MIDLANDS MODEL ENGINEERING EXHIBITION

Dissapointed to not be goimg this year. Just had a second knee replacement op. Pity as i waited all year for it. Wanted to check out the model boat club based at kingsbury..

I'll be up there tomorrow, will take the camera for those that can't get to see the models.

My local contact advises approach up or down the Fosse Way as the A425 to the west is closed!

I'm going Saturday with a friend, I emailed Tracey Tools last night to see if they would take two particular thread taps for me to collect and this morning I got a reply from a very nice gentleman who wrote ask for me I will have them ready, I'm really pleased with that.

Martin P

Is that because the nice folks in Radford Semele have got fed up with those weird model engineering chaps coming past every year?

I'm going tomorrow because SWMBO has got the car on Friday and Saturday.

Edited By Mark Rand on 16/10/2019 22:19:51

I doubt it! Might be the ‘straw that breaks the camel’s back’ but I expect there are many different weird exhibition-goers passing through as our show is not the only one occurring each year.

I’m on my way in about an hour or so.

I'm going tomorrow (Friday). It would be interesting if someone would give their impression of the exhibition.

Brian

Just got back from my visit. Initial impression was "not quite as good as last year". It seemed to be very dark in the main hall which was somewhat reduced in size to allow for the lecture theatre in one corner. Some not previously seen stands, Eric's Railway Art being one and a lady in the corner making lace, can't quite reconcile that with model engineering.

Warco's large stand was replaced by Station Road Steam and Keith Robinson Engineering Tools, which I don't recall seeing before. A large display of Pullman Coaches also occupied the ex-Warco space although they were very good just one with a sign saying one of seven (not Seven of Nine) would have done.

They look better close up after someone remembered to switch the lights on.

Outside was pretty empty as well as the Fosse Way Steamers hadn't quite all woken up, only about three engines when I first looked although there were apparently two dozen engines there.

A very good selection on the competition stand although again this was very poorly lit (perhaps it's just my eyes). The club stands were pretty much as last year with a good display all round.

On the catering front 0 out of 10 as the lady had forgotten to bring the gluten free bread so no "bacon butty" to get me going, good job I brought my own lunch.

John

Edit: Spelling

Edited By Journeyman on 17/10/2019 16:46:46

Just arrived home with a bag of goodies! It was my first time at the show so these are very much impressions of a newbie...

We arrived at about 10:45 along the Fosse Way from the South West and met the traffic as we approached the roundabout and it was very slow going getting onto the the car park which was very near full then. Getting in was fine even though we paid by card on the door and we collected our free show guide (bonus) and started to have a look around. It was quite busy and just got busier as the morning went on. After I'd had a little shop around we (wife in tow) went for a coffee but the queue was horrendous so I left her chatting with a very nice lady from Leeds while I went and completed my purchasing spree and looked at the wonderful models on display. There were so many that I would have loved to have made but the one that sticks in my mind the the railway engine that was being displayed by OO Live Steam stand (Q), a gentleman was explaining how they fitted the steam and electrical gubbins, all powered from the track electrics!

We did sit in on the start of the lecture about CAD for 3D modelling but the poor chap giving the talk was clearly struggling with his equipment so we decided we'd leave and get some lunch on the way home.

A thoroughly enjoyable few hours, and maybe try to go when it is less crowded. I'd certainly go again, but the catering and car park really needs addressing, and well done to all the society's who put on such a splendid show.

A few pics from the show

Thanks for posting the pic's Jason looking forwards to seeing some of them first hand ar the weekend

H

Any good deals to be had i will be going on Saturday looking to get myself a new lathe so hoping Chester are doing some show deals . or am i just being over optimistic ?

Nick

Edited By Nick Holden 1 on 17/10/2019 21:37:00

They sited the lecture theatre inside the exhibition hall and the noise from the hall was horrendous. I was considering going to two, but gave the second a miss because of that.

Other than the catering queues, it was a good show. Third time and will go again next year. An expensive day out, but at least the expenditure on goodies should come in useful. Plenty of ideas and inspiration from the show, as well.

The lecture theatre position and construction is definitely 'sub optimal'. Luckily, Noel Shelley has got a good carrying voice, so I really enjoyed his home foundry talk and a long natter afterwards. Chester's presence is very minimal, so I'm not sure what deals they might have. I was there from 10:00 until 16:00 and, whilst it was very crowded from 12:00 until 14:00, it was very easy to get around afterwards. Most of the usual purveyors of tat had most of the same tat, The likes of JB tooling and Blackgates had the usual selection of hidden gems . M-dro/Allendale had their chap that knows about the product there, so one could ask about what one needed or order stuff that they've forgotten to put on the web site.

The club stands were slightly more prominent than the trade stands, possibly due to the ever shrinking number of traders, but there were plenty of things to look at.

I spent more than I expected, learned more and enjoyed this one more than any since the Donnington days. It's not in the same league as Harrogate/Doncaster (neither is Doncaster!) but It was a good day out for me.

Edited By Mark Rand on 17/10/2019 22:17:01

Probably wishful thinking, The last few shows I have been to Chester have only had a small stand with a lathe and mill so unless you want a DB10 I don't think any deals can be had. Gone are the days when Chester and Warco would roll up with a big curtain sider full of machines as it is now what will fit in a long wheelbase transit.

Edited By JasonB on 18/10/2019 16:41:54

I went on Thursday and was not far short of being crushed to death. To say it was packed is an understatement. I agree with all the above comments about the catering, it was abysmal. Mark has it right when he says it is not in the same league as the Harrogate or now Doncaster shows. I confess that my main reason for going to the shows these days, is to top up on bits and pieces and tooling, although there are very few bargains to be had. Gone are the days when lots of traders were competing with each other by bringing down the prices. I like to see things before I buy so it's a shame that the traders are being priced out of attending.

Quote: It's a shame that the traders are being priced out of attending.

That's a double edged sword. Traders being priced out of attending means such shows will no longer be viable and will soon cease to exist. Enjoy then while you can.

I went to the show today, and despite all the negative comments above I thought it was pretty good! Great range of models and traders.

Even managed to pick up a gauge block set made by Coventry Gauge & Tool Ltd (Matrix), I've been promising myself a set like this for years, but wasn't prepared to spend silly money on something I might seldom use, so thirty quid seemed like a decent price for a 50 piece set. And it's got a Rolls Royce quality sticker on it too for extra bonus points!

Ian

Walked into the sort of "tent" on the side of the main hall where the GTBA stand is, to find it filled with a blue haze. Had they be running the jets perhaps? or left a door open while a traction engine was passing? No, it was the grease smoke from the cafe... Catering abysmal I thought, poor quality and inefficient. Why don't they just get a few food trucks to park outside? Apart from that the show was humdrum I thought, every year a few less traders, always the same models being displayed (it seems). Every year the wife asks me why I go, I suppose it's mainly local family connections, but I'll just go and see them next year and give the show a miss I think.

Did you not notice that two walls of the "cafe" are made up of food trucks, they cover the area in so you don't get wet if its raining. Upstairs restaurant may be more civilised but I did not go up there.

As for the same models, all those ones I posted I have not seen displayed before as I don't bother taking pics of ones I have.

Edited By JasonB on 19/10/2019 06:55:50