Topic: London Model Engineering Exhibition - 2019 (Read 12089 times)

Charlie · « **Reply #25 on:** January 20, 2019, 09:50:18 pm »

Hi Colin,

For me, a show needs to have the following:
Outdoor venue
Lake or large pool
Lots of different models on the water throughout the day
Other types of models, be they cars, trucks, aircraft, tanks etc
Traders are a bonus, but not essential for me, since it is far easier to source everything online now
The one show that had the lot, was the Southern Model Show, back when it was held at the Hop Farm. That really was a tremendous show.

Charlie

Quote from: Colin Bishop on January 20, 2019, 08:22:59 pm

Well, to be fair, it's not easy to set up a decent sized pool in an internal show venue - all that water....

Fine for trucks of course and of course railways but if you want to see boats on the water you really need to attend club events. You won't see much in the way of model flying indoors either except for small electric models.

So, Charlie, what DO you want to see and under what conditions?

Do tell!

Colin

tigertiger · « **Reply #26 on:** January 21, 2019, 01:31:27 am »

Quote from: Colin Bishop on January 20, 2019, 11:36:30 am

There is a national body for model boaters - the MPBA - but most boaters don't bother to support it, particularly the scale side so it isn't in a position to exert much influence these days. That's down to boater apathy!

That is perhaps a little bit unfair to model boaters. Looking at the MPBA homepage, it is focused on model power boats. It would be easy to think that it is not an association that supports other areas of model boating. If one digs deeper and goes to the members page, it does say it supports all other types of model boating. Then there is the membership fee, reasonable at GBP20, but if people are already paying club dues, and they already have insurance, what additional benefits does the MPBA offer for the money (quid pro quo).
I don't know the answer to these questions, but does the MPBA engage in PR/marketing activities and reach out to model boaters? or does it expect model boaters to seek them out?
Just my 2c

tigertiger · « **Reply #27 on:** January 21, 2019, 01:52:40 am »

One thought I had about shows and events in general. They are perhaps less relevant and needed than they used to be because many (not all) of the reasons people went to shows are serviced by the internet. The cost of progress maybe.

One major role/attraction of the shows was for people to be able to see what was new in the hobby. New tools, kits, gear, etc. It was also a chance to see what traders/suppliers were out there (the alternative was Yellow Pages for local suppliers) and what they sold, products that were not yet in your local model shop, as well as a chance to talk to them about their products.
For traders it was also a chance for them to get a feel for market and product developments, and speak to suppliers to see and chat about new offerings.

The internet has had a huge impact on these aspects. We can get email fliers from suppliers with updates. We can visit the websites of suppliers to see who has what, what is new, etc. If we have questions we can often email suppliers. We can trawl through forums, and find information from the comfort of our desk. Forums also provide the social function of people from different clubs and different parts of the country chatting.

I have seen a lot of comments over the years blaming suppliers, event organizers, costs, greed, modelers, computer games, etc. etc. It is easy to look for blame, and easy to forget that the world keeps turning. It is nice, and comfortable, to stand still but we will get left behind. The hardest part about adapting is knowing which way to go forward.

Just some additional thoughts.

unbuiltnautilus · « **Reply #28 on:** January 21, 2019, 07:48:33 pm »

Quote from: tigertiger on January 21, 2019, 01:52:40 am

One thought I had about shows and events in general. They are perhaps less relevant and needed than they used to be because many (not all) of the reasons people went to shows are serviced by the internet. The cost of progress maybe.

One major role/attraction of the shows was for people to be able to see what was new in the hobby. New tools, kits, gear, etc. It was also a chance to see what traders/suppliers were out there (the alternative was Yellow Pages for local suppliers) and what they sold, products that were not yet in your local model shop, as well as a chance to talk to them about their products.
For traders it was also a chance for them to get a feel for market and product developments, and speak to suppliers to see and chat about new offerings.

The internet has had a huge impact on these aspects. We can get email fliers from suppliers with updates. We can visit the websites of suppliers to see who has what, what is new, etc. If we have questions we can often email suppliers. We can trawl through forums, and find information from the comfort of our desk. Forums also provide the social function of people from different clubs and different parts of the country chatting.

I have seen a lot of comments over the years blaming suppliers, event organizers, costs, greed, modelers, computer games, etc. etc. It is easy to look for blame, and easy to forget that the world keeps turning. It is nice, and comfortable, to stand still but we will get left behind. The hardest part about adapting is knowing which way to go forward.

Just some additional thoughts.

