Are Model Engineering Exhibitions The Same

[Howard LewisParticipant @howardlewis46836]

RevStew,

Remaining a lone hand will be OK until you hit a problem.

Yes, you will gets LOTS of helpful advice (some conflicting) on here. But if you need someone to come and sort out a particular problem (machine wiring or adjustment) it won't happen, unless you are lucky, and someone who happens to be near you and is prepared to come round, or says "bring it round, we'll sort it" . But, if you need to borrow a Tap or a Die or a cutter for a once in a lifetime job that may be more difficult. No one in Tasmania is likely to loan the tap to you in, say, Nuneaton.

But a member of your local club, who lives five miles away, will.

My advice, for what its worth, is join a local club. You will gain other's experience, if only from conversations, and demonstrations., as well as immediate practical help if you should need it. (Plus, seeing a problem close up is far better than relying on words and pictures, good as they are. Plus, often seeing someone else's work close up may inspire you either for a solution, or for the next project.

You may well benefit from someone saying, "You don't HAVE to use bronze; I've got some cast iron that you have, to do the job just as well"

And if you are prepared to tolerate the crowds, an Exhibition will show you other's work, how they did a part of the whole task, and you could find the widget that you need for a specific operation, or the material that you need for this or the next project. (Two days ago, in a town a few miles away, I found a shop that stocks, among ALL sorts of things, steel, brass and aluminium in 1 metre lengths, sadly only in a small selection of sizes).

Come and join the club circuit, and see what others do at Shows.

Howard

[Ian HewsonParticipant @ianhewson99641]

Having had my first taste of a model engineering club 58 years ago, and experiencing model engineers behaviour at shows for the last 40 years, I would not go near a club, but put up with exhibitions.

Don’t think the behaviour is restricted to model engineers exclusively though, you only have to use public transport or frequent public spaces to appreciate the downturn in manners.

Having said that there are still some old fashioned ladies and gentlemen on this site who give freely of there help, I think they know who they are and are appreciated.

[RevStewParticipant @revstew]

Howard/Chaps.

I guess I'm old fashioned in that I consider my current hobby of building free flight and vintage RC model aircraft 'Model Engineering.' I have a hankering to build a model boat too, as well as a live steam loco. I just like to potter in my modelling room or garage. Sometimes I'm in a frenzy of creativity, sometimes I do nothing but sit there and think.

I've always been around people who made things. Backstreet mechanics, tinkerers, inventors, modellers, people who can make something out of nothing. My earliest toys were a set of miniature cannons that I later learned were made in the trenches, and some V1 'Doodlebug' models that were made out of the wood from an old air raid shelter. My Grandfather made his own battery charger for his car, a huge (to my young eyes) bakelite thing. They were of a generation I love to read about in my old ME magazines. I'm in a similar situation, as I have very little spare income, but a big list of models I want to make.

I can just about stretch to a mini lathe, but to buy the tooling and the other bits and bobs would mean selling my existing gear, model diesel engines, RC gear etc, and starting from scratch. I am willing to do that, because at the moment, I'm machining stuff in my sleep. I spend the 'blue hour' between awake and asleep going over in my mind the stages of certain machining operations.

I'm quite a shy chap really, and not one for conversation or noisy groups of people, but I do think I would enjoy the right club. Maybe I just need to get out there.

[BazyleParticipant @bazyle]

One advantage of clubs is you can often pick up tools and material bargains and they may also have a workshop. Some of the members might like advice from you on aircraft stuff too.

[Old SchoolParticipant @oldschool]

Bazyle. You are lucky to be a member of such a broad minded club. My local club is the opposite unless you run loco,s and have an interest in railways they are not interest I tried for a few years then gave up.

[Russell EberhardtParticipant @russelleberhardt48058]

Posted by Dick H on 15/08/2018 19:42:37:

Living in Bavaria my local model engineering exhibition is "Faszination Modellbau" held in Friedrichshafen (end October/ beginning if November) down at Bodensee (Lake Constance).

That must be worth a visit. Is the exhibition further north in Sinsheim still going?

Russell

[Jon LawesParticipant @jonlawes51698]

Went to the Bristol Model Engineering exhibition yesterday with my son (13yo). Had a really enjoyable time, met some very friendly people, saw some fantastic machinery and a huge number of people actively encouraged my son to look at and even interact with their exhibits. My son had a go at cutting a gear, drove model boats and used a hand made pantograph to make sketches among other things, and I cam home with some parts for my Stuart engine and my Britt.

Well done to the Bristol ME exhibition and all the exhibitors. To the nay-sayers, help things improve or be part of the decline.

[Jon LawesParticipant @jonlawes51698]

RevStew, I highly recommend a club, mine is very informal and friendly. I've been made utterly welcome right from the start. If you are ever in the area of Westbury you would be made very welcome.

