John of York61

On 09/04/2024 at 14:10, jonhall said:

I didn't want to post this too soon after the show, because I thought what I saw was overall really good, and don't want to be discouraging, when so much effort had gone into organising, but I would encourage the organising team to have a review of the demo's and societies stands.

 

I felt there was probably too many of both, but more importantly, some of these demo's and a lot of the society stands weren't offering very much to me as a paying visitor. I saw a lot of the top of some demonstrators heads who didn't seem to be looking up to interact with visitors very much. The Society stands were often just chatting with the others behind the stand or their mates. They also seemed to be 'all the usual faces' that I've seen at York before.

 

The show has a relatively high proportion of demonstrators and stands, and I'd like to see a bit more 'value for money', both in terms of engagement with the public, and perhaps turnover or rotation, so that there is something fresh each time.

 

There were of course exceptions, I learns a lot about tree making from Gordon, had an interesting chat with the chap making wagon loads, and the another doing resin casting, and Tony W didn't seem to stop talking all day whenever I passed by.

 

I'd suggest halving the number of both, and alternating them so it isn't quite so repetitive. Inevitably the subject being demonstrated will play a big part of whether an individual is interested in interacting with the demonstrator, so perhaps I've only sat down with those who were showing something that was of interest to me?

 

I usually make a weekend of York, spending a day at the show, a day at the NRM, and a couple of days at the local preserved railways, from home in SW London, so coming to the York show is quite an investment.

 

Jon

 

 

Hi Jon,

I take your point; in my defence some of the demonstrators have 'jobs' at the show. One regular, now in his 80s comes up on Thursday to help mark out/ attach the York Show green cloths etc.. Another is also the show Electrician and the N gauge demonstrators on the second Mezzanine are invaluable on Friday and Monday controlling the traffic so their colleagues can set up/leave with as little hassle as possible. I invited two new ones this year: 3D printing and a wagon loads modeller (whose wife I persuaded to help in the Exhibitors' rest room).

One has retired this year so I am inclined to find a track specialist for 2025 (any suggestions?) my email address is piloti03@yahoo.co.uk ('piloti' is an architectural term-I was a big fan of Gavin Stamp in Private Eye).

Some of the demonstrators are rotated as two had layouts this year and two will be with layouts next year. 

As show Manager I can't (and won't) tell the demonstrators I've invited to be more engaging! I prefer to let things evolve (a quick look at the show guide from 10 years ago would probably confirm this!). 

Next year we have a member of the York show team demonstrating Victorian Modelling which I haven't seen at York since the days of Mike Sharman. 2025 will also be my 50th anniversary-in the 1975 show I was one of Mike Cook's team on 'Totnes'. I was particularly chuffed this year in getting 'Trerice' and South Pelaw Junction. For the old hands, I did invite a couple of GWR layouts...did I mention I am a distant relative of Mike Cook?

7 hours ago, Mallard60022 said:

Is it possible that there is a source of Barriers closer to hand John, or does that add hugely to the cost? Council? Racecourse?

P 

Yes, we looked at hiring those orange plastic things which adorn road works. Leeds and Normanton clubs were the nearest that were quick to arrange. The great thing about the Warley club barriers is that they'll take them away at the end. Colin and I (plus Liz Marsden) took them back to Leeds and Grimethorpe today. Home by 2pm.......and relax!

16 minutes ago, john new said:

Good local press coverage - https://www.yorkpress.co.uk/news/24224217.york-model-railway-show-easter-york-racecourse/

 

Ha ha yes! Gareth Coles on the stairs....

6 hours ago, RichardT said:

I believe that this was the sense intended - if only because when I attended yesterday I noted a very large number of specialist traders. (But then again, I also noted a lot of stands selling core rtr stock in all scales, so I think all bases were covered.)

 

An excellent day out all round. I do enjoy seeing a variety of scales and both UK & non-UK prototypes modelled, rather than the over-domination of “BR transition-era”. Seeing Grantham working a full sequence in grand LNER 1930’s style was worth the price of admission alone.

