RAILEX 23rd & 24th May 2015

david bigcheeseplant

Western Thunderer
RAILEX is this weekend

For those parking in the stadium car park there are signs saying parking can be for a maximum 2 or 3 hours. Don't worry the number plate cameras will be switched off and you can stay at Railex as long as you wish.

David
 

Scale7JB

Western Thunderer
Looking forward to the show on Sunday...! I rather wish there were a few more specialist traders.. Not saying there 'SHOULD' be, just be nice to use the show as a mid-term trade show to get a few bits. I think the only relevant trader personally is hobby holidays...

JB.
 

Scale7JB

Western Thunderer
Hi Dave,

I guess as an engine builder, more parts suppliers and casting specialists, but I do understand that being a multi-scale show, it would be difficult for purely 7mm scale businesses to justify the costs of the stand vs takings...

It was more of an observation that a suggestion. Besides, with fewer traders that are applicable to myself, I might actually stop and look at the layouts ;)

JB.
 

queensquare

Western Thunderer
Looking forward to the show on Sunday...! I rather wish there were a few more specialist traders.. Not saying there 'SHOULD' be, just be nice to use the show as a mid-term trade show to get a few bits. I think the only relevant trader personally is hobby holidays...

JB.

Oh I do hope it doesn't become like a trade show. I went to my first dedicated 7mm show earlier this year, Bristol, where I helped set up the S7 test track. Loads of traders but in my view very uninspiring layouts and at least three big roundy roundy test tracks all of which seemed to just have lovely locos pulling lovely stock which rarely had any relation to each other on bare boards devoid of any scenery or historical context. Some wonderful modelling but very little evidence of what I would call a model railway.
Railex is, in my opinion, the best show of the year - great layouts in all scales with a good cross section of trade including more specialist traders than any other general show.

Jerry
 

Ian G

Western Thunderer
Some of us rib David little cheesehead about the traders, but in all there is always a good selction at least 8 traders specialise in 7mm more than most multi scale shows, yes there are a few on our wish list. I have watch http://www.gramodels.co.uk/ improve there scope of products over the years and a few others.

Ian G
 

Heather Kay

Western Thunderer
As someone who was involved in the club that organised the Chatham Show back in the day, the exhibition management team's driving ambition was to book layouts new to the circuit, or rarely seen. Small traders were encouraged to attend, because it was often the only exhibition where a paying visitor might see their wares in the flesh, as it were.

It's taken nearly two decades for the club to mount a show that even begins to approach the heyday of the exhibition held in Chatham Dockyard, not helped by various venues falling through. Meanwhile, the rise of the Internet has seen the need for lots of specialist trade under one roof more or less disappear.

Speaking as someone who tries to make a living from building models for people, there are plenty of excellent shows where the emphasis is on the trade. I would be much happier for shows like RailEx, which is now seen as one of - if not the - premier exhibitions in the calendar to concentrate on getting great variety of quality layouts. I shall be visiting on Sunday, drawn by the headline acts of Aberbeeg and Black Country Blues. The other goods on display are the support acts for me.
 

Dikitriki

Flying Squad
Just getting ready to travel down with some Heyside mates and looking forward to a really good day out.:)

Richard
 

S7BcSR

Western Thunderer
Dan, JB

Talking to one of the members of the Hillingdon Group today at RailEx today he introduced himself as an S7 member, so all is not lost. I must say I admired their Grindley Brook layout this weekend, a fine successor to East Dean.

Rob
 

Scale7JB

Western Thunderer
Hi John, yes John Birch and I had a good lol at these yesterday and they were magnificent!

The Beattie Well Tank was a favourite too...

JB.
 

Tony West

Western Thunderer
I would like to echo the sentiments of the others in saying what a quality show this was !!!. I spent the Sunday helping to man the GCRS stand...a first time for me at this show ...now kicking myself for missing previous years !. Personal favourite for me was the circular 3mm Irish broad gauge layout, a tough choice .....
Cheers Tony.
 

Heather Kay

Western Thunderer
I snapped some photos. I'm not usually one for taking pictures of other people's train sets, but I got some shots of things I was interested in.

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The two viaduct bridges on Black Country Blues. I really liked the weathering on the iron plate bridge at the back.

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The tethered horse takes no notice of the steel flats rumbling over the viaduct above. I enjoyed viewing this layout, and I'm pleased to note it won the award for Best in Show - an award given by the other exhibitors I believe. If there was one thing that detracted from the layout, it was that everything ran so slowly. I think trains could have been given a tiny lick of speed occasionally.

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Grindley Brook shows much promise. First time out at an exhibition, and there were one or two rough edges to the running, as well as some unfinished buildings, but it will come together nicely. Here is a nice little cameo of the shed roof being repaired.

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Some lovely LNWR "IKEA flat pack" station buildings are still under construction.

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A rare beast that only just made it into BR days, I think this is the first 7mm scale Beames 0-8-4T I've ever seen.

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82G Templecombe Road Shed was another large 0 gauge layout I found myself returning to several times during my visit. That shiny A35 really needs a dose of satin varnish to tone it down a bit.

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I don't know the provenance of this breakdown crane, but it was one of several large crane models on display around the exhibition.

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A good variety of motive power from several companies made this layout one to enjoy.

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Some Midland Region Class 6 power was on show alongside the Western and Southern Region locos.
 

Steph Dale

Western Thunderer
Heather,
That's the Sanspareil R&R 36tonner. There was another one (in BR(S) condition) on another layout.

Like others I massively enjoyed the day at the show. It was great to see Aberbeeg for the first time and enjoyed the modelling on Black Country Blues. The Irish broad gauge in 3mm was superb too; the first time I've seen inside motion in the scale!

Steph
 

SimonT

Western Thunderer
Folks,
thanks to those whom I got to speak to and apologies to those to whom I spoke little or none at all. Somehow I was busy despite only two faults; one half of the single slip started to erratically not go full throw and a piece of subsidence that affected the Ebbw fiddle yard. All other faults were organic in nature - mine included:rolleyes:.

I will throw my penny worth in agree to the votes for Black Country Blues and the simply brilliant Irish layout. I got to talk to the builder for half an hour before the show opened and was amazed by the inside motion, all built without machine tools. The compensation beam also runs on the crank axle!

Great show and I am now knackered!
Simon
 
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