The London Festival of Railway Modelling 2014 - March 22/23

[chrisf]

I was there yesterday.  Something seemed not quite right by comparison with previous years but it is difficult to put the finger on it.  Except around lunchtime the venue appeared less crowded.  Could this be explained by apparently wider gangways, I wonder?  Some regular traders - and I prefer to use that expression - were missing for whatever reason: cost of the pitch, maybe?  I had finished my shopping by 9.40 so free to roam.

 

The selection of layouts was, of course, varied.  None had the 'wow' factor, whatever that is, but here are some random thoughts.  Overlord was an interesting evocation of the WII theme.  Personally i have no doubt that it was thoroughly researched, despite the ineffectively muted pronouncements of one of those men who seem to be experts on everything.  I don't remember having seen Herculaneum Dock before and loved it.  Empire Mill is the latest entrant to the china clay family and has a way to go before coming anywhere near the excellence of Wheal Elizabeth, displayed too close to it for comfort.

 

I did wonder why the stands were divvied up as they were between the Great Hall and the West Hall.  In the past the latter has tended to be a finescale enclave but both the P4 and both the EM layouts were in the former, along with the DEMU gang, Abingdon and some of the demonstrators.  I'm all for finescale making a bid for freedom and not being shut away from prying eyes but there is a certain lack of logic to it as the scale societies were nowhere near their ambassador layouts.  I know that the configuration of the Nottingham show was not to the taste of all but the groupings used had some logic to them.  Think on, guys.

 

The ad-hoc live interview by Andy Y of Simon Kohler was quite a coup.  I stumbled on it by accident having turned up for Andy's own presentation, which included a brave attempt to demonstrate the power of RMweb.  The attempted RMweb meet did not go quite according to whatever the plan turned out to be!  The half-dozen of us who did congregate did so at the back of the theatre.  Eventually we thought it wise to check out the designated area under the Great Organ but to no avail.  Having a designated area is a nice try but meets work best if held at a set time and attended by more than one person.  For the next day or two we shall continue to discover who else was there but we did not meet.  Perhaps the show really was crowded.

 

Getting there: pretty seamless until I just missed the W3 at Alexandra Palace FCC station.  The resulting trudge past three bus stops was enlivened by an acquaintance grinning from the rear window of the shuttle bus and waving cheerily.  Getting home: downhill on the W3 to Wood Green tube, short waits at all stages, home indoors in a fraction over two hours which is good.

 

Catering: yes, I brought sandwiches but succumbed to the lure of a pasty which was better value than the cardboard tea and a lot less messy than the pie n a cardboard box that i had at Doncaster.

 

Chris

[Tase]

 I had finished my shopping by 9.40 so free to roam.

9.40??...so you were the one who got all the bargains! ;p

[Paul C]

Yesterday was my first time at a "big show", and I have to say I thoroughly enjoyed it. Plenty to see, busy but not too crowded and with a bit of patience quite possible to get to the front at all of the layouts. Personally I thought the queue to get in was OK (I didn't know if I could come until a few days before, so missed pre-booking), £11 cost wasn't outrageous especially for London, and £1 for the programme again seemed reasonable (seriously - what do people expect to get!! You could pay at least 3 times that for a programme at a football match with much less in it...). Highlights for me: -

• Really enjoyed 03.24 08-08-63 and the talk by Nigel Adams - any critics of this diorama really should take the time to read about it and go and see it;
• RS Tower and Freemo - astoundingly huge, plenty of movement, and a high standard of modelling with lots of nice little touches;
• Millanford - beautifully modelled, some nice ideas on how to lay things out;
• Moorton bottom yard - good to see something smaller, but with plenty to look at...and a giant sheep;

If I do have one criticism, it would be that there wasn't enough variety of regions...too much GWR (not a criticism confined to this show though). The other criticism would be that there was very little movement on some of the layouts - fine for a static display with plenty of other stuff going on (like 08-08-63), not fine for a large layout with fairly sparse scenery (I shan't name any names).

 

I will be back next year, date is in the diary and this time I'll make sure I have pre-booked.