Very true, the world moves on, interests change, shows cannot stay the same if the lifeblood of these shows want something else from their events. We are mostly an active, on the water hobby, we mostly play in the summer. Most big shows shun sunshine, lurking in the autumn, winter, or if you are lucky early spring. The best shows I have attended over the years bask in sunshine. Plumpton, Sumners Ponds, the occasional Beale Park when it was held at a sensible time of year, Southern Model Show etc. I no longer want to look at rows of static models, guarded over by grumpy people, I want to be outside, I want to be free, I want to be a lumberjack........getting a bit off topic..

Colin Bishop · « **Reply #29 on:** January 21, 2019, 07:58:01 pm »

Actually at Warwick I did enjoy looking at the models on the club stands and admiring the workmanship. I also spent time talking to people on the stands and enjoyed the chats. Maybe I was missing something?!

People aren''t usually grumpy if they are approached in the right way although I accept there might be exceptions.
Bear in mind that these ancient stand guardians might be struggling with uncomfortable medical conditions!

My Wife remarked the other day when we were going out that I needed to wrap up to keep the wind out. I responded that at my age it was more of an issue keeping it in!

Colin

Martin (Admin) · « **Reply #30 on:** January 21, 2019, 10:12:15 pm »

... in fine form this evening Colin!

Colin Bishop · « **Reply #31 on:** January 21, 2019, 10:48:23 pm »

Indeed Martin, we both laughed so much that I nearly crashed the car on a roundabout!

Colin

roycv · « **Reply #32 on:** January 22, 2019, 05:45:30 am »

Hi all, there are a lot of nuggets in the previous threads. Numbers of visitors to create viability, size of venue and parking of cars, lots of activities, cost of Traders attending, We organise our own general modelling show each year, we hire a school for the weekend. This gives parking and green areas etc. Because the organization is carried out by club members there is a 'profit' which supports club activities. It would fail if we had to pay the going rate for workers.

We hit probably our maximum visitors last year at 2000 over the two days. Beyond these numbers the 'workers' would down tools! Our visitors are 80% local non-model making population, so specialised Traders are not going to do enough business. We know that from 20 odd years ago, when a local model shop went home Saturday evening having done very little business.

Our annual show has been going on for about 60 years now and has evolved from an almost static single club exhibition to embracing all local clubs who wish to attend and special fun things like MidAir, who I am told do twice the business they do at A.P. We are like everyone else these days looking for new members but did not wish to poach from areas where there was already a thriving club, hence the other clubs presence.

We chose the timing as the beginning of the exhibition months but catching the last of the nice weather of the autumn. Before I had a hand in dates we often hit the Cup Final in May. As you can imagine there is a lot of effort behind the scenes, we sometimes say "was it worth it"? But when the weather is kind to us and the weekend arrives and the children are queueing for train rides and goes on the RC boats and flying newly constructed aeroplanes, we feel it is worth it. I checked with one parent back in August last year and she said that the family come for both days!

We are at it again this year, entry £4 and £1 for age 5+. same venue on 28th. 29th. September in St. Albans.
We work, it works and the key seems to be spreading the exhibition over the modelling spectrum.
Regards to all,
Roy

roycv · « **Reply #33 on:** January 22, 2019, 09:10:02 am »

Hi all, I forgot to put our new website address up.
http://stalbansmes.com/
It is very new and being added to all the time, it also has the club video that we were showing over the A.P. weekend.
regards Roy

Arrow5 · « **Reply #34 on:** January 22, 2019, 12:54:54 pm »

No mention of the massive shows in Germany, how are they doing ? Friedrichshafen for instance has five or six halls. Plus the nearby Zeppelin Museum. Worth a Ryanair jaunt they land right at the exhibition site.

Tug Fanatic · « **Reply #35 on:** January 22, 2019, 01:53:39 pm »

Quote from: Arrow5 on January 22, 2019, 12:54:54 pm

No mention of the massive shows in Germany, how are they doing ? Friedrichshafen for instance has five or six halls. Plus the nearby Zeppelin Museum. Worth a Ryanair jaunt they land right at the exhibition site.

I think that Intermodellbau Dortmund has now lost the Thursday & it doesn't feel the show that it used to be.

Subculture · « **Reply #36 on:** January 22, 2019, 02:56:14 pm »

Germany retained a much greater chunk of industry than here in the UK, about 30% versus 11%. That has a knock on effect on hobbies that involve technical expertise. Even still they've seen a marked reduction in manufacturing jobs as many parts of their industry have been moved to cheaper labour markets, former eastern block etc. This is starting to impact the hobby sector.

