surfsup Posted February 13, 2010 Share Posted February 13, 2010 Hopefully will get time to look round properly tomorrow, suffered from a shortage of operators today due to unforseen circumstances. Anyone from this forum feel free to say hi, I'm the bloke in a black polo shirt with black/grey goatee on "Netherhall & Fletching" stand 91 (now next to arena in main hall where Titan Robot does it's thing every so often). Kev Shall try and remember to stop by and say hi...but ill be there on sunday - no doubt wearing my nice & new The Killers Day & Age t shirt Looking foward to sunday...Even if it does mean a 6am start to catch the 07:50 service! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
KevinWalsh Posted February 13, 2010 Author Share Posted February 13, 2010 Had a better look round today, some very good scenic layouts there. Also some that look good, but very little happening; not that I should criticise the b@+*%y electrical gremlins attacked our layout this afternoon. Happisburgh looked absolutely fantastic. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
gandy Posted February 13, 2010 Share Posted February 13, 2010 must be something in the air then, our layout had a hissy fit this morning before opening, and around 4:45, hopfully sorted tomorrow, but i shant be there. all in all, still not worth the ??8 to get in, but because it's free not bad, alot of fun still, a few rivet counters (who got a bit upset when told "the real thing didnt have a 12v motor in them too" ) nice amount of trade, couldnt find ANY kind of weight shot, i knew lead is a no no, but id have thought with all those boat companys someone would have had some. anyway, im off to enjoy my new narrow gauge porn book i got from spv Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dan Hamblin Posted February 13, 2010 Share Posted February 13, 2010 Must have been the date (13th) as Horton also had a very bad day, blowing diodes, point modules, dropping track circuits, loosing power, the heat expanding the track and closing joints causing shorts etc. etc. Was pretty horrendous... ... we still managed to get a Challenger going around (just!), although there were a few long periods when nothing was moving. Here's hoping for better luck tomorrow! Regards, Dan Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Avionyx Posted February 14, 2010 Share Posted February 14, 2010 My girlfriend took me here today as a Valentines treat (and Tonbridge next week!) I had a brilliant day looking round and although it was busy the quality of the layouts more than made up for it. The traders aswell had some great stuff on sale, especially rare and custom items. Loved it! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
trainfan Posted February 14, 2010 Share Posted February 14, 2010 still not worth the ??8 to get in, Sadly, I'm going to have to argee with that. Its been going downhill the last few years and the fact that there were huge areas of space in the exerbition halls says alot. I even heard one person say next time 'he'll have to look on the internet for a 'proper' model show next time'. Its too many subjects at the same time and its going to cost them visitor numbers and the number of traders who will want to go back. I for one personally won't return next year as they've ruined it compared to the show 5 years ago. That said, the layouts on show where all fantastic and all of a consistant high quality which sort of made the trip worth while but its now simply not worth the ??8 paid anymore. Jon Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
samkiller42 Posted February 14, 2010 Share Posted February 14, 2010 Went down there myself this afternoon, was pretty impressed with some of the layouts on display. Also managed to spend far too much money as well. Sam Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Coombe Barton Posted February 14, 2010 Share Posted February 14, 2010 My girlfriend took me here today as a Valentines treat (and Tonbridge next week!) That sounds very, very original! And thoughtful. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
KevinWalsh Posted February 14, 2010 Author Share Posted February 14, 2010 Now that it's over it's time to relax and reflect. County Gate is very stunning scenically but the operational side seems to be lost in there and not enough happening IMHO, sorry to all the fans of it but it just doesn't appeal to me. Getting there and setting up on thursday was a royal pain involving much standing around waiting to get onto loading dock and onto stand area , spent most of the weekend fighting with the electrical gremlins that seem to inhabit brighton centre , but was very lucky with dismantling and loading vehicles at end of show (out of there within 1 hour 15 minutes ). Would I want to go again as an exhibitor? - jury is still out on that one . Would I go as a paying punter, very doubtful, high cost considering at least half of the stands have no interest for me at all. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
