In June 1979, Hal Carstens, publisher of RAILROAD MODEL CRAFTSMAN magazine, learns of a source for dirt-cheap brass Erie Stillwell passenger cars. In his excitement, he suffers a near-fatal heart attack. He decides to retire early.
After several weeks of negotiations, Tony Koester and Bob Hoeckele take over as publishers at Carstens Publications. Koester will be publisher of RMC and RAILFAN, while Hoeckele will be publisher at FLYING MODELS and the other Carstens magazines. Bill Schaumburg leaves RMC to head up the Carstens Books division.
Koester moves Jim Boyd over from RAILFAN to take his place as managing editor at RMC. (Tony will continue to write his "Editors Notebook" column, now retitled "Publishers Notebook," while Jim takes over Hal's old "Notes on an Old Timetable" column.) Bob Mohowski is appointed the new editor of RAILFAN. Bob Hayden and Art Curren are hired to take over Mohowski's and Schaumburg's old jobs at RMC.
Tony Koester also creates a number of "editorial associates," who will write regular columns for RMC. A new regular column on layout design, headed up initially by Al Westerfield, will appear. Allen McClelland is tapped to write a regular column on operations. Dave Frary will write a column on scratchbuilding, kitbashing and detailing; and Malcolm Furlow starts a column aimed at beginning model railroaders, of all ages.
Koester also launches an aggressive campaign of seeking advertising revenue in order to provide capital for a heavy investment in the magazine. Better quality paper is used, and RMC goes to full-color photography throughout the magazine.
RMC also innovates in promotional campaigns aimed at increasing public awareness of the model railroading hobby, including events at shopping malls and television programs, culminating in a Carstens-sponsored series on public television.
While these changes are expensive, they pay off. By 1989, RMC's circulation has risen to 250,000, reflecting the rapid growth in the hobby spurred by RMC's efforts. National Model Railroad Association conventions now regularly draw as many as 15,000 to 20,000 attendees.