Decapod

We are back online again now 😊

There appears to be an issue with our hosting provider Inios, all our sites and domains are currently offline - forum, website, scaleforum. We have raised a ticket with them.

An update posted on behalf of Steve Hall. The West Yorkshire Area Group will be holding a modelling workshop at Badsworth Church Hall (Near Pontefract) starting at 12.00 on Saturday 25th September. Members will bring along their latest modelling project(s) to work on in the company of fellow modelers and freely exchange advice and assistance with each other. Tea/coffee and cakes will be freely available. The attached images show samples of members work from previous workshops: GNR Goods shed by Steve Hall A batch of hopper wagons by James Dickie A pair of Caledonian Railway coaches by Alistair Dickson. Non members are also welcome to attend. GNR Goods Shed by Steve Hall Hopper Wagons by James Dickie Caledonian Coaches by Alistair Dickson

This isn't a virtual event, but I'm hoping that plenty of video and still footage will be taken and will be posted on our YouTube channel, website, forum etc. I'm rather less hopeful of any live coverage/streaming as internet connections at the various venues probably won't be good enough, but we'll have to see. All the Best Danny

Following the cancellation of our intended Scaleforum event in High Wycombe, there will now be a number of local events instead, hosted by our Area Groups, at venues around the country, which will all take place on Saturday 25th September. Entry to these events will be free, but prior booking will be necessary. If you would like to attend any of the events, please e-mail the relevant organiser at: scaleforum@scalefour.org Event Details by Venue Devon Riviera Area Group (Rod Cameron) Holcombe Village Hall, Holcombe, DAWLISH EX7 0LF Times: 11:00 – 16:00. Admission by pre-arranged free ticket Attractions will include: · Debut of John Farmer’s new layout Parkend Marsh Sidings · The late John Watson’s Laxfield (see MRJ No.0) as a static exhibit prior to ‘rehabilitation’ · Work in progress of Rod Cameron’s Lewes · Demonstrations on semaphore signal construction, wagons, coupling systems and history of finescale (by Iain Rice) It may be necessary to control numbers, so attendance will be by pre-arranged ticket only; please apply to Rod Cameron at: scaleforum@scalefour.org Kent Area Group (Mike Ainsworth) Old station building, Hampstead Lane, YALDING ME18 6HH Opening times: 11:00 – 16:00. Admission free. The station car park is small but it’s free of charge and there is usually plenty of space at weekends. Or you could come by train ! KAG’s long-in-the-gestation 1950s/60s BR(S) layout, Eridge, will be in operation so if you have any DCC-compatible P4 stock and would like to give it a run, bring it along. As well as the layout, the Marshlink Finescale Area Group will be joining us and bringing along some displays and demonstrations. We will also be able to supply you with tea and coffee (we promise) and cake (we hope). For those concerned about what the Covid position might be by late September, we aren’t asking you to let us know in advance that you’re coming (well, not unless you’re bringing a coach party…) If numbers on the day should threaten to overwhelm us, we’ll happily point you towards one of the local pubs (we can recommend the Chequers) or the station platform to watch the full-size trains go by until things quieten down. We hope to see you on 25 September. North Norfolk Area Group (John Chambers) The Copeman Centre, Hall Street, BRISTON NR24 2LG Opening times: 10:00 – 16:00. Light refreshments will be available and for this venue there is no need to pre-book. The following layouts will be present: North Elmham – Currently under construction by the North Norfolk Area Group, this layout will depict the station on the Wells next the Sea branch with its grain and milk traffic giving some variety from the norm. The layout will be set in the late 50s/early 60s period. Obbekaer – A Danish independent line connecting Rebe, Gram and Vojens in South Jutland from Geraint Hughes set in the mid 50s. The Model is built to P87 standards. Wheal Elizabeth – The end of a Cornish China Clay branch set in the late 1970s/early 80s. from Jeremy Good. We will also have the North Norfolk Area Group’s test track available for those who want to give their stock the chance to stretch its legs. We will have six demonstrations, which are: Modelling road vehicles – Jim Smith-Wright Air-braked wagons – Phil Eames Etched brass carriage construction – Tony Brenchley Kit-bashing plastic coach kits – Alan Hall Turnouts with a difference, an approach to building the inter-laced variety – John Geggie Cavelex Models – will be showing production models and their latest samples for visitors to examine and will be very happy to discuss any aspect of their products West Yorkshire Area Group (Steve Hall) St. Marys Church, Main Street, Badsworth, PONTEFRACT WF9 1AJ Opening times: 12:00 – 17:30. Admission free. Saturday afternoon workshop The workshop is a chance for group members to bring along their latest modelling projects and work on them in the company of other like-minded modellers so that help and advice can be freely exchanged and we can catch up on the latest modelling gossip. Tea/Coffee and cakes are all provided. Shropshire & Herefordshire Area Group (Gavin Clark) Bishop Mascall Centre, Lower Galdeford, LUDLOW SY8 1RZ Opening times: 10:00 – 17:00. Admission free. Saturday afternoon workshop The Shropshire & Herefordshire Area Group () will be holding one of its occasional ‘Modelling Days’ in Ludlow as part of the wider Marches Finescale Group, for those who will be feeling the pain of another Scaleforum-absent year. Normal rules will apply - turn up, claim a table, and spend the day modelling - only interrupted by banter from the rest of the attendees! Numbers are limited not by the dreaded virus, but by the size of the room we have been able to hire, so if you are local and want to come along, please let Gavin know beforehand. Manchester Area Group (Tony Williams) Dean Hall, 39 Mersey Road, SALE M33 6HL Opening Times: 10:30 – 17:30. Admission free. The MMRS P4 layout, Slattocks Junction will be operating and the Society Library will be open. In addition, there will be informal demonstrations on laser cutting, model buildings and layout lighting. If you would like to attend any of the events, please e-mail the relevant organiser at: scaleforum@scalefour.org this is not just for Covid safety, but because some of the venues have a limit on numbers in any case. All the Best Danny

