Industrial Themed model Exhibition

[Norton961]

I attended the recent Staffordshire Finescale exhibition at Gnosal and was impressed on all sorts of levels. It set me thinking that there seems to be a number of excellent 4 and 7 mm layouts on this thread, so why not have a similar low key exhibition with only Industrial themed layouts.

What does everybody else think?

 

David

[Dava]

I attended the recent Staffordshire Finescale exhibition at Gnosal and was impressed on all sorts of levels. It set me thinking that there seems to be a number of excellent 4 and 7 mm layouts on this thread, so why not have a similar low key exhibition with only Industrial themed layouts.

What does everybody else think?

David

I'd agree it's an attractive idea for a 1-day event, but suggest including narrow gauge industrial also which will expand the potential market as a fair number of us cover both SG and NG industrial modelling. Also why not include 2,3mm, & intermediate scales up to 10mm/foot? There are some out there.

 

Dava

[RANGERS]

I'd agree it's an attractive idea for a 1-day event, but suggest including narrow gauge industrial also which will expand the potential market as a fair number of us cover both SG and NG industrial modelling. Also why not include 2,3mm, & intermediate scales up to 10mm/foot? There are some out there.

Dava

Stage it in the right place and you could include 12" scales as well. The Rutland Railway museum held one many years ago, Eastwell appeared there, that would be an appropriate setting.

[Beatty 139]

I'd agree it's an attractive idea for a 1-day event, but suggest including narrow gauge industrial also which will expand the potential market as a fair number of us cover both SG and NG industrial modelling. Also why not include 2,3mm, & intermediate scales up to 10mm/foot? There are some out there.

 

Dava

There are some fine industrial modelling going on in Gauge 3 as well.

 

I'm sure that it would be well supported by the trade.

 

Chasewater might be happy to host as a venue, the heritage centre is a good sized hall, excellent catering, good access by road and public transport in the middle of the country and scope for a marque if needs be.

[Dava]

There are several possible railways as venues if they are prepared to make covered space available and take a punt on the event in their programme: Chasewater, Rocks by Rail, Foxfield possibly, Tanfield, Middleton. Someone would need to organize it.....

 

Dava

[avonside1563]

Chasewater or Tanfield are probably the best options, Chasewater if they are prepared to clear out the big shed as they have lots of undercover accommodation and Tanfield have their carriage shed that they have put exhibitions on in before. At Foxfield we don't have the right facilities as the main museum isn't fully concreted yet and it would be exceptionally difficult to create a safe environment. However if it was help locally we could combine it with discounted travel.

[Dava]

A modeling event at Chasewater could work well though probably less free space in their museum building than the carriage shed at Tanfield, obviously with the train shunted out for use. There are a good number of SG & NG industrial modellers across the Midlands and layouts also. But it does need someone or a group to organize it!

 

Dava

[Captain Kernow]

Wasn't the RMWeb event a few years ago held at the Chasewater Railway?

[seraphim]

We have toyed with having a model-led event at Apedale, but it's never really come to pass. Of course, if someone wanted to organise something and use our venue, we'd be listening.

[Ruston]

I like the idea. It would be good if various traders who are known for their industrial kits and bits and pieces could also be there too.

 

I'd definitely come as a visitor and would even exhibit a layout, if anyone wanted me to but that would depend on where in the country it was.

[5050]

and would even exhibit a layout

 

Just the one Dave?  You could have a mini-exhibition of your own!

 

I could be up for it as well.  Depending on location as Dave says.

 

Edited August 8, 2017 by 5050

[High Level Kits]

The engineering curator of Beamish Museum is a keen and very capable modeller, you could try there...

[rue_d_etropal]

North Midlands is probably best area. I was at first Tracks to Trenches exhibition at Apedale, and there were visitors from most parts of the country. Only a hour from Manchester(historical links to oseley Trust). As it is a narrow gauge museum, it might not be so suitable as a more general industrial railway one. Quite a few people seem to turn their noses up if it is not standard gauge, pity, but to get crowds in you do need to market to as many as possible.

As to whether there is enough interest for a purely industrial one, the Porthmadoc one did try to move in this direction, but eventually had to succumb to high costs of putting on a specialised event, even though it was in an area with lots of railway interest.

