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Post by Roger on Jan 21, 2019 18:08:23 GMT
If you think you have a problem just I imagine the reaction I get if I approach someone: "have you lost your husband"?
When I used to exhibit at the Guildford show I used to take along my Cowells lathe and would be attempting to turn something up which encouraged visitors to talk to me . I would always be making a model that was available from a <£100 set of castings suitable for a beginner. Then once I started chatting to them they would realise that the name on my badge matched the name on the cards of the models alongside me... I never managed to turn anything up because of the interruptions but that wasn't the point.
Sadly that did not last long: A couple of years ago I was informed by the Guildford club that they didn't want me to take my lathe along to the show it was back to the visitors treating me as a wife who had been told to look after hubby's models It was after that that I left the Guildford club.
Jo
Hi Jo, Now that's properly annoying, I wish I knew what the answer was to that. The trouble is, these assumptions are made by Women, just as much as they are by Men! Stereotypes certainly run deep in any form of Engineering.
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timb
Statesman
Posts: 512
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Post by timb on Jan 21, 2019 18:43:52 GMT
When I used to exhibit at the Guildford show I used to take along my Cowells lathe and would be attempting to turn something up which encouraged visitors to talk to me .
I still enjoy watching machining and will make a bee line for anyone 'demonstrating'. I can understand you not getting anything done Jo, but I always found it a lead in to asking a question. I generally say Hi to Malcolm who is invariably sharpening his drills (he does not know me from Adam!). The first time I engaged him was at Harrogate some years ago. We spoke about four facet drill sharpening jigs - by hand with a collet held at the two angles, and of course six facet using a Quorn. As a consequence I have built both of these devices and use them regularly - Malcolm was very helpful and I still appreciate that. I am sure he must have got through at least one set of drills as they don't seem any shorter than when we first spoke . There used to be daily seminars held at ME exhibitions on a range of model engineering topics, some specialised, others more for the beginner, all very interesting. I have not seen one advertised for a long time.
Tim
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dscott
Elder Statesman
Posts: 2,438
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Post by dscott on Jan 22, 2019 0:21:44 GMT
They have them at the Midland Exhibition! Got lots of notes but have not been able to put them into practice yet!!! Bashing domes from sheet!!
Jo there seems to be many problems at the Guildford Club? 2016 we visited 6 times and supported events. I think changes within the club and it went into decline!
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kipford
Statesman
Building a Don Young 5" Gauge Aspinall Class 27
Posts: 566
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Post by kipford on Jan 22, 2019 12:36:58 GMT
Having exhibited layouts and demonstrated at model railway exhibitions from very local shows to Warley at the NEC over the past 25 years, I have seen the whole spectrum of interaction or lack of it with Joe Public. As a demonstrator you are there first and foremost to show people how to do things, not to use it as free modelling time. As others above have said if you have not made anything then you have done you job properly! I find you need to ask people if they have any questions, a lot of people are naturally reticent to ask for fear of looking silly, so I also joking say there are no stupid questions. We also do a similar thing when operating. My own layout is operated from the front and uses DCC with i-phones as controllers and always generates interest. I try to ensure, without compromising the operation of the layout, that children are offered the opportunity to have a go. With the i-phones they get it very quickly and generally operate extremely well. Dave
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Neale
Part of the e-furniture
5" Black 5 just started
Posts: 279
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Post by Neale on Jan 22, 2019 13:54:28 GMT
It's great to see so many comments all pointing the same way - to get people interested, you need to be proactive and not just hide away at the back of the stand! It is certainly true that you need a way to engage with people without being over the top, patronising them, or whatever. Because I've been demonstrating a relatively unusual bit of kit, a big smile and asking if they know what the machine is works well. On a more general stand, I would pick out something that they might have been looking at and ask if they would like to know a bit more about it. It might be a bit easier for me as it's the kind of thing I used to do in my working life, but one or two people on a stand with this kind of approach can encourage others to give it a try as well.
