A New Hope - Great Model Railway Challenge benefits

[MrTea]

I think bottom line is

What’s been lacking even neglected in the hobby for quite some time is fun ,a lot of modellers are too busy worrying about the wrong livery’s and eras running together or rivet counters looking down on everything but perfection

Kids what fun ,they want to mix it up ,they’re happy to see trains and dinosaurs coexist ,all on a board with there matchbox (or what ever make they are now )cars all been overflown by space ships and what ever else their imagination can conjure

I’ve got to admit I never thought I’d be chatting with other parents on the school run about trains, the program or what exhibitions they’re taking their son to

 

Brian

 

 

I don't know if any other parents on here have ever seen this but there is an event called 'Track Party' where you can take your kids along and play with trains, cars and DINOSAURS:

https://trackparty.co.uk

 

We took our two to one held in a church hall in Reading the other year and it was great fun!

[Keith Addenbrooke]

My local radio station is today actively advertising Hornby train sets available from one of the supermarkets (a prominent German discount chain). True, they're also offering slot car racing sets, but I'll take that as encouraging.

[sem34090]

They are indeed!

https://www.lidl.co.uk/en/MiddleofLidl.htm?articleId=17780

Interestingly, the set appears to be an exclusive, suggesting that this was perhaps a pre-meditated move to have them in soon after the show and soon before Christmas. Not one for the enthusiast really, but the price is fairly reasonable, the timing is perfect and it can fit round the bottom of a Christmas tree without stupid seasonal liveries. Incidentally, I almost got my hopes up with the livery of the van, until I saw the 'S'...

A very poor representation of an ex-Midland 4-4-0 that loco is too...

Now, call me whatever you like, but surely there would have been no serious dent in sales to have included the loco as 'itself', GWR No.101 and to have put the wagons into authentic liveries. Also, given that they can include the ex-Airfix GWR Ventilated van, why can't they include a decent open wagon?!  Surely they'd be able to make a bit more money by putting authentic liveries on half-decent wagons as then they may sell a few sets to the enthusiast market. Surely having the loco in false LMS livery is not going to win more sales than having it in authentic GWR livery?!

Edited November 15, 2018 by sem34090

[JohnR]

The train sets tend to have simpler liveries, and obviously cheaper locos. The requirement is for something bright and colourful rather than accurate. I dont think the loco has appeared in LMS livery before (though I'm not sure about the shade). 

[sem34090]

Hmm, true. But surely GWR Green (possibly with an inauthentic shiny dome!), a bright PO wagon and a grey van with white lettering isn't too bad?

[KarlW]

I was umming and ahhing over picking it up seeing as I have no track right now, but the fairly generic loco (which seems to be the same mould for all of the cheap sets they do, only with an LMS paint job, and the somewhat uninteresting small loop is making me want to wait til I see another set somewhere.

[Captain Kernow]

Now, call me whatever you like, but surely there would have been no serious dent in sales to have included the loco as 'itself', GWR No.101 and to have put the wagons into authentic liveries.

Oh, I don't know.

 

I rather like seeing GW locos in maroon.

[sem34090]

To be fair they don't look all that bad.

[Ian Morgan]

I rather like seeing GW locos in maroon.

 

or brown with a red nose?

[KarlW]

I was umming and ahhing over picking it up seeing as I have no track right now, but the fairly generic loco (which seems to be the same mould for all of the cheap sets they do, only with an LMS paint job, and the somewhat uninteresting small loop is making me want to wait til I see another set somewhere.

Scratch that, I caved and got it - 40 quid didn't seem too bad for what was in it - will likely still get some more track to expand it soon.

[daltonparva]

Oh, I don't know.

 

I rather like seeing GW locos in maroon.

You should get in touch with Mr. 88C of this parish. He has a Castle in LMS red which he spoils many a good layout with.

[Captain Kernow]

You should get in touch with Mr. 88C of this parish. He has a Castle in LMS red which he spoils many a good layout with.

I was, of course, specifically thinking of LT red panniers!

[brightspark]

I had some interesting conversations at this weekends show in Portsmouth where I was helping to man the EMGS stand. I had a good few enquires from people who seemed to be new to the hobby. This included asking what is EM and being very quick to understand the difference. The brass kit that I was fiddling with also attracted attention with enquires as to how I was going to assemble it. Most enquirers had seen Mr Sawyers soldering demonstration and related that to the kit. Questions were asked about length of time it would take to build this kit and also the time taken to do the STD 5 I had in front of me(see loco build challange) & it was appreciated that it took longer than a weekend (yes it was referenced) to build to a good quality. There was also surprise at the research I had done and this too seemed to spark an interest.

Then there were the kids. We had on display some locos and stock from Met Junction. I noticed that initially the parents seemed to want to steer their charges away from this, telling them these are only for show and not working. But eventually gave in and let them have a look but not touch. Many of them knew, or at least had a good guess at what they were looking at."Is that a black five?", "Is this one a bit like James" etc. What I think that found attractive was that they could study something close up and be able to take in the detail.

