RAILEX 2017 27 & 28 May

[black and decker boy]

Do you drink meths in the morning?

we rub it on* and then enjoy the vapours, helps get things going after a heavy Saturday

 

 

 

 

 

(*track that is, not us :-))

[David Bigcheeseplant]

Railex and day two or three for me if you include Friday.

 

The stadium have never been able to take card payments on the door for us hence the notices outside. To be fair I don't think any model railway show except maybe Warley and Ally Pally take cards. There is a cash point in the hospital cafe and also at Asda if you need cash. 

 

We have survey forms which we would like visitors to fill in as this gives an insight on what we are doing right and wrong.

 

David

[Crantock]

One of the best shows going and that's why I drive 2 hours to get there. No negatives for me.

 

Cash on door is never a problem as it's the first £10. Thereafter be prepared.

 

Parking smooth at 2pm. Great venue of well spaced out single hall. Also very pleasantly cool in PM despite weather. Many traders in shorts (how about a bobbly knees cup?)

 

Great exhibits, fence houses as extended stood out as you could watch the same long train slowly moving from 3 points in its long journey. Running an unpainted brass kit/scratch built loco was just showing off though.

 

Quality traders.

 

Great atmosphere.

 

Well done

 

Keep Thomas banned.

[Horsetan]

.... Running an unpainted brass kit/scratch built loco was just showing off though.....

I actually like seeing the odd one put through its paces, as it gives me a chance to see - at least externally - how it was built.

[Jonboy]

In general a businesses merchant agreement will forbid processing card payments on behalf of another entity...mainy because it makes the S75 card protection liability too complicated for the banks if there is an issue to unwind.

 

To spot hire a PDQ machine you need a merchant number with a bank or processor and the machines are around a £100 a week last time we used one(obviously long term hires are much cheaper per week). Running a merchant number means you have extra work to ensure you are compliant with PCS DSS rules(takes time and a monthly fee)

 

You can get the PayPal terminals that connect via a mobile phone but these cost £50 or so each and take a bigger percentage, that you need to factor into entry fees.

 

Is it therefore worth it for 2 Days a year of very low value transactions on entry fees?

[40F]

It's not the lack of a WiFi signal, I had one on my phone to post my message. It's the lack of the venue or the organisers to arrange to take card payments for entry.

 

They must have realised it was a problem as they had posted notices in the front doors stating they only take cash or cheques.

 

Dave

 

 

Not necessarily credit card machines etc cost money and the cost passed on to YOU the visitor. Think of the moans and howls of protest then

[Baby Deltic]

 

 

IMG_0507a.jpg

 

Competition time. Spot Baby Deltic in ANT's photo. An excellent show, well worth a visit. Many thanks to Davidbigcheeseplant, ANT and all the other organisers for their hard work making it happen.

[Porcy Mane]

Maybe I'm old fashioned but I've never understood why people keep asking for the need to use credit/payment cards to gain entry to a model railway exhibition. I can see why it is an option at the much larger Warley show and those organised by large commercial organisations such as Warners.

 

It's not as if the entry fee is large and surely if you organise your time to visit a show you can factor in some time to find & call off at an ATM. The additional charge (plus vat) for each processed transaction charged to the organisers for the privilege of using a card machine becomes an extra overhead. Probably a not very welcome overhead, making the assumption that most shows that are organised by Model Railway clubs/societies do not make a great deal of profit.

 

For those needing an No Charge ATM there should still be one inside the Coop Store at the junction of Mandeville Road and Harvey Road. It also has a Post Office inside and is open 6.00 am to 10.00 pm including bank holidays. If the ATM has been taken out they will do Cash Back via a till transaction.

 

P

[Roy L S]

I went this morning, took along my wife.

 

Layouts were of the utmost quality as we have come to expect from Railex, possibly not quite as many as in previous years though. A couple of 2mm layouts including Fencehouses which is always worth seeing, but it seemed odd to me that N was not represented given that is the second most popular scale after 00.

