devonseasider

You should have been there Friday afternoon. Now, that really was wild - Saturday was a pleasant summer's day by comparison! Thanks - I'll pass that on to the ladies. Was that Horsebridge Yard? I noticed a different operator part-way through the day. Free lunch - see, we really do try to look after people! To coin a phrase, "You should have been there last year, or the one before that. We had lots of them then.". Seriously, though, it isn't always easy to get a full balance, especially for a smaller show. As it was, we covered the railway scene from the 1840s to 2006, albeit the latter a Swiss prototype rather than UK. That, of course, was also our only overseas layout - some people would have found that disappointing, others would say it was one too many. Coincidentally, someone said it was almost a case of "hunt the 00 layout", and how refreshing he found that when compared to the norm. The bottom line, of course, is that any exhibition manager/co-ordinator can only bring in layouts that are available on that particular day and are able & willing to get to that particular venue. Some years that results in a wider choice than others. Additionally, I will only bring in layouts I have actually seen operating somewhere "on the circuit" or from builders who I know will produce a good standard of modelling and are able to present it (and themselves) to the paying public. It gets complicated even more when a layout is withdrawn without prior warning and at very short notice, as happened this year, with little apparent regard for the exhibition team who have to pull out all the stops to try to source replacement(s) at even shorter notice. Fortunately there are a good number of nice people around who will help out if they can, again as happened this year. Anyway, sorry to drone on and really pleased that you "thoroughly enjoyed the day". Nothing worse than travelling through a monsoon & finding nothing worth seeing when you get there! Hopefully before too long we can say "hello" face to face . . . .

I want to say a big "thank you" to everyone who contributed to another successful show, despite the intermittent torrential downpours. Exhibitors, traders, "staff" & helpers and, of course, the visiting public - everyone played their part in making it an enjoyable day. Penhaven Quay - the Cornish fishing village scene from Buffers Bogies - took the Best in Show award as voted by our visitors. The Chairman's Award went to Kevin & Judith Cartwright for Brixham Bay. Congratulations all round, and to the runners up. There seemed to be more families & youngsters around this year - the Shunting Puzzle layout was busy all day. Could that be down to the TV programme? I see that other exhibitions have commented along similar lines. Thanks again, and put November 9th in your diary for next year.

Everything ready for tomorrow, some layouts up & running this evening. Industrial quantities of bacon, pasties & cakes ready to go. Weather wet, wild & windy this afternoon - very wet, wild & windy! - but seems to be calming down now. Hopefully OK by the morning. There was a large tree down across the road this afternoon, completely blocking the way from A35 to Marshwood but it had been cleared out of the way by 6-ish. Might be some water running off the fields early tomorrow morning but otherwise shouldn't be any problems. Hope to see some of you there.

Just a reminder for tomorrow's show (with updated details). We'll be off shortly to get the venue sorted out. Heavy rain due this afternoon/evening so that should clean much of the "mud" (hmmm . . . .) off the roads. Weather forecast threatening showers for tomorrow so that's much better than the monsoon conditions of the last couple of years! Hope to see you there - please make yourself known if you do come so I can put faces to names. Saturday November 10th, 10am - 4pm Thorncombe Village Hall & School, Chard Street, Thorncombe, Dorset TA20 4NE Adult / OAP £4, children free, TRAC members free The layouts : Avalon Halt Paul Beatty 7mm / 0 Bristol Goods Shed Peter Boyce 7mm Broad Gauge Brixham Bay Kevin Cartwright 2mm / N Budley Bay Assoc. NG Modellers 16mm live steam Filisur Andy Fearnside 3.5mm / H0m Swiss Horsebridge Yard Ian Goose 4mm / 00 Lambeth Walk Brian Golding 3mm Trams Orchard Road Richard Slate 4mm / 00 Penhaven Quay Buffers Bogies 4mm / 00 Seven Ash Steve Pike 4mm / 00 The Shunting Puzzle Bill Sheppy 4mm / 00 hands-on Tops Tor Paul Holwill 2mm / N Also, as usual, we are pleased to host an “exhibition within an exhibition" from the South West group of the 009 Society. This year's layouts from SW00NS are : Bryn Coed Adrian Broadhead Carbean Mike Johnson Corris Rod Allcock/Geoff Broadhurst Dragon’s Lair Stan Agar Pig Dyke Farm Geoff Broadhurst Woodbury Wharf Richard Holder Our Modelling Demonstrations / Displays are provided by: David Fouracre - 0-gauge track / rolling stock William Loyd - kit building & general modelling Byron Williams - rail & military models Exeter 0-gauge group Trade stands: Alan Corwood - Mainly Books &, perhaps, Railway Relics, Railwayana Etc. Rod Saunders - Lots of Good, Used Model Railway Items Ray Heard - just a small sample from Ray's Huge Stock BrynKits - a selection of Brian's kits & etched parts Last, but by no means least, we are pleased to have displays / representatives from: Peco and the Great Western Society Refreshments - tea, coffee, homemade cakes & light lunches. Bacon and/or egg butties while stocks last - get there early! Raffle, free parking, easy disabled access. A friendly, informal show for all the family. Surplus income donated to railway-based charities/preservation groups.

