Bournville show 2025

Sometimes, I just fancy a day out. No screens, and no driving. A quick look at UK Modelshop's listing told me that Bournville show was on, and a bit of Google action told me that I could have a train ride into Brum, and a 68 bus to close to the venue. That sounds like a good trip out to me. 

Google could have told me that the show is right next to Longbridge station, but I enjoyed batting around on the bus. Watching the world go by from the top deck, slightly above the level of flags tied to lampposts, is endlessly fascinating. 

The show is at a social club, and TBH would have benefited from a sign outside the door, but I found it OK.  

I wasn't expecting great things from the layout selection, and if I'm honest, it was as I expected. That said, there's always something to be enjoyed, and the variety was impressive. People can be snobbish about local shows, but I enjoyed the models on display, and it was clear that those who had built them were very proud. It's easy to become snobbish about quality, but I feel it's important to see every level, remembering that many of those behind the models will be people I write for. 

That said, there was an O gauge layout, which in a year's time will be very photographable. There are already plenty of well-modelled details, and once the rest is finished, I'm looking forward to seeing it. Talking to the owner, he has another finished layout, which I definitely need to point a camera at. 

A chat with the 009 Society was instructive, and I've come away with a few ideas for future tiny projects. 

Trade was unsurprisingly all second-hand, but I can't complain; I picked up a Langley Models warehouse kit for a fiver. A model I've always liked the look of, and for that price, I can add it to the future projects stash. 

But, and it's a big but. THERE WAS NO CAKE! Not a single slice. A sausage sandwich was OK, but in the home of Cadbury, dessert was a KitKat.  

Overall, I enjoyed my bus ride. So much so, that I took a somewhat windy way back to central Brum, seeing a lot of the city on the way. The show was OK, no cake, more smelly people than normal, but still worth the fiver to go in. That's the thing with local events, you never know what you'll find - but then that's part of the fun.