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The National Festival of Railway Modelling 2013


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Rather than number of stands, does anybody have figures for the actual frontage of trade vs layouts? ie total trade footage compared to total layout footage.  

 

A show with 30 layouts and 60 traders is, to me, 50/50 if the trade stands are half the total size of the show, such as average layout = 12 ft and average trade stand = 6 ft.

 

On the other hand, if the trade stands are twice the footage of the layouts, then the show is 20% layout and 80% trade.

 

Does anybody else think that is a valid way of looking at such things or or is it just me? Actual numbers of stands can be quite misleading.

 

Tony 

I think it is entirely valid Tony. And larger more comercialised shows tend to score even more poorly if you measure on that basis as they tend to have more larger 'Box-shifter' type stands and fewer of the smaller specialists.

 

 

I'm happy to give statistics for Hull Show on the 9th & 10th of November this year; will anyone rise to the chalenge?

 

By Number:

Layouts 18 (39%)

Trade 17 (37%)

Other (Demonstrators, Society Stands etc) 11 (24%)

 

By Frontage (feet):

Layouts 328 (54%)

Trade 205 (34%)

Other (Demonstrators, Society Stands etc) 72 (12%)

 

 

Stafford goes for the same approach as Derby with traders round the outside and layouts in the middle which works well for me. I must admit that I found the intermingling of layouts with traders a little confusing, particularly where a small layout was next to a trader so that it almost looked like an extension of the trader's stand.

And Hull, Wigan, Wakefield, Shipley, Nottingham, Manchester, Preston, Leeds... in fact most shows I go to...

 

As well as been easier for the visitor to navigate and stopping the impression of smaller layouts being 'overwhelmed' by trade stands it is actually easier logistically for supply of power to layouts, erecting barriers etc and traders generaly prefer their backs to a wall for security.

 

I and others have said on many occasions that the Warners shows could benefit greatly from having an experienced modeller and exhibitor in an influential role guiding the professional exhibitions team on those relatively simple refinements that would enhance the visitor experience.

 

Paul

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While it is always interesting to see photos of layouts at shows, or even general views of the show lots of folk don't take them and at two recent shows I've attended I only saw a couple of people taking pics - no one at all using a camera at the most recent show I visited.  I just wonder if the idea of taking pics is for some reason not as popular as it was only a short while ago?

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Plenty of cameras in evidence in front of BCB and most people were kind enough to ask before taking snaps.

 

Only a proportion of those taking photos will be members of RMeb and fewer still will post. Occasionally folk think their shots aren't 'good enough' for public posting, particularly if the pros have been posting. You can't force folk to take and then post photos ;-) There's probably loads on farcebook, twatter and meTube etc....somewhere.

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Only a proportion of those taking photos will be members of RMeb and fewer still will post. Occasionally folk think their shots aren't 'good enough' for public posting, particularly if the pros have been posting. You can't force folk to take and then post photos ;-) There's probably loads on farcebook, twatter and meTube etc....somewhere.

 

As an example, I didn't think this shot was fit for publication (subject matter and quality) but as folk want more photos:  :angel:

 

post-6675-0-93546400-1382530246_thumb.jpg

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I don't get to snap many layouts but I'll fill the space up. :P

 

What is this layout please?  I'm sure I've seen it before but would like to have another look if there are other pictures on t' Internet. 

 

Away from the obvious stunning features of the cliff, I like the mud effect and the exposed pipe; great details.

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It's Cliffhanger, I had the chance to get some very low down shots at the end of the weekend.

I recognised the layout, but for a brief moment thought the first picture was Tracey Island and expected to see Thunderbird 3 launching through the pool!

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Sadly, we were only able to do that hourly. I am so sorry you missed it. Andy clearly was not there at the right moment

 

As the number two at the show for Cliffhanger, my instructions were to "give Andy all assistance in the photo shoot". At no time was I instructed to get the "Rocket carrier" out of the stock box for the shoot, and demonstrate :thankyou:

 

1804121001-1.jpg

 

 

For the Cliffhanger website http://www.009.cd2.com/cliffhanger/front_page.htm

 

Jeff 

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I recognised the layout, but for a brief moment thought the first picture was Tracey Island and expected to see Thunderbird 3 launching through the pool!

 

Good point, but as the builder has always tried to be as accurate as possible. It was "Thunderbird 1" that launched from under the pool. "Thunderbird 3" launched through the circular observation lounge   :happy_mini:

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Good point, but as the builder has always tried to be as accurate as possible. It was "Thunderbird 1" that launched from under the pool. "Thunderbird 3" launched through the circular observation lounge   :happy_mini:

You know, I actually wondered last night if I'd got it right and thought it may have been Thunderbird 1. I remember it was a sequence that was in most episodes and realised that TB3 would not have been in the same number as TB1.

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Now I'm home and can connect camera to computer, some photos for the photo-starved:

 

Dorehill St Stevens

post-80-0-87488200-1382621503.jpg

post-80-0-87332000-1382621500.jpg

 

 

Cliffhanger:

post-80-0-29624000-1382621494.jpg

 

Megalo Horio

post-80-0-58860500-1382621497.jpg

 

I thought the layouts were good ; somehow the front hall didn't seem so full of content as some previous years even though there were 3 substantial layouts in there , plus demos - having helped with a society stand in an entrance hall at a now defunct show I can well imagine that the atrium could be a Temple of the Winds....

 

All in all an excellent show

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Those pictures of Dorehill St Stevens look about right. A blurred multitude of operators and no trains moving. Gave up waiting in the end. It felt like the story of the show - I can think of a few layouts where we moved on having not seen anything happen.

 

I have to say it was not a 'stand out' show for my son or me, but there were some super exhibits. Raven Rock and Cliffhanger were my lad's top two. I'd not seen the latter before and was blown away by it.

 

Black Country Blues was likewise outstanding, and it was nice to see the progression since Ally Pally.

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There

 

A blurred multitude of operators and no trains moving. 

 

There was something disturbing about the almost military dress shirts etc too. I'm sure they wanted to present a smart image to the public, but it just seemed, well, creepy to me. Each to their own I guess ....

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For me, the star of the show was Black Country Blues. I was also taken with the Greek one which I found intimate with a great deal of charm. I also thought the container one in the atrium was fun and it seemed very popular. It was great to have most layouts at a height accessible for the short and those in wheelchairs.

 

My team had a big problem trying to stop gardeners taking cuttings from our 'box hedge'!

 

I would like to thank Andy York for taking that great series of photos of Cliffhanger. Somehow, his work brings things to life very well. I suspect he might be rather good at it!

 

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We had also thought about wearing uniform but did not have enough Mussolini outfits to go around! :boast:

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For me, the star of the show was Black Country Blues. I was also taken with the Greek one which I found intimate with a great deal of charm. I also thought the container one in the atrium was fun and it seemed very popular. It was great to have most layouts at a height accessible for the short and those in wheelchairs.

 

The white fencing was a bit awkward but you get what you get at the venue I suppose. 

 

The ideal solution to the height issue is clear - build the layout right down to the floor!  ;)

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The white fencing was a bit awkward but you get what you get at the venue I suppose. 

On Cliffhanger we had the steel barrier, which I thought at first a little disappointing having seen the nice white fencing in front of other layouts. Since my first meeting with "IGRL" however I tend to comprehend other peoples views and perspectives of layouts, and said nought. Seeing all the children with their faces looking through the barrier during the show I realised that it was the ideal choice, and on one occasion I heard a guardian say to his care "you look at this while I go to the next stand" The next stand being a book trader to which the children would have no interest at all.

 

I had a really enjoyable time at the show.

Jeff 

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