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Post by ilvaporista on Jul 4, 2018 15:07:32 GMT
It will be interesting to see how the new format goes down with visitors, exhibitors and traders. After 30 continuous years it's a bit of a jolt not to be having a stand in the marquee but we are glad to have supported GMES and have so many happy memories. Having just lost Mum recently, Dad (Len Parker with his treadle Unimat) is no longer up to covering a two day show.
I can't make it this year so please post some comments and pictures if you do pop along.
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Post by Jo on Jul 4, 2018 16:00:12 GMT
Emailed your brother about an hour ago about going.... and he's turned me down 
I have just acquired the latest plan of the event. I might not be there long...
Jo |
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Post by ilvaporista on Jul 5, 2018 7:00:06 GMT
Hi Jo,
I think we are all giving it a miss this year, so you will be spared! Hope it goes well and I will be thinking of the fun times. I still can't believe it's been 30 years with the stand and even from Italy I think I only missed two in all that time.
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Post by Jo on Jul 5, 2018 9:25:37 GMT
You won't be the only one missing 
Last year they forgot to invite us in MEM and it seems that this year they left it up to people to push to be allowed to exhibit rather than encouraging exhibitors. I will be, once the necessary trader purchases are completed, probably sitting with the ICEBG boys in their gazebo admiring their very impressive model engines 
Jo
P.S. This will be the first time Mike's Bristol Jupiter is going to be seen in public |
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jasonb
Elder Statesman
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Post by jasonb on Jul 5, 2018 16:57:15 GMT
I got my invite the same as usual, maybe as I was the only MEM member last year they had given up on the rest of you. Decided not to show this year as I often cant spend the whole day so not having the models secure was a major put off particularly as at least one engine I would have displayed was a commission.
I'll pop along Saturday morning to see if there is anything left worth buying from the traders after Jo and Eric have had first dibs and say Hi to the two Mikes & Jo.
J
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Post by Jo on Jul 5, 2018 19:58:39 GMT
I got my invite the same as usual, maybe as I was the only MEM member last year they had given up on the rest of you.
I did not get an invite last year either: having exhibited many models each year for many years I should admit that I was rather side tracked as I knew I had to have a major operation about the time of the show. I think that the Jet engine boys suffered a similar fate when one of their key organising members also had to have an operation about the time of the show.
Adrian: I am hoping that your Dad and Dave will visit in August when I will be off on my holidays 
Jo.
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Post by ilvaporista on Jul 6, 2018 6:20:58 GMT
We did get a mail to receive an invite. I think that the offer was, if you bring along your own gazebo and make all necessary arrangements, we can find a space. I had a look around at various options but it was getting out of our league for anything that would stand more than sunshine. The other club members decided to call time as none of us are getting any younger. We discussed it again last week at Mum's wake and agreed that unless there are new members wanting to take over we won't be exhibiting again.
Jo, Have a good holiday! I will be back and forth as well to keep an eye on them...
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Post by Jo on Jul 7, 2018 15:42:41 GMT
Feedback from the show:
By 1:30 in the afternoon one of the Traders reported taking only £3.50. I spent over 1 1/2 hours talking to Alan at MJ Engineering, in that time he had no one look to buy anything. JB Tools did not turn up... It may have been a good choice by the way the others were grumbling.
Other than our own Gazabo with our model aero engines on display there were no other models on show. The railway was selling tickets but I saw a lot of empty trains going round.
My guess is that it will be even smaller next year. The only reason I might go is to say hello to my friends but that would be more of a visit to a friend who normally lives a long way away rather than the fact that it was a model event. I think we had more people stop and want a technical discussion with us as we had the models on display than there were people stopping by browsing at any of the traders stands.
Jo
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Post by houstonceng on Jul 7, 2018 18:39:30 GMT
It may have been the football. My MES did the yearly Portable Track Run at the Chelsfield Fair chargining £1 per head to ride, we usually make £400 - but this year, £170. Half of what we make goes to the chosen charity and we keep the other half. We arrived at 09:00 and left at 18:00.
Basically, I could have sold a party at our track site in Falconwood, for £150 Running trains for two hours for which I had at least 5 persons asking for a booking, all of whom had to be turned down.
