Ron Ron Ron Posted November 30, 2015 Share Posted November 30, 2015 My colleagues phone detected 133 networks in the hall on Sunday afternoon so I'm not surprised there were some problems. Would many of those "networks" be for the wireless credit card machines being used on trade stands? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rugd1022 Posted November 30, 2015 Share Posted November 30, 2015 One thing which pleasantly surprised me (and has been remarked on some way back in the thread) was the 'in hall' catering from what appear to be mobile units. The one I bought a hot dog from was clean, run by friendly people and offered what struck me in 2015 terms as reasonable prices and pretty good quality for pret a manger exhibition catering - definitely something in favour of the show. I didn't bother much with layouts but having seen Horfield in the past I think it's great - a cavalcade of trains through recent (to me) times at sensible intervals more akin to a railway than a model railway, JLTRT train spotting! the one where I did spend quite a lot of time was O'Connell Street - brilliant. And overall well it was the Warley show - a mixture, as ever, of loving it and hating it but all things considered extremely good value for money. I was at the NEC for the Classic Car Show a fortnight ago Mike and the 'in hall' catering went down a treat then too - it might not seem that important but when you're trudging round five massive halls looking at nigh on two thousand vehicles, the inner man certainly needs good bit of snap to keep him going! I completely missed Warley this time round though as I was working the whole weekend. As far as modelling goes I've been out of the loop for a year or so (work, sleep and other hobbies) but having looked at some of the photos in this thread it looks like I've missed a few treats. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold roundhouse Posted November 30, 2015 RMweb Gold Share Posted November 30, 2015 Would many of those "networks" be for the wireless credit card machines being used on trade stands? Could well have been. There were a fair few 'NEC' ones. At least two of us near each other had our layout networks and another I am pretty certain had one near us. I didn't take too much notice of the names of the networks though Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
298 Posted November 30, 2015 Share Posted November 30, 2015 The "Warley Effect" seemed to be in attendance again with jaw-dropping modelling on a number of levels being casually passed by when it'd be hunted down at smaller events. Can't say I wasn't innocent in that either, I walked straight by a row of minimum space layouts that should have provided some design inspiration and I'm not sure what the solution would be, apart from a better show preview such as a slide presentation or clips of invited layouts on YouTube. I'd describe myself as a "Maybe" visitor at best though, so such information needs to be more than a list of layout names. Regarding the lighting, I'd agree that some layouts with LED's were effective, but it all depended on the ambient light that was weak anyway and died mid-afternoon, the good ones might be less so with more sunlight. One show stopper (with the double decked turntable) had five 12v halogen bulbs and a couple of GU10's, and still took time to become accustomed to because of my eyes having to adjust to the ambient Orange nuclear winter. There is no way the NEC can justify it either on cost or appearance, in addition to the photos in the Telegraph I've seen some from Classic car shows, Comicon and the Lego show, and all looked ruined by the lighting. I think it's only fair that someone breaks into the hall and pops the bulbs off with an air rifle whilst they're using it for the next few months to store road salt. In the meantime I shall send my usual letter of disgust.... Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium melmerby Posted November 30, 2015 RMweb Premium Share Posted November 30, 2015 There is no way the NEC can justify it either on cost or appearance, in addition to the photos in the Telegraph I've seen some from Classic car shows, Comicon and the Lego show, and all looked ruined by the lighting. I think it's only fair that someone breaks into the hall andbpops the bulbs off with an air rifle whilst they're using it for the next few months to store road salt. In the meantime I shall send my usual letter of disgust.... I think you are probably jesting but:- I would imagine the lighting provided is background lighting just for safety etc. It's up to exhibitors to illuminate their stand as they would like. The NEC is not alone, other halls are just as bad. The Ricoh last year was pretty gloomy. I've been to quite a few different shows over the years and most stands provide their own lighting. Just look at the M/C show which is on alongside Warley, it is a riot of light. Keith Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Krok182 Posted November 30, 2015 Share Posted November 30, 2015 Well, I went yesterday (Sunday) ... Well done Warley but my friends and I won't be going again, why? The