Jo - I sympathise with you, not least because I have been in a similar position when accompanying my wife round one of "her" exhibitions, where men are somewhat in the minority. Personally, I try not to patronise or overwhelm with information, which can be difficult when, say, talking to a husband and wife where one has more knowledge and interest, but I feel that I have a duty to inform (and entertain, if possible...) both parties. This exhibition was notable for meeting a 20-something boy/girl pair (and I'm trying desperately hard not to make assumptions about any relationship!) where, against the normal run of things, it was the young lady who turned out to be the only female PhD student in her aeronautical engineering department. And you meet all sorts and just have to adapt - I suspect that on a more loco-biased stand, visitors will range from "why are there stones in the trailer bit behind the engine?" to "Don't know how you've got the cheek to put that model on display - there's only 27 rivets in the tender and there should be 28." Personally, I think it's more fun to stand in front of the display and talk to a lot of usually very interesting people than sit behind the ropes and glare at them!
As one odd remark, the SMEE stand usually tries to arrange a "training" lathe to give potential newcomers, usually but not always youngsters, a chance to turn up a little pulley in aluminium, under close supervision. The lathe is generally in use more-or-less continuously, and I noticed this year when looking over that way on the stand that as often as not there was a girl working there as a boy.
Adam - no need to apologise if you were on the stand when I went over to look and you were otherwise engaged. These things happen - just a bit more on some club stands than others! I'll probably start another thread soon on fabricating frame stays, motion brackets, etc, as I get the feeling that techniques are available now that were not around when many of the designs we are building were designed - I am sure that DY's articles on the Black 5 I am building would be different were they to be written today.
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Post by Deleted on Jan 22, 2019 14:19:44 GMT
Personally, I would very much enjoy manning a club stand and talking to the public about the club, the models on display and what's involved in making them. If in the future my club supports the exhibitions again as they used too, I'd certainly volunteer to be there, knowing me perhaps all 3 days if allowed.... Pete
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Post by Roger on Jan 22, 2019 15:28:58 GMT
Personally, I would very much enjoy manning a club stand and talking to the public about the club, the models on display and what's involved in making them. If in the future my club supports the exhibitions again as they used too, I'd certainly volunteer to be there, knowing me perhaps all 3 days if allowed.... Pete Hi Pete, I'm of a similar mindset, having only done trade exhibitions but enjoyed engaging with interested parties at those. We used to do one in Munich that lasted 6 days, and at the end of it I could hardly speak. I'll certainly consider displaying my offering at a show at some point, maybe next year, but it's not obvious how to do that when your club doesn't have a stand.
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Post by Deleted on Jan 22, 2019 16:05:00 GMT
Personally, I would very much enjoy manning a club stand and talking to the public about the club, the models on display and what's involved in making them. If in the future my club supports the exhibitions again as they used too, I'd certainly volunteer to be there, knowing me perhaps all 3 days if allowed.... I'll certainly consider displaying my offering at a show at some point, maybe next year, but it's not obvious how to do that when your club doesn't have a stand. I'm not even sure that you can display a model if not with a club or entered in the competition? I shall also display my model when I can, I had enquired with my club secretary for this year but no stand was planned. Perhaps things might change one day... Pete
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Post by silverfox on Jan 22, 2019 16:11:52 GMT
Peter
Go rogue! I am sure there would be another society willing to give you a bit of space
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Post by Cro on Jan 22, 2019 17:10:20 GMT
Personally, I would very much enjoy manning a club stand and talking to the public about the club, the models on display and what's involved in making them. If in the future my club supports the exhibitions again as they used too, I'd certainly volunteer to be there, knowing me perhaps all 3 days if allowed.... Pete Hi Pete, I'm of a similar mindset, having only done trade exhibitions but enjoyed engaging with interested parties at those. We used to do one in Munich that lasted 6 days, and at the end of it I could hardly speak. I'll certainly consider displaying my offering at a show at some point, maybe next year, but it's not obvious how to do that when your club doesn't have a stand. You know where we are Roger.....
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Post by Roger on Jan 22, 2019 17:20:14 GMT
Hi Pete, I'm of a similar mindset, having only done trade exhibitions but enjoyed engaging with interested parties at those. We used to do one in Munich that lasted 6 days, and at the end of it I could hardly speak. I'll certainly consider displaying my offering at a show at some point, maybe next year, but it's not obvious how to do that when your club doesn't have a stand. You know where we are Roger..... Thanks Adam, I may well take you up on that as long as you won't have any political consequences for doing that. I don't think it's feasible to try to go it alone, and frankly that's a pretty empty experience. I go to these things as much for the social side as anything else, so going alone doesn't have much appeal.