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Post by Cro on Jul 7, 2018 22:55:08 GMT
Feedback from the show: By 1:30 in the afternoon one of the Traders reported taking only £3.50. I spent over 1 1/2 hours talking to Alan at MJ Engineering, in that time he had no one look to buy anything. Jo This is why I decided not to go this year, last year I made a loss on my stand and it's not like it's expensive to be there. After putting in petrol and time spent it just wasn't worth It. I think it's also unfortunate it's fallen today with the football as just everyone was avoiding the heat and enjoying the game. Adam |
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jasonb
Elder Statesman
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Post by jasonb on Jul 8, 2018 6:20:46 GMT
Feedback from the show: Other than our own Gazabo with our model aero engines on display there were no other models on show. The railway was selling tickets but I saw a lot of empty trains going round. Well I did find another stand, the one with the X-Type, Centaur, hot air fans etc. Actually spent more time looking at what was on display there as apart from the Jupiter the ICEBG stuff is generally the same as they show each year rather than something new. I only counted 4 traction engines in the lower field so all in all not a lot to interest the non Loco modelers. I did spend a few quid with one of the traders but none seemed to be doing a roaring trade even in the morning and if the number of cars that were not in the carpark was anything to go by then I can't see many returning next year  |
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Post by ilvaporista on Jul 8, 2018 6:31:55 GMT
As mentioned the weather and mostly the football may have convinced people not to come. You could say that was forward planning by the club as they knew that these events would happen so saved on the marquee hire costs!
Farcebook reminded me this morning that 6 years ago there was a soggy bottom field but still over 20 traction engines in the parade.
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Post by Jo on Jul 8, 2018 7:28:13 GMT
Well I did find another stand, the one with the X-Type, Centaur, hot air fans etc. Actually spent more time looking at what was on display there as apart from the Jupiter the ICEBG stuff is generally the same as they show each year rather than something new. I only counted 4 traction engines in the lower field so all in all not a lot to interest the non Loco modelers. Forgot about those last night when I posted... I never did actually get back to them to have a look at that X type. I thought the Challenger's field was only for camping and parking cars this year as was indicated on the plan and the only Traction engine I saw was Clive Manser's about 3pm when he parked it up for an ice cream. It only takes one year to kill a show As I told a couple of the Guildford members based on what I saw I will not be re-joining. Jo |
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jasonb
Elder Statesman
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Post by jasonb on Jul 8, 2018 9:27:13 GMT
Website says traction engines will be "on site". Suppose if you don't go and look you won't see.
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Post by Jo on Jul 8, 2018 12:23:16 GMT
I heard some feedback from the Gala BBQ last night that GMES members seem very pleased with how yesterday went.
Jo
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Tony K
Elder Statesman
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Post by Tony K on Jul 9, 2018 7:36:23 GMT
......In the case of Guildford, they risk lots more than that, laying out cash, hoping to recover it later. Putting in a great deal of effort to make it a success. Many of their members will, I suspect, be saying 'why are we doing this?' 'What are we getting out of it?' and coming up with the answer 'It's not worth it.' No doubt many of their members will regret the decision. Sad news - I really enjoyed my day out there. My original post still stands I think. Regret I was unable to go - I had to give precedence to the Hollowell event on Saturday and had a club event on Sunday. Clearly Guildford MES see it differently to you Jo. From the feedback, they are happy with it so I presume it is what they want to do. Bigger events at clubs are getting more difficult to do - similarly for Dreaming Spires perhaps. Successful, but how long can it go on. Many members joined to be with model engineers, eat Mars bars, drink coffee and run their loco/traction engine/boat/plane or even make clocks. They put in effort in the past to support their club, but I think some are now saying they want the emphasis to change back. |
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arron
Active Member
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Post by arron on Jul 22, 2018 11:05:23 GMT
I was at the Guildford Rally and really did enjoy it.
I was on the raised track running a 3 1/2" South African 15F, which is about the size of a 5" Britannia.
Saturday was busy with passengers until the rugby / cricket or what ever it was started. Very slow after that, and as someone has pointed out a couple of laps where with empty trains. I ran for 5 1/2hours and loved it.
Sunday the raised track seemed busy the whole day, I had no empty trains, I was on before 11am with the same loco and only came off at the end of the day, 6 hours running.
For me it was a very enjoyable event and I had great fun, same goes for the other couple of guy's I was with.
The Saturday evening BBQ was very well done, those were not cheap burgers. The salads were excellent.
I'll be back again next year.
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dscott
Elder Statesman
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Post by dscott on Jul 22, 2018 23:23:57 GMT
Just back from Dreaming Spires having done 2 days once we left the Reading Club.
Got up early and after a lovely Bacon Bap was the first on the track with the
cordless Drill Driver Loco. 3 batteries 2 drills and 7 laps saving some for
Monday projects on the roof!!!
Met up with many friends and enjoyed rides into the darkness!
David and Lily.
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