TEAMYAKIMA

We have just returned from the fantastic Abingdon & District MRC's 50th anniversary exhibition - it was an honour to be invited to such a great show. We trialled several new ideas including an enhanced lighting rig. We are able to make several adjustments to the colour balance and intensity of these new lights and here is a photo which tries to show the combination we finalised on. In fact, as we were in a separate classroom by ourselves, we turned off the main room lights and merely had our own lights on. It's not a great photo, but it gives you an idea of how it looked.

At a time when there was all sorts of negativity regarding the supposed demise of the hobby, some clubs took the brave decision to confirm exhibitions for 2024 and beyond and there is no better way to prove to doubters that the hobby has a bright future than by helping to make these shows a success. In particular, at a time when several shows are downsizing from a two-dayer to a one-dayer, Abingdon & District MRC has taken the bold step of going the other way - they are putting on their first-ever two-dayer with an amazing 40+ layouts in order to celebrate their 50th anniversary. This is an amazingly ambitious project for a 'local club' and I think their positive approach deserves our support. Yes, I have a self-interest in this, my layout will be there, but in a more general sense, big layouts like mine, can generally only go to two day shows as it takes such a long time to set up - a minimum of 3 hours in my case. So, I'm hoping that Abingdon's big gamble pays off handsomely and that encourages them to stick with the two day format and sends a positive message to other clubs to do the same.

Excellent. Is that only online or in the paper version as well?

Absolutely and I fully realise that under my three definitions, Pendon is not a model railway as it's basically a big roundy-roundy, but virtually every 10ft x 2ft BLT is a model railway. Anyway, enough, time to go and do more work on my layout (not model railway).

Back to the topic ......................... Having spent some time thinking about this, I there may be three definitions 1. Train set 2. Model Railway 3. Model Railway Layout A train set uses track and model trains, but has no defining style, no defining location, no defining period and no purpose other to entertain A model railway is a railway in model form i.e. it has a defined period, a defined location and a purpose - to operate in the appropriate manner. The operators 'operate' as if it were a real railway. A model railway layout is a half-way house between those two extremes. My project is a 'model railway layout' insofar as it has a defined location, it has a defined period, but, most importantly, it is merely an authentic backdrop (diorama if you like) for trains of the appropriate type and period to run through. At an exhibition, people stand in front of my 20ft scenic section and a series of 15 different trains run through the scene non-stop - technically, that is not a model railway by my definition. My model is 'foreign' and so some years ago I contacted Model Railroader to offer them the layout for publication and they basically said that it was not the kind of thing that they (and most Americans) consider a model railway - it was simply a 20ft scene through which trains are displayed, whereas their American readers were interested in layouts that operate in a realistic manner.

OK, let's stop talking about being positive - let's DO something positive - let's support a club which is being VERY positive. Abingdon & District MRC are celebrating their 50th anniversary this year with their first ever TWO DAY show on March 2/3. Yes, that's right - at a time when clubs are pulling out of putting on shows, at a time when two day shows are shrinking to one day shows, Abingdon and District MRC are going the other way - they are expanding, they are being positive, they are taking a risk in order to send out a positive vibe - time for us to put our money where our mouth is and support this kind of positivity. How do I know so much about this show? Because we are going to be there and so, if you want to learn more about Chinese railways, you can always come and talk to me.

That is an interesting question, but firstly let me say that I don't think me having a layout on the exhibition circuit has influenced things that much, if at all. - I assume you mean in the UK and my reply refers to the UK, but my understanding is that the new middle class in China have taken up the hobby themselves - I suspect mainly as collectors or if they build layouts I think many might be more of the temporary type e.g. setting up on the floor rather than layouts as we know them here on RMweb. Chinese HO started to be available in the UK (Bachmann) in 2001 and I think was mainly sold to people, like me, who wanted a souvenir/reminder of their trips to China to photograph steam. I have been told that there is someone (in Wales?) building a large Chinese HO home layout, but AFAIK mine is the only Chinese HO exhibition layout. The big problem with modelling Chinese railways is that, as a rule, the trains are very long - I have a 19 car passenger train on my layout and that is not particularly long for China - so there is not a lot of scope for a Chinese version of the typical GWR branch terminus. Another factor is that Bachmann stopped manufacturing Chinese HO several years ago and whilst there are several new manufacturers, making fantastic models, they are not sold in the UK. Current Chinese HO models are really good, but as usual these days, made in limited quantities and so if you want to buy them you need to keep an eye on model shops in China and Hong Kong. As regards my layout, I realised early on that I would not get many exhibition invites if my layout only appealed to visitors who were interested in Chinese railways - it had to appeal to a much wider audience. So, our policy is to appeal to two separate 'markets' - 1) If enthusiasts want to know about the railways of China, the layout gives an accurate picture of what things were like in 2001 - the very end of main line steam - and we are very happy to proactively engage with them to pass on our experiences 2) If the general (family) audience wants plenty of movement and unusual features (not gimmicks) which they've never seen before, then we are there to entertain them.

I would love to exhibit at this show, but unfortunately we only do two day shows as the layout takes 3 hours to set up. I hope you do a two day show sometime in the future - if you do please think of us.

Yes, interesting, thanks. Was that an organised trip e.g. Farrails or similar or just a random visit?

Whilst I do find any discussion about sewers to be fascinating, I do think a return to the theme of Andy's original post would be beneficial at this stage. There seems to have been a burst of optimism in the aftermath of all the (negative) press coverage. So, in my book, at least, a return to normality.

My only comment on this is, with all DIGITRAX handsets it is important to look at the screen to make sure that your input has registered properly.

