Scaleforum Anyone?

Dog Star

Dog Star

Western Thunderer
This event is Saturday and Sunday 29th /30th September, yep, this weekend.

Given the recent discussions on forum about (a) scatter gun modelling and (b) the attactiveness of 2mm scale to some members I am happy to say that I shall be going to the show on Saturday as I do most years. Never having modelled in any scale other than 7mm I consider S4um to be a damn good day out with no pressure to conform / adopt / adept... although there is always the potential to be inspired and to buy books, materials and tools.

Anyone else enjoy a day at this show?
 
queensquare

queensquare

Western Thunderer
Guest Layout this year is Mick Simpson with his beautiful 2mm representation of a mining village in the north west. If you are at all tempted by 2FS go go have a look and a natter - it's a little cracker.

Jerry
 
Phil Copleston

Phil Copleston

Member
I'm usually a 'regular' at Scaleforum, but can't make it this year, sadly. Ho hum. It's a cracking show of 4mm modelling excellence, with the added bonus of 2mm Finescale as the guest society this year. Incidentally, I did my first modelling demo stand at this show way back in 1991 on behalf of the 2mm Scale Association. Been most years since, and even managed to pick us something for my S scale modelling on most occasions. So whatever your bent, I'd recommend everyone head for Scaleforum!!
 
bogusman

bogusman

Western Thunderer
Wish I could make it on Saturday but family commitments (1st one I have missed in over 20 years:headbang: ). Still trying to convince Helen that we could make a slight detour on the way back on the M 25 from my relatives on Sunday and stay for a couple of hours or more;) . Have to wait and see as she wants to get back to the boys.

Pete
 
Dog Star

Dog Star

Western Thunderer
Apart from having a good chin wag with Mr. Sopwith (without Sopwith-the-Pup who was too busy fitting nuts to bolts in Wantage yard) and an animated discussion with Mr. Lewsey (who is contemplating re-writing the hisory of Staffordshire collieries to explain why a miners' train of GNoSR carriages was seen running through Hartley Hill), this show was a definite flop from my point of view.

There seemed to be less layouts and apart from Wansbeck Road (2mmFS and Quai'87) most did not inspire.... and there seemed to be less demonstrators with a smaller range of demonstrations of interest to me....

I arrived at noon and left at 3/00, not crowded and room to move. Traders? definitely better than the offering at the REC show at Woking on 15th September - at least I could buy a tin of paint and get some metal sections.

To me this show has dumbed down in a way which seems to be spreading across the country.

regards, Graham
 
Dog Star

Dog Star

Western Thunderer
28ten said:
Can you expand on this?:) I have never been to S4um.
Click to expand...
I shall try... although this is a personal matter and hence difficult to describe.

A couple of weeks back I went to the REC Show at Woking as an operator with Ian Pope's Knockley Gate III. The show was in a leisure centre and seemed to be a cosy fit with a fair crowd. I did not take note of the number of layouts... what I did notice was that the majority were in scales greater than 4mm. Lots of bonus points for the presence of Pempoul, The Engine Shed and Jonstowyn Road so some of the organising team understand about quality modelling. Otherwise...

The RES show used to be renown for a good field of demonstrators covering a range of skills and scales, this year there were two for 7mm and one for tree making. Very much reduced opportunity for contact between visitors and modellers and for minimal opportunity to learn. Similarly the show used to have a range of traders with non-scale-specific tools and materials plus those offering the basic bits and kits for the more popular interests. This year I was hard pushed to find any trader offering any style of paint (thank god for Dave Hammersley who flew the flag) or a source of layout wire (OK - the one supplier of tools and stuff had some... just how many DCC locos am I going to wire with 100 metres of orange and blue?). Kits and bits? Just Cambrian wagons as far as I can recall. Overall the show had a feeling of catering for the masses... somewhere to take the kids while Mum is in the local shopping centre.

So S4um today - two layouts with inspiration in modelling and in layout design (see earlier post). I thought tht there was an increasing presence of "out of the box and onto the board stuff" - how does Golden Age Models offering 4mm and 7mm RTR align with S4 modelling? I was talking to Dave Smith, ex Cove-Models, who opined that the specialist traders were becoming difficult to entice to some shows. He cited a well-known supplier of tools, materials, bits and bobs for 4mm and 7mm who used to attend the REC show... no longer because with just two weeks between REC and S4um that trader has been looking at costs / returns.

As for our own show in Basingstoke, we have minimal competition for the first weekend in March, we invite a range of scales / gauges / interests and get a good number of visitors (more than 2,200 for two days). Yet an analysis of free-draw returns shows that the majority of attendees are very local (within 25 miles) and read just Model Rail and Hornby periodicals. As for traders, the demand seems to be satisfied with RTR and no demand for any products that might be required for construction of either layouts or stock.

regards, Graham
 
S

Simon Dunkley

Guest
Dog Star said:
There seemed to be less layouts and apart from Wansbeck Road (2mmFS and Quai'87) most did not inspire.... and there seemed to be less demonstrators with a smaller range of demonstrations of interest to me....
Click to expand...

And they are not even 4mm scale !

[grammar pedant]
Fewer layouts, not less. Fewer where the quantity is discrete and usually ends in an "S" (see what I did there?), less where it is a portion of something (e.g. "less layout space than I hoped for") or continuous. Less flour, but fewer flowers.

But I wander OT and onto hobby horse!
[/grammar pedant]*

To me this show has dumbed down in a way which seems to be spreading across the country.
Click to expand...

And you have only just noticed?

I am afraid that the answer is increasingly, go to Wells in August - not Wells-"next"-the-Sea, but the one where they filmed most of "Hot Fuzz". *

Given the Wells connection, you are welcome to consider quoting any of several memorable lines from said film, most likely contender being the vicar with, "Oh f*** off, grasshopper."
 
S

Simon Dunkley

Guest
I like finescale English, as well as finescale models!
I was picked up on the fewer/less thing by my then MD, 15 years ago: it's one of those things in that once you are aware of the issue, it becomes hard to ignore it. I get irked by misuse of there/their/they're, your/you're and "would of" in place of "would've", too, but at least these are homophones and slightly more excusable. Similarly, "textspeak" on a phone strikes me as a personal choice, but outside of that, is just laziness at best, pretentious twaddle at worst.

One man's (one person's?) pedantry is another's source of useful information, of course. Personally, I welcome an opportunity to know more, so don't mind at all.
 
queensquare

queensquare

Western Thunderer
Some great photos there Chris. Brian Harrap is one of the most original thinkers in the hobby and a true gent to boot - its always a pleasure to see the Devon Massive out in force.
That looks like young Mark Fielder having a natter in the second photo.

Jerry
 
Len Cattley

Len Cattley

Western Thunderer
Met some old friends saw some good layouts but the one I liked was Shewsbury will be great when it's finished have uploaded two photo's so you can see what they have done.
Regards
Len Cattley
 

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