Warley National Model Railway Exhibition 2018 - 24th and 25th November

[Ron Ron Ron]

 

 

 

 

 

Edited November 26, 2018 by Ron Ron Ron

[10sidmouth]

Well braved another visit.

 

Watching Sidmouth but nothing moving yet again.

 

Always the same with this lot.

 

In light of your comments you might be surprised to learn that "this lot", as you so dismissively state, won both the inaugural Sir William McAlpine award for best layout but also the Bachmann award for best 4mm layout. So, we must have been doing something right, I guess.

 

As to "nothing moving yet again", you cannot have stayed very long, because we invariably run trains every two minutes or so. For goodness sake this was a single track branch line that boasted a maximum of 15 trains each way a day. The service we run is in accordance with a strict sequence, is very varied in nature to interest the onlooker and involves completely prototypical movements. Furthermore, it is vastly more intense than was ever the case in 1959/60. Let me tell you that the sequence and the layout took a lot of time and effort to put together and my team and I do not appreciate being kicked into touch in the manner you have employed. If you think we are not pleasing you, the public, then talk to us and tell us what you think should be happening, rather than hiding behind a nom-de-plume and posting these unhelpful comments. Richard Harper, owner of Sidmouth.

[cornelius]

Well. This was the first show for Narrow Planet outside of specialised narrow gauge events and what a trial by fire!

 

I was quite anxious about the scale of the thing and the arrangements for unloading and breaking down, but in fact everything ran very smoothly from our point of view and the stewarding was excellent.

 

 

We decided it was worth investing in a shell stand to make an impression, it's certainly the most professional looking display we've put on so far and the two-aspect frontage made it easy to work with the level of interest we had.

 

Thanks to everyone who came to see us, whether making a purchase or just having a look at what we do. The level of interest from people outside our narrow gauge sphere was really encouraging and I hope we'll get a chance to come back!

[chris p bacon]

 we must have been doing something right, I guess.

 

Beat you to it.

 

And yet on the several occasions I saw it, it was working perfectly and at the end of the day sporting 'the best 4mm layout' award.

 

 

I thought the award was well deserved and that Sidmouth is a masterpiece of modelling.

['CHARD]

 

Out of interest, and thinking about new products, did anyone happen to notice the new hardback book on the Bala Jct to Blaenau Ffestiniog line on sale, please (Lightmoor Press)?

 

 

If their stand was adjacent (or nearby) to Book Law Publications, then I think I did notice a book with that title, as it put me in mind of the Cwm Prysor layout on here.

[ianLMS]

I thoroughly enjoyed the show - got there at 0830 and suprised to see a large queue to get in so decided to have a coffee while I waited for the doors to open. Once the doors opened, we moved relatively quickly. First visit was to Lime Street before it got completely crowded. Stunning modelling and had a quick chat with the operators/builders. The engineering and logistics involved was lovely to see up close. I do appreciate that it needs to run to a realistic timetable and yes, you do need to crouch down to get the best view, but in my mind, it was still the highlight of the show.

 

There were loads of layouts with plenty of trains running, especially the live steam layouts - I spent ages just watching them whizz round. The Gauge 1 layout was superb as were the Ch 5 programme layouts.

 

Completely blew my budget and spent way too much, but purchased lots of tools, consumables, a few kits and lots of goodies from Alan Gibson/Brassmasters. 

[glo41f]

Thank you for all the photos which went to show how much I missed!  I defy anyone looking at these to aver that railway modelling is not a three dimensional art form!  It was amazing to see the diversity of skills and talents that go together to create a model.

 

I even enjoyed the Hornby Dublo layout as it took me back to the seven year old I once was who looked at such things which were displayed in the shops at Christmas  and who longer for a Duchess of Montrose set!  Sadly it never materialised and faith in Father Christmas declined deeply as a result. (The blighter never delivers what you want in my experience!)

 

Martin Long

['CHARD]

  BTW I don't see the criticism being directed at the quality of the layout, just the lack of no action.

 

Problem didn't exist!  