[fire.up.the.aero]

Overall an enjoyable visit yesterday, though I share the point of view held by a few previous contributors that there was a certain 'something' missing. Like Chris, I caught the impromptu interview with Simon Kohler by accident but it was fascinating to get Simon's view on a few things, especially in view of this week's news. The Lifetime Achievement award was a nice touch, Andy.

 

Plenty of interesting layouts - I'm not about to comment on quality, suffice to say I'd be very pleased if my own layout was up to the standard of any of them! Millanford was, however, a particular favourite of mine for its track plan as much as the modelling - i'm quite a fan of the small terminus layout. Personally I didn't bother with The Great Train Robbery diorama but only because I've recently seen it at both Chelmsford and Saffron Walden shows!

 

I thought Phil Parker's presentation in the BRM Theatre was excellent, and delivered with a nice slice of good humour. Only the poor sound took away from this - I found myself straining to hear for the duration.

 

This was the first time I'd prebooked, but this was to little avail as after I'd covered the first 20 or so miles of the journey in, I had to turn back as I'd forgotten medication - so I eventually entered the hall at precisely 9.59am which rather diluted the advantage of prebooking!

 

Alan

[ThaneofFife]

I know Bachmann are on top of their game relatively speaking but i have often wondeted why you get those huge 3 deep scrums around the Bachmann stand.it seems to be mainly around the loco sales side which to my mind consists mainly of returned or faulty models so maybe folk think they are going to grab some kind of bargain.

I just leave them to it and return later when the mad manic is over.....there are other stands....

[The Stationmaster]

I know Bachmann are on top of their game relatively speaking but i have often wondeted why you get those huge 3 deep scrums around the Bachmann stand.it seems to be mainly around the loco sales side which to my mind consists mainly of returned or faulty models so maybe folk think they are going to grab some kind of bargain.

I just leave them to it and return later when the mad manic is over.....there are other stands....

I like that - but it does seem to have become a feature the two big shows can't be without (and it keeps some of the milling horde away from layouts you might like to look at).

 

However in terms of the stuff on sale I have in the past bought a number of locos from the 'returned and tested'  section and I've only had one duffer out of the whole lot - which is probably only a bit worse statistically than buying new, certainly no worse than buying new in the most recent past (across all manufacturers that is).

[Torn-on-the-platform]

... and £1 for the programme again seemed reasonable (seriously - what do people expect to get!! You could pay at least 3 times that for a programme at a football match with much less in it...). 

 

I think the issue is more that its a hidden cost. You wouldn't really want to go round a model railway show this big without having having one, so you don't have too much choice but to buy it. And that its been free previous years probably ruffles a few feathers. I see your point though, it is probably good value as programmes go, just a surprise unexpected cost on the door.

 

I had been planning to go today. I'd even worked out my journey and how I could get to Alexandra Palace on time for Braunton's passing special before moving onto the exhibition. I was however put off by the largely indifferent reviews on RMWeb. This, combined with a tiring day at the Bluebell yesterday and the fact that I'm a bit tight on money has lead to me taking a lie in this morning. I'm wondering how many others who were planning to go have thought the same?

[PhilJ W]

I know Bachmann are on top of their game relatively speaking but i have often wondeted why you get those huge 3 deep scrums around the Bachmann stand.it seems to be mainly around the loco sales side which to my mind consists mainly of returned or faulty models so maybe folk think they are going to grab some kind of bargain.

I just leave them to it and return later when the mad manic is over.....there are other stands....

I'm not going this year but last year I managed to pick up an FIA with containers at less than half price last year after the 'scrum' had subsided a bit.

[daveymills]

I know Bachmann are on top of their game relatively speaking but i have often wondeted why you get those huge 3 deep scrums around the Bachmann stand.it seems to be mainly around the loco sales side which to my mind consists mainly of returned or faulty models so maybe folk think they are going to grab some kind of bargain.

I just leave them to it and return later when the mad manic is over.....there are other stands....

 

Bachmann must be upping their game this year - they had relatively few returns compared  previous years and hence the 'bargains' to be had were a little sparse.  Most returns are due to the packaging or faulty chips - apart from that the locos should be sound.