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Post by simplyloco on Jan 22, 2019 17:43:59 GMT
I'm not even sure that you can display a model if not with a club or entered in the competition? I shall also display my model when I can, I had enquired with my club secretary for this year but no stand was planned. Perhaps things might change one day... Pete Pete My Brit has been on show at Sandown Park on two occasions. Just approach the expo organisers and they will find you a spot! John
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timb
Statesman
Posts: 512
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Post by timb on Jan 22, 2019 18:40:20 GMT
Peter Go rogue! I am sure there would be another society willing to give you a bit of space What about a non-club members stand, or a Model Engineering Clearing House stand - gets my vote!
Tim
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terryhowlett
Active Member
Actually retired (almost as planned) in late 2019.
Posts: 47
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Post by terryhowlett on Jan 22, 2019 20:33:05 GMT
I very much enjoyed my day at Alexandra Palace on Saturday. As a complete novice, I got lots of good advice and encouragement from most who I spoke to, although I have to say that Axminster and Chester seemed to have "sales" people who even to my untrained brain, knew very little about the machines. Maybe I picked the wrong people! I got some great help and encouragement from the Myford guys. Pete on the Transwave stand gave me a very extensive explanation of the differences between single and three phase electrics, and how the inverters and motors all worked together. Alice from Machine DRO and the chap form EMSi (forgot his name) were very helpful to this newcomer. The EMSi guy even came with me to look at the SC4 and advised on various ways that the DRO could be fitted, and then later in the day shared some tales of his early life in engineering. A brilliant day all round!
Terry
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Post by dhamblin on Jan 22, 2019 20:51:20 GMT
Bit late to the party, but some photos I took on Saturday: Model of HMS Hood on the Surface Warship Association stand. 3D printer and model boats on the Eastleigh Young Engineers stand. Chelmsford Society of Model Engineers stand - best in show. Part of the Ministry of Steampunk display. 10 1/4" Gauge Society display with LMS 2F dock tank. Tom Parham's 5" gauge 'Jinty' model, winner of the Australian Association of Live Steamers (AALS) trophy at the Southern Federation's 2018 rally. Meccano model of the Eiffel Tower marking 130th anniversary of its opening. Tamiya Truckin Arena. Selection of traction engines on the St Albans & District Model Engineering Society stand. Hand pump trolley on the Sussex Miniature Locomotive Society display. Tiger 1 tank and military models on Northolt MRC stand. Harlington Locomotive Society display. Steam Apprentice Club display - 3D printed stationary engines. Stationary engines on the Society of Model and Experimental Engineers stand. Newest model in the Royal Spithead Review display - HMS Queen Elizabeth. 7 1/4" gauge Union Pacific 'Big Boy' under construction - really getting to see the scale of it now. 5" gauge 'Speedy' GWR 15xx on display in a 3D printed shed diorama created by Andy Hardy. Regards, Dan
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mbrown
Elder Statesman
Posts: 1,719
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Post by mbrown on Jan 22, 2019 21:24:19 GMT
The Jinty is a beauty. But the 10.25" "Dock Tank" is a bit elongated in the wheelbase - as if a 2F Dock Tank and a 3F Jinty got a bit too intimate one night in the shed and had a love child! I wonder if it is, in fact, based on a doubled-up Simplex - there are some resemblances.
Really sorry I couldn't make it to the show - I commute every day past Ally Pally, but never at the right times....
Malcolm
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timb
Statesman
Posts: 512
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Post by timb on Jan 23, 2019 8:41:39 GMT
I wish Doncaster was this good, they dont even open the bars!
Tim
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jo479
Hi-poster
Simplex, Pricess of Wales, Prairie, N24X, LNWR Jumbo, Jeannie Deans, 7 1/4 Lion
Posts: 188
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Post by jo479 on Jan 23, 2019 21:25:16 GMT
Good photographs, thanks for putting them on the site. much appreciated.
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Post by Deleted on Jan 23, 2019 21:40:47 GMT
The Jinty is a beauty. Malcolm She's a great steamer too, Tom brought her along to NLSME last year, she's a real beauty, a credit to him. If you've seen his dad's loco's you'll know where he gets his skill from... Pete
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Post by Cro on Jan 24, 2019 8:54:19 GMT
I have created a small album of the photos I took at the show, they seem to have appeared in a very strange order, sorry about that! Adam
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