Warley NEC National Show 25th & 26th November 2023

[Gilbert]

9 minutes ago, melmerby said:

London Northwestern were not exactly my favourite after today's experience.

Went to Hampton in Arden by car. Parked (free of course), bought ticket to International.

Train came (4 cars all the way from Euston) and it was rammed, absolutely stuffed, when the doors opened some of those on board had a job staying in the vestibule and us on the platform about 30 or so tried to get on. I managed it, just. Some were left behind.

I've been on packed trains in London's rush hour but this was a level higher in train packing.

Needed those Japanese train packers😁

Birmingham NS to International at about 11am was very much the same.....leather clad bikers mainly....such a shame we no longer clash with the Clothes Show....just saying...

[Ian Hargrave]

28 minutes ago, gwrrob said:

 

A stunning diorama indeed.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Nicely featured also on YouTube. My thanks to all who have made their videoed material available .I couldn’t go,so it’s the next best thing.

[Dunsignalling]

25 minutes ago, melmerby said:

London Northwestern were not exactly my favourite after today's experience.

Went to Hampton in Arden by car. Parked (free of course), bought ticket to International.

Train came (4 cars all the way from Euston) and it was rammed, absolutely stuffed, when the doors opened some of those on board had a job staying in the vestibule and us on the platform about 30 or so tried to get on. I managed it, just. Some were left behind.

I've been on packed trains in London's rush hour but this was a level higher in train packing.

Needed those Japanese train packers😁

Last time I went, 2018 iirc, the 0840-something Voyager up from Basingstoke wasn't much better. Almost everybody who got on at Reading and onward stood the whole way. 

 

The two of us got seats, courtesy of unfilled reservations from Southampton to BHI, but I had the elbows of multiple standees worryingly close to one ear until we got to Coventry, when it was necessary to begin fighting our way out to avoid being overcarried.... 

 

John 

Edited November 26, 2023 by Dunsignalling

[Irish Padre]

4 hours ago, Arun Sharma said:

As a kit designer [mainly 7mm] I go to shows as:

1. A demonstrator on society stands

2. To visit trade stands to buy tools, kits and small castings etc.,

3. To meet other designers to swap ideas - a significant numbers of kits have several parents, godparents, uncles etc.,

4. To meet customers to deliver products safely and thus reduce exorbitant delivery charges as well as to discuss further bespoke items that might be desired

5. I personally have not much interest in layouts. I prefer trade and specialist society/scale [gauge] shows.

 

Of the big shows, Ally Pally and RAILEX are, in my opinion, the best for my purposes. Of the smaller shows, the DEMU Showcase and the Guildford group's trade show are musts either as a demonstator or a trader.

 

However, I do appreciate that few other folk will have the same criteria.

 

Know what you mean Arun. And I love that description of the family tree of a kit! 

[figworthy]

20 hours ago, Chris M said:

Parking.  I sure I posted on here telling folk to buy parking in advance or park at international station more cheaply or park for free down the line. I can’t help but wonder how anyone can read my posts here,  decide to pay full

price at the NEC and then moan about it here.

 

 

 

Previously, I've gone all the way by train, but got fed up with the New Street Scrum.  I read your previous posting, and thought, "what a good idea".  I went to Tile Hill and parked for free.  Under two quid for the return ticket (thanks to the wrinkly railcard).  So far, so good.

 

When the first stopping service eventually arrived (it was running late), it was so packed, that it was impossible to get on board (is that the norm, or was Saturday a bad day ?).  As it turned out, it didn't make any difference as that was the first service to be stopped by the incident between Tile Hill and the NEC.  The good news was that I got a full refund on my ticket.  So back into the jalopy and off up the A45 instead.

 

To be clear, this isn't a rant.

 

Adrian

[exet1095]

I enjoy both the layouts and the trade; I tend to do some shopping first, then mooch around and see what’s what.