 

So many excellent layouts it’s invidious to name all my favourites. But especial thanks to @queensquare for patiently staying around answering my questions about Iain Rice’s models, even though Mick Simpson had just taken over from him on Trerice specifically so Jerry could go off and see the rest of the show. It was a joy to see “Hercules”, “Pioneer” and the rest in reality, evoking cover photos of “Model Railways” past. Nick Freezer joining the conversation was incredibly serendipitous!

 

Well done @John of York61 and the team. Sorry not to catch you, but I suspect that you were busy…

 

Richard

You're right @RichardT I was busy; manged to walk round most floors over the three days. Only 54 weeks to the next one!  Nick Freezer sneaked into the Exhibitors' rest room on Sunday....

9 hours ago, Chris M said:

Did you know it gets difficult to hire a van when you are over 70? That's what we found at Warley. Apologies for letting York down on this one.

Thanks, I have emailed Peter Howells who is here this weekend (as usual!) to ask if you can bring a Warley club layout next year...with a van with barriers .....a year to arrange it (fingers crossed)

9 hours ago, richierich said:

Thought the show was ok. But for my modelling period BR sector period mid 80 to privatisation didn’t see a layout that represented this increasingly poplar era, which was a bit a disappointment. 

Sorry to hear you were pining for a pre-privatisation era layout and felt you had been left in the larch. Did you cedar layout  Bristol Avon Beech on the second floor?  This is only my second year at the elm of the ship! Thank you for aspen. 

13 hours ago, john new said:

For me one of the best layouts in the show.
 

I didn’t draw the floor plan layout and I am posting this as me not as an official show press answer. I guess getting it fitted into available spaces will often be an issue. As an example I doubt we, as in my local WMRA club, could fit it into any of the spaces we have at our show venue. 

Just to add my little bit: sorry that we had to borrow the Leeds MRS barriers at short notice (3 weeks!). The Warley barriers (our usual) have far more flexibility and can cope better with long corners. I am glad to have invited South Pelaw Junction. I understand one of the gang is doing a P4 version..... see you at York in 2028?

9 hours ago, queensquare said:

 

We are opposite the Railway Modeller and EM gauge society - mezzanine 2! 
oh well, catch up soon.

 

Jerry

Mezzanine 1 (pah!)

Setting off tomorrow with Colin Taylor in a big van to fetch the Leeds and Normanton club barriers; none from Warley this year as they don't have a van driver under 70. It's a familiar case; luckily, we can field two-Fred Ellis and the new floor manager, Colin Taylor. What a 'find' he was last year....turned up on Thursday to help for a day and stayed until Monday! He harks back to the Assembly Rooms in the 1970s, one of Bernard Richmond's Barrier crew. Here he is 45 years later.....going to fetch the barriers! 

For our regulars-we are using gate 5 to enter the yard this year. I have asked for help from Constant Security for extra help marshalling vans/cars etc. 

If you're setting up on Saturday morning, get here BEFORE 9:30am...we don't want cars milling around with the queue of visitors in the same place!

Welcome our new demonstrators: Brian Davis with wagon loads (his wife Susan will be helping the show!) and Thomas Petith with 3D printing.

New traders: Model Signs, MMR models and the return of PowerBond adhesives/Graham the Glue man.

We will be setting up the memorial stand to Ken Gibbons, Roger Ellis, John Ross and Colin McCallum, who by coincidence is on Steve Flint's video promoting the show.

Ah, and Rupert Brown has organised a rolling video to run on the plasma screens in the upper floor bars!

For our visitors:- I'm fetching the keys for the gates onto the Knavesmire for the overflow car park (it will be needed on Saturday!) Google Images attached. 

Me? Edgy, nervous, same as before. If you see me during the show, please make reassuring noises; I'll be wandering around gibbering to myself!

Google Earth images of the Saturday overflow (free) car park which will be signposted and staffed by Constant Security Ltd. 

