Ian J.

I know it doesn't suit most, but due to my financial constraints at the moment, the longer SLW take to start sending out sound versions, the better. It gives my finances a bit more time to recover.

The main stacks look great, except, they're just a bit too tidy, maybe?

That last pic seems to be of the orange stripe-less Large Logo edition for Rails? If so, nice to see it get some publicity 🙂

How do you know when there are two elephants in your fridge? You can't close the door. 😏

I'm in no rush at all, finances still being an issue for the next couple of months 😔

Agreed re more, but they need to fix some of the design flaws first (cab roof with visible slide for the cab back, should have just been a separate roof; rear bunker and extended coal rails to proper size without a moulded on lamp bracket; and any more if there are any).

I can see one of these useful for working oil storage on the Penmouth docks 🙂

If you look at the linkage at the front of the bogie, it's directly under the forward cab door handrail on both the model and the real thing, so I think it's most likely right on the model.

Obviously very early days, and much info still to be given, but I do wonder if the balance that Warley did of layouts/exhibits/traders can be maintained? Aside from that, I'm very glad that a national show will still happen each year. I thought we might get it back, but didn't think it would be this year. Many thanks to Warners and Andy. 😊

I wouldn't mind guessing that they're just trying to clear the decks now, and working through different piles of things as they do so, with whatever delivery materials they have to hand. Being highly efficient in the final days is not going to be top of their agenda. Edit: Just to add, this is sad to see this actually happen. RIP Hattons, it was good knowing you.

Things that make me smile: This thread is 5 posts short of 1,000 pages 🙂

As with the SLW 25, I'm stuck for cash for a couple of months so am having to ask the retailer if I can pay a bit for them to hold to until I can fully pay. Not great, and really could have done with them having come through last year when cash was a bit more available. 😔

Very in-tents... 😏

Arthur Smith has already been sacked due to inconsistency with play calling and indecision at QB. His approach was a run-heavy offense and I don't think that's Belichick's style, so if he comes in the team will be getting some changes, which it needs anyway, just I don't like or want BB.

In my experience of attending shows, the small traders have been slowly pulling out for around ten years or more. I used to go to the small traders area in the Ally Pally exhibition, it was one of the reasons I went, but as they thinned out then practically disappeared from the show, it made going less appealing. I noticed 2022 and 2023 at Warley that that area was less well populated, and I did get me to thinking that the proprietors were pulling out, probably due to costs and age. The hobby's old guard is changing, I think.

Belichick having a second interview with the Falcons this weekend. Looks like Arthur Blank (owner) is desperate for another SB chance, and thinks BB can deliver it. I happen to think he's wrong. I'm not looking forward to a BB-coached Falcons 😞

Southern Railway / BR(S) U and Q. Just sayin'. Again. 😏

90 isn't so big a number, especially when quite a few of the layouts are small end-to-end cameos of one form or another. I could do three rounds of Hall 5 at the NEC - 1 for trade, 2 for layout views, 3 for layout pics/vids, if I start at the very beginning of the day and go to the very end. But I don't socialize. If you're including gabbing around with lots of people in your time at a show, then there is going to be a different balance to what you get to see. Also, I went on Sundays the last few years, and they're generally somewhat quieter.

As for young people, they are in the hobby. I saw that in the attendees for Warley in November 2023 on Sunday when I was there. But I can't believe they will ever reach the numbers of the boomer block (born 1945-1965) who are the ones now hitting the average age of dying. The younger ones also have less disposable income, and more things to spend it on.

Re cost of ticket for Warley. At £21*, the price of four coffees from the likes of Starbucks. Not a huge amount. If your budget is really so tight, then you shouldn't be doing any railway modelling at all, you've got many other money-related things to worry about well before hobbies. *I'm excluding travel and/or parking costs of course. Take those into account though and it's still cheaper than one away visit to a Premier League football match.

Is this my 'who's next' from the Hattons thread, then? I am feeling that demographics (the aging bell curve of the majority of modellers that is slowly diminishing year on year) are making their mark. There will never, and could never have been, enough younger people coming into the hobby to replace that big block of modellers, enthusiasts, etc, with the changes in earnings, cost of living, and plethora of other things for people to be doing. Peronally, this is a particular loss to me, as it was the only exhibition I felt I was interested in. With its national nature most likely gone, I think it will mean I'm now an online-only modeller.

Wow. My heart goes out to those in the business, and I hope they will be OK. However, I'm not surprised. I've thought for a number of years now that the demographics of the hobby aren't favourable and there would be eventual impacts on manufacturers and retailers. This looks to be the first big name to be hit, obviously not helped by the happenings of Brexit, Covid, etc. My rhetorical thoughts become: who's next?

I realised a while ago now, that even at model railway exhibitions, taking photos distracts from looking at and enjoying the layouts, both construction and operation. That, combined with the sheer amount of imagery and video that is now captured and posted almost everywhere, means it's not worth worrying about capturing images, and it's better to just drink in the experience.

When are you due out of hospital...? 😏

Oh bu**er. I thought this might happen. After Christmas my finances are very tight, and I don't have enough money to cover the payment right now. I presume the card used will 'bounce' and hopefully I'll be contacted and will be able to plead my case for a delay 😟