Our final virtual stand session for the Warley Event will start at 6pm: warleyshow@scalefour.org

The penultimate virtual stand zoom session will start at 16:45, as before please email warleyshow@scalefour.org for details of how to join in.

The next Virtual Stand session will start at 14:45 e-mail warleyshow@scalefour.org for details of how to join in.

Here, from our own YouTube channel is our video presentation for the Warley Virtual event which was broadcast as part of their show earlier this morning: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ji2_JwF9l1A&t=853s Our second Virtual Stand session of the day will start at 12:45, email warleyshow@scalefour.org and we'll send you details of how to join us. All the Best Danny

Our Society video premieres on the Warley Show YouTube channel at 10:30 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P_aBX8Rp3zA Our first virtual society stand zoom session starts at 10:45 e-mail: warleyshow@scalefour.org for details.

Our next virtual stand session starts at 16:45, if you’d like to join us for a chat email warleyshow@scalefour.org and we’ll send you the login details

If you've been thinking about joining the Scalefour Society now is the best time to do so. The Warley show see's the start of our new membership year and if you join today you'll get 15 months for the price of 12 https://www.scalefour.org/membership/join.html If you'd like to have a chat about the benefits of Society membership, visit of Virtual Society Stand and talk to our Membership Secretary, Steve Carter. e-mail: warleyshow@scalefour.org and we'll send you details of the current session.

The Warley MRC Virtual Event is taking place this weekend 28th/29th November 10am to 6:15pm both days https://www.facebook.com/events/654600898554249 And the Scalefour Society will be taking part: Our specially produced video presentation will be broadcast via the Warley Show YouTube channel http://youtube.com/c/WarleyModelRailwayClub on Sunday 29th at 10:30 and we will be operating a virtual stand via Zoom on both days. If you’d like to have a chat with us or have any questions about the Scalefour Society or modelling in P4 – whether you’re a member or a non-member – simply e-mail: warleyshow@scalefour.org and we’ll send you details of how to join one of our Virtual Stand Zoom meetings We’ll be live at the following times on both days: 10:45 – 11:15 12:45 – 13:15 14:45 – 15:15 16:45 – 17:15 18:00 – 18:15 https://www.thewarleyshow.co.uk/ Saturday timetable Sunday timetable See you this weekend All the Best Danny Cockling Scalefour Society Deputy Chairman