I would certainly support any industrial railway themed exhibition, and could offer a layout in a less than common scale. Ideally , if it was somewhere with good public transport(trains preferably) then it would be better. Possibly a bit far north,(but better for me), the Middleton railway might make a good location,especially as they already host an exhibition. Otherwise I might suggest a sub exhibition within a big exhibition. This was done a couple of years ago at York, and it worked very well. Such an exhibition, would be organised by a sub team, but working to guideline from main exhibition team. I think

[avonside1563]

The best way to take this forward is probably along the same lines as the Staffordshire Finescale Group's recent one day exhibition. We found a venue that had reasonable costs and kept them low by keeping the time we hired it to a minimum and none of the exhibitors put in any costs other than some fuel for those who came a distance and a van to move BCB and a couple of other local layouts to the hall. That way even though the attendance was limited we covered the costs of the exhibition.

[5050]

The best way to take this forward is probably along the same lines as the Staffordshire Finescale Group's recent one day exhibition. We found a venue that had reasonable costs and kept them low by keeping the time we hired it to a minimum and none of the exhibitors put in any costs other than some fuel for those who came a distance and a van to move BCB and a couple of other local layouts to the hall. That way even though the attendance was limited we covered the costs of the exhibition.

I can think of a couple of one day venues locally (church related so Saturday only!) but to make it worthwhile it would have to be well marketed to get a worthwhile footfall.

[avonside1563]

I can think of a couple of one day venues locally (church related so Saturday only!) but to make it worthwhile it would have to be well marketed to get a worthwhile footfall.

 

That was the point of the SFG Gnosall exhibition, we only wanted to reach finescale modellers so marketing was targeted through RMWeb with some local leaflet advertising, although we did have leaflets at the Stafford Exhibition in February. We anticipated a smaller footfall than a general exhibition with trade and budgeted accordingly.

[ColinK]

Nice idea. I too would consider bringing my layout 0-16.5 industrial layout if required.

 

Another way of having a show at a preserved railway is to have a few layouts at each station on the line.

[rue_d_etropal]

For an exhibition with mainly small layouts(often only one operator), I would try to keep them in one place. I was at Keighley event recently, and felt a bit out of it, being at Ingrow, when the main exhibition was at the end of the line. As a sole operator, I like to get out and see what else is at exhibition, and although it was nice having train ride , it did take a couple of hours to get down to exhibition and back, and I did wonder how many visitors only visited the exhibition, and did not come up to Ingrow. Otherwise I was well looked after, and enjoyed the weekend.

 

I laugh when I hear that phrase 'well marketed'. Having been involved with clubs and exhibitions since moving up north nearly 30 years ago(time flies!), I have found that traditional railway modelling marketing works OK, but you always find someone who says they did not realise it was on, despite ther being signs everywhere locally, and posters placed in local shops.

For a specialist themed exhbition, it has to be easily accessible, both for layout owners and visitors. Never assume. Get local people involved. Look what else is happening. Preserved railways are best suited for summer exhibitions, but a small local show might work better in middle of winter, when not much else is going on. With an industrial theme, it might also be worth working with local history society. The difficuly with an industrial theme, is that a lot of railway entusiasts look down on it, much like narrow gauge, and are only interested if a layout has a Flying Scotsman running!

As I suggested, an exhibition within an exhibition might work better. Not sure how costs are worked out, but it might be possible to rent an extra room, at minimal cost. Although I would still expect the usual financial arrangements, not having to actually book the layouts and plan the room, might save the main exhibition team a ot of work, and they then get a bigger exhibition.

Edited August 8, 2017 by rue_d_etropal

[Beatty 139]

I've just had a discussion with one of the Chasewater directors and they would be happy to play host to a one day event.

[Signaller69]

Count me in if - usual caveat - its not seriously out of the way, and can get time off work if required. Either as a visitor or with Talywain if it was wanted.

[5050]

A possibility for me too - so long as there's no clashes with other events etc.  I attended the RMWeb day there a few years ago and it's a relatively easy drive from here, M1, A38, A5.

[john new]

Our SLS Newcastle Centre have already started the trend with the Coal & Limestone exhibitions in the Mining Institute, Newcastle. 2017 event already successfully held.

[Ruston]

I've just had a discussion with one of the Chasewater directors and they would be happy to play host to a one day event.

Does this mean you have volunteered yourself as the event organiser?

[Beatty 139]

Erm..... I would be happy to offer some assistance and would look to have my trade stand for the larger gauges (1&3) but with a model business a full time job and an 8 week old daughter might find being an organiser one challenge to far, I broached the subject with one of Chasewaters directors today who happended to be a funeral of the later general manger Steve Organ who sadly passed away a few weeks past, and they would be open to supporting this and making the heritage centre and site avalible.

As an already established Industrial Hertage railway, in the middle of the England with good road and rail connection, it's an option as was being discussed, it ticks several boxes.