Haven't seen anything about this show on here, so hope no-one from the club thinks I'm treading on their toes by posting this. Details are on their website at https://www.tsgmrc.co.uk/2017-exhibition/ - yes, it does take you to the 2018 show despite the 2017 in the URL. I've cut & pasted a brief overview below. I understand that one of the layouts listed has withdrawn although I don't know which one - sorry. I've agreed to fill-in for them with Tormouth Quay, as featured in Model Rail #246 (April 2018). Haven't been up that way before with the layout so don't really know any of the locals. Please say "hello" & make yourself known if you're going to the show. Also, if you are there & would like an operating session - be that a few minutes, a few hours or the whole weekend - just let me know. My usual co-operator won't be with me so I'm expecting to be on my own for much of the weekend (other than anything that the club can arrange) and really would be grateful for any help people can offer. It's an easy layout to operate but it gets tiring & the concentration goes when I'm trying to put on a show for the public on my own, especially now that I'm rapidly approaching senility. I'll be operating mainly in WestCountry/S&D mode, although with a few "unusual" visitors . . . . It's my trainset & Rule 1 will apply! Our 2018 Exhibition will be held on 17th & 18th November 2018. 10am – 5pm Saturday 10am – 4pm Sunday. Admission: Adult £5.00 Child (5-16) £2.00 Family (2+2) £10.00 This year we have invited 16 layouts. We also have modelling demonstrators and preserved Railway Societies. Our traders this year are: Lord & Butler, Eileen’s Emporium and Tony Wilcox. Refreshments will also be available.

On-site parking is one of the problems associated with running a popular/successful show in a typical small WestCountry village. The School car park is about 100 yards away - the School is alongside/behind the Village Hall and has its own entrance into the exhibition. Also, directly across from the Village Hall there's a road giving access to the Church car park which they allow us to use. There'll be someone out there to point you in the right direction if necessary, as long as it's not raining too heavily (in which case he gives up & comes in & drips all over the foyer floor). In last year's monsoon he almost flooded us out. Other than that, as Spenc said, anywhere along the side of the road as long as you don't cause an obstruction (obviously!). There's plenty of room. Tough sh!t. Consider yourself breached. Stop being difficult & just concentrate on demolishing the cakes like you usually do!

Just briefly answering the points raised above (thank you for your concern!): As has been said, easiest ways in are from Birdsmoorgate on the B3165 Lyme Regis/Axminster - Crewkerne road or via Tatworth/Chard Junction from the A358 'twixt Chard & Axminster. We've asked the farmers to stop spraying slurry for a few days so that might mean there's less "mud" (!) on the roads. Can confirm that all bacon/eggs/sauces will be of bog-standard origin & "in-date" as you would expect them to be. We were going to try to nick some emu eggs from Kilmington & cut a few thin slices from one of the Birdsmoorgate alpaca herd, but decided that you lot probably aren't ready for that just yet . . . . Hope to see you there.

It's half an advent calendar!

The last week has seen some changes to the line-up, as noted below: 1. The SW00NS team have added "Dragon's Lair" (from Stan Agar) to their "portfolio" of layouts. This was due to appear at last year's show but unfortunately, on the day, Stan was unable to get to us. 2. "Pottendorf" has been unexpectedly withdrawn at short notice and will not appear at the show. 3. We are very pleased to add "Seven Ash" (Steve Pike) and "Orchard Road" (Richard Slate - Mudmagnet of this parish) to the list of layouts. As some of you will know, these are both 4mm/00 and are very different depictions of a similar theme - diesel stabling/maintenance points. The former represents the scene around the remaining turntable at Old Oak Common between 1968 & '71, while the latter shows a typical small maintenance/refuelling depot in the southwest some 10 years later. They make an interesting contrast on many levels. Hopefully that will now be the final line-up. A total of 18 layouts with trade support, modelling demonstrations and a hands-on opportunity for anyone who wants to give it a go. A relaxed, informal, friendly show with something for everyone, family audience and serious modeller alike. As always, surplus income donated to railway-based charities/preservation schemes. Lastly, of course, there are Brenda's buns - don't miss those! . . . . For a mere £4 (although Brenda's buns do involve a small surcharge) it's well worth risking the bandits in the East Devon/West Dorset/South Somerset badlands and it's a good stopping-off point in a beautiful part of the country if you're heading to or from the Jurassic Coast. Hope to see you there - please dig me out & make yourself known if you do come to join us during the day.

A couple of wobbly pictures of this evening's sunset over Seaton Junction. Not very good but probably less OT than most of the stuff on the last 500 pages of this thread! It really was a stunning show - a pity I hadn't foreseen it & got the camera set up ready.

