Robin2

Not if there was the same 24 hours for working on the layouts. Layout builders will always produce reasons for needing more time. The trick is to get the best from what is available. And if the 24 hours really is not enough then give them another 8 hours in the competition room without any cameras - and at the start of the program proper show us what they had achieved in that pre-filming period. ...R

If there is a second series I reckon there should be no permission for pre-built items. Apart from Andy Laurie Calvert (who planned to use foam ballast and a flat scene) there seems to have been no thought given by any of the teams about how to conceive a project that can be completed in the available time. And Andy Laurie fell down (IMHO) by not having pre-schooled his team members in the required skills. Also, for example the idea of building several van kits during the competition seems ridiculous to me - why not just spray paint some ready-made vans. If everything had to be done within the limited competition time it should focus minds - as well as removing scope for controversy. ...R

Were they using Windows ? ...R

That's meaningless without a target for what they should be aiming to achieve. Who sets the targets? ...R

I am in one or other of several libraries reasonably often. I see very few "customers" in them (which I find sad - but there it is). The library might like to host a model railway event to increase throughput for the library but there is enough of a challenge getting people interested in model railways without the added burden of first getting them into a library. In a shopping centre (many of which have empty units that the management might be prepared to "loan" for an afternoon) there is a large throughput of people with money in their pockets and wondering what to spend it on. They will also be drawn from all sections of the local community, and not just the narrower range of people who visit libraries. ...R

Then who should? ...R

That sounds like an interesting idea. However I suspect libraries are (unfortunately) past their use-by date. It may also help if there was scope for newcomers to buy something to get them started - having invested a little the person might give it some thought when they get home, rather than forgetting all about it. However with so few model shops about that may be difficult to arrange. Another thought ... The usual "starter set" is an oval of track which occupies a fair amount of space for relatively little visual impact - especially for an adult purchaser. Maybe there should be small end-to-end starter packs that could be erected on a shelf in a few minutes. A simple printed backscene and maybe one or two low-relief buildings (kits?) could set it off very nicely. ...R

Everyone who owns something exercises control over it and in fact has a duty to do so. It is certainly open to debate as to what targets Government should set for a nationalised industry - but targets there must be. Otherwise there is complete chaos. The problem for Government is that it is almost powerless to enforce its targets (whatever they may be) on a nationalised industry. Don't get me wrong. I am not a particular fan of privatisation either - just don't imagine that nationalisation is a panacea. ...R

That seems to be the root of the problem with nationalised industries - you own them but you can't control them. ...R

I have come to realize in later life that I don't pick up those signals at all - and in some cases that seems to be a benefit. Also, I think I was 50 before I realized that the real meaning of "yacht club" is "we like talking about boats" and "rugby club" means "we like talking about rugby" etc. ...R

That brings to mind another less-attractive reality of life. Some people can join clubs (any sort of club) and quickly worm their way into acceptance. Others who join remain on the periphery and existing members seldom make much effort to involve them even though there may be no active objection to the newcomer. To be honest it is hard to know how much of the "fault" lies with the newcomer and how much with the existing members. In my very limited experience a newcomer who offers to help is making a good start. Maybe it's the difference between "I want to learn" and "I expect you to teach me". And let's not overlook the small percentage whose only purpose for joining an organization seems to be to find fault with they way they are treated. ...R

I can see that my comments about "political" choices may be a bit ambiguous. I certainly did not mean to imply that Kathy and Steve are applying "politics" (small p again). My comments were only about how I was thinking about it (too many years as a civil servant ) ...R

I don't know how it was decided to allocate teams to heats and maybe (for everyone) it is only possible with hindsight to think that the Railway Children might have done better in competition with some of the other teams. Looking at it politically (small p) it would have been nice to see the Railway Children win as encouragement for other young folk. But, also looking at it politically, it would be difficult not to award the win to such an obviously well made "traditional" railway model as the Fawley folk produced. There has been enough carping here already from the traditionalists ...R

This Thread seems to have veered away from its Title and has become the same as the main Thread on the Challenge ...R

I don't think it is as simple as that. Serious modellers who want to encourage new people to the hobby should (IMHO) embrace the programme and build on it. It's the only game in town. Of course if the "serious modeller" wants to limit the hobby to the existing members only ... ...R

This brings to mind one of the nice features of the program (IMHO) - it is showing very clearly how inclusive railway modelling is. There are other examples through all the episodes. Indeed this Challenge is very different from the others like the bake-off and the pottery-throw-down because it is for teams rather than individuals. ...R

Maybe the question to pose to those who complain about GMRC is this ... Would you prefer to watch GMRC in its present format or no model railway program at all? ...R

What sort of program would have appealed to you? ...R

That would certainly satisfy me. ...R PS ... I think I know what you mean, but a lot depends on what is written on the note "We wuz robbed" would not cut it

I was trying (obviously ineffectively) to make the point that they should not pretend that the now complete model is what was presented for judging and thereby creating the impression that the judges got it all wrong. ...R

I hope they won't be presenting the finished model as "our entry in the GMRC" ...R

Can you post a link to its website so we can see what you are referring to? ...R

Will they have all the "illegal" parts? ...R

This seems to me to miss by a thousand miles the whole purpose of a TV program - the entertainment of others. ...R

I agree it's beautiful. But is the enjoyment when it is finished any different from that of a painting in oils or acrylics? And a painting takes up less space. What I like about model railways is that you can play with them - they move. Trains can go from place to place. ...R