Layout plaques ordered....

Exhibitors, demonstrators, traders and societies.....don't forget this year, the clocks go FORWARD on the night of Saturday 30th!! You will lose an hour's sleep. Here's a gratuitous picture of JS and Floor Manager Colin Taylor checking the downstairs bar.

Just heard today of the passing of Roger Ellis. Roger was a member (with Ian Nuttall I recall) of Grimsby MRS and back in the 70s I remember 'Burdale' an BR steam/diesel layout. Later, Roger became a country member of the 'Butcombe Junction' crowd with Dave Hackling et al.. I for one always looked forward to Roger's arrival at the York show on Good Friday to help set-up/lift the mood when Cookie was chucking his teddy(!) and just to chat when us "young 'uns" were generally ignored by the oldies!

Steady away, Rog.

Dear Solihull MRC; sad to hear of John Ross's passing. As some of you know, John helped at the annual York Model Railway show at Easter for many years. Often the first to arrive on the Thursday, he would help with marking out and the welcome packs for exhibitors. We'd like to commemorate John at this Easter's show.

John Shaw

Manager, York Model Railway Show

(piloti03@yahoo.co.uk)

With my previous post in mind, Ken was handling all the Society stands at York next Easter; he copied me into his emails so if any of the Society representatives see this- I will be in touch with you in the next few weeks to finalise details. 

Staggered to hear the news from Brian Sunman when I was at Monk Bar Model Shop last Friday. I've had a few days to process this staggering news. 62 is too young to be taken away like this. Ken was a towering presence at York for so many years. At our return to the calendar at Easter 2023 Ken was so full of enjoyment that we were back, full of smiles as he helped the marking out and setting up Wepre Park with Brian at short notice when a layout dropped out. I can only echo what Charlie Petty has said:

A nice guy, a good guy and I hope I could be called 'His mate' 

4 minutes ago, Bungus the Fogeyman said:

Any chance of seeing the track layout please John, or even a helicopter view?

 

Disgusting of Market Harborough

Only one rather messy plan; I must do a neater one!

Well, first outing for the layout at the NYMR York area group's one day exhibition at St Lawrence's Church Hall in York. A work in progress.....

First thing now I'm home is to finish the backscene, then the infill areas with inset point levers. Plus manhole covers, drains etc...

Then a master jig for row upon row of pantiles (York is full of them?)

Blocking out the vynil backscene; just a wash of cerulean blue with mixing white and a smidgin of yellow. The bold horizontal line is the level of the river on the opposite bank; carefully sloping down each end to create a parabola-sort of perspective. Also did some work on the 15th century 'Plumber's Arms' with adjoining shop. Now has a Modelu shopkeeper with vending machines outside. 

Must get some landscape painting done this week......but also organising the York Show. Filling in for the late Mal Scrimshaw. Need a 7mm scale cash register too!

At last, the vynil backscene is clipped on. About 50mm off the back of the baseboard; it will depict the opposite bank of the river Ouse. Just need to break out the pencils to plot it out and a few hours with the paints! Sampled photos of what the image will look like, suitably doctored vehicles to simulate 1977. I also recall the the "Lowther" was "Lowther Hotel"!

Bit more work. LED strips fitted to the old 'Kirkham Abbey' Fascia. I will add deeper overlays so it equals the height of the side plates. Next is the 'curtain rail' around the back to support the vynil backscene. 

Weathered the Heljan 03

Modelu don't do a figure with 1977 hair! Time to apply some Squadron Green putty. I think I've accidentally created the sensational Alex Harvey......

Sorry to be off for so long! I haven't done much for a year due to mum's dementia. Recently though, I have finally got a bit more time and turned to a bit of loco building; Judith Edge Ruston 165 with a Digitrains sound decoder....I like the 'wagons hunting/couplings snatching feature', namely, if you apply a sharp braking manoeuvre, you get the clatter of multiple wagons! Also doing up some Corgi/Vanguards vehicles to suit 1977......