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SCALEFORUM 2018


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One of the highlights for me was seeing Peter Denny's work in the flesh, which despite the years still shows a complete meld of concept and execution. And he didn't have access to all the products we nowadays take almost for granted.

 

And there was even a guest operator late on Saturday from this very forum .....

 

(sorry the pic is skewed - can't work out how to upright it)

 

Yes but was he any good?????

 

Hi Ivan.

 

Dave .

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Such as what is the airspeed velocity of an unladen swallow? Or what is your favourite colour? :onthequiet:

African or European?  ***

 

Puce.

 

:blum:

 

*** - just noticed someone has aleady said that.  Late on the job as usual.......................... :senile:

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Yes but was he any good?????

 

Hi Ivan.

 

Dave .

 

I can confirm that he was! He made the mistake of sitting down on the stool in front of the layout, presumably to get a more eye level view and was perhaps a little press ganged but he did a fine job!

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My demonstrationing over the weekend went OK.  Saturday was very busy and it was quite a surprise to be told that the show was nearly closing.  I thought it was still around 2.30 not 5.30!  Because of being busy I didn'y really get around much and spent very little, only buying a sheet of Garden Wall Bond bricks from South East Finecast - and that is being posted on to me as the stock was sold out!  I was VERY tempted with lots of things but didn't really have the time to discuss with the vendors and, in reality, I've more than enough 'stuff' to keep me going for the next 25 years...........................

 

Fat chance of that............. :senile:

 

However, for those that missed me, I've been invited to repeat the exercise at Scalefour North next April.

 

The worldwide tour will begin in 2020 once all the venues have been booked.  T-Shirts, CD's etc. may be made available in due course...........

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Numbers through the door were actually slightly more this year than last.

 

 

I am glad that the numbers were up, the show was a good one. Top class layouts and demonstrators and a good selection of traders. Many of the traders thought it was a quiet weekend, though they are probably basing their impression on Railex which uses the same venue and seems not only busier but gives the impression of both more layouts and trade stands.

 

Trouble is with specialist societies (not just the Scalefour society) is limiting what can be shown and many local model railway enthusiasts thinking its not a show for them, sad as they, the society and traders all miss out.

 

Perhaps having more (Buckingham being 18 mm gauge) guest finescale layouts from other scale/gauge and better promoting the event, thus increasing the financial benefits to both society and traders.

 

Still for me a great show, so a big thanks to the organisers, layout owners & their teams and demonstrators.   

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A most enjoyable exhibition and weekend, worth suffering the, (if you believe the gloom and doom twaddle peddled on another thread), total hell and sub human treatment meted out by Ryanair. ( I did manage to hold on to the undercarriage for the whole flight whilst I was flagellated with demonstration seatbelts by stewardesses who made the SS look benevolent!)

I though it was well worth the effort, and I can't understand why more members don't make the effort to attend, although I realise the figures are somewhat skewed due to the fact that quite a number attend as layout owners/demonstrators/stewards/society illuminati etc and don't show up in the "through the door" figures.

 

Mike.

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I enjoyed the exhibition and a couple of my engines got a good long run on the test track. I finally got to meet Cap'n Kernow but missed Chris P Bacon.

 

The only problem with an exhibition like this is that the layouts are so good that I go away realising that my own efforts are a bit naff.. :scratchhead: 

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I am glad that the numbers were up, the show was a good one. Top class layouts and demonstrators and a good selection of traders. Many of the traders thought it was a quiet weekend, though they are probably basing their impression on Railex which uses the same venue and seems not only busier but gives the impression of both more layouts and trade stands.

 

Trouble is with specialist societies (not just the Scalefour society) is limiting what can be shown and many local model railway enthusiasts thinking its not a show for them, sad as they, the society and traders all miss out.

 

Perhaps having more (Buckingham being 18 mm gauge) guest finescale layouts from other scale/gauge and better promoting the event, thus increasing the financial benefits to both society and traders.

 

John,

 

Thanks for the kind words about the show.  Our emphasis this year was to show, teach and experience skills, so with all of the layouts on show, and the demonstrators willing to share their knowledge, we hope that many people went away inspired.  And with lighter wallets, as well.

 

You mentioned other guest finescale layouts.  This is actually something that we have had most of the last few recent years, going back to the time when the show was at Leatherhead.  Looking back to the Retrospectives that are online (https://www.scalefour.org/scaleforum/retrospectives) :

 

2010 - S Scale Society

2011 - Scale Seven (Ellerton Road)

2012 - P87 (Quai:87) + 2mm Finescale Association

2013 - P87 (Obbeker)

2014 - P87 (Axalp)

2015 - Scale Seven (Fangfoss - Norwegian!)

 

For the last couple of years we haven't, as 2016 represented a bumper show particular focus for the Society's Fortieth Anniversary, and we have been playing "catch-up" with P4 layouts.

 

The vast majority of Scalefour Society members appreciate good modelling in any gauge or scale.  We have an area to admire "inspiring modelling" in the Members' Area on our Forum.  So I'd be almost certain that there will be some excellent modelling in "non-P4" in future years of Scaleforum.  I just don't know what that will be yet!