scrum when leaving at 4PM on the local roads was truly awful, so much bad, discourteous & impatient driving - it was just terrible. Would have taken the train ... I also went Sunday, too much to take in, in one day, so it never bothers me if one layout doesn't take my fancy, I can just move along to the next. Yes well done to Warley, however after many years as a regular attendee I also won't be going again. Why? I use to drive and park. In recent years have taken the train but the Midland service southbound is now so awful that I'm not going to make the journey anymore: just one train an hour on the Sunday; the trains around closing time are so dreadfully overcrowded that people are always left stranded on the platform; I'm simply too fragile for that sort of scrumage. Warley - you might want to take this up with NEC/Midland on behalf of your customers. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Administrators Phil Parker Posted November 30, 2015 Administrators Share Posted November 30, 2015 I also went Sunday, too much to take in, in one day, so it never bothers me if one layout doesn't take my fancy, I can just move along to the next. Yes well done to Warley, however after many years as a regular attendee I also won't be going again. Why? I use to drive and park. In recent years have taken the train but the Midland service southbound is now so awful that I'm not going to make the journey anymore: just one train an hour on the Sunday; the trains around closing time are so dreadfully overcrowded that people are always left stranded on the platform; I'm simply too fragile for that sort of scrumage. Warley - you might want to take this up with NEC/Midland on behalf of your customers. I'm not sure one fairly small show (Warley: 18,000 visitors. Classic car a fortnight before 3-4 times that) complaining to a rail company is going to persuade them to spend millions on extra rolling stock or even go to the trouble of re-organising sets just for a weekend. Trains from the NEC to Leamington are hourly and I could catch the first one after the end of the show on Saturday. Experience has taught me it will be horribly crowded especially if there are other events on. My solution: Take the free cable car thing to the airport, enjoy a nice meal (spagbog this time) and come back an hour later. Result: easily get on a train even though it's a stupid 4 coach set. Or you could stay in the 'spoons at the NEC for an hour and not only would the trains be quieter, you won't care as much. An alternative approach would be Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Administrators Phil Parker Posted November 30, 2015 Administrators Share Posted November 30, 2015 Regarding the lighting, I'd agree that some layouts with LED's were effective, but it all depended on the ambient light that was weak anyway and died mid-afternoon, the good ones might be less so with more sunlight. One show stopper (with the double decked turntable) had five 12v halogen bulbs and a couple of GU10's, and still took time to become accustomed to because of my eyes having to adjust to the ambient Orange nuclear winter. There is no way the NEC can justify it either on cost or appearance, in addition to the photos in the Telegraph I've seen some from Classic car shows, Comicon and the Lego show, and all looked ruined by the lighting. I think it's only fair that someone breaks into the hall andbpops the bulbs off with an air rifle whilst they're using it for the next few months to store road salt. In the meantime I shall send my usual letter of disgust.... As has been said many time, lighting in exhibition halls is for safety only, it's not to illuminate the stands. At most events, the stands don't want bright lights, they provide their own lighting. As Keith said, the motorcycle show is ablaze with light, as was the classis car show a couple of weeks earlier. Photos can be misleading too. Your eyes are far better at dealing with odd colour. The phone on my camera is pretty good too but my digital cameras aren't, which could explain the cast on the images you've seen. Many layout owners prefer dark halls, it allows us to control the light on our display. I once saw a layout with a full theatre lighting setup in a classroom opposite a window on a bright day. All the guys work was wasted as light spill negated the effects he'd strived for. No layout should rely on a venue providing suitable light any more than they should expect them to provide a set of transformers and controllers. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold PaulRhB Posted November 30, 2015 RMweb Gold Share Posted November 30, 2015 The stand next to us was lit bright purple! You'd need some pretty strong orange filters to have overpowered it Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alan J Kirkman Posted November 30, 2015 Share Posted November 30, 2015 Well when I walked out on Sunday and had a look at the state of play on B'ham Intl Station where it was soon obvious that there was some problems afoot southwards and a good wind blowing that had all the likelihood of making it worse I just headed for the Bus stop! It must be me as ex Railway but I'm always surprised how few of out enthusiast seem to have the "second Sight" to adjust when things go adrift. A number of folk have posted about using the Station Car Park but an even better one is to use the CENTRO funded free one at Marston Green and come one stop on the train! Now as far as crowding is concerned that was all the other shows contributing far more passengers Warley's 16,000 is a mere fleabite. Now I know of No other of Our exhibitions that are held alongside several even Bigger Shows simultaneously and on the Saturday evening a Major concert leading to bi directional flows of visitors. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold Tim Hall Posted November 30, 2015 RMweb Gold Share Posted November 30, 2015 I parked in a lane next to Hampton-in-Arden station both days. £2.10 return, 3 min journey to International. Mind you, changing my permit to travel on Sunday for a return ticket took longer than the train journey. Train back was a bit late and v busy, but still far better than the parking bandits at the NEC. Personally, I enjoyed the show. But as a guest operator on a layout belonging to friends, (prize winning Waterfield Hall), I was there all day both days, so could pick and choose when to wander. If it was busy, I could go back and play trains for a bit. The only layout I struggled to get near at any stage was the delightful Worlds End. The lighting wasn't great, but not terrible either. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium melmerby Posted November 30, 2015 RMweb Premium Share Posted November 30, 2015 Both the M/C and Warley shows have now been pitted against the Good Food show which is always crowded so you are going to have to get used to it. Keith Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kickstart Posted November 30, 2015 Share Posted November 30, 2015 Hi I was there both days helping on a friends trade stand. I always used to get a headache after a day at the NEC, and could never work out why. My best guess was the lighting caused it. But the last couple of years I haven't suffered so not sure if something has changed. As to the layouts, they varied a lot. The one that both myself and my better half were really impressed with was Worlds End. The one that attracted my sense of humour was a continental (Dutch?) with loads of small animations, including a working model railway in a shop window. Saturday was far busier than last year I will no doubt be back next year. All the best Katy Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kelly Posted November 30, 2015 Share Posted November 30, 2015 Went both days this year rather than just the Sunday as in previous years (usually I'd do Comicon on the Saturday). Saturday morning was a bit of a transport nightmare, with my being denied access (on a mobility scooter) to the first London Midland train to arrive, fair enough the train was packed, but the guard made no effort to try to make space or help, nor did the attitude of the station staff there (Tile Hill). Thankfully the next train the guard was very helpful and we got on and off at International without much further hassle. This hassle meant we booked to go from Coventry instead via Virgin for Sunday morning, though that had its own problems due to the steeper ramp angles and the much more restrictive space on the Pendolino versus the 350 unit (single door, with toilet making space narrow versus double doors with unobstructed access), at least with the scooter anyway (it being a small boot portable one it fits in most spaces fine). Anyway, transport issues aside I had a lovely couple of days. The usual problem occured with regards to viewing layouts for me though, with it being impossible to get near a lot of them due to a combination of crowds and height (on a scooter you're much lower down). This was a less significant problem on Sunday, but I still couldn't get anywhere near a number of layouts even then. Certainly not something that is unique to Warley however. Sunday saw me stopping and having a nice chat with Maggie from Warren Lane, even having a go on the layout so she could grab a short break (and more importantly have her tea before it went cold!). Great fun the award for best modern image layout was well deserved and a fitting send off to a lovely layout before it goes to its new owners. Hopefully we'll see something equally nice from Maggie and Alan in the future for their next project. A lovely weekend spent catching up with people and seeing some lovely layouts. Left with a few new ideas in my head, hopefully some of them might even might come to fruitition sometime next year... Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kelly Posted November 30, 2015 Share Posted November 30, 2015 Both the M/C and Warley shows have now been pitted against the Good Food show which is always crowded so you are going to have to get used to it. Keith Thankfully Comicon isn't the same weekend anymore, but the Christmas gift show was still the same weekend, with a lot of people going to that. A problem that will just keep getting worse as the new Casino venue etc gains more traction there. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium Trainshed Terry Posted November 30, 2015 RMweb Premium Share Posted November 30, 2015 I was there assisting on the "D55 Kitmaster Club Stand" both days and had a very enjoyable weekend, this years show was a much improved with the space and the selection of layouts that attended, along with a great selection of traders. It was let down by one thing, and that the shuttle bus services and car parking charges which seamed to crop it's head to everyone that I spoke to. I realise that it was out of the control of the event organisers but £12 is a tad on the strong side.But that was not the worst of it. The show ended at 6pm on Saturday, me and my two collages went to get the bus back to the south car park at the NEC.The bus duly came along and my collages got on the bus at which point the driver shut the doors as I tried to get on a bus to the south car park. Since I was not going to wait for a further 15 Minutes for the next bus.,so I legged it to the south car park. funny thing I arrived back at the 7 minutes before they did.. I personal feel that this is not up to standard as the shuttle services should be a bus every 5 minutes. But otherwise this year's show is a improvement on previous shows that I have attended well done to the Warley Club. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RichardS Posted November 30, 2015 Share Posted November 30, 2015 Just read through 10 or so pages of varying takes on this massive event. We went for both days this year, staying over. If folk have a problem with the crowds and only spend say half a day there I suggest you go late Saturday. From about 16.30 the hall emptied and the last 90 minutes were sheer heaven - Sunday was quiet but busy by comparison. Why people crowd to the Bachmann stand for 'returns' beats me. Yes a few years ago before it 'caught on' I did get a couple of absolute bargains but not now. Prices are below MRP, but still above trade and volumes of returns are lower as - according to one of the reps I know - less 'damaged stock' is getting to the retail market to be returned. And of course if Bachmann sell too much at knock down prices, other retailers might get a bit upset, threaten not to attend and the WMRC wouldn't like that. I think it is noticeable that Hornby who trade direct on line do not sell mainstream goods at shows whereas Bachmann who do not, do. I cannot understand how some people manage to 'do' the show in 3 hours or so. Overall, we spent 15 hours there and for the first time I think I saw most of it. I actually spent less time looking at general trade stands and more looking at specialists and layouts. Most of us have a jaundiced eye, I suspect, and focus on those subjects that interest us most. This year I made a point of looking at as many things as I could - some I lingered at not, others I returned to. Highlights for me were: The World's End - simply double track OO passing over Knaresborough Viaduct and through a representation of Knaresborough. Excellent. At one point this large layout was under the control of one person. Superb architectural modelling. Just wonderful. (there seemed to be several larger layouts with fewer operators - in the past some look busier than a Pyramid construction site) Bruntisland 1883 - firstly because it is of a period that is so hard to model - the later Victorian period - nobody alive knows what it was really like - all there is are pictures. Then it is so big, and it's in 18.83. Some lovely ship models, and a fascinating bollard-shunting, coal-loading-hoist feature. Sadly as mentioned by others parts of this layout seemed a bit fragile, but I think I can accept that, things go wrong and we're all amateurs at the end of the day. Wheal Elizabeth - compact, perfect running, well lit. Ideal. Crewlisle - I have to mention this. It's everybody's spare bedroom, trains running everywhere, packed with features. A great train set - only it wasn't a train set - it was a well thought out and well prosecuted model railway. Masterful use of space. And no fiddle yard - did everybody else notice that? I bet lots didn't. To the builder it's a waste of space - and cost of course - so there is a feature to exchange whole trains in cassettes stored under the boards when they go through a hidden return loop. Hassel Harbour Bridge - Great O gauge model. I don't normally like O gauge as I think sometimes the scenery, buildings and accessories let down some excellent track and rolling stock. HHB overcomes this and is awesome. The bridge is great but I like the mine on the other side. The Acme in Scale 7 (I think I've got this right) - one model locomotive on here could have turned my eye - a Class 37 with sound. Zwaaghoek - 0-16.5 from The Netherlands. Full of atmosphere, some superb characterful buildings, arranged to make you look into the model. And a little Vincent Van Gogh (with 2 ears) painting the scene - yes the painting was of the actual layout. (Curiously we saw Vincent on another layout - he gets about that one!). A breeze/draught near the layout caused the