 

Specialist Trade is always a strength of this show, but it did seem that the weight has shifted in favour of this at the expense of layouts and this probably reflected the limited time we spent there, less than an hour and a half in total.

 

Biggest gripe from my wife was the number of layouts set too high up for her to see. She is about 5ft 2 so if she couldn't see them properly I wonder how many others had a similar issue?

 

So my honest assessment of the show overall was good, but not quite as good as previous years.

 

Roy

Edited May 28, 2017 by Roy L S

[lmsforever]

​Well done lads another excellent show Tollesbury Quay best in show liked the councils apology for no sky and real tide going in and out but where is the smell of mud ?Overall the selection of layouts was a good one with many different styles and gauges and a refreshing change from many shows plus excellent trade in a very good hall.Hard to believe it started back in the seventies as a one day show long may it continue.

[MarkSG]

Just got back from what was, as always, an excellent show. A few photos:

 

Pempoul.

 

Denton Brook.

 

The amazing thing about this layout is that so much of it works! Not just the trains, but things like the cranes and road vehicles (radio controlled) all move, and function. The cranes load cable drums onto the wagons, the road vehicles drive on and off the site and even the works gate opens and closes with a man pushing it. A still photo doesn't really do it justice.

 

Harlyn Pier.

 

The bridge on Fence Houses.

 

The tide is high on Tollesbury Quay. If you come back 45 minutes later, it will be out. Yes, really - a layout with a working tidal creek! It's all done with a large canister of liquid (not pure water, it's thickened a bit to make it dlow more slowly) and gravity. It works amazingly well.

 

Boat and picnic on the beach at Westcliff.

[MarkSG]

Here's a short video of Denton Brook. Apologies for the rather poor quality of the video itself -  it was filmed on a handheld camera and the audio is mostly just background noise (plus my daughter's running commentary) - but it does give a good illustration of just how "active" this layout is.

 

 

[kernowtim]

Back now from an enjoyable day, spent the longest time watching the antics on Denton Brook, which took 4 operators to run, the operating mobile crane with working stabilizing legs was amazing!!! Good selection of layouts and traders too, got sound decoder to fit in my Heljan peak now..

[Penlan]

 

Denton Brook. - The amazing thing about this layout is that so much of it works! .

.... and even the works gate opens and closes with a man pushing it. 

Presumably we would need a video to show his legs moving 

 

Edit :- Damn, there is a video at post #112

Edited May 28, 2017 by Penlan

[bcnPete]

Visited this morning and like last year another great show IMHO.

 

Good mix of layouts and traders and space to move around. Nice to see Pempoul one last time and the 2mmFS peeps.

 

Nice chat with Mick Simpson and Alan Whitehouse with the Hallam Town layout which was one of the layouts on my list after seeing it being built during last years show - Lovely layout with nice smooth running and captured the blue grime very well as I remembered it. A few pics of it below...

 

Stopped at a local pub en route home for a cheeky Doombar and a Sunday roast - Capped off a great morning.

 

Many thanks to all the organisers - it's in the diary to return to the show next year

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[ullypug]

Had a very enjoyable day at RailEx. I especially liked Boot, Tollesbury Quay and Harlyn Pier although all the layouts were exceptional in one way shape or form. Plenty of useful bits and pieces have been acquired too. Well done to all the organisers and exhibitors for once again setting the bar very high.

The Nucast Partners GWR 2021 pannier is only a few weeks away so I'd better start saving...

Feeling inspired to crack on with some modelling now!

[ANT]

Hello

 

Thankyou all for you kind words about the show.

 

The Awards at Railex 2017 are as follows:

 

Best Layout: Pempoul exhibited by Gordon & Maggie Gravett, as judged by the other layouts at the exhibition.

