a blast from the past every other month to fill a couple 3 or 4 pages.

[Chopper Scott]

My problem is I forget all the successful projects and remember all the mistakes!! 

[robertglines1]

Also would assume the health of one depends on the survival of the other? rite or wrong?

[Red Rider]

The Mag is something I look forward to each month. The anticipation is not for the "news" or "how to stuff" but the relationship that publication has with my Busnut mentality. I have kept the best part of a complete collection going back at least a decade. Over the weekend I was reading an article about fab-ing up a "mister System". How's that for "Old School"?

The BCM Magazine to us is like a "diamond" is to  Baseball. It wouldn't be the same without it.

[wildbob24]

Bob

If you haven't seen it, there is a sticky topic entitled "BCM Article Wishlist" that will give you an idea of some of the articles Mike is looking for.

Bob

[demodriver]

How about a "oops" section.  Guys can let others laugh at there mistakes. Wether its a stuck bus or a screw up while building.  We all mess up from time to time, might as well let others learn from it and laugh at it with ya.

[eddiepotts]

I would think it would be nice to see projects of mechanical stuff like rebuilding the front suspension on my Prevost. Where would I begin to know what are fixable and what has to be replaced. I know I have slop but can't even see what is under there. It would be nice to see how to rebuild a wheel seal or change it over to grease. Does it take a differant seal or can you use the same oil seal. I know it won't hold oil but it should hold grease.. it is nice to see the sweet bus pictures everyone has but some more how to articles would be great. It comes down to what Jeremy said "who is going to do it for free". It is cheap and easy to come on here and get pointers and tips to keep people moving on their projects where they are stumped but to sit at a shop one weekend to document a repair is a tough thing to do. When the custom van world started to come together in the 70's We (my parents) were in allot of the new magazines because they were looking for anything to print because everyone was wanting to buy. Our bus world is not taking off the same way. The magazine has to have a purpose for the draw to buy it and from what I have read of it I did not get the have to have feeling. I am not trying to bash it here just trying to bring up points to help improve it. There is just no free ride printing information that was just given to you. I had seen a show on the travel channel on Marathon buses. I would guess the show made more than the Magazine but I am sure Marathon did not just send it to them. Someone coughed up some money to put it all together. I think the advertisers need to be pushed harder for articles. They pay for 1/4 page adds. You would think they would pay better for 2 or 3 pages of advertising on how to install their products. Watch OCC on discovery. These companies pay $200,000 for a motorcycle for the 2hrs of advertisement and reruns. I am sure a 12v lighting fixture company would be glad to give an article on how to wire a whole 12v system to run their lights. Just my thoughts.

[demodriver]

^^very good idea. They do the same thing on the hot rod shows.   The companys donate products and have there specialist guest host.

[robertglines1]

I read the list. I'm not a professional and the impression I got from the list was from a prospective of a professional. I can write from a prospective of a done it yourself successful experience.  Or boy did I screw that up!