Are Model Engineering Exhibitions The Same

[Mike PooleParticipant @mikepoole82104]

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

[Martin KyteParticipant @martinkyte99762]

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

[Ron LadenParticipant @ronladen17547]

Posted by Colin Heseltine on 14/08/2018 22:24:01:

If rucksacks are frowned upon then what suggestions do you have (humorous or otherwise) for carrying around the goodies one has purchased.

 

I dont have a problem with rucksacks providing they are a sensible size, what most people buy at shows only needs a small version. I do have a problem with them when they are big enough to hold a minilathe, what do people think they are going to be buying for gods sake. I also have a problem with them when they take up the space of another person, or when its 2 or 3 deep at a stand but its as if its 6 deep, the difference taken up by giant rucksacks. When the cafe is busy and you see a 4 seat table seating 2 people and 2 rucksacks, I also have a theory that once people climb into them their manners climb out.

What would I suggest: A fold up bag that you can carry in your pocket, I cant think of anything I have purchased at a show that needs any more than that.

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

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

[Mick B1Participant @mickb1]

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…

[HopperParticipant @hopper]

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.

[Roger BParticipant @rogerb61624]

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

[Geoff TheasbyParticipant @geofftheasby]

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

[Mark RandParticipant @markrand96270]

Right to left is clockwise on a stall.

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

[John MCParticipant @johnmc39344]

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

[Old ElanParticipant @oldelan]

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!

[ChrisHParticipant @chrish]

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".

[David TParticipant @davidt96864]

Posted by Mark Rand on 15/08/2018 11:54:55:

Right to left is clockwise on a stall.

Only if viewed from above

[David TParticipant @davidt96864]

Posted by Ron Laden on 15/08/2018 08:48:28:

When the cafe is busy and you see a 4 seat table seating 2 people and 2 rucksacks, I also have a theory that once people climb into them their manners climb out.

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

[AndyAParticipant @andya]

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…

[Neil WyattModerator @neilwyatt]

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

[Mark RandParticipant @markrand96270]

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…

[merlinParticipant @merlin98989]

Is Balkan Sobranie still around?

To be serious, I no longer need model engineer exhibitions but I clearly remember the excitement of entering a large hall clutching a thin wallet and a list of assorted drills, B.A. taps etc.

Lots of the stalls seemed to be run by man and wife or family teams whom I admired for putting in the work and expense of travelling to and fro and setting up their displays. I do hope that later generations will not lose this human contact, good and slightly bad.

[RevStewParticipant @revstew]

Never been to a model engineering exhibition yet. Yes, I'm that new…

I wonder if there are any up north? (being a resident of Durham County as I am). Perhaps I should keep the money I have put aside for a lathe until I attend such a show with the hope of getting a reasonable discount?

[Dick HParticipant @dickh]

Living in Bavaria my local model engineering exhibition is "Faszination Modellbau" held in Friedrichshafen (end October/ beginning if November) down at Bodensee (Lake Constance). The exhibition is held over 3 days in about 8 large halls. Apart from the stench of IC racing cars in a confined space and the sulphurous smell of coal fired miniature steam engines running on trackes spread over 2-3 halls and traction engines chugging around, I have nothing to complain about.

My partner would have told me if something was wrong or didn´t smell right She humours me by coming along. She seemed quite happy to look at the model railways whilst I looked around at the various stalls and exhibits.

This place is big with high ceilings and large display halls (almost aircraft hanger size). ( Perhaps that is the deciding factor).

Just in case you think this was a purely German event there was a group of Welsh steam enthusiasts running their engines there last year and in the trade display with a Myford lathe. All the usual scale model firms were also there together with all sorts of specialist firms.

Slow fliers, all sorts of vehicle models and aircraft models were on display. A bit of anarchy.

Apart from that a good cafeteria and a beer garden. In the middle of all this we sat in the beer garden whilst the Zeppelin based there took off low over the the exhibition area on a tourist jolly and proud model owners circled the area on riding on miniature traction engines (picture if you will a guy in bavarian dress with a ZZ top style beard riding a miniature traction engine).

One problem for me, no clocks.

No BO problems but we arrived fairly late , just as the early birds were departing clutching their RC helicopters etc.