 

Cheers

Paul Willis

Deputy Chairman

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I can confirm that he was! He made the mistake of sitting down on the stool in front of the layout, presumably to get a more eye level view and was perhaps a little press ganged but he did a fine job!

 

Did Not Finish because, by task no.4 in the sequence, the announcer stated that the show was now closed!!

 

Interesting electrical dead spot just after the 3-way point - the layout needed a strategic thump to get the engine running again.

 

The illuminated block instrument was fascinating for relying on lights rather than a needle pointer. I think the construction was described in an old MRJ.

 

...Hi Ivan.

 

You really should have seen Howard Bolton's 75-lever and locking frame. Sheer bloody mad genius.

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Did Not Finish because, by task no.4 in the sequence, the announcer stated that the show was now closed!! Interesting electrical dead spot just after the 3-way point - the layout needed a strategic thump to get the engine running again. The illuminated block instrument was fascinating for relying on lights rather than a needle pointer. I think the construction was described in an old MRJ. You really should have seen Howard Bolton's 75-lever and locking frame. Sheer bloody mad genius.

I appreciate you stepping up and having a go! The old trainset does have some strange ways about it. After a while you begin to learn just which switches need to be held in certain positions to make good electrical contact. Lever 1 on the three way is one that relies on friction to hold it against a return spring, as is 5. When atmospheric conditions and humidity change the friction, they can bounce back enough to upset the electrical contacts although they still look as if they are over properly.

 

We had a bit of a dodgy time on Sunday with a couple of electrical faults that came and went. It is tricky finding a fault that goes away as soon as you start looking for it! Two locos failed on us. One chose the day to have the insulation on a brush to expire and another had not one but two outside cranks break their soldered joints onto the axles. Both are now fixed and have had a full strip down, clean and service. They have both been slightly below their best for a while but are now running as well as ever.

 

We did suffer a few broken wires and soldered joints on the way down but nothing that we couldn't fix easily.

 

It was a lovely weekend. The highlight was finding out that the lever frame on the magnificent Flintfield was directly inspired by the ones on Buckingham! What a layout that is. A worthy "Best layout" trophy winner. And it all goes in a roof box on a Fiat Punto! Brilliant design, superb modelling, excellent running, pre-grouping, it ticks all the boxes for me!

 

Many thanks to all those who said nice things and to Terry Bendall for the invitation and to him and the team for making us so welcome. It almost makes me wish I model in P4 and could exhibit there more often!

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:O

 

Better not tell 'you know who' that! :secret:

 

He's a pussy cat...

 

"Serious head on". Maybe there's a market for inviting historic layouts to S4um? Is the likes of Borchester still on the exhibition circuit.

 

P

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I appreciate you stepping up and having a go! The old trainset does have some strange ways about it. After a while you begin to learn just which switches need to be held in certain positions to make good electrical contact. Lever 1 on the three way is one that relies on friction to hold it against a return spring, as is 5. When atmospheric conditions and humidity change the friction, they can bounce back enough to upset the electrical contacts although they still look as if they are over properly.

 

We had a bit of a dodgy time on Sunday with a couple of electrical faults that came and went. It is tricky finding a fault that goes away as soon as you start looking for it! Two locos failed on us. One chose the day to have the insulation on a brush to expire and another had not one but two outside cranks break their soldered joints onto the axles. Both are now fixed and have had a full strip down, clean and service. They have both been slightly below their best for a while but are now running as well as ever.

 

We did suffer a few broken wires and soldered joints on the way down but nothing that we couldn't fix easily.

 

It was a lovely weekend. The highlight was finding out that the lever frame on the magnificent Flintfield was directly inspired by the ones on Buckingham! What a layout that is. A worthy "Best layout" trophy winner. And it all goes in a roof box on a Fiat Punto! Brilliant design, superb modelling, excellent running, pre-grouping, it ticks all the boxes for me!

 

Many thanks to all those who said nice things and to Terry Bendall for the invitation and to him and the team for making us so welcome. It almost makes me wish I model in P4 and could exhibit there more often!

 

 

Thanks for bringing Buckingham, third time of seeing it and always catches my attention,   

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John,

 

Thanks for the kind words about the show.  Our emphasis this year was to show, teach and experience skills, so with all of the layouts on show, and the demonstrators willing to share their knowledge, we hope that many people went away inspired.  And with lighter wallets, as well.

 

You mentioned other guest finescale layouts.  This is actually something that we have had most of the last few recent years, going back to the time when the show was at Leatherhead.  Looking back to the Retrospectives that are online (https://www.scalefour.org/scaleforum/retrospectives) :

 

2010 - S Scale Society

2011 - Scale Seven (Ellerton Road)

2012 - P87 (Quai:87) + 2mm Finescale Association

2013 - P87 (Obbeker)

2014 - P87 (Axalp)

2015 - Scale Seven (Fangfoss - Norwegian!)

 

For the last couple of years we haven't, as 2016 represented a bumper show particular focus for the Society's Fortieth Anniversary, and we have been playing "catch-up" with P4 layouts.

