Midlands Model Engineering Exhibition 2021.

[92220]

Hi Folks.

Some of you will have heard the news, but some may not.

I received an email from Avril at Meridiene Exhibitions, a few weeks ago, telling me the exhibition would be on this year. I have just received an email from Avril telling me the exhibition has had to be cancelled once again, due to the increasing Covid cases.  This is the email:-

..................................................

Good Afternoon,



It is with deep regret that due to the ongoing uncertainties of Covid-19 pandemic; we have to announce the cancellation of the 2021 Midlands Model Engineering Exhibition which was due to be held at the Warwickshire Event Centre on the 14th-17th October.



This difficult decision is taken despite a real determination by the Meridienne Exhibitions team, trade, clubs, societies, exhibitors and other supporters, all striving to continue to deliver the usual high quality and successful event during this very difficult time.



Over the past few weeks, we have been in the excruciating position of considering every possible scenario to see how we might be able to proceed, but sadly the risks of holding the event now far outweigh the reasons for going ahead. The core decision is based on the escalating cases of COVID-19, and the risks that widespread illness and self-isolation could have on everyone involved. We have navigated our way over the past 16 months through obstacles, but now feel that the odds are stacked against us and we are no longer in a position to be able to proceed safely with the unknown government Covid-19 requirement for Autumn/Winter ahead.



It follows that with our decision to cancel the Midlands Exhibition we have also, again regretfully, decided that it is not practical nor financially viable to proceed with the London Model Engineering Exhibition at Alexandra Palace in January 2022.





Having presented model engineering and other exhibitions for well over 40 years these decisions represent a tremendous disappointment for all but hopefully the situation will be different in later 2022 and we may again present a model engineering exhibition.



We look forward to seeing you all again soon.

.................................................

A big disappointment, but fully understandable with the increasing number of cases being reported.

Bob.

[simplyloco]

I know that this controversial, but I have all the kit I need and a next day service from EKP Supplies. Why would I want to tramp all the way to an exhibition, pay to enter, and be refused a show discount at the Stuart Models stand...?

[gwr7800]

Not sure if I would have gone this year with what’s going on? So that decision has been for me.
I’ve always just looked at the shows as a “day out” sometimes I spend money sometimes I don’t!
Regards
Chris

[jasonb]

Jul 19, 2021 14:08:09 GMT simplyloco said:

I know that this controversial, but I have all the kit I need and a next day service from EKP Supplies. Why would I want to tramp all the way to an exhibition, pay to enter, and be refused a show discount at the Stuart Models stand...?

Most ME traders don't do free delivery so you only need to make a couple of purchases at a show to cover the entry fee, few more and that's travel costs too. Add to the fact EKP don't stock everything so there is a need to buy from several suppliers and I have often got a bit of a discount from the likes of College, Noggin End and JB Cutting tools.

Also nice to see some models in the flesh and chat to a person or two. You could also enter a model for the benifit of others.

[simplyloco]

Jul 19, 2021 15:27:57 GMT jasonb said:

Jul 19, 2021 14:08:09 GMT simplyloco said:

I know that this controversial, but I have all the kit I need and a next day service from EKP Supplies. Why would I want to tramp all the way to an exhibition, pay to enter, and be refused a show discount at the Stuart Models stand...?

SNIP

Also nice to see some models in the flesh and chat to a person or two. You could also enter a model for the benefit of others.

Ouch!
However, I just found this pic of my Brit at Alexandra Palace. I supported two expos in succession, and I was quite bored both times!

[norfolkandgood]

What a shame! The main reason I attend shows (nearest and usual is Doncaster) is for a good day out and the whole new enthusiasm for ME it gives me. Just being exposed to other peoples ideas and projects is an inspiration in its self let alone the individuals you meet to talk to. As Doncaster show didn't take place I was planning on attending Leamington, but not to be.

[JonL]

Jul 19, 2021 14:08:09 GMT simplyloco said:

I know that this controversial, but I have all the kit I need and a next day service from EKP Supplies. Why would I want to tramp all the way to an exhibition, pay to enter, and be refused a show discount at the Stuart Models stand...?

I go to them to see the models mainly; and to see my lad getting excited about engineering. I always forget to take a shopping list with me (mainly for bar stock and fasteners) but I will next time I go!


The best thing I can say about Stuart is at least they replace chilled castings with no questions asked, which does de-stress things. That's all I have to say about them. 

[dscott]

MMMMM...
Yes and I was getting a shopping list together.
Well at least I got to catch up with Phil Blackgates at the Rugby Club 2 weekends ago.
As you say Jon, great places to get inspired and the hours of hard work put in by people to have something to show at them.

Will we ever get Bristol back?
Just had a look down the smaller gauges OO and O etc. Decimated and quite a few cancelled.

David and Lily.

[doubletop]

Jul 19, 2021 15:27:57 GMT jasonb said:

Most ME traders don't do free delivery so you only need to make a couple of purchases at a show to cover the entry fee, few more and that's travel costs too. Add to the fact EKP don't stock everything so there is a need to buy from several suppliers and I have often got a bit of a discount from the likes of College, Noggin End and JB Cutting tools.

Also nice to see some models in the flesh and chat to a person or two. You could also enter a model for the benifit of others.

I'd have to buy quite a bit of kit to cover my travel expenses, then the excess baggage to be able to get it all home. That said I have made it to four of the last five or six shows and thoroughly enjoyed them, plus the opportunity to meet some of you. I wasn't coming over specifically for the show but did manage to align my travel dates with those of the show.

It would be a pity to loose them.

Pete

[Neale]

I've been to quite a few shows over the last years - Midlands, Alexandra Palace, Bristol. I'm on the SMEE stand and it's great to have a chance to talk to people. I usually pick up a few things from the trade stands but I'm mostly there to support my "club".

