JCrompton

Eltel, I didn't realise it was so difficult to get suitable layouts. I assumed from subsequent posts that you ask them, but does it ever work the other way round where a layout will ask to go to a show? I was just wondering.

From the Warley thread: The Stafford Show probably has the best website I've seen in my limited experience, and even apologizes for not having photographs of a layout under construction. However, as I heard one person comment it should be called the Stafford British Show, as there doesn't seem to be much in the way of non-UK layouts. You only have to look at the Warley thread to see the more popular ones were Continental, so why don't they feature in a show of this size? Or have I missed them completely?

As a first time visitor you probably wont be interested in what I brought, how many times I was hit with a Rucksack or run over by a mobility scooter, or how I got home. Thanks to everyone who responded to my earlier message, Warley is certainly an experience and seemingly a closed shop to the unexperienced. Knowing what to look at is a good suggestion...if you have a guide in advance (an extra £6.50). Otherwise the website just gives a list of names and gauges without any descriptions and only a handful of photos. That is either a clever marketing strategy to tempt the curious or just an epic miss by the organisers, as smaller shows have lots of photos and descriptions. Either way, you have to wander round to see everything but because of the crowds this is impossible, and there aren't any clear navigation points and even the large centrepieces lack presence. David Cheeseman earlier was right about the standards, although I think he might hold a different opinion to the average visitor. But I'm not sure how intentional it was to invite such a mix or to even quantify which layout was rated where- for example the large O gauge unfinished layout I saw didn't seem to have advanced in completeness or running abilities since I saw it at a previous show, but the operators seemed to be quite relaxed and accepting of it's foibles. Good for them, I say- but perhaps evidence of the Old Boys club (not that I saw any rowing club ties or funny handshakes). Someone commented that despite the size, the layout content seemed to be lacking in certain areas such as Diesel OO. Lets say an average show had 25 layouts and four were of direct interest, then paying twice as much for eight at warley is comparable. But at the other show I could look at the other 21, but warley it'd be those 8 and just a few others,,, that's where the size of the show fails as you don't have time to see everything AND those specific layouts. In short, yes, it's a BIG show, but not the premier one. Something is vastly lost in the translation of a show on this scale and I can't see how it can be fixed. Layouts that would be fantastic elsewhere just seem to get lost in the melee and there are only so many people who can stand in front of a layout at any one time. Have they tried a Cinema area with a large screen and videos of layouts running, or would that just be the same as someone looking at yootube videos at home and negate any desire to attend at all??? SO how many times do I have to go before deciding not to bohther, then realizing one rainy october day that it's warley next month, there are infact a number of layouts I wouldn't mind seeing, and it might actually be worth giving it a go???

Deeley Flatiron. But they'd probably make Big Bertha instead.

I am looking forward to my first visit to Warley, but have heard it's shall we say, a bit of a "Marmite" show. Is there anything I need to know beforehand so as not to ruin the experience?

I think he only solution would be for someone knowledgeable enough and understanding of NittenDormer's situation to visit and demonstrate how it's done. A forum would be largely ineffective as such as what is in front of you on a screen might not translate to answer specific queries, as is asking at a show as most don't have specific wiring demonstrations or layouts that are done properly instead of adequately. When wiring my layout I asked for help at a local model shop, who put me in touch with someone at a local club who was only too happy to assist.

Nice idea for layout, as is this one here: http://www.rmweb.co.uk/community/index.php?/topic/124136-gone-for-a-burton/