Are Model Engineering Exhibitions The Same

Most stall holders appear happy to keep items for collection later, so I guess one could collect the rucksack just before leaving then go to the stalls and collect your reserved stuff.

Personally speaking most of the problem seems to occur when people with rucksacks wander about looking at various stands and turning round or backing up.

Edited By V8Eng on 14/08/2018 23:48:53

The major problem I have an the shows is all of the folk that seem to progress around the trade stalls from left to right, instead of the obvious right to left progression that they should make. At some shows, it seems that everyone is going the wrong way except me...

It always appears like ever decreasing circles to me, unfortunately they never seem to vanish.😉

Edited By V8Eng on 14/08/2018 23:56:18

Edited By V8Eng on 14/08/2018 23:57:10

Exhibitions (and supermarket check-out queues).

In the words of Jean-Paul Sartre "l'enfer c'est les autres".
(Hell is other people)

I think the rucksacks contain a flask and butties most of the time. An aerosol of student soap could also be useful.

Mike

Edited By Mike Poole on 15/08/2018 07:54:06

Shows arn't like they used to be.

I remember sitting eating my lunch at I think Olympia (that dates it) and noticing an old man with a suit shiny with oil eating peices of apple from an old tobacco tin. My mate commented that he was probably living on his own and spent his life in his shed. Definitely one of the old breed.

Before anyone thinks I am being derogatory I was reminded that John Stuart Mill stated that the occurance of genius corrollates strongly with the occurance of eccentricity.

Regarding the rucksac issue the last Model Engineering show at Sandown had was so empty of visitors it wasn't a problem and prooved to be the death of that show in it's old format, so maybe we should rejoice when shows are crowded and people bump into each other because it meants that there will be another next year.

regards Martin

Edited By Martin Kyte on 15/08/2018 08:48:53

Edited By Ron Laden on 15/08/2018 08:51:54

Edited By Ron Laden on 15/08/2018 08:55:41

Perhaps I've not been to enough exhibitions, but personally I'd never been aware of issues with rucksacks until I read this thread. Some of them I've been to have been crowded and difficult, though.

I think part of the problem may be with Model Engineers - as a breed, to some extent or other we're used to organising our own time in our own space - at least as far as this hobby is concerned - and compromise with irritating others who have the same outlook is always gonna be fraught in such gatherings...

Sounds like the model railwayers in the OP are a bit lacking in social skills. So, no I wouldn't expect Model Engineers to be the same.

Things have obviously moved on, Duffel bags used to be the bag of choice for railway enthusiasts to complement the anorak.

Mark Rand, why is it 'obvious' that people should move right to left at exhibitions? I like to move clockwise round a show or rally, as do most others, as you said. Are you the only one in step?

Geoff

Right to left is clockwise on a stall.

As to why it's obvious, it's because that's what I do. Obviously!

First came across the rucksack "problem" at the Ashmolean in Oxford, I was asked to carry rather than wear for the reason others have stated. Odd thing was the the place was nearly deserted, more staff than visitors! Still, easier to comply than argue.

As for smelly visitors, get yourself plastered in Brute or Lynx, that will hide any objectionable smells!

John

Yes, they are all the same. Well, actually they are getting worse. Quite often see the same models with absolutely no progress since the last time they were exhibited. Fewer trade stands. Can't possibly agree with a golfing dress code. Since the demise of Sandown they are all too far away or awkward for me to get to. Did try Brooklands but that was all over the place. Might, just might, try that one again so......

I have the ultimate solution. I don't go anymore!

OK, not about an engineering show/exhibition, but I once asked my boss, a keen yachtie, if he had been to the London Boat Show.

"Yes" he replied "but unfortunately the public were there".

Only if viewed from above

At first glance I read this as two additional people literally climbing out of the rucksacks in comical fashion. I imagined it as some kind of scheme to circumvent the admission fee. When I re-read the post I was quite disappointed

From experience building a large model needs large lumps of material and a shopping bag isn't going to cut it! I saved a fortune in postage collecting material from the shows all of it large and heavy.

Playing devils advocate, the other side of the argument is to respect someone elses personal space and not get so close their rucksack is a problem to you. Just saying...

I'm sure there arethose who feel that model engineering exhibitions smelled far better in the 1950s, and haven't washed since in order to preserve the authentic aroma.

Neil

The odour problem may be caused by the modern lack of model engineers smoking pipes. There's no way you can detect a bit of sweat over a cloud of Exmoor Hunt from a well pulling briar...