 

As others have said, it’s good to meet acquaintances and chat to people too. I had lunch with three very decent gentleman who model the Underground. 
 

It was also good to meet the manufacturers; I wanted to thank Richard at Dapol for the forthcoming early large prairie that we discussed long ago, and also to meet some of the other people on their stands. A big shout out both to Corbs on the Rapido stand and to Paul at Accurascale.

 

A thoroughly good day, enhanced by a very decent GWR conductor insisting on selling me a very cheap split ticket, and not ruined by the crush-loaded XC Vomiter heading south rather later than 17:13.

 

Finally, thank to all of the Warley MRC Members who make this fantastic show possible. 
 

Paul

[Hobby]

2 hours ago, melmerby said:

Seemed to be a lot of the same locos on them, wherever set.

Apart from this "cut n shut"on the Lynton & Barnstable layout, creative use of a railcar body for a NG line:

 

 

 

It's not a cut and shut, there a guy who produces characatures of various standard gauge diesel locos and DMUs in a size to suit 009 and mount on a Kato chassis. He has a whole range of them!

[Willie Whizz]

Arrived at the Hall 10:00 am, full of trepidation at how long I might have to queue given the stories from yesterday. 
 

Went in, walked straight up to the ticket desk, paid cash (!!) and was in the Exhibition in two minutes flat without queuing at all. Sundays for me in future!

 

There was a good range of traders of medium and large sizes, but as others have observed, very few smaller people these days. I understand why, but I find that particularly sad because it always used to be a good opportunity to browse and find things you didn’t even know existed and, knowing now they did, couldn’t live without. 
 

Regarding the layouts, I found the general standard of scenic work extremely high, but the general standard of operation rather weak, and movement often sparse even on the larger exhibits that could have sustained a more intensive approach to entertain the onlooker. Not one layout kept me watching more than five minutes or so and not one tempted me back for a second look. I was rather left wondering whether the “knack” has been lost since COVID, or whether the electrickery is so complex these days it just doesn’t allow it. 

[mozzer models]

2 hours ago, melmerby said:

Seemed to be a lot of the same locos on them, wherever set.

Apart from this "cut n shut"on the Lynton & Barnstable layout, creative use of a railcar body for a NG line:

 

 

the DMU is a 009 3d print

[richard brown]

More video from Warley 

 

Thank You

Richard 

Trains in the Attic

[mozzer models]

12 minutes ago, Hobby said:

 

It's not a cut and shut, there a guy who produces characatures of various standard gauge diesel locos and DMUs in a size to suit 009 and mount on a Kato chassis. He has a whole range of them!

david works for Peco

 

Edited November 26, 2023 by mozzer models

[melmerby]

14 minutes ago, mozzer models said:

the DMU is a 009 3d print

I know there is a 3D print of a 143, is it in 3 pieces?

Edited November 26, 2023 by melmerby

[Erixtar1992]

I enjoyed the show, bit more spread out this year.

Parked in the station carpark again, £9.50 so a large saving over the NEC price and still next door.

Show was dead this morning from 09:30 when we walked in (with no que for tickets) until probably midday-ish… happy days.

Dont really understand the loco in the middle but hey ho lol

 

As usual i think i still missed some stands due to it being a bit all over the place and only did one day, though £50 on entrance fees would be a bit mad..

 

Spent far too much money regardless……..!

[melmerby]

10 minutes ago, Erixtar1992 said:

Dont really understand the loco in the middle but hey ho lol

Every year something's  there, for many years now.

Edited November 26, 2023 by melmerby

[ruggedpeak]

I enjoyed the show yesterday, having flown in from Switzerland on Friday and staying at the Ibis at the airport along with many of the model railway world celebrities. I had a leisurely day using a West Mids Day Ranger ticket. Up to Crewe then an extra ticket and took 2x 153's down to Shrewsbury. That part of the TfW world is awash with proper DMU's - 153's, 156's etc wbich is fab. Also went on the new ones, less fab.