smoke from the locos to blow most realistically when we stood there. So convincing was this I wondered if there was a fan on the layout - but no, it was an ambient draught in the hall but very fortuitous. Mers les Bains - French NG this time, but again well captured some excellent figures. So often the figures on 7mm look like small dolls or straw dollies. Some good and clever scenery work. Valencia Harbour - minimalist Irish modelling, barren, windswept - one expected Will Hay, Moore Marriott and Graham Moffatt to tumble out of the wooden station building. Fine modelling. Mjolner Verk - Scandinavian and it showed, clean simple lines, running impeccably, superb presentation. This was the one I wanted to take home. No doubt not everybody's choice. But I liked it. Although the operators made me feel very short - must be the Viking genes! Finally I will mention O'Connell Street - the hoouge model of the famous Dublin thoroughfare. Lots of trams and also buses running on a Faller car system basis. Plenty to see. Presently involved in building a complex tram layout I know how hard it is to get mainly urban scenes right. So hats off to these guys for sheer scale of this layout. There was nothing wrong with any of the other layouts but these didn't take my eye so readily as those I have mentioned. I spent several happy hours watching and talking to the operators. Finally, I will return to fiddle yards. The lack of one on Crewlisle had already got me thinking beyond my own plans for a 're-usable' fiddle yard. But amongst all the new announcements there was one innovation that took my eye - no not the kitchen knives (!) (meant to be the Good Food show perhaps?) - but the Nelevation revolving fiddle yard. If you didn't look or missed it do have a look at the website www.nelevation.com - it's sort of 'crowd-funded development. The fiddle yard is a vertical arrangement of 'cassettes' which hold the train and these rotate on a sort of chain drive at one end. The one on show was for N gauge, accommodated 20 trains - 10 up and 10 down both in railway speak and literally (if you see what I mean.) Expensive? Yes. A six foot OO version in kit form will be £1060 and hold 12 trains. But we calculated that to produce such accommodation using points, track and all the electrics would be in the region of £600 plus the 'notional cost' of labour. And it's re-usable. But it's not clear why the OO versions are dearer than the N Gauge versions when there are fewer components in construction. One big drawback that we could see - and which might be show-stopper for some - is that 'fiddling' with the trains didn't look straightforward. And after all what is a fiddle yard for? But that's like Warley in everything - there's something for almost everybody. I found two themes at the show which I will post about separately and my observations on OO hand-built track will be added to a suitable thread in the Hand-built Track and Templot section. Thanks to WMRC for once again organising a great event. Regards RichardS Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
BR(S) Posted November 30, 2015 Share Posted November 30, 2015 Nice Warley products summary in today's MREmag, including Peco OHLE: http://www.mremag.com/index.php Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Titan Posted November 30, 2015 Share Posted November 30, 2015 I travelled by car on the Sunday. I noted that there appeared to be a massive tailback for the NEC car parks, but I just parked in the railway station car park instead. If you park in the Multi-story section then you only have about thirty yards or so to walk that is not undercover, an important consideration in yesterdays weather. It cost me £6, although for some reason the exit barriers were lifting without demanding a ticket, so it could have cost me nothing. The catering was excellent, was a little indulgent and went for the toad in the hole from the cafe which was one of the best I have had. One thing that I found quite inspiring was the wide variety of standards on show. Might sound like an odd way of looking at things, but so often the standards are so high I leave an exhibition thinking I could not manage to do anything worthy of showing, yet there were some that I was thinking that actually I might be able to do as good as that, perhaps even better, so maybe my efforts are no so bad after all! Had a great time talking about the APT testing with 'Mr Tilt' and when my daughter discovered that Bill from Rapido was also an avid Doctor who fan teased him about the previous nights episode which is apparently the only one he has not seen yet! So all in all a good show. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RJS1977 Posted December 1, 2015 Share Posted December 1, 2015 There is free Wi-Fi, of sorts, within the NEC. You need to sign up for it - quoting an email address - then you get emails every so often, telling you about pay-to-attend events you can book through their Ticket Factory subsidiary, who'd be only too happy to sell you tickets for them (and charge you loads of fees, on top of the "face value" ticket price - which is why I actively avoid buying model railway show tickets through them). I used to buy my tickets directly from Warley to avoid the booking fee - until I realised the cost of two envelopes plus stamps was more than the Ticketmaster booking fee! