Sandown ME Exhibition

In article , Anthony Britt writes

Just got back. Parking was OK (at 2pm). Show was *very* disappointing. Very, very few models on display. Upstairs had a railway layout, a stand from the Society of Ornamental Turners and that was about it.

Usual trade stands (with usual absentees), and usual purveyors of snake oil.

At seven quid I feel ripped off. That's definitely the last one I'm going to. And I mean it this time... ;^)

Oh dear, that's not a good sign! I was going to get there for around 2 tomorrow, so hopefully the parking will be OK then. Were Reeves there? I have some bits to take back and exchange; obviously no point if they are not there!

What are your thoughts on the Wembley exhibition? I thought it was probably the best of the lot when I went in January. Plenty of parking, not too busy. Shame that the traffic on the A406 was a complete nightmare on the way home!

Regards

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In article , Anthony Britt writes

No, they weren't. Nor were Stuart Models.

I can't remember going to the last one. I know I've been to one there, and being (IIRC) fairly impressed.

I went yesterday and enjoyed it. No queue for tickets, even at opening time. Some exquisite models upstatirs (perhaps you missed all the rooms).

The Wembley one is bigger of course, but I like to get a look at the competition models.

Listened to a good talk by a SMEE person on injectors, had a chat with a mad chap who's made an 18-cylinder Deltic engine, got deafened by a gas turbine demo.

Busy late morning, but emptied out later.

Wilfrid Underwood

In article , Wilfrid Underwood writes

I've just re-examined the floor plan in the show guide. It seems there was another room with models on display. It was through a closed set of double doors, with no signs at all pointing it out. Gah!

Been there today ..... very disappointing. You missed little if you did not see the second upstairs room .... more boats than "engineering" models ..... no disrespect to boat modellers.

It is sad to have witnessed over the years the decline of what was THE model show of the year in the country. Once there would be dozens of coaches in the parks bringing modellers from far and near. The nearest I saw to a coach was a 12 seater minibus! So whilst the car park was full there was no crowd in the halls.

So why the demise? .... what has Nexus got wrong over the last five years or more since the last good one at AllyPally?...... or even better ones at Olympia? The prestigious cups to be won are still there to be won. The modelling fraternity are still keen to compete ... witness Midlands and Harrogate to name but two ...The cost of entry is on par with the others ..... Sandown since being refurnished is not a "bad" place to hold the exhibition. Is it anything to do with the traders not willing to attend for reasons not generally public knowledge? I seem to recall some rumours way back of unhappiness when "toys" were introduced to the AllyPally venue ....or is there some other reason(s)?

I certainly will not go again .... rather travel to Bristol!

Alan

The last time we went to a ME exhibition was Wembley in 1978 or 79, most impressed with the heavy snow that fell on the M1 that day in January, but a super exhibition and one which we never repeated in terms of enjoyment.

Commercialism must take a share of the blame, plus the endless chorus for a show that wasn't based at Wembley, although it seemed popular enough as a venue.

Peter

-- Peter & Rita Forbes snipped-for-privacy@easynet.co.uk Engine pages for preservation info:

The last ME exhibition I went to was in Victoria so I'll be prepared for a few changes!

As I'm fairly close to Sandown anyway I'll have a look. I have interests in other areas of modelling so I hope to get my £7 worth.

Those cynical traders get everywhere.....

Mmm... I missed it the first time too. Small sign half way up the wall. (or in a darkened basement in a locked filing cabinet for the D Adams fans...)

Smart money seems to be to get there about 2.00pm as it tends to clear about 3.00pm as the club coaches depart.

Seemed to be slightly larger than last year but has a way to go before it competes with Wembley.

n message , Nigel Eaton writes

When Nexus took over the title it figured it didn't need to run the show. Nexus runs a rag bag of titles and is interested in cash flow not support.

I stopped supporting the ME (and I have collected copies back to the mid-50s) after three letters, all in the same delivery, in red with "URGENT" marked on the top, telling (sic.) me to renew my subscription as I only had one copy left.

I had three months and spent five minutes on the phone to their help desk complaining. The lass on the desk was also feeling hacked off as they'd been told to inform people "although it's three months away we won't debit your card" She was fed up with complaints about that too, as Nexus were interested in three month interest free loans and neither of us were.

The following Saturday morning at 8.30am I was woken by the phone. An insistent lass tried badgering me for my card number. I told her exactly what I thought of their title and what they could do with it. I have not bought one since.

For Nexus it came to a head at the millenium when Ally Pally wanted to charge them an arm and leg for the Christmas - New Year slot (in fairness a slow time normally, but they were being greedy like just about every other venue). They refused, only to see the support (and sales) plummet. They went into panic mode and tried to start a "cheap, nasty and short version" (not my words but one of a well known local model engineering shop)

Many of the suppliers would not "pack up their shop for three days to join what looked like a snake oil and second hand tool sale" (again not my words but a quote from the same company) A measure of their support was defined by the prominent ME stand at the first show that had very little stock (binders had to be ordered on an nth-version unreadable photocopy of an order form) and no support ("cash only we can't even take cheques")

Nexus have now lost the prime holiday slot, and many of the ex-ME subscribers I speak to feel the same.

OK, holiday rant over. I just feel very angry that a strongly supported hobby has been trashed by a company who is more interested in cash flow that its readers.

Happy New Year chaps and chapesses. Lets hope TEE continue their support.

Mart

In message , Alan Marshall writes

I think I found the solution to the ME exhibition. I arrived late to miss the crowds only to find that it closed early today. As there was only about

Frankly 20 mins was about right. Just long enough to grab the fittings I needed and have a quick look at a lot of new lathes that I couldn't afford.

Andy

Well I went and at 13:00 with just 2 hours to go they weren't letting people in for anything less then the full whack despite my moans. And the remaining two hours was a lot more than was necessary to see the little that was there! Yes, Ok, the ME on show was mostly the sort of quality you'd expect, but there was just so little. Yeah, the usual big names were flogging their wares, but very little of the more interesting 'little' places. A few boats a few chuffers, but well only #a few# of anything.

Overall I'd have to say B*ll*x - I will certainly not be wasting my hard earned again unless/until I hear some very favourable reports from the world at large about the next few. Whistful memories of the Seymore Hall in the days of my youth!

Richard Shute

Mart> When Nexus took over the title it figured it didn't need to run the