AY Mod

That applies to any show (unless it's on a traders' doorstep), not just this. The NEC does benefit from being reasonably central and accessible for most of the country, the trade and the visitors. The comments I've had from the trade are enthusiastic and supportive so please don't presume what will happen from a detached position.

We are pleased to announce the launch of a new railway modelling exhibition at the National Exhibition Centre (NEC) in Birmingham. The National Festival of Railway Modelling will take place over the weekend of November 23 & 24, 2024. The new show is being organised by Warners Group Publications which has a rich history in producing the UK’s best model railway shows. The company already organises The London Festival of Railway Modelling at Alexandra Palace, The Festival of British Railway Modelling in Doncaster and the Bristol Model Railway Exhibition. As well as the three leading shows, the company also publishes British Railway Modelling magazine (BRM), Narrow Gauge World, Garden Rail and Traction plus websites World-of-Railways.co.uk and RMweb.co.uk. Details are still being confirmed but the team organising The National Festival of Railway Modelling are promising a vast selection of the UK’s finest model railways covering all gauges and scales, plus a mix of trade including major manufacturers, the UK’s best retailers and a mass of specialist traders selling everything a railway modeller could possibly need. The show will be one of the hobby’s biggest shopping events of the year. Visitors can also expect demonstrations from expert modellers as well as a selection of societies and model railway clubs. Steve Cole, publisher of Warners’ railways portfolio, had this to say about the new show: “Railway modelling needs a national exhibition to showcase the hobby. We have a proven track record of putting on amazing shows and know the new NEC show will be our biggest and best yet! “Attendance to our own shows is growing, our magazine copy sales are on the increase and traffic to RMweb.co.uk is over 129,000 modellers per month. The hobby is thriving! We promise to put on an amazing two-day exhibition. Our team are immersed in the hobby and will hand-pick the best model railways and demonstrations to produce a great weekend for all the family.” Richard Mann, New Business Director for the NEC, said: “We’re really excited to be welcoming The National Festival of Railway Modelling to our venue in November, in what will be a celebration of all things model railways. “We know there are many enthusiasts that have a real passion for the sector, so we’re thrilled to be welcoming specialist traders and some of the UK’s major manufacturers to the show. We know the two-day exhibition will give visitors a weekend to remember.” More information will be revealed in the coming weeks including a list of layouts, traders and ticket prices.

From Roger Lewis of Squires. "DJH Loco Ltd. I am sure many will have heard the sad news that DJH Group Ltd are closing down and ceasing all manufacturing. I am very pleased to say that Squires are purchasing the assets of DJH Model Loco Ltd. This includes the tooling, masters, cads, original drawings etc to produce the ranges previously offered, this includes the O Gauge, OO and HO ranges and the Motor and Gearboxes that DJH produced. We wish to continue the Ready to Run range of O Gauge Locos and to also offer the bespoke building service as currently offered by DJH. There will be little or no complete stock available to buy on completion, and there is literally tons of moulds, masters, etches, spares and machines to be moved before we can start production again. A lot of work to do but very excited. Yes, Squires "went shopping" again!"

I'll have a look at that when I get chance next week although it's largely unused.

I did ask Bachmann how it would cope with droopy Heljan or Dapol couplings and they said it should uncouple ok from the tests done. Whether you can couple up is a different matter.

Hopefully that should be sorted for you now. Andy

I have visions of competitive timed events for disposing of full cassettes to the chemical disposal point including a 50m dash and an obstacle course. All the fun of the motorhome park.

I've just sent it to the unarchiving queue. It should be available in about 5 mins.

I always think that's one of the prime spots, nothing behind you, convenient for the loo etc and out of the draughts.

It's a costly venue so there has to be a certain amount of trade to make it viable. Saying it looks like a swapmeet is harsh and I'm sure would upset some of the trade; should we only admit trade which spend a lot on their stand such as TMC?

If they are a new name I prefer ones that give clarity of their trading address! Anyway, the question is only relevant if you want to buy something today rather than pre-order.

I'd say I know Ben (rather than "the bloke") and his writing well enough. Just pointing out you were making bigger howlers whilst castigating him for an incorrect date. But that's the internet.

See https://www.rmweb.co.uk/forums/topic/183997-hornby-magazine-event-at-the-nec-april-2024/ From a number of conversations I've had it's certainly not a universally popular approach, especially considering what the allowance does, or doesn't, get you.

A short sentence that says an awful lot about the business.

At least he would know not to write "should of" and "dont".

Flush front and a big headlight and you'd be halfway there.

Doncaster show is intrinsically linked to the content of the mag whereas our other shows have a wider scope. It's just a fast Pacer. I'd blame Hornby then for this Teutonic invasion of cream tea territory as the team had hoped that Hornby's HST would have appeared by now when they started the project, and Hoovers.

https://www.themodelcentre.com/hel4715

Ebay, Amazon, etc. Search for hex head screwdriver sets.

