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St Albans Model Railway Exhibition - 11/12 January 2014


adrianmc

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It'll be their mini stand, not the full stand.

That's why I'm only looking.

 

I could have sworn I saw cast cranks and eccentrics on the stand the last time I looked, but Pete says he's never inherited any of those when he took on Exactoscale. Yet the listing carried by InterCity Models (who don't respond to e-mail enquiries now) shows they are there!!

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I plan to go on Sunday, pity its the small stand I wanted a chat with Peter and need a few bits and forgot to order them.

 

Horsetab

I just won off Ebay some C&L cast cranks C1539 crank/pivot set for Fulgurex/Tortoise etc perhaps these are what you saw?

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A good show, as usual, with some nice layouts and a great range of traders.

 

The venue suffers from it's usual drawbacks: dark, too small (for the crowds) and sweaty hot (is it not possible to open some of those curtains and windows to let in some fresh air and bring down the temperature?) - but the location is very convenient.

 

Plus there were a few organisational issues that could be improved upon: there was only one person selling tickets in the morning (at the start of the show) meaning long and slow queues to get in, and the daft rule of not being able to get out of the main front doors (although trader/operator friends with a badge could get out there) with a 'return' pass because there was only one stamp and that was located elsewhere at less convenient side/back doors.

 

G.

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Quite enjoyed this one, though not overly impressed with the selection of layouts. As far as I could see, nothing really "modern image" - in this case post-1968 UK.

 

The layouts were of a very high standard (really liked Melton Mowbray North) but  far too many steam branchlines with very little happening. All very worthy but nothing with the "wow" factor to get the younger generation inspired.

 

I shall probably give this one a miss next year, which is a shame, as it is a lovely excuse to sample the Abbey branch!

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It's our local show and went with my son this afternoon to avoid the scrum in the cramped layout at the show. Some really excellent modelling on show and a good selection of stands to buy the essential 'bits'. However, the usual good spread of interests was there with the notable exception of almost anything after the year I was born. It didn't really do it for my lad i'm afraid.

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not overly impressed with the selection of layouts. As far as I could see, nothing really "modern image" - in this case post-1968 UK.

 

 

Why does the era matter so much?  Surely quality modelling is quality modelling and should be appreciated as such, no matter what year the model is set?

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Why does the era matter so much?  Surely quality modelling is quality modelling and should be appreciated as such, no matter what year the model is set?

The sheep congregating in the fields and bonfire smoking away on Kirby Stephen West were indeed very touching.

 

Still feel that one post 1968 layout would have been good. Especially as DEMU had a stand upstairs.

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Hi all

 

I went to the show today and really enjoyed it. I didn't think that it was as busy as previous years, but saying that it was still busy. It was good too see some young children there today as they are the future of our hobby. A good mix of Layouts and traders.

 

The layouts certainly gave me some inspiration and some idea's for my layout. Today also gave me the "shove" that I needed to re start things on my layout after months of not doing anything on it.

 

 

 

I hope that you enjoy the pictures below that I took today.

 

 

 

Lough Engine Shed

 

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Three Chop Roundup

 

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St Ruth

 

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Misc

 

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Kirby Stephen West

 

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Kindest Regards

 

Alchemy

 

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Why does the era matter so much?  Surely quality modelling is quality modelling and should be appreciated as such, no matter what year the model is set?

 

Sure good modelling can be inspirational regardless of the era, but sometimes it's also nice to see some layouts from an era that you might prefer and can enjoy even more. It can't really be that difficult to ensure there is a reasonable balance to the periods.

 

And to take the quality modelling analogy further (perhaps to extreme), why not include other modelling genres like military, sci-fi and ships, as, after all, "quality modelling is quality modelling" - and even in those fields it can also be appreciated.

 

G.

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Why does the era matter so much?  Surely quality modelling is quality modelling and should be appreciated as such, no matter what year the model is set?

 

Quality modelling can be seen at any show, that's taken for granted. Has it occurred to you that maybe people want to see something that they can relate to or remember? I'm now middle-aged but I don't remember steam. Therefore I will usually head for something post 1970 at a show. That's assuming there is anything post 1970 at a show! People sometimes forget that as each year passes, memory fades. I've seen (for example) 1930s LNER in books, on TV etc, but as I wasn't there to see it as it happened, I don't relate to it. Also, dare I say it, modelling post 1970 is no longer a minority interest. For that reason, more modern image please, not less.

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Sure good modelling can be inspirational regardless of the era, but sometimes it's also nice to see some layouts from an era that you might prefer and can enjoy even more. It can't really be that difficult to ensure there is a reasonable balance to the periods.

G.

Perhaps there is a shortage of exhibition quality modern era layouts? There are a lot of exhibitions these days competing for good layouts to fill their halls.

Keith

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It's our local show and went with my son this afternoon to avoid the scrum in the cramped layout at the show. Some really excellent modelling on show and a good selection of stands to buy the essential 'bits'. However, the usual good spread of interests was there with the notable exception of almost anything after the year I was born. It didn't really do it for my lad i'm afraid.

 

Sorry we missed you Neal, we (Richard and I) went in the morning, 

I agree about the lack of modern layouts, apart from Salz OBB of course.

We did see Adrian (whinge-n-moan) and Alan (of course!)

 

Still, a good show, and I managed to pick up some interesting stuff from

the CRMA stand, as usual.

 

See you Monday,

Jeff

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Perhaps there is a shortage of exhibition quality modern era layouts?

 

 

That might be the case if you also try and factor in other potentially limiting requirements like scale and gauge but it doesn't seem to be a problem for many other exhibition organisers and certainly not from what ones sees on forums such as this. IMO it's really about having the will and making the effort to be more balanced, after all what is displayed is always a 'choice'.

 

G.

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One thing that I did notice and don't recall having seen before at St Albans exhibitions were a lot of signs demanding 'no photography' and to switch off mobile phone cameras. Is that new and what was the thinking behind it? Certainly not many people seemed to be complying with it.

 

G.

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One thing that I did notice and don't recall having seen before at St Albans exhibitions were a lot of signs demanding 'no photography' and to switch off mobile phone cameras. Is that new and what was the thinking behind it? Certainly not many people seemed to be complying with it.

 

G.

Think that was actually intended for theatre audiences, not exhibition attendees. Stage performers don't want camera flashes going off in their faces, or finding the whole proceedings on YouTube minutes later. It's also pretty bad form for your phone to go off in the middle of a play....

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