[Mike PooleParticipant @mikepoole82104]

Posted by RevStew on 15/08/2018 19:37:17:

Never been to a model engineering exhibition yet. Yes, I'm that new…

I wonder if there are any up north? (being a resident of Durham County as I am). Perhaps I should keep the money I have put aside for a lathe until I attend such a show with the hope of getting a reasonable discount?

 

The show at Doncaster in May is widely regarded as one of the best, from my perspective in Oxford that is up north but from Durham it’s south but not too far south. It would be quite a lot of driving time for me so I stop at the Castleford Snowdome leisure and shopping complex which allows my wife some retail therapy while I pop down the road to Doncaster for the show. Show offers are available and it is nice to have a hands on at the show, there has been a decline in traders attending the shows in recent years for various reasons but it seems that costs and disruption to normal trading are the main reasons. Show costs seem to be so high that making a profit for a show attendance is marginal no matter what you sell, I was talking to a friend who runs a stall selling sausages at Glastonbury and the costs are so high that they break even if they are lucky, the value of the promotion is more difficult to quantify though. When I was in the market for a milling machine I looked at the machines at the shows and read up on the internet and a shortlist evolved. I suppose that I am fortunate that many of the suppliers are not an unreasonable drive away for what I would regard as a major purchase and so I visited and made my order in a calm atmosphere with a one to one discussion. It may be worth doing your research and visits before a show and trying to get a deal at a show but I think the show deals are not as keen as they they might have been, as the internet makes price comparison so easy there is often not much difference so other factors like service and reputation can be the decider.

 

Mike

Edited By Mike Poole on 16/08/2018 00:23:58

[CHARLES lipscombeParticipant @charleslipscombe16059]

The whole subject of whether people circulate a venue/room whatever in a left to right or right to left fashion is covered in a most elegant experiment in Parkinson's Law. A brilliant book, available in Penguin which just about everyone has heard of but few have actually read. Certain to be worth the effort of chasing down.

Chas

[Clive IndiaParticipant @cliveindia]

Posted by Old Elan on 15/08/2018 12:37:19:

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. ….. Might, just might, try that one again so……I have the ultimate solution. I don't go anymore!

Just about my position but would add I find many of the clientelle are generally rude, discourteous, selfish and arrogant, usually trying to show their superior knowledge by criticising the efforts of others. I think many club stands seem to have grumpy old men trying to hide behind, drinking tea and not connect with the punters. My experience of many of the traders is they are nowhere near hungry enough and more interested in chewing the fat about old times than giving you details you want. It must take a lot of BO to affect a whole area!

[BazyleParticipant @bazyle]

Really since the internet boomed show discounts have become rare.
I have done a lot of club stand duty and we do try to be friendly and helpful to the visitors but I expect for some of the 70+ age group a long day may reduce their amenability at the end.
Most people don't want to talk just look and are a bit put off by anyone from the stand trying to engage in conversation. However a few do really benefit from the chance to talk to someone especially if they are a long way from a club or are a missing the opportunity to join one. Many people are looking for some advice on a wide range of topics but of course not all the stand personnel can be experts on everything so it might pay to come back later and see if someone else is available.

[Mick B1Participant @mickb1]

Posted by Bazyle on 16/08/2018 12:58:33:

Really since the internet boomed show discounts have become rare.
…

From my own sparse visits to exhibitions I think that's at least partially true. I've only ever visited them in the hope of a few small tool bargains. They're still there, but I think thinner on the ground the last few years.

I've never seen any dealers reducing prices of anything substantial at a show, so the incentive is limited.

[RevStewParticipant @revstew]

It's a long wait until May for the Doncaster show, and by the time I've driven there and back it's probably going to have negated any small discount. I'm no fan of crowds, and I've yet to join a club, as I'm unsure if it would suit me. I'm an old-fashioned kind of chap, and I won't use a word when a grunt or silence will do. This internet forum lark is me being very outgoing and communicative. Way outside my comfort zone.

Perhaps my way forward is to remain a 'lone hand,' but I really do need a teacher or mentor of some description as I know so little about forming lumps of metal into pleasing works.

[Author]

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