samkiller42 Posted February 14, 2010 Share Posted February 14, 2010 Kevin, what stand where you on? Possibly walked past without knowing it, haha. Sam Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
KevinWalsh Posted February 14, 2010 Author Share Posted February 14, 2010 Hi Sam, I was on the stand next to the arena 2 in the main hall, where there was laser tag tanks and titan robot, the SR green layout where there was much swearing at the control box Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Evil Bus Driver Posted February 15, 2010 Share Posted February 15, 2010 Yes I was there. Nice to see so many great layouts. County Gate was a masterpiece, and it was nice to meet Pilotfriend too. I spent a bit of time watching Vauxhall Road. Nice stock. How much of that is DC kits, how much is Southern Pride and how much is Lima plus MJT bits? Anyone spot a Terrier going round there on Saturday? That was my friend's doing... Netherhall and Fletching was another highlight which I was looking forward to. So nice to see the Bachmann CEP running on one or two. Seems to be a big hit with exhibitors too. Also there a DC Sound fitted US N gauge layout I can't remember the name of (yes, DC sound not DCC - the next big thing perhaps?) This was built by an ex-club mate from when I was at Shoreham-by-Sea MRC in Sussex, I got to see part of it being built. The N gauge society layout was good too Lots of little layouts joined by the inclusion of a large outer circuit with fast trains running around it and lots of smaller bits and pieces on each member's board. Great stuff. I was the one wondering around in a long black leather coat if anyone remembers. I bought a few bits and pieces, some vans, a GWR toad and a couple of kits to be getting on with. My mate bought a Bachmann Tornado for 100 GBP, down from 129 GBP. Not a bad deal there. I've exhibited at that show 3 times with Shoreham MRC and I am glad I don't now just seems too much hassle. So much easier to go as a punter... Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
surfsup Posted February 15, 2010 Share Posted February 15, 2010 Crikey - i must have passed quite a good few of all of you then, i was there yesterday partly to have a look around, partly to help out with the Camelot stand and partly to get some black & white images of the sea front on film for my photography project back at college... Though after yesterday i really am starting to agree with you, the 8GBP entry price is getting rather steep for whats there, and although there was some very very nice layouts there, it was more dominated this year by static boats, remote control tanks & various forms of car racing...So i think next time if i go, i shall go with my father as an exhibitor... And did anyone else apart from me find the whole 'robot' thing got rather irritating after a while? Though id say the worst part of the day for me was the journey down to Brighton. Getting there wasnt too bad: 07:50 to Eastleigh 0826 to Fareham & 08:53 FGW To Brighton - Albiet acording to national rail enquires the service is shown as a through service to fareham! Not to bad...Its the getting back that could only really be described as a Nightmare (without the swear words)... 19:26 Southern service to Victoria via Lewes - I dont like Electrostars admittedly, but thats not the worst part! 21:03 SWT Service to Weymouth - get off at Woking for Rail Replacement Bus service to Bas... Nightmare Begins! Got on the coach outside Woking, operated by OFJ ( Tellings Golden Miller (( Arriva Owned))) - Coach driver did not appear to know his way around Woking and got lost on the outskirts, Then his Sat Nav died, then the Coach died! ( Super overheated and shut down apparently!) So there we are sat in a bus stop outside a pub somewhere in the country near Bisley, And then the Rail Replacement 'All Shacks' bus is flagged down and stops for us, but Know-one wants to get on because A, it would have been full and standing, B - it would have taken an hour and a half to get back to Baingstoke! & C, the driver kept repeating to us a replacement coach would be only 5 Minutes away...Yeah Right! So eventually after 45 minutes the replacement coach turns up ( unfortunatly also TGM ) and we all get on - and then this driver dosent know half the route, so in the end we were driven all the way down passed Pirbright Barracks, Ash & Aldershot! before joining the Blackwater Valley road and finnaly up to the M3...Then in making up time, missed the turn off for the town centre in basingstoke and round we had to go again, before Finnaly reaching basingstoke, only an impressive for Arriva, 1 Hour & 40 