Jon020 Posted September 29, 2013 Share Posted September 29, 2013 A cracking day out... with lots to see and chat too.... thanks for taking the time to chat, to those I met, and for plenty of awe and inspiration. Nice wide aisles with plenty of space which never felt too crowded... which was nice. For me, this is the show of the year... and despite realising that I had 80 minutes more driving as I passed Leatherhead this morning, I think the new venue is definitely an improvement; had no problem parking at 9.20 this morning... and there were spaces around for what I saw for most of the day... and it was well marshalled as others have said. Well done to Terry and the team. Jon P.S. Nice to see James, and well done with that 31... rightly deserved ... saw Jon too, oddly enough with a Hornby 50 in his hands; I earwigged in on that discussion so now have some ideas as to what to do when the time comes .... Brian Harrap's lathe was getting some good use... and Chris was well away at it when I stopped by. That finescale T turnout made me eyes water (superb Brian)... oh; operating the lever frames took some thinking through (thanks Barry)... and thanks for all the kind comments about my 47. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold RThompson Posted September 29, 2013 RMweb Gold Share Posted September 29, 2013 Y'know, it's funny but I went all the way to Scaleforum, and ended up running HO scale round that test track......I was running a couple of 009 locos for most of the weekend as I was directly opposite (when I was there) from my display case. I even saw a o gauge n class today! All gauges of track must have been used this weekend. I must also add it was a good show, got to spend some hard earned money during the night and good to meet both old and new friends and meet members in person from RM web. And lastly, a special thankyou to my girlfirend for manning the stand in my absence on saturday afternoon and for the organisers for understanding the situation and putting up with me on the sunday. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
robertcwp Posted September 29, 2013 Share Posted September 29, 2013 I went to Scaleforum today and thought it was well worth the 60-mile drive each way. Some very good layouts and useful trade support too. Plenty of space in the hall possibly because attendance seemed a bit on the low side, but then Sunday is always quieter at shows than Saturday. I thought Blackgill was the best layout there, although they need to sort out the derailment problems coming in and out of the fiddleyards at each end. The Danish layout was very interesting too. Even the M25 behaved itself too. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
topaz-r Posted September 29, 2013 Share Posted September 29, 2013 Some good stuff and excellent trade. Did seem quiet compared to Railex but from a punters point of view, that's a good thing. The organisers will think differently of course! Bus service worked well from the station but in niether direction were there more than a dozen on it. Does this prove modellers don't travel by train? A few photos: http://www.flickr.com/photos/45131642@N00/sets/72157635986502186/ Phil, You were obviously on the wrong bus. Ours, the 11-45 from Aylesbury station on Saturday was virtually full - but then it connected with the London train! See you at Gaydon. Peter Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
James Posted September 29, 2013 Share Posted September 29, 2013 Very much worth the 370 mile round trip - please no debate this year on choices of vehicles! Though we looked like the poor man's A Team on the way down today! The new venue was very nice - we weren't sure want to expect but it was sapcious and very easy to move around. P.S. Nice to see James, and well done with that 31... rightly deserved As I said on Facebook, I think your 47 should have won something as it looked even better in the flesh! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
David Bigcheeseplant Posted September 29, 2013 Share Posted September 29, 2013 It was weird being at a model railway exhibition at Stoke Mandeville Stadium that was not Railex, On the Friday and Saturday nights there was five of us who headed out for food and beer our number included David from Austraila who flew to France then Luton then a bus to Aylesbury! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baby Deltic Posted September 29, 2013 Share Posted September 29, 2013 Unfortunately due to snotting and sneezing, I had to stay at home and miss the show this year. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