 

on my part a new RES 47, IC 47 and a class 08 for a 100 quid is pretty good.

 

They did seem to have rather a lot of 4-CEPs, class 44s and motorail vans

 

In fact when the doors opened for pre-bookers at 09.30 - the scrum was already there - made up of those who were exhibiting !!

 

D

[jcm@gwr]

I went yesterday, pre-booked ticket, free parking, walked straight in at 9:40.

 

Got some bargains and then the subscription offer from BRM; as noted by

others, there were less traders (e.g. Eileens Emporium for one).

 

The standard of layouts was still high, but there were less of them, esp the

bigger ones. I did enjoy 08-08-63, Overlord and a few others.

 

Missed the meet-up,as Chris said, it would have been useful to have had

a time set for that! (Chris, I saw you, but lost you in the crowd before I could

say hello, sorry)

 

Bought a couple of Little Jemmy's to try on my O gauge shunting puzzle,

they look pretty good, esp for the price.

 

Castle, nice to meet you, and put a face to the name. It was great to chat

and very useful/informative, I will PM you with the details we discussed,

thanks for your help.

 

All in all, the show was good/okay, not up to the standard of some previous

shows but not the worst by any means. I will be pre-booking for next year.

 

Jeff

[David Bigcheeseplant]

Like some other posters I was planning to go today but decided I would give it a miss, I know many specialist traders have given up attending and even Elieen's Emporium no longer attend due to price of the trade stands, which is on par or not far off from Warley. I had always thought it would be a better show if the tat stalls were removed and a smaller but better quality show staged in just one of the halls.

 

I have a bug bear on the way shows are laid out it seems some shows layouts and trade are just in random places with no thought on their placement in a show and I think this does play a part on how a show feels ranging from feeling like a quality exhibition to a feel of a car boot sale.

 

Slightly off topic I did hear that Warley may relocate to a smaller venue and return to a club exhibition in a few years time when the current management team stands down, although the Warley franchise at the NEC may continue if someone else took it on. I think the problem is these very large venues Ally Pally and the NEC have huge overheads and they have to be funded by high stand rents on traders, which forces out those cottage manufacturers. 

[The Stationmaster]

I think the issue is more that its a hidden cost. You wouldn't really want to go round a model railway show this big without having having one, so you don't have too much choice but to buy it. And that its been free previous years probably ruffles a few feathers. I see your point though, it is probably good value as programmes go, just a surprise unexpected cost on the door.

 

I had been planning to go today. I'd even worked out my journey and how I could get to Alexandra Palace on time for Braunton's passing special before moving onto the exhibition. I was however put off by the largely indifferent reviews on RMWeb. This, combined with a tiring day at the Bluebell yesterday and the fact that I'm a bit tight on money has lead to me taking a lie in this morning. I'm wondering how many others who were planning to go have thought the same?

I think it might sell a show short if we are guided by the views of others (and I suppose equally it might overdo the hype from some other views).  The simple fact is that whatever we might say we all go to shows for slightly different reasons, we all get our pleasure or enjoyment from them in different ways and one man's meat is another man's poison.  

 

I'm not much into the contemporary railway scene, especially models of it, but I like New Bryford and I like the locos and stock on it but then equally I enjoyed Herculaneum Dock even if some of the operating was a bit 'lumpy'.  It's easy enough to find out in advance if the layouts will or won't rock your boat if you have particular or narrow tastes and it's often not too difficult to find out which traders will or won't be there before you pay to get there let alone pay to get in.

 

As far as the availability of r-t-r is concerned anyone who has glanced at several threads on here or looked at traders' adverts will know that there isn't much about at present and that trade discounts, and hence retail prices, are generally going up rather than down.   Simple fact is, I think, that we can't necessarily base our expectations of one show on what we saw at another or even on what was present at the same show last year; nor can we necessarily base it on what another person expected of it.

