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Despite the fact that many of us went to the show I thought I would still write my usual review. (you dont have to read it if you dont want to but I thought I would write one anyway!)
I think this was the best warley show yet. There were no major problems as far as I could see.
Transport - Really cant ask for more. The NEC right on the WCML. I went both days once by train and once by car and both days transport was exceptionally good. the trains were extreamly busy and some standing was needed but I really cant complain about being crammed into a train full of very attractive girls on their way to the clothes show! - 10/10
Building - There have been problems the last 2 years with the building. last year especially when the clothes show took over more than their fair share and sent the 18,000 of us by bus. I think many people were less than impressed! no such problems this year. - 10/10
Layouts - as is often the case at these vey large shows the layouts ranged from the stunningly beautifull (Burntisland) to the down right dreadfulll! there was one layout that had no stock running at all due to the electrician being in hospital but the scenic work alone more than made up for the lack of stock. it was inspirational. it won an award (not sure which one) and quite right too. There were also a couple of layouts that I had to question the motive behind their construction (there were alot of straights in the show.) and a couple that were simply ghastly! But thats what you get with a big show like this. The mix of scales was good although I do think there was a rather large ammount of O gauge. Holiday Haunts was there on its last hurragh before going into a museum. and it looked fantastic. all in all a good mix with a couple of let downs. - 8/10
(a little side note here a pet hate of mine is when the operator stands between me and the layout. this is turning into a disturbing trend among exhibition layouts.)
Shirts - virtually no problems here. The cold december has left the troubles of Scaleforum and Woking well and truly a memory. There was only 1 incident the whole weekend. - 9/10 (note I have adjusted the scoring to make 10 good. this is different from my other exhibition reviews)
Backpacks - Oah dear! The Sunday really wasnt so bad but the saturday was terrible. They were flying at me from all directions. The most frustrating thing was that there was a cloakroom right outside the door. why, oah why do they do this? there is really no excuse. I think there were about half the number of people there on the sunday and it was much better but there were still several instances of backpack-in-face treatment. - 2/10
Trade support - Generally very good. I have real concerns about the way this show treats smaller traders. I think its becomming too big for its boots and the smaller traders are feeling the pinch. But this year at least they were out in force. There were a couple of companies that were noticable by their absence (London Road Models to name but one) It will be interesting to see how this developes over the next few years. I think I should note here that the atitude of some of the retailers left a bit to be desired. There was one trader that was winging because people were buying things and he was running out of stock and another that didnt have an item I wanted and blamed me for it! On a personal note the main item I wanted to buy was unavailable which was very frustrating and there was nothing that shouted "buy me" like they have in past years. - 8-10
Bagains - They were there but you had to rummage. Many retialers were not discounting anything and one even complained about the price of exhibiting as a reason for not knocking £2 of the price of a £50 loco! (its a bit sad looking back at it but at the time i found it very amusing!) there wasnt much in the way of second hand stuff but there were bargains to be had on new stock if you shopped around. - 7/10
Overall - As I said earlier I have real concerns about the future of the show but this cant take anything away from the fact that this was one of the best. The sunday was much nicer than the saturday due to a halving of the numbers. There were no incidents that soured the exhibition experience. And I think a good day was had by all. Despite the effort warley make with their kids areas (which is very good) this is really not a family show. Partly because its simply too busy. And on the saturday wheelchair users were having real difficulty. On the Saturday i met up with a few other MRF members and gary on the sunday. We spent a few enjoyable minutes speaking to Simon Kohler and Dennis Lovett. Both were very talkative and almost answered all the questions I put to them. I look forward to next year. - 9/10
Peter
Sorry no pics but I know Garry took some and I am hopeing he will post them. I would be happy to post some pictures if anyone dosent have this facility. just e-mail them to me and I will pop them on here.
I think this was the best warley show yet. There were no major problems as far as I could see.
Transport - Really cant ask for more. The NEC right on the WCML. I went both days once by train and once by car and both days transport was exceptionally good. the trains were extreamly busy and some standing was needed but I really cant complain about being crammed into a train full of very attractive girls on their way to the clothes show! - 10/10
Building - There have been problems the last 2 years with the building. last year especially when the clothes show took over more than their fair share and sent the 18,000 of us by bus. I think many people were less than impressed! no such problems this year. - 10/10
Layouts - as is often the case at these vey large shows the layouts ranged from the stunningly beautifull (Burntisland) to the down right dreadfulll! there was one layout that had no stock running at all due to the electrician being in hospital but the scenic work alone more than made up for the lack of stock. it was inspirational. it won an award (not sure which one) and quite right too. There were also a couple of layouts that I had to question the motive behind their construction (there were alot of straights in the show.) and a couple that were simply ghastly! But thats what you get with a big show like this. The mix of scales was good although I do think there was a rather large ammount of O gauge. Holiday Haunts was there on its last hurragh before going into a museum. and it looked fantastic. all in all a good mix with a couple of let downs. - 8/10
(a little side note here a pet hate of mine is when the operator stands between me and the layout. this is turning into a disturbing trend among exhibition layouts.)
Shirts - virtually no problems here. The cold december has left the troubles of Scaleforum and Woking well and truly a memory. There was only 1 incident the whole weekend. - 9/10 (note I have adjusted the scoring to make 10 good. this is different from my other exhibition reviews)
Backpacks - Oah dear! The Sunday really wasnt so bad but the saturday was terrible. They were flying at me from all directions. The most frustrating thing was that there was a cloakroom right outside the door. why, oah why do they do this? there is really no excuse. I think there were about half the number of people there on the sunday and it was much better but there were still several instances of backpack-in-face treatment. - 2/10
Trade support - Generally very good. I have real concerns about the way this show treats smaller traders. I think its becomming too big for its boots and the smaller traders are feeling the pinch. But this year at least they were out in force. There were a couple of companies that were noticable by their absence (London Road Models to name but one) It will be interesting to see how this developes over the next few years. I think I should note here that the atitude of some of the retailers left a bit to be desired. There was one trader that was winging because people were buying things and he was running out of stock and another that didnt have an item I wanted and blamed me for it! On a personal note the main item I wanted to buy was unavailable which was very frustrating and there was nothing that shouted "buy me" like they have in past years. - 8-10
Bagains - They were there but you had to rummage. Many retialers were not discounting anything and one even complained about the price of exhibiting as a reason for not knocking £2 of the price of a £50 loco! (its a bit sad looking back at it but at the time i found it very amusing!) there wasnt much in the way of second hand stuff but there were bargains to be had on new stock if you shopped around. - 7/10
Overall - As I said earlier I have real concerns about the future of the show but this cant take anything away from the fact that this was one of the best. The sunday was much nicer than the saturday due to a halving of the numbers. There were no incidents that soured the exhibition experience. And I think a good day was had by all. Despite the effort warley make with their kids areas (which is very good) this is really not a family show. Partly because its simply too busy. And on the saturday wheelchair users were having real difficulty. On the Saturday i met up with a few other MRF members and gary on the sunday. We spent a few enjoyable minutes speaking to Simon Kohler and Dennis Lovett. Both were very talkative and almost answered all the questions I put to them. I look forward to next year. - 9/10
Peter
Sorry no pics but I know Garry took some and I am hopeing he will post them. I would be happy to post some pictures if anyone dosent have this facility. just e-mail them to me and I will pop them on here.
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