[Crisis Rail]

Thank you for all the photos which went to show how much I missed!  I defy anyone looking at these to aver that railway modelling is not a three dimensional art form!  It was amazing to see the diversity of skills and talents that go together to create a model.

 

I even enjoyed the Hornby Dublo layout as it took me back to the seven year old I once was who looked at such things which were displayed in the shops at Christmas  and who longer for a Duchess of Montrose set!  Sadly it never materialised and faith in Father Christmas declined deeply as a result. (The blighter never delivers what you want in my experience!)

 

Martin Long

 

Good post Martin - you as well then

[RedgateModels]

Well I had another great weekend Demoing at Warley. Loads of eager punters wanting to know more about loco servicing and repair. I had a steady steam of questions and problems to address which made the two days whizz by!

 

Great evening with my own company in "Marco's" at the Holiday Inn, great food, pleasant atmosphere and great service. I'd recommend the Holiday Inn at the airport and Marco's Restaurant without hesitation.

 

Got most of my shopping list sorted, just need to get the Gaugemaster foam underlay on-line soon as GM only had two rolls and were of course selling at full list. Did buy one of their N gauge track cleaning brushes though.

 

Big big thanks to Barry as ever for inviting me and making me so welcome in the Demo area, also for making my RMweb Yellow Peril a lot dirtier than DJ Models did. I'll post some pics once I have unpacked.

 

Hope to return in 2019.

[Izzy]

 

Could I firstly thank all those who have posted shots for those of us unable to get to exhibitions like this for many differing reasons. There seems to have been not only a wide selection of stands and layouts to suit all tastes, but to a good standard too.

 

In respect to the frequency of running, and based on my past experiences of both exhibiting and viewing, I now have no expectation of what I will see if I am lucky enough to manage to get to a show. No two layouts can be run in the same way, and if you operate a layout scaled to the size of the prototype, then speeded up time isn’t really feasible simply because a stock movement of any kind should take as long to do as in ‘real life’. Yes, the gaps between trains can often be eliminated, which is where a sequence rather than a timetable can be an advantage, but as the model gets bigger and more complicated, so this becomes harder to achieve.

 

I do sometimes get frustrated when layouts and their operators run a layout at a show as if it’s a club night, spending more time chatting with friends than operating, but generally I find most layout owners/operators try to show layouts off to their best advantage. While entrance costs might be high these days, linking these to what a layout is expected to do seems wrong to me, simply because while travelling costs etc may be covered it’s not paid employment, being done for free, the pleasure - and often the pain sometimes - of exhibiting being the reward.

 

Izzy

[chrisf]

I was there yesterday.  I regard the event as an endurance test and my jaundiced views should be read with that in mind.  I have no intention of sniping at exhibitors of layouts.  Indeed, some deserve bravery awards for putting their heads above the parapet.  Not all are to my taste and rather than antagonise the owner/builder I prefer to say nothing.  Where credit is due I will give it.  I have known Sidmouth and its creator, Richard Harper, for several years now.  I am not one to go "wow" at the slightest provocation but when I first saw Sidmouth that is exactly what I said.  In my not always humble opinion it is well worthy of the awards that have been bestowed on it since it hit the scene. 

 

Not many layouts that I had not seen before grabbed me but one that did was the one depicting a Belgian tram stop somewhere near Kortrijk.  It was uncomplicated and different, well executed and well presented and such a welcome change from the 'same old, same old' that some large shows seem to attract.  So many have ruler straight tracks linking right angled bends and display no originality whatsoever.  Other bees may be found in my bonnet ...

 

I bought the one item on my shopping list plus two which came as a pleasant surprise.  One, from the 2mm Scale Association stand, was a modest but informative tome about point rodding.  The other was a doorstep, namely the keenly anticipated volume by Hugh Longworth on pre-nationalisation coaches of the GWR and LNER.  It contains as complete a list as I know of allocations of close coupled B sets.  Its release seems to have come as a surprise but a pleasant one.

 

The nearest I got to sampling the catering was making myself a cuppa from a machine which cost me £2.60 to use.  Is it any wonder that I am curmudgeonly?  Some of the meals being eaten by patrons who once had money looked quite tasty in all fairness but I relied on home made ham and cheese sarnies to sustain me.