[SillyOldDufferModerator @sillyoldduffer]

I went to the Bristol Exhibition on Saturday looking for rucksacks and Body Odour. I counted six rucksacks, and one mild BO. (The latter looked hot, and may have been a cyclist.)

Had a good time, met an old friend, bought bits, and admired the models. I was particularly impressed by the large US battleship in Meccano, but there was much else to admire, all of it out of my league.

Due to a SatNav crisis¹, I arrived at lunchtime, and found the hall less packed than usual. It was easy to see everything, to catch the eye of salesmen, and to chat to builders. No problem parking either and – unusually for Bristol – the journey had been straightforward.

Suddenly realised that complaints about BO and rucksacks etc are probably due to overcrowding rather a feature peculiar to Model Engineering exhibitions.

Engineers never waste time fixing the wrong problem, do we?

Dave

¹ Why is it so many SatNavs require a special USB cable, and won't navigate if you power them with a standard one? B*****ds…

[Neil WyattModerator @neilwyatt]

I went to Bristol on Friday. Bumped into a few forum members. One of whom has been helping out a fellow MEW reader to the extent of making them an accessory FOC. There are plenty of 'good eggs' about, it's just that they are often less visible.

Something very relevant has just happened here. My daughter has been on 'group chat' with other students who will be in her hall of residence in the Autumn. Two new members joined the discussion (from a country not know for treating women well) and started insulting other group members and using offensive sexist and racist language. See called them out, unleashing a tide of fury from other group members which ended with the hapless pair being expelled from the group.

It's the same here. Every kind word, offer of help or just tolerance of someone else's foibles helps make this a more pleasant place to be.

It's the same with clubs. As we see above, a few grumpy souls one one day and someone has been put off all clubs for 58 years! I joined an astronomy club a few months ago and everyone there has been welcoming and helpful. If you are in a club and some new youngster comes along, make a point of saying hello and welcome, don't leave it to someone else. Then they might still be praising you in 58 years time!

Neil

[Mike PooleParticipant @mikepoole82104]

I live in a village and when I walk down the pub or the shop most people will offer or return a good morning etc. A friend thinks the village is really unfriendly as no one speaks. I think people reap what they sow to some extent and people are tuned to read body language so if you have the don’t talk to me face on then they won’t bother you (unless they are salesmen in pc world). I usually visit shows on my own but when I stop for a coffee it invariably means sharing a table and most people will chat about their day, travel, show, queue etc. Be prepared to make the first move and have some topics prepared to start the ball rolling.

Mike

[Nick WheelerParticipant @nickwheeler]

Posted by RevStew on 19/08/2018 21:33:20:

I can just about stretch to a mini lathe, but to buy the tooling and the other bits and bobs would mean selling my existing gear, model diesel engines, RC gear etc, and starting from scratch. I am willing to do that, because at the moment, I'm machining stuff in my sleep. I spend the 'blue hour' between awake and asleep going over in my mind the stages of certain machining operations.

I'm quite a shy chap really, and not one for conversation or noisy groups of people, but I do think I would enjoy the right club. Maybe I just need to get out there.

 

Stew,

you don't need a lot of tooling when you start using a lathe. That will be marking tools(a black Sharpie and nicely sharpened nail will 'do' ), basic measuring tools(I rarely use more than a 4" square, digital caliper, 150mm rule and a 25mm micrometer all of which are cheap) and cutting tools. Again, a good hacksaw frame is hardly costly. If you've already been making stuff, then you probably have most of it.

I brought my mini-lathe home with a drill chuck and a set of cutting tools, and an hour after plonking it on the freezer had a couple of spacers for the job that was holding me up. I'd never used a lathe before that.

 

One good thing about having these tools is that they're useful for more than your hobby – you'll soon be repairing stuff around the house/car/garden etc. Try doing that with a set of far more expensive golf bats for example!

I haven't joined an ME club, because I've little interest in almost all of the usual subjects, and am already out three nights a week with ringing.

Edited By Nicholas Wheeler 1 on 20/08/2018 14:25:11

[Howard LewisParticipant @howardlewis46836]

When on our club stand, I have always made a point of approaching anyone who showed an interest in an exhibit. Often they welcome more info on the exhibit, and then the discussions expands. If they are sufficiently interested they are given a "visiting card" with details of where and when we meet, and the website. Sometimes we gain a new member, Win – Win for all concerned.

We always try to show as many aspects of Model Engineering as possible, so that there is likely to be something to interest the visitor. (Railway rolling stock of various gauges, Road Engines, Clocks, Tooling, Stationary engines, Boats )

In a club, you meet all types, but in over 20 years (nearer 30) have only known two members leave because "we were cliquey". If you do run across a grump, just minimise contact, and stick with the friendly and helpful ones.

It takes all sorts!

There usually will be someone who will advise, help, lend, or even give things.

Unsociable / exclusive clubs tend not to thrive or be around for long.

Howard

[Jon LawesParticipant @jonlawes51698]

I'm astonished at these responses. Have I been attending different shows?!

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