Larger Scale Show

larger scale show
Originally uploaded by Phil_Parker.

Another weekend, another show to visit. Life is tough…

This weekend it’s the Larger Scale Model Railway show. Catering for gauges O and above, especially the garden railway scales of 16mm and G, it’s not really relevant to me but since it’s around the corner and one day there will be a garden railway, why not ?

The show takes place at the Warwickshire Exhibition centre, which as you can see is pretty light and airy. Plenty of space too. The side doors can be partly opened to allow for ventilation which is good news when the hall is full of working steam engines !

Plenty of trade present. Obviously there is a lot of LGB and Bachmann but the engineering scales are represented. Lots for the kitbuilder too since working in these scales normally means you have to make something. Since your baseboard is likely to involve mixing concrete I suppose building rolling stock and structures is quite a pleasant diversion.

Entry is £7.50 which seems a bit steep – many model railway exhibitions of similar size will charge half this – but it didn’t seem to put anyone off as the crowds on Saturday morning were plentiful. I saw money changing hands on trade stands too. Of course there aren’t many of these type of shows catering for the garden railway modeller so I guess you tend to save your money for the event.

Over the years the layouts present have changed quite a bit. Once they were little more than test tracks with trains hurtling round at breakneck speed. Nowadays scenery is becoming more and more effective. One model features a section of India (Darjeeling to be precise) complete with a plethora of Tuk-Tuks. Others are more traditional generic narrow gauge lines but even then the quality of the modelling has improved. Locomotives have always been well made but now rolling stock looks better, although there is often still some way to go, and the buildings are now much more than the rudimentary boxes of old.

I enjoyed the event anyway. Not much retail therapy took part but I handled goods that might one day be purchased. Doubtless a lot of this goes on. I don’t like buying via photos if I can help it and I’m not alone. These events allow you to get a proper look so the pictures make some sense. Besides you can always dream can’t you ?