 

Finally I should mention the much improved lighting.  I doubt that anyone will mourn the Stygian gloom, reminiscent of Birmingham New Street, that used to characterise Hall 5.

 

Chris  

[roundhouse]

I have seen Sidmouth at three shows now and always seen something moving when viewing the layout. It is superb modelling and I have a particular interest in the place as I had started building a model in OO of this station back in the late 80's. I had the scratchbuilt track laid before I had to abandon it due to the space I had  no longer being available.

[jwealleans]

Nice to see you and chat yesterday, Chris. Did you find any other ideas for your coal wagon?

 

I'd like to thank everyone who took the time to come and say hello while I was in my little corner opposite Squires. It's always nice to see and chat to old and new faces. Thanks to Barry for the invitation and the NEC staff for looking after us so well - except whoever organises the traffic when the car parks are emptying.

[88C]

Another couple of layouts visited and there is a conspiracy to stop me seeing running trains. Sutton in Ashfield has the personnel but they're fiddling with something, having a chat to one another or on their mobile.

 

I'm sorry that you must have past the layout at a rare time when there was not a train running. There is a history of the layout in the handbook which may help you to understand what the layout is about. We know we are not perfect, but as anyone who has exhibited a layout will know, gremlins do strike from time to time. For the whole two days we had at least one person at the front of the layout talking to visitors, I'm sure that they would have explained what was happening. Bringing the container train into the yard does involve co-operation between operators and does stop the usual flow of trains but it reflects the real happenings at Sutton in Ashfield Town.

 

On a more positive note, thanks to all of those who spoke to us and liked what they saw, especially those who know the area and told us of their memories.

 

Finally, thanks to the Warley Club for inviting us, we did enjoy ourselves. I'll say no more.

 

Brian Hunt

[PhilH]

I didn't go to Warley (in fact don't have much to do with railway modelling anymore) but the criticism of layouts allegedly sans trains did make me wonder what people want from a layout. Surely if a layout is worthy of inclusion in a show such as Warley then there should be so much more to see and admire on those layouts than just trains whizzing round...and round....and round.

 

Perhaps the instigator of the criticism would prefer to see a 6' x 3' oval of plain track with said trains simply doing the whizzing and nothing more to see. Just goes to show you can't please all of the people all of the time.

[pete_mcfarlane]

I went yesterday, and here are a few random thoughts:

• I'm never one to grumble about rucksacks at shows, but I did spot several people with wheelie suitcases which I thought wasn't really on for a crowded show. One elderly man had a huge rucksack (think of a Falklands War Royal Marine) and was towing what looked like a plastic crate on a sack truck around with him. I appreciate that people need to transport the 300 Bachmann locos they've obsessive-compulsively purchased, but that's just just silly. 

• The layouts from the C5 model railway challenge programme left me bemused, rather like the TV show itself. I'm sure people had fun creating them (and they seemed to be popular exhibits), but they weren't really my thing. 

• The two broad gauge Irish layouts were really good. I especially liked the SLNCR 0-6-4 tanks on Arigna Town.

• The French N gauge layout is a river valley was visually impressive, and really stood out. 

• Sidmouth had trains moving on it every time I watched it. And is a really good layout. 

• It felt like there were fewer pre-1948 layouts this year, compared to previous NEC shows. I don't remember seeing any pre-grouping layouts, although there were some rather nice pre-group G1 locos on their circuit, including a spectacular looking live steam CR Cardean and some early Bury locos. I suspect this is a subjective comment, so I'm not going to throw mud at the show organisers for not catering for my particularly tastes alone. 

• It was good to see the RHDR locos close up. My Grandparents used to live next to the RHDR, so I have fond memories of watching them steam past. 

[Clive Mortimore]

I didn't go to Warley (in fact don't have much to do with railway modelling anymore) but the criticism of layouts allegedly sans trains did make me wonder what people want from a layout. Surely if a layout is worthy of inclusion in a show such as Warley then there should be so much more to see and admire on those layouts than just trains whizzing round...and round....and round.