For me the highlite of the day was one kid who after looking at my kit built stock and Met Junctions coaches that are made from cardboard resolved to have a go himself. He came back with a Metcalf kit and said that "he is going to start with that". Well good luck to him as he is the future of our hobby.

Andy

Edited November 20, 2018 by brightspark

[whart57]

Might there even be scope for some "drop-in" mini-shows, in local libraries and theatre lobbies - with a mix of small layouts and demonstrators from local clubs - preferably more than one local club, just to show that clubs are capable of "talking" and working together. (Well, they are capable of doing this - aren't they?)

 

 

 

I don't know how they do it but the local model railway club here manages to borrow an empty unit in the main shopping mall to show off their stuff. That's really taking the hobby to where the crowds are rather than expecting the crowds to find the hobby.

[sem34090]

I'm assuming that you're talking of Horsham MRC? Given that you've mentioned that town in the past...

 

Always an interesting event to attend!

[whart57]

If you mean the Horsham show around Easter then that's actually Crawley MRC.

[sem34090]

No I meant Horsham MRC's half term event in Swan Walk. Though the Tanbridge House show is also good!

[whart57]

That was the one I referred to, yes

[sem34090]

Sorry - I was very tired when I made my original response, so I expect it doesn't exactly make sense! My apologies.

[Andy Y]

If there was any doubt over whether the show's good for the wider hobby anyone who attended Warley this weekend would have been able to see the evidence of the level of interest the exhibits found. Many times when I passed the layouts there were families and youngsters keen to see the models and modellers in the flesh. Flinty has been elevated to celebrity status and it was smashing to see a young lad tentatively approaching Kathy to see if he could get an autograph. I think Kathy was a bit chuffed that it was the first time she'd been asked.

 

Everyone involved in the programme has achieved something rather special.

[RJS1977]

Disappointed to have missed seeing Kathy - didn't realise she was there!

 

But great to see the three 'celebrity' layouts.

 

Although there was a certain irony in seeing a Hornby IEP circulating on the layout on the Bachmann stand, and (I think) Bachmann locos running on the layout on the Hornby stand.... ;-)

Edited November 25, 2018 by RJS1977

[Barry Ten]

One unexpected consequence of the GMRC is that I've now got Steve Flint's voice in my head when reading RM editorials. I'd met him a few times over the years and exchanged a few words but not enough for his speaking style to get lodged in my brain, which it is now. If the railway modelling doesn't take off, I reckon Mr Flint could have a lucrative career doing commercial voiceover work.

[Imustbemadatmyage]

Do you? And if so, what to you propose to do about it?

There seems to be a lot of suggestion that "serious" modellers don't do anything to promote the hobby. I'd suggest that they fact that they tend to be involved in groups or societies that usually hold specialist shows, etc. which means that the general public don't usually attend. Surely it the "local" shows by local clubs that attract the families and potential beginners where the opportunities exist.

Having just joined the forum via buying a “train set” for my grandson, and wanting it to be more than a simple oval of track, I realised that I wanted to develop my own layout as well. He could bash his about as he wished but I would do mine nicely and keep it safe untethered was old enough to respect it!

Totally by accident I found out about the programme and watched the whole series. I had, by then, looked at magazines and “how to” videos and I thoroughly enjoyed seeing these things put into practice.

I have never been to a show or even thought about joining a club - indeed I didn’t even know there was one within 4 miles of where I live- until I saw them on the show. The big question now is “do I just go down on a club night and walk in ( not my usual way of doing things) or do I start going to shows until someone invites me?” I’m sure that I’m not the only person who feels this way.

[Imustbemadatmyage]

Do you? And if so, what to you propose to do about it?

There seems to be a lot of suggestion that "serious" modellers don't do anything to promote the hobby. I'd suggest that they fact that they tend to be involved in groups or societies that usually hold specialist shows, etc. which means that the general public don't usually attend. Surely it the "local" shows by local clubs that attract the families and potential beginners where the opportunities exist.

Having just joined the forum via buying a “train set” for my grandson, and wanting it to be more than a simple oval of track, I realised that I wanted to develop my own layout as well. He could bash his about as he wished but I would do mine nicely and keep it safe until he was old enough to respect it!

Totally by accident I found out about the programme and watched the whole series. I had, by then, looked at magazines and “how to” videos and I thoroughly enjoyed seeing these things put into practice.

I have never been to a show or even thought about joining a club - indeed I didn’t even know there was one within 4 miles of where I live- until I saw them on the show. The big question now is “do I just go down on a club night and walk in ( not my usual way of doing things) or do I start going to shows until someone invites me?” I’m sure that I’m not the only person who feels this way.

[Suzie]

Go to the club!

 

Introduce yourself and let them know your interests, and ask who do you see to join. Probably best to go along a few times before signing up - but don't just wait for an invite, it will never come.

 

You might like to investigate if there are other clubs nearby too. Often clubs will have different ethos and concentrate on different things. The club will often give you the opportunity to indulge in something that you don't have at home due to space/budget/stock/expertise etc.

 

You will have something to offer the club so don't think it will all be one way. Your contribution will be welcome.