A few days ago I posted a then and now set of photos to show the physical differences in the layout between our first show (2018) and our current position, but the changes don't stop there. As we have gained experience and confidence we can now confidently look forward to putting on a five star 'performance' at future exhibitions. Yes, in the past, we had usually managed to put a good show for viewers, but often only because the operators have been busily dealing with issues behind the scenes - I genuinely think those days are behind us now. As the state of 'normal' operation has improved, we have had the opportunity to quietly and calmly investigate a few on-going niggles and I think we have finally cracked all of these now - at least all the ones we know about!😉 . So, we approach our next show, Abingdon, with a real sense of anticipation. We have worked out (in theory) some new operational protocols which we hope will guarantee the best possible spectacle for viewers without sending the operating team crazy. What's more we will be set up in a separate room all by ourselves which will guarantee less background noise and so our sound equipped steam locos will, for once, sound as good at an exhibition as they do in my shed 🙂 I do hope that some of you reading this will come and see us at Abingdon, it's the club's 50th anniversary show and their first ever two-dayer. Even if you've seen us before, I think we will have some new things to show you - here's hoping!

Just a random thought - I am just speculating - do different track manufacturers use different 'mixes' for their nickel silver rail? And even change the mix depending on the price of raw materials? In other words, if your standard gauge track is, for example, PECO and your HOm track is BEMO, could that have a bearing?

I don't think I've posted this comparison before on RMweb, not on this thread anyway, but here is a 'then' and 'now' comparison between our first exhibition (Bristol 2018) and one of our last (Keighley June 2023) 2018 .................... 2023 .........................................

FWICR from when I worked in a model shop in the 1980's/90's one of the great selling points of European HO was having traction tyres to increase haulage whereas American HO didn't have them and British OO was about to adopt them - interesting

Andy I have seen the layout in question and I recall pretty much the same experience, but in reality it was a diorama more than a layout. I think if we judge it as a diorama it was fantastic - end of. But if we judge it as a 'working layout' it was lacking in an essential element - movement.

Let me begin by saying that I have a possible/likely invite to exhibit in Holland next year - not yet confirmed. Let me also say that my layout needs a ELWB transit to transport it plus at least one car. I don't think that the car and its passengers will be a problem - but what about the van? Has anyone had (recent) experience of taking a layout over to the EU in a van - the first problem I've discovered being that most big renters charge a supplement if the van is taken abroad - £300 in the case of Enterprise!! Then there is paperwork - and to add to the confusion, from what I have heard from some people, that paperwork is never looked at, although, of course, they might just have been lucky which doesn't mean that others will be so lucky. Thoughts? Thanks in advance

There is one great advantage when exhibiting a foreign layout at an exhibition - there are far fewer experts out there in the audience! Consequently, one can 'get away' with things that you couldn't if you made the same 'mistake' on a British layout. I will come clean here and admit that whilst I like to claim that my Chinese HO layout set in 2001 is 100% authentic, that isn't 100% true; there are (at least) three errors - I will only admit to one of them - I have about 52 Bachmann G70 tank cars on the layout and if you Google the G70 tank car you will discover that the class was only introduced in 2005. Now this Bachmann model was the first authentic Chinese tank car made in HO gauge and was easily available in the UK when it was introduced in 2009 and for many years it was the only authentic Chinese tank car available - full stop! And, when others came on the market years later, they were never imported into the UK and often poor quality. Hence I have 52 tank cars which should not be running on a layout set in 2001 - but, so far, no-one has mentioned that at an exhibition! 🙂

Just to say that BEIJIAO will be at Aylesbury this year, or perhaps I should say BEIJIAO.v4 will be at Aylesbury this year. My layout has had several upgrades since its original launch on the exhibition circuit as with each showing we have learnt more and consequently made upgrades. The layout is set in a remote part of NE China in 2001 where main line steam was till holding on by the skin of its teeth and with only a few weeks/months before main line steam finally ended, many railfans like me went over to take photos and videos. Our mission is twofold - if serious enthusiasts want to learn about what it was like to travel around China in the early part of this century and photograph 'big steam' in action we will be there to chat about our experiences and pass on our knowledge, but if the 'average visitor' just wants to see plenty of action - we will be there to entertain.

As the originator of this thread, I couldn't agree more!

This is a very interesting thread. Firstly, let me say that I was happy to accept Key Publishing's invitation to exhibit in April. Let me also say that an EM of a 'local show' has told me that he is seriously considering using the same policy next year. For me and my team, it's all about being near good pubs. We don't want to be allocated an hotel in an industrial estate far from the madding crowd and this new policy allows us to choose where we stay. Having said that, I totally agree that this only really works if you have an even number of operators i.e. 2, 4 or 6 - there is a problem if you need 1, 3, 5 or 7 operators

I never got to take any photos at Alton, but someone has kindly sent me this ....................... It shows the new signs on the warehouse, made for me by Al Turner of Niu Models - a big thank you to Al, the signs really shout out, " This layout is CHINESE!! "

Don't worry too much about that, I plan to make your job just as hard at our next exhibition! 😉

Looking forward to helping operate this iconic layout 🙂

Ha ha! You've summed up my problem there. The layout has had, in theory, working road vehicles since day #1 and that's the problem - "in theory". I am not able to set the layout up at home - it's way too big - and often things that work when I get get just 2 or 3 boards up in my shed, simply don't work when I set up all 26ft x 10ft at a show. And that applied to the Faller roadway, but I am pleased to confirm that for the last 3/4 shows the Faller has performed very well and we get many questions about it as very few British layouts feature moving road vehicles.