 

Perhaps the instigator of the criticism would prefer to see a 6' x 3' oval of plain track with said trains simply doing the whizzing and nothing more to see. Just goes to show you can't please all of the people all of the time.

Hi Phil

 

It is getting a balance of modelling and running. I have seen Liverpool Lime Street in the past....goodness how I missed it at Warley when I was there all weekend...and I have been impressed by the modelling but for a big layout there is very little movement. All layouts will have period when there isn't a train moving but this should be kept to reasonable minimum.

 

It is the small scale moving models that sets railway modelling apart from many other forms of model making. There are other wonderful modelling pursuits where movement is important  but unlike aero modellers or powered boat modellers, our modelling is one that can take place indoors. Therefore layouts were there is little movement can become very well modelled dioramas not model railways.

Edited November 29, 2018 by Clive Mortimore

[Andy Y]

 

• I'm never one to grumble about rucksacks at shows, but I did spot several people with wheelie suitcases which I thought wasn't really on for a crowded show. One elderly man had a huge rucksack (think of a Falklands War Royal Marine) and was towing what looked like a plastic crate on a sack truck around with him. I appreciate that people need to transport the 300 Bachmann locos they've obsessive-compulsively purchased, but that's just just silly. 

 

 

I too noticed an outbreak of a new threat to good order at a show and that's bringing along your holiday suitcase to fill with stuff and tow around behind you with all the awareness of Mr. Blunders.

 

 

I did chuckle though seeing one dragged through the usual urine-sprinkled floor of the gents' toilets; I don't suppose he cleaned his wheels when he got home.

[cravensdmufan]

Could I firstly thank all those who have posted shots for those of us unable to get to exhibitions like this for many differing reasons.

Absolutely agree.

[Ron Ron Ron]

I too noticed an outbreak of a new threat to good order at a show and that's bringing along your holiday suitcase to fill with stuff and tow around behind you with all the awareness of Mr. Blunders......

So, is your message that we should now all wear seatbelts when attending Warley?  

 

 

I did chuckle though seeing one dragged through the usual urine-sprinkled floor of the gents' toilets; I don't suppose he cleaned his wheels when he got home.

So the suitcase draggers could be said to be literally taking the p***

 

 

.

[298]

I didn't go to Warley (in fact don't have much to do with railway modelling anymore) but the criticism of layouts allegedly sans trains did make me wonder what people want from a layout.

Not so much a comment of the layouts on offer (once you've worked out what is there without buying a guide beforehand), one issue with Warley is there are many times the number of people than at normal show, all wanting to see the show stopper (or join the Bachmann scrum). You can't fit more people around the layout, and there is no suggestion that the punters are able to manage the situation themselves, in fact if the layout is perceived to be running slowly then someone is more likely to stay longer.

 

A better way to view such layouts is to watch them on youtube, something I was able to do from the comfort of my own sofa on Saturday evening thanks to some quality filming. And having felt that is seen the show, didn't feel the need to attend in Sunday.

Edited November 26, 2018 by 298

[adb968008]

Just to add a thought, a growing number of layouts are adding cameras to their layouts to see on screen, and think done effectively it’s brilliant.

 

The one I want to highlight I believe was Wickwar, which had a camera at road level, looking upwards towards the railways raised embankment... this is in my opinion how to do it... looking at the camera was like being in the real thing as trains come running past, a front 3/4 shot seen from below

 

For most people trains are seen at platform level, or lower, so to me this is where to put a camera..., though a camera hidden on a bus on a bridge of course....

 

I hope people do more of this as it’s a great bonus to watching the layout, now if the camera had a mic, and the train has sounds...

Edited November 26, 2018 by adb968008

[woodenhead]

With Oakley Green the camera is transmitted live on Facebook - you didn't even need to be in the NEC let alone next to the model to see it running 

 

Is the future virtual exhibitions......

[John_Miles]

I saw several things moving on Sidmouth. It's a class layout. I thought the standard of this year's show was better than average for Warley. There were some excellent 2mm exhibits for example. I also spent too much, especially with Alan Gibson and Lightmoor.