Saturday November 10th, 10am - 4pm Thorncombe Village Hall & School, Chard Street, Thorncombe, Dorset TA20 4NE Adult / OAP £4, children free, TRAC members free The layouts : Avalon Halt Paul Beatty 7mm / 0 Bristol Goods Shed Peter Boyce 7mm Broad Gauge Brixham Bay Kevin Cartwright 2mm / N Budley Bay Assoc. NG Modellers 16mm live steam Filisur Andy Fearnside 3.5mm / H0m Swiss Horsebridge Yard Ian Goose 4mm / 00 Lambeth Walk Brian Golding 3mm Trams Penhaven Quay Buffers Bogies 4mm / 00 Pottendorf Tim Hale 3.5mm / H0 Bavarian The Shunting Puzzle Bill Sheppy 4mm / 00 hands-on Tops Tor Paul Holwill 2mm / N Also, as usual, we are pleased to host an “exhibition within an exhibition" from the South West group of the 009 Society. This year's layouts from SW00NS are : Bryn Coed Adrian Broadhead Carbean Mike Johnson Corris Rod Allcock/Geoff Broadhurst Pig Dyke Farm Geoff Broadhurst Woodbury Wharf Richard Holder Our Modelling Demonstrations / Displays are provided by: William Loyd - kit building & general modelling Byron Williams - 0-gauge & military models Exeter 0-gauge group Trade stands: Alan Corwood - Mainly Books &, perhaps, Railway Relics, Railwayana Etc. Rod Saunders - Lots of Good, Used Model Railway Items Ray Heard - just a small sample from Ray's Huge Stock BrynKits - a selection of Brian's kits & etched parts Last, but by no means least, we are pleased to have displays / representatives from: Peco and the Great Western Society Refreshments - tea, coffee, homemade cakes & light lunches. Bacon and/or egg butties while stocks last - get there early! Raffle, free parking, easy disabled access. A friendly, informal show for all the family. Surplus income donated to railway-based charities/preservation groups.

Don't forget to take some Warley tickets with you. I'm relying on you . . . .

Not necessarily. Very easy to replace with etched 4F chassis - Kemilway/Comet/whatever - with decent motor/gearbox as in #21 above. The front frames on 530 were a very different shape to the rest of the class. Perhaps that's what your drawing shows. Frame shape from buffer beam to valve chest/smokebox front on 530 was a convex curve, that on the rest of the class (I think all of the rest . . .) was concave. I may have misunderstood what you're saying here, but the running plate is anything but straight sided. There's a very noticeable narrowing of the running plate forwards from approx. the front edge of the middle splasher. This is visible in the photos in both #7 & #21 above. I do agree, though, that there could well be too much front overhang on my attempt in #21. A bit of careful filing needed, I think.

Here's my attempt, as far as it's got at the moment - obviously still quite a bit to do. Old Airfix 4F body with Crownline conversion kit (which included new tender). Loco chassis also replaced with Kemilway kit which I had in stock. Not perfect by any means but to me it looks like a Q, so I'm happy.

Wasn't that the Lady Misjudges Sexuality Railway ? Perchance appropriate that their CME was a certain Sir Willy. (I can be familiar like that 'cos I know his grandson, who is neither a Sir nor a Willy.

Hmmmmm . . . . p'raps you should look a little more closely . . . .

I really do feel sorry for them. I'm afraid it's symptomatic of being involved in some way with the Oystons. Sad to say, pretty much anyone who has any dealings with that odious family ends up regretting it. The one thing they have shown themselves to be good at is trying to ride rough-shod over ordinary, decent people with no regard to the consequences of their actions (or inactions). Hopefully, that is now close to being at an end. We can only hope that TMoP have not suffered too much and that there will not be any significant effect on the business in the longer term.

Tell me where to find you at Taunton & I'll relieve you of a ticket. Will save the cost of the postage. "Every little helps".

Rosslyn Chapel - Knights Templar, Da Vinci Code & all that.

Wow!!! That's a much more tactful reply than I could have managed! I bought a copy last year, still sealed in its cellophane wrapping, for barely 10% of that price. Gave it away as a raffle prize at our exhibition.

Sounds like we're back to the birds on Seaton beach . . . .

I think lots of "interesting" birds got "blown off-course" on Seaton beach during the hot, steamy weather we've had this year!

I say - go steady there - that's where I was born, don't you know . . . . On the other hand, can't you just imagine the caption to the photo? Something along the lines of: "Looking northwest from the tip of Spurn Point across Hedon & Marfleet, towards the city centre. The Humber Bridge is reflected in the crystal clear water a little way beyond the historic remains of the New Holland Ferry. If you look very closely you can just make out the glint of the sun on the windscreen of one of Fatty Prescott's fabled Jags."

But that's just a few minutes distraction for a man of your talents . . . .