Class 31/4 Refurbished 31452 ‘Minotaur’ Fragonset https://www.themodelcentre.com/35-825y The Brush Type Twos – Class 30s and Class 31s – are the next Diesel Locomotives to get the Bachmann Branchline treatment, with models of these long-lived prototypes joining the Branchline OO scale range for the first time. Following in the footsteps of their N scale counterparts from Graham Farish, these new OO scale models have all the hallmarks of the Branchline Class 37 & 47 locomotives and more. Depicting a Refurbished Class 31/4 with ETH, this locomotive has had its Mirrlees engine replaced with an English Electric 12SVT and the Branchline model faithfully recreates this, with the correct roof exhaust ports and 12SVT engine block detail visible through the bodyside windows. With high fidelity mouldings, numerous separately fitted parts and countless tooling variations to capture the minutiae of the real locomotives throughout their lives, our new Class 31 is brought to life with an exquisite livery application using true-to-prototype colours, fonts and logos. Along with an unprecedented array of lighting features, our Dual Fitted speaker system is fitted to all models – bringing to life our SOUND FITTED models. For the ultimate experience, choose one of our SOUND FITTED DELUXE models with their motorised radiator fan, authentic tinted windscreen glazing and, for the first time ever, DCC-uncoupling – thanks to the Bachmann Auto-release Coupling System! • Bachmann Branchline OO Scale • Era 9 • Pristine Fragonset livery • Running No. 31452 • Named ‘Minotaur’ • Equipped with a Plux22 DCC Decoder Socket – recommended Decoder item No. 36-570B • Length 228mm DETAIL VARIATIONS SPECIFIC TO THIS MODEL • Refurbished Body • Gangway Doors Plated • Plated Headcode Panels fitted with Marker Lights • Windscreen Washer Jets with Covers • Bufferbeam Cowling Removed • Original Windscreen • Original Main Fan Grilles with Horizontal Fins • English Electric Engine Exhaust Ports • English Electric Engine Block Detail • Plated Boiler Port • Plated Water Filler Hatch • Plated Bodyside Steps • Battery Boxes with Additional Safety Clips • NRN Radio Pods • Electric Train Heating (ETH) Fitted • High Intensity Headlights BACHMANN BRANCHLINE CLASS 30/31 SPECIFICATION MECHANISM: • Five pole, twin shaft motor with two flywheels providing drive to both bogies • All axle drive • Electrical pickup from all outer wheels on each bogie • Separate metal bearings fitted to each axle • Diecast metal chassis block and bogie towers • Diecast metal gearboxes, with gearing arranged for prototypical running speeds and haulage capabilities • 16.5mm (OO gauge) wheels to NEM310 & NEM311 standards with authentic profile and detailing • Detachable coupling pockets to NEM362 standards fitted to each bogie • Auto-Release Couplings fitted at both ends – DCC operated, hands-free uncoupling with the press of a function button (SOUND FITTED DELUXE models only) • Designed to operate on curves of second radius (438mm) or greater DETAILING: • Bogies constructed from multiple components featuring full relief detail • Rotating radiator fan, driven by an independent motor and gearbox, operated as part of the sound project on DCC and Analogue control (SOUND FITTED DELUXE models only) • Tinted windscreen glazing (Driver and Second Man windscreens only as per the prototype, SOUND FITTED DELUXE models only) • Separately applied metal detail parts, including grab handles, windscreen wipers and etched fan grilles • Sprung metal buffers • Each model supplied with a full set of decorated, model-specific bufferbeam pipework and accessory parts including three-piece, body-mounted snow ploughs LIGHTING: • Directional lighting, including illuminated headcode panels and high intensity headlights where applicable, switchable on/off at either end on DCC or Analogue control • Cab lighting*, assigned to two DCC functions for separate switching of each • Separately switched Engine Room lighting* • Single or win red tail lights (*when used on DCC) • Authentic light colours and temperatures selected for each model based on era and application DCC: • Plux22 DCC decoder interface SOUND: • Two quality speakers employed for optimum sound reproduction, fitted to every model as standard • Zimo MS450P22 DCC Sound Decoder fitted to SOUND FITTED and SOUND FITTED DELUXE versions • Two sound projects to accurately capture the sounds of Class 30 (Mirrlees Engine) and Class 31 (English Electric Engine) • Sound files for each project produced specifically for the Bachmann Branchline Class 30/31 using recordings from real locomotives and archive audio • SOUND FITTED and SOUND FITTED DELUXE models operate on DCC and Analogue control as supplied. On Analogue, an authentic engine start up sequence and running sounds are produced when power is applied LIVERY APPLICATION: • Authentic liveries applied to all models • Multiple paint applications employed on each model using BR and corporate specification colours • Logos, numerals and text added as appropriate using multi-stage tampo printing using authentic typefaces, logos and colours • In addition, where applicable Etched Nameplates and Plaques are also provided

Also a great uncle to a Jedi warrior.

We hope to be able to give a clearer picture in due course but it's a given that the venue costs, electrics, accommodation, insurance, exhibitor travel etc. will be more costly than previous times whether it was Warley or us.

No you muffins; that's Chesil Beach.

😁 I should just comment that there ain't no beef between Warners and Warley. 😁