It hasn't been an overnight transformation, it's taken us thirty or forty years to get where we are today. In the early '90's in my part of North London, there used to be small companies employing lots of people in the making things. Within ten years they'd pretty much all gone, the work moved overseas, and the plots replaced by housing, offices and retail.

These days we seem to have ten people instructing one person how to dig a hole, then they wonder why as a country we have low productivity.

Tug Fanatic · « **Reply #37 on:** January 22, 2019, 03:52:06 pm »

Quote from: Arrow5 on January 22, 2019, 12:54:54 pm

No mention of the massive shows in Germany, how are they doing ? Friedrichshafen for instance has five or six halls. Plus the nearby Zeppelin Museum. Worth a Ryanair jaunt they land right at the exhibition site.

I have never been to Friedrichshafen so how does it compare with Intermodellbau at Dortmund? Are there others?

The nearest Ryanair airport appears to be Memmingen which is 100km away - unless I have got it wrong.

Arrow5 · « **Reply #38 on:** January 22, 2019, 06:49:40 pm »

Ryanair must have found cheaper landing fees at Memmingen, or maybe too many NT Zeps in the way. The area is on the Bodensee ( Lake Constance) with some interesting boats and ferries.. Been a few years since I was there. I haven't been to Dortmund, might give it a try this Spring.

coch y bonddu · « **Reply #39 on:** January 22, 2019, 07:32:47 pm »

Personally I think this has ran it's course and We should NOT BE putting any show down this simply causes shows to crumble,Yes of course the attendance could very well be down not only on the door but clubs and displays as well BUT we are going over the same old same old everyone wants different things out a show...NO show organiser on earth can please everybody and that's a fact...some want a pool others don't some want to just see models on stands and others all they want is to see them sailing...No show organiser can get all the traders in one venue.
When we send out invitations out for Blackpool it is up the traders who want to attend that come,we can NOT twist their arms to come if they don't want to.It does not matter a hoot even though you put a show on in the middle of the UK wherever that might be.....OK for some and NOT for others.

It is simply impossible to put on a perfect show in the perfect place as it will simply be no good for some,and lets be realistic there is NO perfect show absolutely impossible.....All we can do is to try our best

Dave

big_bri · « **Reply #40 on:** January 22, 2019, 07:53:35 pm »

I certainly don't think its run its course. I, along with probably some others, have just gained some good information about the Friedrichshafen show in Germany , I am very interested in looking more into this show, along with the St Albans event.
Any excuse for a few days away with the lads

Tug Fanatic · « **Reply #41 on:** January 22, 2019, 08:18:42 pm »

Dave

If you think that I was putting Dortmund down I can only apologize. It is still the best model show that I have been to for a lot of every type of modelling. Like so many others it unfortunately does seem to either have to accept getting smaller or to come up with something that reattracts whoever/whatever it is that is causing it to get shorter. That doesn't alter the fact that it is still an experience that I simply don't get anywhere else. I can't go this year but next year I will be back.

Now as to Friedrichshafen...……………

Colin Bishop · « **Reply #42 on:** January 22, 2019, 08:31:40 pm »

Going back a few posts as I have been out today, I have to express my admiration for Roy and the St Albans Club at what they have and continue to achieve in promoting modelling on a non commercial basis. They are an example to us all. I fully appreciate all the voluntary effort that goes into staging it and they obviously have a well established routine to keep things moving from year to year.

I think the last time I attended a St Albans Regatta was back in 1984 as part of the MPBA competition but I will try and make the effort to get along this year to support the event ven if it does entail driving half way round the M25!

Colin

Klunk · « **Reply #43 on:** January 23, 2019, 01:48:37 am »

Quote from: Colin Bishop on January 22, 2019, 08:31:40 pm

Going back a few posts as I have been out today, I have to express my admiration for Roy and the St Albans Club at what they have and continue to achieve in promoting modelling on a non commercial basis. They are an example to us all. I fully appreciate all the voluntary effort that goes into staging it and they obviously have a well established routine to keep things moving from year to year.

I think the last time I attended a St Albans Regatta was back in 1984 as part of the MPBA competition but I will try and make the effort to get along this year to support the event ven if it does entail driving half way round the M25!