[Shedmaster83G]

I went with two friends by road yesterday and the traffic was less than we experience on Sunday last year.  As two of us have mobility issues, and a Blue Badge, we headed for the main car park at about 10.00 only to be told it was full by the guy on duty but we had to be let in to turn-around.  At that point one of his colleagues directed us to park close to the building - result.   We also got a lift to the main entrance in an extended golf buggy with a friendly member of the Ally Pally staff and took advantage of his services when we returned to the car.

 

I had hoped to get some of the bits and pieces I needed from the smaller traders but some were absent.

 

The lack of Hornby seemed the general discussion but it was good to bump into Simon Kohler for a brief natter and, as always, his enthusiasm is very evident.

 

I am not sure whether I would go next year given the parking issue.

[250BOB]

All I think we can honestly do is give our honest opinions of the London show....and these are generally based on opinions accumulated over time having visited lots of other shows.

 

It can only be useful to show organisers if honest opinions are given, as they are bound to have de-briefs afterwards to see what they can do better.

 

I travelled with a group of 5 from Stoke on Trent, by train....not too costly either.  A £17 return trip by Virgin Pendolino, booked in advance using Senior Railcards.

 

The show.......I was disappointed......but only because it didnt do it for me.  Not the sort of layouts there that I liked to see.....but I did know in advance what was on show.....but for us, it was also about the day out too.

 

That is all a personal opinion, as I like to see lots of British 1950's to 1990's era 00 gauge layouts and similar......Continental and American dont do it for me I'm afraid....I know this sounds selfish in my needs, but thats what I like to see I'm afraid.

 

I accept entirely that my interest is possibly narrower than others....and that exhibitions do need to satisfy a cross section of interests.

 

Do exhibitions try and cater for everyone....OR......do they try to follow the interests of the majority of railway modellers......its a real tough one.

 

For every interest section you leave out, you probably rule out a group of visitors....i.e. no American layouts, then no visitors of that interest group.

 

And although it was out of my main interest area....I loved the Liverpool Overhead railway model  Herculaneum Dock....brilliant.

 

I do like the presentation format....and particularly the impromptu Simon Kohler interview.

 

Bob

[edcayton]

 

And although it was out of my main interest area....I loved the Liverpool Overhead railway model  Herculaneum Dock....brilliant.

 

 

 

Bob

 

 

 

 

 

 

And although it was out of my main interest area....I loved the Liverpool Overhead railway model  Herculaneum Dock....brilliant.

 

 

 

Bob

 

...and there you are, you've answered your own point really. I had no interest in North American logging until I saw the first example at a show (bit hackneyed now though). I'd have said I had no interest in N gauge or contemporary UK until I saw some of the excellent layouts produced by members from here.

 

I think that there is a big difference between a good exhibition layout and what I want in my home layout, and am delighted to be surprised by "something new".

 

Ed

 

Edit-don't know what happened with the quoty thing.

[250BOB]

 

 

...and there you are, you've answered your own point really. I had no interest in North American logging until I saw the first example at a show (bit hackneyed now though). I'd have said I had no interest in N gauge or contemporary UK until I saw some of the excellent layouts produced by members from here.

 

I think that there is a big difference between a good exhibition layout and what I want in my home layout, and am delighted to be surprised by "something new".

 

Ed

 

 

There is always something that tends to stand out...herculaneum dock did it for me.

 

My disappointing view was just the general feeling that everyone comes away with from exbns, be it good, bad or indifferent.

 

I have on other occasions been extremely complementary of BRM exhibitions, for instance the last one at Peterborough.

 

I still had a good day out, and enjoyed myself.

 

Bob.

[BR(S)]

Good video (not mine) of some of the layouts at the show:

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y3XqbHRza2w

[Trainshed Terry]

Well I've just got back from the event and I am disappointed at the lack of exhibition layouts that where there. 

 

The ones that where there are of a good standard but non of them grabbed my attention like the layouts of previous years.

 

The trade support was mostly new and very little of second hand or cheap. I did get some glues that I was looking for and a "Southern Pride Coach Kit" at a reasonable price. 

 

But everything else was up to Alley Pally standard, I love the venue but I feel let down as it is supposed to be outstanding show. Not this year.

 

Sorry but I can only give this years event a 6/10.

 

Terry

 

Darn spelling mistake.