black and decker boy Posted September 29, 2013 Share Posted September 29, 2013 A selection of video footage of Scaleforum 2013. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium Lambton58 Posted September 29, 2013 RMweb Premium Share Posted September 29, 2013 Hi This was my first visit to Scaleforum and I must say I was disappointed at the lack of OO layouts... * I jest! It was a really good show and had nice friendly atmosphere and feel to it. Car parking wasn't a problem and the stewards were helpful & courteous. Stoke Mandeville Stadium isn't the most obvious place to find, but the trick is to follow signs for the hospital. I thought the trade support was specialist and good, which is what you'd expect for this sort of show. Catering was good and it was nice to sit outside for lunch and watch the red kites. So what of the layouts? Well I thought there was good selection and variety. Yes there were some running reliability problems, but no more than I'd expect in a sports hall. I liked the simplicity of West End (it's given me an idea.... ) Despite it's age, Halifax Kings Cross remains one of my favorite layouts, so it was nice to see it again - now with added bells and whistles! However the showstopper for me was without doubt Blackgill (probably not surprising given the line modelled and my moniker!). I went back to this one several times. Quite apart from the subject matter, the look and feel of this layout seemed spot on. My only regret is that somehow I managed miss the 9F hauled Tyne Dock - Consett iron ore trains. Hopefully below are some snaps of the last two (my thanks to the owners/operators for letting me take them - yes I did ask, it's rude not to). * I did admit to the guys on the Dave Bradwell stand that I'm a OO modeller. They seemed sympathetic as I bought a 21Ton hopper detailing etch! Ralph Lambton58 Halifax Kings Cross Blackgill Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ian G Posted September 30, 2013 Share Posted September 30, 2013 Having enjoyed reading many comments about the show, and being my 1st scalefour show I have assisted at, I would hope more who commented on here will help. I was asked at Railex to assist with the carparking (I was the one in shorts), Stoke mandiville stadium is a pig to park cars in unmarked bays when drivers want to do there own thing, and including those using the sporting facilities, hope fully next year the society will look at better signs and directions for the overflow parking down by the boiler house, I am not sorry for sending many down there for a long walk back, as there where many disabled drivers and passengers needing the spaces I had available. Those who compare this show to Railex must remember Railex is a multi Guage show so numbers may be different. I only have a few real gripes about the show and orgaisation. Radios for those in the car park, not cheapo 2 way maplins junk uncharged. Better signage for over flow carpark and venue. The bus to drop off the otherside of the railwayline (Like Railex) the weight of the bus on the paving out side the stadum, could be very expencive to the society if damaged. Traders, if showing 7mm parts on your stand bring some with you as I found Finney very rude when asking for a couple of etches in 7mm (Hand wheels and lamp irons) Overall a good selection of layouts to a grand standard, trader selection was very good for the scale, having a box shifter like Cheltenham Model centre is always a plus at shows. Ian G Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold The Fatadder Posted September 30, 2013 RMweb Gold Share Posted September 30, 2013 Really good show, well worth the 2 hour drive. Layouts were impressive as ever, and the trade had almost everything I needed. The scrum on the second hand stall remains one of the worst I've seen (though worth it for the bargains, getting home to find a wagon kit had wheels and buffers worth the price alone was very pleasing, as was getting the Akins et al gw wagon book for the princely sum of £6 The best bit for me was Brian's lathe demo, and letting me have a go with it turning down some wheels. A lathe is now on the birthday list for my 30th next year... Other than that it was good to catch up with people I've not seen in ages, and get inspired by some great modelling. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bernard Lamb Posted September 30, 2013 Share Posted September 30, 2013 An excellent show. I hope the numbers justified the bigger venue as it did seem rather quiet compared to Railex. I thought the layout of the hall worked very well with the positioning of trade and layout stands giving plenty of room to get near both varieties. Running standards will always be an issue but it is how you deal with them that separates the men from the boys. Top marks to the chap on Blackgill who loudly announced "take a look at the loco shed at the far end of the layout" while dealing with a problem. There does seem to be a spreading epidemic of "shiny road vehicle syndrome". Probably more noticeable as the quality of weathering on locos and stock was so high. Bernard Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
black and decker boy Posted September 30, 2013 Share Posted September 30, 2013 My first Scaleforum. My first Scaleforum as a volunteer steward. High quality of layouts, some very nice modelling, both scenic and railway related. Some occasional hiccups, derailments etc but nothing out of the ordinary for a show. Blackgill, Allt-Y-Graban Road and Halifax King Cross were the best layouts for me and ones I would go to see again. Nottingham Goods was a great diorama. I have topped up my inspiration tank. Good to catch up with a few long distance friends and certainly made use of the trade with heavy bags going home both days. Good to see a happy crowd and mostly genial and friendly trade \ Society support. In between stewarding duties on the Saturday I even managed an hour of the R&D MRC test track running in my first P4 conversion and it worked so very