 

Best Model: The Viaduct on Fence Houses exhibited by Bob Jones & The Fence Houses Team as judged by Iain Rice.

 

Photos of the presentations can be found on our Club website using the below link:

 

http://www.rdmrc.org.uk/Railex2017/Awards2017.html

 

I will add more details as I obtain them.

 

Thanks

SEEYA
ANT

Edited May 28, 2017 by ANT

[terry.ecmr]

I went this morning, took along my wife.

 

Layouts were of the utmost quality as we have come to expect from Railex, possibly not quite as many as in previous years though. A couple of 2mm layouts including Fencehouses which is always worth seeing, but it seemed odd to me that N was not represented given that is the second most popular scale after 00.

 

Specialist Trade is always a strength of this show, but it did seem that the weight has shifted in favour of this at the expense of layouts and this probably reflected the limited time we spent there, less than an hour and a half in total.

 

Biggest gripe from my wife was the number of layouts set too high up for her to see. She is about 5ft 2 so if she couldn't see them properly I wonder how many others had a similar issue?

 

So my honest assessment of the show overall was good, but not quite as good as previous years.

 

Roy

My Good lady had exactly the same complaint about some layouts being too high to view properly.

[Jol Wilkinson]

My Good lady had exactly the same complaint about some layouts being too high to view properly.

I am 6' and thought that a number of the layouts were too low to view comfortably.

 

Regrettably, what suits one viewer won't always suit another.

[Ian J.]

I went on Sunday and thought it was good. Fence Houses, Horfield and Denton Brook stood out for me particularly. If I remember, I'll post up some pics and a video or two at a later date (as I'm away at the moment).

[Bluebell Model Railway]

I attended on Saturday, quite a long way from the Isle of Wight, but luckily could stay with family as they are only 5 mins down the road. Another great show put on by the Risborough and District model railway club, a fine selection of layouts, quite well planned out and layed out, wasn't too busy or crowded, was there from 11 - 16:30.
 Would of been nice to of been able to get a 2 day ticket, coming all the way for it, was a shame to only do one day, as I didn't want to pay again.

Anyway photo's and Videos below:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y4UIr3sGnfw

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a3vlCvkxES8&t=4s

https://flic.kr/s/aHskVUG4Vs

 

[88C]

An excellent exhibition and all of the layouts were of a high standard, I must admit that I kept finding myself back at Westcliff. As always there was good trade support and I topped up on bits and pieces and I got home feeling inspired. I even met a fellow Barry Railway modeller.

 

Well done to all involved.

 

Brian

[black and decker boy]

Of the layouts I'd not seen before, Westcliff was a beautiful layout to see, Denton Brook was very captivating too, you never knew what would move next. Harlyn pier also caught my eye with the gently lapping waves.

 

 

This is Westcliff taken as a panoramic but in reduced resolution to fit the upload limit.

 

[David Bigcheeseplant]

Thanks for all the comments,

 

My feet and legs have almost recovered!

 

As for two day tickets we may look at Railex 2018 at if you come on Saturday and want to come Sunday then we cound offer from our info point with an extra £2-3 you get  a Sunday pass.

 

The number of visitors on Saturday was lower than last years record attendance although Sunday was higher, in fact it seems more people are coming Sunday, for many years Sunday always have half the amount of visitors than Saturday but it now seems things are a little more equal.

 

David

Edited May 29, 2017 by David Bigcheeseplant

[John of York61]

Leeman Road is now back at home; the return trip was hassle-free, thanks to using the A1 rather than M1....

A very enjoyable weekend due to the organisers and stewards, especially on set-up and breakdown. We had some great conversations with ex-pat Yorkies on the layout and some complimentary comments from other modellers (Iain Rice took some photos-should I be worried?) and I had a chat with Tim Shackleton; he's a fan of my backscenes. I wish my other two operators could have come, but we manfully coped with one operator at a time on a two-man layout!

Thanks for the beer and curry recommendations, Dave...