Colin

Colin, you should really try to attend this year. In the last 15 years, I have seen this show grow, it now encompasses boats, trains, steam, rc flying and drones, virtual flying, meccano, slot cars (hopefully again this year!) free flight models for kids (they do a roaring trade), rc trucks a fantastic cake area (dont tell Roy, he gets upset if you eat his cake.....ps Roy....any chance of proper bread pudding this year??) when I describe the show, I say its designed for kids from 3 years old to 100! As far as I am concerned, a lot of large shows could learn a lot from the total diversity of modelling on show. Does it have trade stands? no, that would totally change the way the show operates. the whole show is very hands on with have a go boats, free flight, vr flight, ho railways, slot cars and stream trains to ride on.

Klunk · « **Reply #44 on:** January 23, 2019, 01:49:05 am »

ps i forgot meccano!!!!!!

Plastic - RIP · « **Reply #45 on:** January 23, 2019, 07:58:01 am »

I have to agree with Klunk - the St Albans show is great - really has something for everyone.

I like the way that there is almost everything covered from the meccano, plastic models, the 1/1250 ship modellers, RC models of every type, steam and engineering.
The live displays are good too - the model boats, trucks, planes & drones are very cool.
It might benefit from a couple of suppliers turning up with things to buy - but I'm not really sure they could make a profit with such a varied set of attendees - I suspect they are mostly 'lookers' rather than buyers.
I got to drive one of the RC trucks at the last one which was interesting - not sure I can afford one of those.

Martin (Admin) · « **Reply #46 on:** January 23, 2019, 05:20:56 pm »

POST EVENT PRESS RELEASE

LONDON MODEL ENGINEERING EXHIBITION 2019

Visitors from far and wide flocked to Alexandra Palace last weekend (18th – 20th January 2019) to attend the 23rd annual London Model Engineering Exhibition.

As always, the exhibition showcased the full spectrum of modelling and was packed with over 2,000 models from traditional model engineering, steam locomotives, traction engines and railway layouts, to collections of scale model ships and warships, right through to modern remote-control trucks and aeroplanes. Visitors were able to travel between the show’s different zones, trying out different ‘hands-on’ activities and watching technical demonstrations.

Nearly 50 clubs and societies at the exhibition competed to win the prestigious Society Shield which is voted for by the clubs and societies themselves. The winner was Chelmsford Society of Model Engineers. In 2nd place was the West London Meccano Society and in 3rd place Maidstone Model Engineering Society.

Core model engineering clubs presented some fantastic displays and members were on hand to talk to visitors and encourage them along with their own projects and builds. Whilst over 51 key trade suppliers provided previews and promotions giving hobbyists an excellent opportunity to see and compare products under one roof.

Exhibition Manager, Avril Spence commented “This year we wanted to celebrate the past, present and future of modelling and with all of our exhibitors’ efforts that is exactly what we achieved. This annual event is regarded as the leading show of its kind in terms of size, content and attendance and it’s thanks to the continued support of the exhibitors, clubs, societies and specialist suppliers that make it possible. A huge thank-you also, to all the visitors who travel far and wide to attend the event, many of whom return year after year. We are looking forward to returning to Alexandra Place next year from the Friday 17th to Sunday 19th January 2020”.

In the meantime, the next Model Engineering Exhibition presented by Meridienne Exhibition will be the Midlands Model Engineering Exhibition which takes place from Thursday 17th – Sunday 20th October 2019 at the Warwickshire Event Centre in Leamington Spa. For further details, please visit: www.midlandsmodelengineering.co.uk

Website www.londonmodelengineering.co.uk
Facebook London Model Engineering Exhibition
Twitter @LMEE19

Martin (Admin) · « **Reply #47 on:** January 23, 2019, 05:22:29 pm »

Quote from: plastic on January 23, 2019, 07:58:01 am

I have to agree with Klunk - the St Albans show is great - really has something for everyone.
I like the way that there is almost everything covered from the meccano, plastic models, the 1/1250 ship modellers, RC models of every type, steam and engineering.
The live displays are good too - the model boats, trucks, planes & drones are very cool.
It might benefit from a couple of suppliers turning up with things to buy - but I'm not really sure they could make a profit with such a varied set of attendees - I suspect they are mostly 'lookers' rather than buyers.
I got to drive one of the RC trucks at the last one which was interesting - not sure I can afford one of those.

Yep, I really like the 'tone' of St Albans show!

Photos from 2018 - https://www.modelboatmayhem.co.uk/forum/index.php/topic,60408.msg651948.html#msg651948

Colin Bishop · « **Reply #48 on:** January 23, 2019, 06:13:03 pm »

Well that seems to scotch the rumour that the show will not continue. They must be making enough to cover the rent!

Colin

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