NMRA RH October 2018

Mixing it with the British
(Outline modellers that is)
Mike and Martin Ford
Going to a model railway
exhibition always has its
risks, whether you visit as
an exhibitor, trader or as a
member of the paying public.
As an exhibitor you hope that some
visitors will take an interest in what
you’ve tried to achieve from a wide
range of aspects - operation, scenery,
representation of the original
if one existed, or the concept if the
layout is free-lanced. You are also
hoping for a well organised exhibition,
decent access to unload/load,
reasonable operating space, copious
cups of tea (or coffee) etc.
As a trader you hope for a constant
stream of visitors thrusting pictures of
the queen into your hands or transferring
money to you whether it be
contactlessly or not.
As a member of the public you are
hoping to see some decent quality
layouts, operating without too much
interference from the big hand of
god, without prolonged periods of inactivity
and without indifference from
the operators.
We’ve pretty much given up going in
the role of the general public, due to
seeing/experiencing at first hand too
much of the finger prodding, inactivity
or indifference.
wedges of cash that were being
thrust into our palms. Pity we had to
hand it over to someone else, but it
was an experience none the less.
It was in the role of exhibitor that we
attended the Sleaford Model Railway
Club’s annual exhibition on 2nd June.
Although only scheduled for a single
day it was sufficiently local for us that
the journey was neither difficult nor
time consuming (30-minute drive).
We arrived early at St. Georges
Academy in Sleaford having negotiated
a road closure into the site
(courtesy of activity from the local fire
brigade). The weather was extremely
humid, precipitating a torrential
downpour as we pulled up to unload.
Fortunately the main unloading doors
were covered with a sort of veranda
which prevented an unnecessary
soaking. We had co-opted Richard
Brooks - a fellow Black Diamonds
member - to assist and Richard was
already there. Having located, and
communicated with one of the club’s
organisers, we determined where
we needed to be in the exhibition
hall and began setting up. Within
the hour, we were good to go - trains
were ready to run, and equally
(more!) importantly we had found
were the tea was dispensed, and the
bacon sandwiches!
As is usually the case we were the
only representative of the North
American scene (sometimes there
may be two of us but it is unusual)
- we were surrounded by British layouts
of various gauges, and traders
catering primarily for the British modeller.
The public were admitted at
10.00 am and it soon started to look
like it was going to be one of the better
exhibitions. There was a lot more
questions from the public, some genuine
real interest We were visited by
a variety of people ranging from an
We’ve done the trader bit, more in
the role of assistant - just accepting
Richard Brooks Honing his DCC skills - Padden Flatts at Sleaford RailEx
2018 - Photo Martin Ford
20 ROUNDHOUSE - October 2018