 

Saturday I saw the early queue so grabbed a Starbucks and sat on a bench and watch the queue grow and snake around the NEC! Once that cleared and the entry was free flowing I ambled in.

 

Inside it was good, is different from previous years and reflective of the post-COVID and cost of living reality. There weren't mega-layouts as as has been pointed out but there was plenty of excellent modelling to see. It is just different, but take the time to look in depth at the layouts and there is just as much to admire and inspire.

 

It was a lot more free flowing and relaxed, there was more space to move about in, don't know whether that is down to numbers or space etc but made it a more pleasant experience than several hours of squeezing in and out of people. Trade wise there was still plenty to buy even with some notable absences, travelling by plane places limits on acquisitions that travelling by car never used to!

 

I thought the narrow gauge and N gauge layouts were very good, with some excellent modelling. A good day out, and whilst it has changed it is a sign of the current times. Well done to all involved.

 

 

[Ian Morgan]

Being good boys, no packing away started before dimming the hall lights heralded the closing of the show. However, we were all packed and loaded into the car in the void area soon after 18:00, and home in Hampshire 2 hours later (I was expecting worse traffic).

 

For me and the Freshwater posse, a very pleasant weekend, chatting with lots of interested visitors. Searching for the 2mm scale Peter Rabbit seemed a popular activity. The layout was pretty well behaved, and trains were moving almost constantly, albeit possibly shunting more slowly than some would like.

 

Thanks to all the organisers and helpers for looking after us so well.

 

[Coldgunner]

Did anyone pick up the Hornby 2022 club loco? They were knocking them out for £10 each, figured I'd pick one up cos its £10 basically.

[bradfordbuffer]

3 hours ago, Gilbert said:

Birmingham NS to International at about 11am was very much the same.....leather clad bikers mainly....such a shame we no longer clash with the Clothes Show....just saying...

or the comic com!

[andyman7]

43 minutes ago, Coldgunner said:

Did anyone pick up the Hornby 2022 club loco? They were knocking them out for £10 each, figured I'd pick one up cos its £10 basically.

Yes, couldn't resist at that price!

[sixteen 12by 10s]

Visit to Warley NEC and looking for the wow factor, first, lots of moaning about parking charges, these are set by which ever body, contractor, sub contractor, sub sub contractor, and whoever else can make money out of it, and not the show hosts. Entrance price, cheaper than a premier league football match and much more entertaining. Now, just to add, the event is organized by a club, not a publisher, or a profit making promoter, so 100% of the fractional profit will go directly back into the hobby.

So, having said that, what did I think of it, Quality of exhibits, good, quality of traders abysmal, the small to medium sized traders have been priced out of the event, which has left this kind of detached trade show.

So layout wise, now this is not derogatory of any of the exhibits, but I found it difficult to pick out one with the wow factor, Bron Hebog, perhaps, there was a very nice circular 3mm layout woes name I don't know, sorry, but my pick of the show was Copenhagen fields, a layout which is more or less 40 years old. It sums up the state of the hobby, its more to do with ownership than imaginative art, come on, use this absolutely superb RTR stuff as a gift to creativity and not a possession ( the manufacturers will love me)

overall, thanks to Warley club for putting on the event

[melmerby]

1 hour ago, Coldgunner said:

Did anyone pick up the Hornby 2022 club loco? They were knocking them out for £10 each, figured I'd pick one up cos its £10 basically.

 

18 minutes ago, andyman7 said:

Yes, couldn't resist at that price!

Inflation.

I picked one up for £5 a couple of years before Covid.

[PaulRhB]

4 hours ago, Crantock said:

 . This show is different almost all layouts are different with only the smallest repetition in o o 9 fictional n g . 

 

Ok a few were but three of the 009 village area layouts featured mostly unique kitbashed and scratchbuilt locos, Llanfair, Fort Whiting & Clyre Valley. Two were three foot gauge with a similar mix of kit & scratchbuilt as there’s no rtr at all. One was HOe with continental prototypes so less than half the 009 layouts were using much rtr or standard kits. 

