leavesontheline

There were, yes! I noticed that too. For a while I even wondered if the stand next to Rapido was actually part of Rapido! One of their cabinets seemed identical and I couldn't see any additional personnel staffing the adjacent stand! In general I did see slot of Rapido stock around on other trader's tables, but I don't know if that had anything to do with Rapido not selling their own stuff? For me, manufacturers stands are usually 'marketing' stands but I guess sometimes the likes of Hornby and Bachmann do bring along their seconds/returns/bargains type stuff...

I must admit that I think the 'presence' of manufacturers at shows, is not much more than that. Rapido had a stand at this show and whilst it was interesting to see some EP's of upcoming models, they didn't seem to have anything for sale (maybe you could place pre-orders, I didn't enquire) and so I didn't spend much more than a minute or two glancing at the cabinets. Had other manufacturers been there too I'm sure it would have been the same story. Would I want to see layout exhibitor places reduced in favour of manufacturers? No. Would I want to see fewer trade stands in favour of manufacturer 'showpieces'? Probably no to that too. So I agree it would have been 'nice' to see more manufacturer stands, but I wouldn't want it at the expense of exhibitors. As for 'box shifters', I actually thought there was a really good mix of sellers offering new and second hand models AND bits a pieces. On some stalls it was, as is so often the case, quite hard to tell the new and second hand apart. Also, these days, even the stuff in the rummage bins seems quite pricey! In other/past shows it has been frustrating when there has only say one trader selling new models, but several selling second hand. I think having a few sellers selling the same things (whether new or second hand) can only be good for competitive prices though? It must be hard for organisers to get the 'mix' right but I thought they got it right, for me anyway, at this show.

I'm sorry but it seems a bit disingenuous to not recommend a show to other modellers just because a very specific type and colour of paint wasn't available! More so than in previous years, I felt that there was so much choice in traders this time, you literally could have purchased everything required to start your first layout except for the base-boards, or finish off your umpteenth layout! Some times in the past I had thought the selection of traders was a bit limited but not so this year! As a railway modeller surely shows are not just about purchasing things but also about viewing inspirational layouts and this show had these in abundance too. I felt that there was literally something for everyone. I model in OO and dabble with N and I occupied a few hours today looking at some superb modelling but equally enjoyed the O gauge offerings too. Just because a layout wasn't 'my' scale, doesn't make the modelling any less relevant or inspirational to me! My only suggestion for future years is regarding the barriers... Whilst I concede that they do offer a nice 'arm rest' to view the layouts, in some cases the layout was too far from the barriers to view it properly and in other cases you couldn't get close enough to some of the bigger layouts at the ends where the scenic portion curved away but the barriers stayed straight! So some big chunks of one or two layouts were not really viewable. It was a minor loss to me but probably a bigger loss to the owners whose fantastic modelling went 'un-viewed'! I tend not to like 'big' shows much, but this show was just right! I'll hopefully be back next year.

Ryanair would still find a way to charge you for your own sh1# though 😁 This article brings all the school boy puns to my mind.... "Whizz Air - your Number One Airline" Brings a whole new meaning to "dumping fuel"..... I could go on....!

Nice model, just let down by the back-scene beyond the signal.......😃

Read the title a bit too quick in the 'View New Content' list and wondered why anyone would want PANTS for model trains in the UK..... Very sorry but I have no constructive comments to add on paints .....

Nailsea and Backwell Station?

Yes, very nice to see Sheep Dip today. Maybe the third (?) of your excellent layouts I've seen in the flesh. Did you see 'Bleat'? His sheep were flocked .....

Everyone too busy with their heads down looking at their phones to notice the archway above them!

Welcome back! C908 Someone has got the wrong scale cow on their layout 😄

Sorry, $ won't help much 😆 As it happens, I did initially put 'Cheltenham Model Centre' as it was very similar to price labels on items that I knew had come from that shop, however, a bit later on I found some more identical bright orange labels and via a bit of 'digital archaeology' managed to pinpoint the purchases to Transport Models in Preston. So no-where near the Southwest of the UK 🤣. I did visit that shop once though, which is now sadly closed. As you say, usually some evidence comes to light to enable a later update but at the moment I do still have two complete 'unknowns' per the images below and I am nearly at the end of the cataloguing exercise..... so hopefully there won't be any more! For UK modellers out there, once again, does anyone recognise these labels from their local retailer? I won't restrict it to the South West this time as these seem to be 'one-off's that I could have purchased anywhere! ("Happy days" when you could pick up a new Bachmann wagon for these prices!) Edited just to say that I think the second one below (the 'Our Price' sticker, no, not from the record store!) is actually from Durham Trains of Stanley, via a bit of memory trawling and a look at their website and facebook page! Still can't place the first one though. It would be a shame if this ended up as the only 'unknown shop' in my database!

Well yes, you would reasonably expect that, but so far I have been able to identify the source of most models purchased in shops, from their labels! Obviously this relies on having some 'confirmed' purchases, but it is surprising how many stick to their preferred label/label machine over the years! Also, my list of likely retailers doesn't cover a very wide distance which helps!!

Yes, thankyou, they were certainly high on my list of traders that I would have bought brand new items from at shows in this part of the country, but I also have models from them where the name "Cheltenham Model Centre" is also printed on the labels and they are white. Of course they could be of a different era and the other possibility is that they might use completely different labels for show stock compared to shop stock..... as any other shop/trader might well do. Its not vital that I find out obviously, but its just bugging me! Out of hundreds of models these are the only few I can't place!

Bit of a strange question this, but does anyone recognise the shop (or show trader) that this price tag/sticker might have come from? Most likely someone who is based in, or attends shows in the West, South West and South Wales. Reason for asking is that I am currently cataloguing my models and so far I have been able to establish the source of all models whether purchased in-person or online, but not this one! It is quite a distinctive sticker being almost fluorescent orange. This could be any time over the past ten years or so but I find most retailers stick to the same type of labels generally. I have models with this same sticker separated by several years, but can't trace any of them to a specific trader or show, or purchase! Thanks in hope that's its someone's local shop!

I haven't really checked any others no but no other price rises have jumped out at me like this one has. As it happens there is another interesting 'comparison' I have just found out about - over on the Accurascale thread about their acquisition of the Hattons Andrew Barclay and P Class models. I bought a couple of these for £99 in 2018 which was the selling price new from Hattons. So I was amazed to read this evening that Hattons had been due to sell this next batch for less, at £85. I was then even more surprised to read that Accurascale were apologising for having to put the price up to ..... wait for it ...... £99! So exactly the same as six years ago. These are very fine models and I'm sure the assembly time must be up there with the larger 8F due to all the extra details! I don't know all the details behind the manufacture of either model and what the actual production cost is, but I do find this comparison fascinating all the same! I know there are so many reasons for price rises and the situation 'is what it is' but that doesn't stop us from wondering 'why' and 'how' sometimes! I also believe that there are many industries, markets, companies who are just capitalising on various global situations to charge the customer more, or at least 'test the market' and see what people will pay!