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RJS1977 Posted December 1, 2015 Share Posted December 1, 2015 .Just thought Burntisland excellent and thanks to the chap in the top hat for all info especially on how to pronounce the name. My father and I both enjoyed the show - arrived at 10 and just about saw everything (or perhaps not!) by chucking out time! Two things that stick out for me were the layout with an artist doing a painting of it, and the one with the model shop with the working toy train! But I certainly thought there was plenty of variety both in terms of scale/gauge and prototype. Only real disappointment as far as I was concerned was Burntisland - very nice layout (from the pictures in RM anyway!) but too much of the view was blocked by the front operators and the aforementioned gents in top hats! Thought it was reasonably busy in terms of footfall but we plan our route to try to avoid the crowds as much as we can by starting at the back and working forwards! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold Zero Gravitas Posted December 1, 2015 RMweb Gold Share Posted December 1, 2015 I travelled by car on the Sunday. I noted that there appeared to be a massive tailback for the NEC car parks, but I just parked in the railway station car park instead. If you park in the Multi-story section then you only have about thirty yards or so to walk that is not undercover, an important consideration in yesterdays weather. It cost me £6, although for some reason the exit barriers were lifting without demanding a ticket, so it could have cost me nothing. . I think it was mentioned earlier, but the reason the exit barrier raises without a ticket is because of ANPR (Automatic Number Plate Recognition). When you enter the car park a camera records your number plate, and it is probably printed on the ticket you get. When you pay before you leave, the system records the payment against your number plate, and a camera at the exit barrier recognises that you have paid and the barrier raises automatically. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Titan Posted December 1, 2015 Share Posted December 1, 2015 Ah modern technology! I still have the ticket somewhere, I will have a look! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RJS1977 Posted December 1, 2015 Share Posted December 1, 2015 Finally, I will return to fiddle yards. The lack of one on Crewlisle had already got me thinking beyond my own plans for a 're-usable' fiddle yard. But amongst all the new announcements there was one innovation that took my eye - no not the kitchen knives (!) (meant to be the Good Food show perhaps?) - but the Nelevation revolving fiddle yard. If you didn't look or missed it do have a look at the website www.nelevation.com - it's sort of 'crowd-funded development. The fiddle yard is a vertical arrangement of 'cassettes' which hold the train and these rotate on a sort of chain drive at one end. The one on show was for N gauge, accommodated 20 trains - 10 up and 10 down both in railway speak and literally (if you see what I mean.) Expensive? Yes. A six foot OO version in kit form will be £1060 and hold 12 trains. But we calculated that to produce such accommodation using points, track and all the electrics would be in the region of £600 plus the 'notional cost' of labour. And it's re-usable. But it's not clear why the OO versions are dearer than the N Gauge versions when there are fewer components in construction. One big drawback that we could see - and which might be show-stopper for some - is that 'fiddling' with the trains didn't look straightforward. And after all what is a fiddle yard for? But that's like Warley in everything - there's something for almost everybody. Never saw that - and I can't find Nelevation in the floor plan - where were they? Richard PS - one other amazing feature I saw was the double decker turntable on one of the layouts! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RichardS Posted December 1, 2015 Share Posted December 1, 2015 Never saw that - and I can't find Nelevation in the floor plan - where were they? Richard PS - one other amazing feature I saw was the double decker turntable on one of the layouts! Hi RJS1977, according to the leaflet they were on stand C20A which gives me the impression that they were a late entrant and I cannot find them on the plan or list either. I agree the double decker turntable was very well executed and showed some fine modelling although I found it a bit boring (like I find most shed scenes) and unreal - it's completely imaginary. I don't know if there was any such construction anywhere in the world, no doubt somebody will inform us soon. Nevertheless a superb model and demonstrates the wide variety of subjects this hobby can happily incorporate. Regards Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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