With just two weeks to go, preparations are nearing completion and the list below has been updated with the latest information on the show content, participants, and features. There is a special Scaleforum website, although at the moment only the main page is live: http://www.scaleforum.org All the content will be accessible from there but it will also be linked to from the Society's main website, the forum, our Facebook page and Twitter feed. There are now nearly four and three quarter hours of video content of layouts that will be released for viewing on the day, but don't worry about getting square eyes as it will all continue to be available after the show. Although in a few instances we are linking to content that already exists, the vast majority of video, slideshow and other content is brand new and has been written, filmed, edited and made available exclusively for Scaleforum 2020 and we'd like to thank all of our contributors for their work in filming their layouts and producing their videos, demonstrations and talks, under what for many have been very difficult circumstances. Without their efforts there would be no virtual exhibition. Layouts Boston Frodsham by Mike Knowles Bristol Barrow Road by Robin Whittle Central Cheshire Lines by John Sherratt De Graafstroom (P87) by Vincent de Bode Drighlington and Adwalton by Steve Hall Eridge by the Kent Area Group Faringdon by Rex Davidson and Stephen Williams North Elmham by the North Norfolk Area Group Obbekaer (P87) by Geraint Hughes Pwllheli by Jonathan Buckie Sheep Pasture by Robin Whittle Southwark Bridge by Mike Day United Mills by Ray Nolton Demonstrations Adrian Musgrave – Signals Alistair Ford – Black Gill timber buildings Brian Hingston – Coaches Chris McCarthy – Baseboards Dave Keeler – Wagon construction David Brandreth – Resistance Soldering Jim Smith-Wright – Soldering White Metal John Farmer – Scenics Mick Moignard – DCC Sound Nick Rogers – Wagons Paul Willis – GW Models Rivet Press Rod Cameron – Lewes Project Stuart Holt – Tree making Illustrated Talks Martin Nield – Authentic Model Railway Operation Jim Summers – ‘Earning a Living’ Members’ Showcase A selection of pictures of models sent in by our members Scalefour Stores Stores Officer Jeremy Suter is aiming to be available throughout most of the day and we are expecting that you will be able to chat with him directly via a live YouTube broadcast Virtual Society Stand The Virtual Society Stand will be manned all day and you will be able to chat with us via the Society Forum. A timetable of who will be available and when will be provided soon. Traders There will be links to all of our usual Trade supporters and we’re expecting that some of them will be providing content especially for Scaleforum Any questions or queries regarding the virtual event can be sent to virtual@scalefour.org or posted on our dedicated forum page or if you're not a member in our guestbook and we will do our best to answer them. Danny Cockling Show Organizer

Advance ticket sales for 2019 have now closed. Tickets will of course still be available at the door.

Advance Tickets for Scaleforum 2019 are still available: https://www.scalefour.org/scaleforum/tickets There is also a link on the main page of the Society website. Advance ticket sales will be closed sometime late next week (usually Thursday) a couple of days prior to the show. Any queries relating to advance tickets please e-mail tickets@scalefour.org

Scaleforum 2019 Stoke Mandeville Stadium Guttman Road Aylesbury HP21 9PP Saturday 28th September – 10:30 to 17:30 Sunday 29th September – 10:00 to 16:00 Advance Ticket holders admitted 15 minutes earlier Details Any general questions about Scaleforum: layouts, traders, demos, workshops etc please e-mail: scaleforum@scalefour.org Advance tickets Any queries regarding advance tickets please e-mail: tickets@scalefour.org We hope to see you there.

The Scalefour Society Stand will be at the 2018 Warley Show this coming weekend. You will find us on Stand D62 and the two P4 layouts Lower Exbury (D60) and Sidmouth (D61) will be close by. This year the Society Stand will be manned by Paul Willis; Mike Ainsworth; Memnbership Secretary, Steve Carter and me and we hope to see many of you there, do please stop by and say hello. All the Best Danny

Scaleforum 2018 Stoke Mandeville Stadium Guttman Road Aylesbury HP21 9PP Saturday 22nd September – 10:30 to 17:30 Sunday 23rd September – 10:00 to 16:00 Advance Ticket holders admitted 15 minutes earlier Details Advance tickets

Maybe it is; I have no idea of the numbers of 'outsiders', but the number of 'insiders' keeps growing. The upward trend of Membership of the Scalefour Society continues; not at an astonishing rate, but it keeps going up and has been doing so for almost ten years. All the Best Danny

Advance ticket sales are now closed. Thank you everyone who has purchased an advance ticket. See you at the weekend. All the Best Danny

Not much time left to buy your advance tickets for Scaleforum 2017: https://www.scalefour.org/scaleforum/tickets Advance ticket sales will close at sometime Thursday evening, but if you're too late don't worry you can still pay on the day. All the Best Danny

With just over two weeks to go until Scaleforum, there's still time to buy your advance tickets : here

Opening times for Scaleforum are: Saturday - 10:30am to 5:30pm (advance ticket holders from 10:15am) Sunday - 10:00am to 4:30pm (advance ticket holders from 9:45am)