 

The vast majority of Scalefour Society members appreciate good modelling in any gauge or scale.  We have an area to admire "inspiring modelling" in the Members' Area on our Forum.  So I'd be almost certain that there will be some excellent modelling in "non-P4" in future years of Scaleforum.  I just don't know what that will be yet!

 

Cheers

Paul Willis

Deputy Chairman

 

 

Paul

 

A great show at a very pleasant venue, which has easy access and reasonable parking. I do understand that the emphasis must be on P4 modelling and why not the whole idea is to promote the gauge,

 

I just felt sorry for the fact that the attendance was quite sparse when compared to Railex, there is a demand for high quality large exhibitions in the area and both the Society and the traders would benefit from a higher footfall. It might be that the venue is newish for the society and it takes a while for shows to become established. But for what ever reason I just got the impression you were missing out on local support which Railex taps into

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I was unable to make the show, and thus missed seeing Leighton Buzzard. Does anyone know if it's making other appearances in the future?

Thanks

Martyn

The only one in the pipeline so far is Railex next May.

 

It is the last one on my list of shows that I would like to do with the layout to be ticked off.

 

Hopefully you can make it there.

 

After that I am giving serious thought to the future for the layout. It is high time it was attached to the rest of the layout and once that happens, appearances at shows will probably be limited to "special occasions" like major anniversaries.

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Cracking set of photo's RedKite

 

As a demonstrator I thoroughly enjoyed myself, together with the rest of the Bristol BS4 group felt overwhelmed by the amount of interest shown in all our individual demo's and felt thoroughly exhausted by the time I made it home (Well actually much earlier in the day on Sunday, but that makes me sound like I'm getting old! :-p )

 

The photo's are most appreciated considering the little time we managed to escape to view and specifically watch the operation of each of the layouts.

 

On the face of it there may well have been the appearance that there wasn't any big headliner to really draw in the punters. However anyone who made that assumption missed a real gem in my opinion! what was there was some extremely fine modelling with some excellent layouts and I personally felt (both from the punters who I spoke too as well as my own personal opinion) the increased emphasis on demonstrators really made it far more of an audience participation event and hopefully inspiring that many more people as a result.

 

All in all a fantastic weekend once again organised by the Scalefour team, one that I was pleased to be a part of and one which to me fully justifies why I'm a Scalefour member and where I predominantly want to see the proceeds of my subs invested! Very well done all! :-)

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Thank you for your comments

if anyone want high resolution let me know and if scale four society would like to use them contact me so I can send the original higher resolution copies

Cracking set of photo's RedKite

 

As a demonstrator I thoroughly enjoyed myself, together with the rest of the Bristol BS4 group felt overwhelmed by the amount of interest shown in all our individual demo's and felt thoroughly exhausted by the time I made it home (Well actually much earlier in the day on Sunday, but that makes me sound like I'm getting old! :-p )

 

The photo's are most appreciated considering the little time we managed to escape to view and specifically watch the operation of each of the layouts.

 

On the face of it there may well have been the appearance that there wasn't any big headliner to really draw in the punters. However anyone who made that assumption missed a real gem in my opinion! what was there was some extremely fine modelling with some excellent layouts and I personally felt (both from the punters who I spoke too as well as my own personal opinion) the increased emphasis on demonstrators really made it far more of an audience participation event and hopefully inspiring that many more people as a result.

 

All in all a fantastic weekend once again organised by the Scalefour team, one that I was pleased to be a part of and one which to me fully justifies why I'm a Scalefour member and where I predominantly want to see the proceeds of my subs invested! Very well done all! :-)

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The only one in the pipeline so far is Railex next May.

 

It is the last one on my list of shows that I would like to do with the layout to be ticked off.

 

Hopefully you can make it there.

 

After that I am giving serious thought to the future for the layout. It is high time it was attached to the rest of the layout and once that happens, appearances at shows will probably be limited to "special occasions" like major anniversaries.

That's great.  I can "book it in" well in advance!!…...although I hope it doesn't clash with my wife's 60th!!

 

I saw the Buckingham loco's on static display at ExpoEM, so to see the layout in the flesh is on my bucket list...….

 

Many thanks

Martyn

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That's great.  I can "book it in" well in advance!!…...although I hope it doesn't clash with my wife's 60th!!

 

I saw the Buckingham loco's on static display at ExpoEM, so to see the layout in the flesh is on my bucket list...….

 

Many thanks

Martyn

Railex is usually on the Spring Bank Holiday weekend at the end of May.

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However, for those that missed me, I've been invited to repeat the exercise at Scalefour North next April.

 

The worldwide tour will begin in 2020 once all the venues have been booked.  T-Shirts, CD's etc. may be made available in due course...........

Gitts on tour...........

 

:no:

 

Kevin

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Several items of lost property were handed in on the Sunday at Scaleforum and remain unclaimed

- the case for a pair of glasses
- a computer memory stick
- a packet of brass wire bought from one of the traders
- a decorative broach (jewellery) as distinct from a model maker's broach

 

Any claimants should send a private message to scaleforum@scalefour.org

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