[TheSignalEngineer]

I don't do this show because of the time taken for me to get there, about a 13 hour round trip by public transport, but am interested to see the comments. 

 

Of the shows I have been to this winter the best for specialist traders was probably Expo EM North and for general selection Stafford. Other than those I have been to mainly local shows and would say that although the number of visitors seems to be similar and the quality of the layouts has been generally good, the trade support has been a bit thin compared to previous years. One trader I was speaking to recently said he was doing less shows this year because the cost of stalls at the bigger ones was such that it was difficult to cover in sales of small items.

[Xerces Fobe2]

Not the best Show I have been to . Met a lot of old friends some nice layouts ;I liked the Liverpool Overhead Railway, RS Tower and quite few others. The trade stands seemed to be everywhere many selling very similar products with some manufacturers' undercutting the prices of traders to which they had sold their products!

 

Big is not aways best and I am afraid that there was just something not quite right this year as others have already mentioned.

 

Nigel

[roundhouse]

Just a few photos of a Bouviers Peak which is the layout that I have been helping on at the show

[hayfield]

Just come back home from the show, a big thanks to the Model Railway club and Warners, whilst there was not much in my main interest part of the hobby. There were some superb layouts, models and demonstrations. I have not read the thread, initially as I wanted to see the show without too many preconceived thoughts on it. Overlord was very interesting, nice to see Binns Road out and about, I also enjoyed the 7 mm layouts. Then on the demonstration stands some super modelling.

 

A big thanks for a good show

[stivesnick]

My thoughts on the "something  missing" point of view.

 

With regard to the layouts, there wasn't the large multi-track tail chaser seen in previous years - 4 track main line with plenty of trains to keep people entertained. Bevois Park and St Deny's had the potential, and I liked the way a full length HST appeared tiny given the size of the layout, but it needed slicker operation.  

 

On the other hand there were few minimum space, same as all the others, layouts which is a big plus.

 

Nick

[AGENORIA4mmMODELS]

Went to Ally Pally yesterday with a friend who is a very good modeller. It was a "bus mans holiday" for me as I am usually on the other side of a stand.
Other than a couple of very good layouts, especially "Wheal Elizabeth" "Herculaneum", "Angel Bank" and "Bishopsmead" the rest were pretty un-inspiring. In fact, we started at the Willis Organ end of the hall and of the first half dozen or so layouts none had anything moving as we stood and waited frustratedly!
If it hadn't been for the "small suppliers" hall it had hardly been worth the 250 mile journey. The main hall was like a glorified "swapmeet" pile it high, sell it cheap or even cheaper than the next stall.
The show was a parody of what it was 5 years ago, what has happened to our "beautiful hobby"? Soon we will go to exhibitions where almost every layout has the same RTR's and resin buildings, only the track layouts will offer any variety.
It was nice to see Simon Kohler there after his appalling, shabby treatment by a bunch of hatchet merchants, still its only about money and greed anyway now, your best out of it Simon!
I met a number of old friends and respected suppliers and modellers at the show, their feelings were similar and all swore not to bother to go again until it improves.
Perhaps we are just old dinosaurs, those of us who stimulated this hobby for so many years and kept it going through the lean years when all you had were "Smokey Joes" N7's and Standard tanks!!!!!!!!! and it is time for us to die out.

You have priced most of we artisan producers out of being able to advertise and now none of us can afford to exhibit either. Going to Exhibitions as a trader today is just a way of disposing of any profits we have made throughout the year, like many of my colleagues, so many of us no longer have any aspirations to get rich, or even make profits but we cannot continue to make losses after every Exhibition.

Come on Warners, your last edition of BRM was done and dusted in 10 minutes and what with anything in the Exhibition being seen and dealt with in an hour is that value for money.

You can do better than this!

[298]

If I had gone, RS Tower and Sweethome Alabama would have been the stand-out layouts for me. Both capture their modelled areas quite spectacularly, and are two of the best operated layouts on the circuit with regard to the accuracy of movements and paperwork generated to run the layouts. But I'm guessing most visitors would have walked straight by them because they weren't British....