The thing I find most frustrating is the rows of beautiful models with no-one to talk to about them. I find just looking at the outside a fairly pointless activity unless you can get up close and personal to see the hidden details. Best of all is when the builder is nearby and you can have a good chat about it. Worst of all (rare but it happens) are the club stands manned by two elderly gentlemen in deckchairs with their flask of tea who talk to no-one but each other...

[Deleted]

Jul 21, 2021 11:14:06 GMT Neale said:

I've been to quite a few shows over the last years - Midlands, Alexandra Palace, Bristol. I'm on the SMEE stand and it's great to have a chance to talk to people. I usually pick up a few things from the trade stands but I'm mostly there to support my "club".

The thing I find most frustrating is the rows of beautiful models with no-one to talk to about them. I find just looking at the outside a fairly pointless activity unless you can get up close and personal to see the hidden details. Best of all is when the builder is nearby and you can have a good chat about it. Worst of all (rare but it happens) are the club stands manned by two elderly gentlemen in deckchairs with their flask of tea who talk to no-one but each other...

I wholeheartedly agree with you on being able to chat with the builders of models. It's one of the reasons why I keep asking at my own club to start doing the club stand again as I would certainly do my best to put my model on the stand, I think it's the club stand where you can get close enough to both look and hopefully have a chat with either the builder or someone manning the stand who may be able to give a few details. I have admired the models seen on other club stands and also on the 2 1/2 gauge association stand a number of times and have always tried to get in a word with John Baguley, he's usually in high demand...

I broached this subject again recently with the club chairman, alas they can't find anyone to take on the organising of this. I would willingly help but can't take on the responsibility of running the stand, I would though attend each day to help man it and do my best to help set it up/take it down but my health now means I'm not able to do much in this area.

Pete

[jasonb]

That's one of the things I enjoyed about the Guildford show many of the builders were just the other side of their table and with air provided plus the ability to run gas and liquid fuelled engines there was a lot more for the visitor and exhibitor to enjoy. This seems to be the way most of the American shows are done too.

Although the logistics for the organizers would be harder it would be nice if they could do similar and possibly make it so people could just show on one particular day which would make it more popular with those having to travel a distance as it could be done in one trip not two or the need to find accomodation for the duration of the show

I happened to look on Stuart's website and the postage on a set of major beam engine castings is £72, a good reason to pick up from a show if ever there was International shipping would no doubt be even more but a bit of a toss up between that and what the airline would charge for excess baggage

[steamlaser]

I, amongst other from my club, who have stewarded our stands whilst attending shows, do not find it all fun. The logistics of getting models there, unloading on arrival and reloading at the end is not a trivial exercise. For the last show we attended, there was a degree of reluctance of drivers to bring larger vehicles into town, plough through traffic and then to queue for unloading at the venue. There was also a reluctance of older members to volunteer to steward because they lived out of town and did not want to travel in by expensive public transport. (They also felt that the Show was getting a bit "thin" in modeling content and most of what they wanted was bought on line.)
At the last show we did (Ali.Pali.) we restricted ourselves to models that could be easily carried in small cars, were light and could be easily carried on site. This did restrict what we could display, but from a logistics point of view it made things easier for us.
By the way,our stewards stood in front of our stand and were ready to interact with the public!
Post Covid, if my club decides to take part in a show again, I fear we will only display a fraction of the models that we did a few years ago.

[cplmickey]

Talking to a friend who knows a lot or ME people the suggestion is that a large number of traders had said they wouldn't support a show including some of the big names. If that's true then all ME shows must be at risk in the future and we may end up in the situation where individual clubs have small shows at their own premises and all interaction with traders is on line or by post. Quite a few traders have already stopped attending shows anyway but still seem to make a living so the future doesn't look great. Ian

[andyhigham]

I may be wide of the mark here not having been to a big ME show for a few years.
Bike shows, autojumbles etc have become overwhelmed recently by traders selling tat, cheap and nasty tools, household goods, toys and ladies clothes. More akin to a car boot sale

[ejparrott]

Jul 21, 2021 11:14:06 GMT Neale said:

Worst of all (rare but it happens) are the club stands manned by two elderly gentlemen in deckchairs with their flask of tea who talk to no-one but each other...

I've organised our stand a number of times over the years, any of our members who were stewarding and were caught doing this, or using it as a free entry to the show and not stewarding at all, were not asked to do it again.

Last time we did it we got £70 for our troubles from the organisers. We put on a huge stand with a lot of models, big and small. It was a mammoth task organising it all, it took considerable man hours to do, we burnt way more than £70 in fuel to put it on and we are only around 12 miles from the venue. Our club won't be going again, not for the lack of appreciation we get for the effort we go to.

[dscott]

Well when Model Engineer pays out £50 a page for some writing... No wonder we get a reduction in entries every year.

I helped with a local exhibition years ago and put in lots of work, only to be met by one of the older members walking round being incredibly negative. "A cud av dun that!!" At each exhibit. I didn't give him the chance and pointed to an empty space next to my Hunslet Chassis. For HIS MODEL.
He left but I got a complaint from the Secretary. OOPS.

David and Lily.

[Deleted]

I could be wrong but think that Meridienne Exhibitions and Mytime wbo publish the ME mags are different companirs?

[92220]

Yes. Medidienne Exhibitions is only connected to one other company...Tee Publishing. Both are owned by Chris Dieth. Tee publishing used to publish E.I.M. but sold that part off a couple of years ago.

Bob.

[JonL]

It's a vicious circle though, dying numbers mean less income which means less available as outgoings while still making a worthwhile profit to stay in business (which, lets face it, even something like Model Engineer Magazine is).