 

4 hours ago, melmerby said:

Seemed to be a lot of the same locos on them, wherever set.

Bit like 66’s then?

 

As several railways did use standard locos from Kerr Stuart, Hunslet etc there is actually quite a lot of family resemblance across industrial railways. ‘Quarry’ Hunslets came in at least four sizes up to the ‘mainline’ Penrhyn Ladies. The Welsh Highland’s Russell is similar to Hunslet products used at Masham Reservoir and the Sierra Leone railways and some of the bigger Kerr Stuart locos too. 
Kerr Stuart’s Tattoo type and variations was used extensively in industry as well as on the Corris. 
 

 

[Chris M]

5 hours ago, Crantock said:

As a Sunday visitor, I like to read Saturday comments to make sure I miss nothing. I had to positively park the negativity this year.

 

It was a very different show to pre vivid but it worked. The lack of a glossy guide was a disappointment but I understand the editor passed away. However, exhibitors should be encouraged to have their own explanation boards.

 

There were more dioramas and smaller scale but many were excellent. Boullieri* moors view and the dioramas discussed above. [This para is a wrecked by a spell check that thinks a Belgian layout is called "Hollister"]. Bryn Hebog was v good as well.

 

The exhibition was uncluttered, there were no bad layouts. 

 

Would have been nice to have had some more pre group but hey.

 

Just realised I missed Copenhagen Fields as too busy at first pass!

 

A random comment. I visited the International Plastic Model Society show at Telford a couple of weeks ago.  That was very samee- lots of the same kit and only one has motorised propellers . This show is different almost all layouts are different with only the smallest repetition in o o 9 fictional n g . 

 

Anyway had it with this spell check.

The lack of glossy guide was due to nobody volunteering to edit it.

[SM42]

From an exhibitors ( society stand rather than a layout in its own right) point of view, I got the impression that the exhibition was more spacious in the aisles and possibly down on numbers too. 

Bargains  hard to find,  but the world has changed over the last few years and that is true in many areas

 

Didn't get to see much of the layouts, but what I did I enjoyed and many I hadn't seen before. 

 

Warley to some extent is its own enemy, as sucks in a large number of layouts and thus seeing old friends and a wide range of modelling is inevitable and should be expected. 

 

If its not your thing move on. 

 

As far as issues were concerned, the biggest one we had was someone nicked one if our chairs on Friday evening.  That was soon sorted out though and other inevitable  minor things were sorted quickly. 

 

The NEC  traffic management, often a law unto itself, seemed to be on top form this year, or maybe I've just learnt how to cope with it, and no complaints in that department. 

 

Setting up, breaking down and parking up all achieved with very little hassle. 

Car park to loading in 5 minutes and on the M42 within 30 minutes. 

 

What I saw and what I experienced from an exhibitors point of view was spot on. 

 

It all seemed to just gel together 

 

Thank you Warley for a thoroughly enjoyable, if a little tiring ( when isn't it?) weekend. 

 

Oh and keep the photos coming please  I missed a lot of it. 

 

Andy

[RJS1977]

5 hours ago, Dunsignalling said:

Last time I went, 2018 iirc, the 0840-something Voyager up from Basingstoke wasn't much better. Almost everybody who got on at Reading and onward stood the whole way. 

 

The two of us got seats, courtesy of unfilled reservations from Southampton to BHI, but I had the elbows of multiple standees worryingly close to one ear until we got to Coventry, when it was necessary to begin fighting our way out to avoid being overcarried.... 

 

John 

 

No problem with the Voyagers I was on on Saturday (0715 from Reading, 1813 from BHI). 

 

Rather than the pre-pandemic timetable of half-hourly services with single units from Reading to Birmingham, with BHI served hourly, the pattern now seems to be for an hourly service made up of two units coupled together, so there is double the capacity serving BHI than there used to be.