Minutes late! So late in fact that to add salt to sore wounds, on the approach to basingstoke we passed Guess What??? The All Shacks bus on its way back to Woking Again! Going back to the Modelworld though, Have to say though, that Uckfield MRC's layout "Netherhall and Fletching'' was pretty much my favourate of all the layouts there... And Kevin, we must have passed, as i ( the one in the dark blue 'The Killers Day & Age' tshirt ) did end up spending the best part of my afternoon watching both Netherhall and Fletching & Brixton/Vauxhall Road layouts... Overall, id describe the show just as the weather was today, dull & grey with some short periods of Sunshine Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dan Hamblin Posted February 15, 2010 Share Posted February 15, 2010 County Gate apparently suffered when Titan the Robot was being used because the radio frequencies clashed with those used to automate the layout. Horton had another difficult day, but we kept it running! The kids appreciated a surprise appearance by Gordon and some wag from a neighbouring layout put a clockwork Thomas on at one point while wiring repairs were being carried out Managed to get out and have a wander as well - was very impressed with Netherhall and Fletching, Vauxhall Road and the N gauge layout on the ground floor opposite the aircraft stand. I was surprised to see less live steam / model engineering stuff there this year, and also annoyed that I didn't get to see Overlord. The latter I only twigged was there when I saw the layout boards stacked up by the main entrance as we were taking out layout out. Managed to have a chat with some of my friends from the Eastbourne Electric Car Club, and it was great to see the close racing on the small track set up in one of the halls in the East Wing. It was certainly a fraught weekend (Friday was brilliant for us), but we have a lot more experience with running the rebuilt layout and know what needs to be put right by its next outing. Regards, Dan Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
gandy Posted February 15, 2010 Share Posted February 15, 2010 Also there a DC Sound fitted US N gauge layout I can't remember the name of (yes, DC sound not DCC - the next big thing perhaps?) This was built by an ex-club mate from when I was at Shoreham-by-Sea MRC in Sussex big dessert layout, or the smaller US one on the ground floor? just down from the n gauge group? just that we had a sound fitted loco, and ours (well lee's) is still DC, and the members who made it where in shoreham-by-sea MRC, shame about the barn really. wish someone would do something about it if it was the big dessert one your talking about (i didnt look at the one on the ground floor) its neddles sub, and is owned my lee Wenham from the southshore group Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Evil Bus Driver Posted February 15, 2010 Share Posted February 15, 2010 big dessert layout, or the smaller US one on the ground floor? just down from the n gauge group? just that we had a sound fitted loco, and ours (well lee's) is still DC, and the members who made it where in shoreham-by-sea MRC, shame about the barn really. wish someone would do something about it if it was the big dessert one your talking about (i didnt look at the one on the ground floor) its neddles sub, and is owned my lee Wenham from the southshore group Yeah it was the small one in the east wing that I saw first. It was a damn shame about the barn. Some great layouts were built in there and shame the club isn't still going. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
easilyconfused Posted February 15, 2010 Share Posted February 15, 2010 It was a good show from my perspective. Some interesting N Gauge layouts - especially the modular N Gauge layout that was excellent. Thankfully from my perspective the stand I was on was not next to County Gate so no complaints about us displaying DCC sound (which is the whole point of a DCC demo). Been there and done that and really am not interested in complaints when I spend ??120 to man the stand for the weekend. The times we demoed DCC sound were appreciated and given the noise in the hall from Titan and the Daleks volume was not an issue. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
gandy Posted February 16, 2010 Share Posted February 16, 2010 Yeah it was the small one in the east wing that I saw first. It was a damn shame about the barn. Some great layouts were built in there and shame the club isn't still going. in a way it still is nick, steve and sid our with us now (southshore group) and we often bump into others at shows, i wasnt a member of the shoreham club, i was with arun vale next door. but often poped in next door Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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