Stafford 2022 & 2024.

Broithe · September 25, 2022

A bit late to 'announce' it, as I only got back on Thursday to find out that the February show was really going to happen at last this weekend.

It was in the main hall this time - much better with room to get about easily, it was getting quite congested in the side halls.

My usual plan is to have a quick walk past everything and then take a methodical route to scrutinise things properly. This slightly fell apart as the first layout I saw was Castlefinn.

There were many other interesting layouts, British, Continental and North American.

Edited September 25, 2022 by Broithe

Broithe · September 25, 2022

Broithe · September 25, 2022

It's hard to give an indication of the size, this view covers around a quarter of the exhibits and traders.

Prior to the opening of the NEC, this was the major music venue in the Midlands - all sorts played there - Abba, Rolling Stones, David Bowie, Pink Floyd, The Eagles - anybody who could attract a crowd. The only thing I saw there was Thin Lizzy and the sound was so dreadful that I swore I would never part with money for anything else there - when ZZ Top came, we had a picnic in the field at the back and were treated to excellent audio, and no ticket fee...

Also, there is a somewhat larger scale outdoor railway there -

Mike 84C · September 25, 2022

And I did'nt go because I thought It would be very crowded! Looks like you had a good day Jim with plenty of very good layouts. Those little Heywood locos are brilliant . Sorry I missed you.

Broithe · September 25, 2022

3 minutes ago, Mike 84C said:

And I did'nt go because I thought It would be very crowded! Looks like you had a good day Jim with plenty of very good layouts. Those little Heywood locos are brilliant . Sorry I missed you.

I didn't realise it would be in the main hall - much, much better - and it looks like they will keep to September now, at least for the next one.

Bob229 · September 25, 2022

Great selection of layouts

Broithe · September 26, 2022

15 hours ago, Bob229 said:

Great selection of layouts

The layout situation was probably in line with previous years, but traders may have been down a little in number, hard to be sure - there could be conflict with other exhibitions, the February schedule benefitted from being in the quietest part of the year.

I don't 'need' to buy much these days - this is all I got, from Nick Tozer.

Broithe · September 28

Having failed to attend in 2023, I found myself on the Big Island just in time this year. There will be a stash of pictures later, but my connection here, particularly for uploads, seems to be based on a native boy carrying individual message in a cleft stick.

It was very quiet. Saturdays used to be very busy and I would normally opt for the slightly less intense Sunday, but two friends were having to go today. In the end, it was no bother.

Some other things struck me - lighting is so much easier today that there was sometimes 'too much for me' - both in the models, buildings, vehicles, etc., and of the whole layout. Some were as bright as being in the Libyan desert, it seemed - and some layouts even interfered with viewing the layout behind them, as their general lighting was in the eyes of the viewer in the next aisle.

Also, some people seemed to need to spend a lot of time negotiating with the digital control systems and the 'hand of God' was rather more in evidence that it used to be, I thought.

Definitely worth going, though - although, it was seventeen quid to get in...

It's on again tomorrow, if you're going past.