happy. Possible improvements from a stewarding perspective: Signs to the overflow car park Getting all traders, exhibitors and society stewards \ officials working at the show to use the exhibitors parking down the side of the running track and not in areas reserved for the public (hard on sunday when the stadium hadn't opened the gate but there were still too many cars & vans parked in the public spaces). Chairs to sit on if on side door duty More volunteers Sunday as 2hrs on, 1 off, 2 on was too much. The side doors can be covered by 1 person if based in the corridor rather than hall as doors are only 10m apart. This would release another body. One thing I did notice was the last signs off the main road onto Stadium Approach are missing - this was the area of roadworks so assume they are being replaced by the Council. Back at the Stadium (and car park duties) in May for Railex 2014. See you there. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Horsetan Posted September 30, 2013 Share Posted September 30, 2013 .... I found Finney very rude when asking for a couple of etches in 7mm (Hand wheels and lamp irons).... Oh dear. Mind you, he didn't look too impressed with me either when I bought an inside motion kit towards the end of the day. I don't think he's ever quite forgiven me for that day seven years ago when I accidentally dislodged one of his completed LSWR engines when I turned round.... .....The best bit for me was Brian's lathe demo, and letting me have a go with it turning down some wheels. A lathe is now on the birthday list for my 30th next year.... Brian is a very bad man. Before you know it, you'll be modelling Proto-T. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jon020 Posted September 30, 2013 Share Posted September 30, 2013 Brian is a very bad man. Before you know it, you'll be modelling Proto-T. That Proto-T turnout was bad for the eyes... superb modelling! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
10800 Posted September 30, 2013 Share Posted September 30, 2013 Some snaps from me (Part 1) of the layouts - except for some reason over the two days I never noticed West End, sorry Chris! Nottingham Goods Obbekaer Dubbieside Elcot Road Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Horsetan Posted September 30, 2013 Share Posted September 30, 2013 ....That Proto-T turnout was bad for the eyes... superb modelling! Did you notice that the point blades were fully-functioning? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jon020 Posted September 30, 2013 Share Posted September 30, 2013 Did you notice that the point blades were fully-functioning? That's what made my eyes water... that and being in the presence of a grand-master of course. ... Jon Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
10800 Posted September 30, 2013 Share Posted September 30, 2013 Part 2 London Road Simington Aylesbury (under construction) Blackgill Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
10800 Posted September 30, 2013 Share Posted September 30, 2013 Part 3 Allt-y-Graban Road Stoke by Nayland Halifax King Cross John Farmer's 5-minute meadow Looking up through the big tree on Netherhope Netherhope Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
C&WR Posted September 30, 2013 Share Posted September 30, 2013 Deeply disappointed to have missed this. I moved to the area (having worked here for a year) this summer & was looking forward to coming. Unfortunately the annual audit at work reached a crucial phase and I spent the weekend with my head in the ledgers. Ho-hum, here's to next year! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium Mallard60022 Posted September 30, 2013 RMweb Premium Share Posted September 30, 2013 Absolutely superb phot's Rod. very clever shots too, especially the non loco ones. However, the 9Fs on Blackgill - wow! I really am going to have to work on my skills to come anywhere near this standard of modelling - wonderful stuff. I really am going to have to work on my skills to come anywhere near this standard of photgraphy - wonderful stuff. Phil Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold PaulRhB Posted September 30, 2013 RMweb Gold Share Posted September 30, 2013 Thanks for those and to the steward who've posted, you guys did an excellent job when I arrived and as I left, there were at least two guys in hi vis directing both times. The only thing lacking was some signposting on the major junctions approaching the venue and a big sign near the door would have been good too, you did wonder until you saw the stewards if you'd got the right day . I heard the stewards in the car park explaining to drivers repeatedly that the congestion was due to a model railway show. Seemed friendly enough from the conversations I heard while I sorted out my purchases in the car. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andy Y Posted September 30, 2013 Share Posted September 30, 2013 Looking up through the big tree on Netherhope P1020039.JPG Cracking modelling by John and a cracking shot by you! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
BlackRat Posted September 30, 2013 Share Posted September 30, 2013 Marvellous, you really can't beat P4 can you. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Archived
This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.