Bristol Show

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Bristol Show

This topic has 12 replies, 12 voices, and was last updated 23 August 2011 at 21:54 by Laurence B.

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22 August 2011 at 07:53 #73697
John Shepherd
Participant
@johnshepherd38883
Did anyone else on this forum go to the Bristol Show?

I am surprised there has been no comment – I went on Friday very soon after it opened and it was packed.

For my part, it would be nice to have more models on show, I was hoping to pick up some tips for my Minnie that is work in progress but did not see one at all which is surprising considering how many are built. Unfortunately the model exhibits do not seem to change much year on year.

The addition of the third hall was welcome and although things like radio controlled trucks may not be to every ones taste, it attracted my grandson and if that helps some ‘real’ engineering from the rest of the show to rub off that’s no bad thing.
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22 August 2011 at 07:53 #4399
John Shepherd
Participant
@johnshepherd38883
22 August 2011 at 08:22 #73698
John Stevenson 1
Participant
@johnstevenson1
Didn’t get this year, other commitments but I really like Bristol as a show.

They seem to have a better choice of model across the board instead of the endless loco exhibitions you get at other shows.

It’s the choice I like.

John S.
22 August 2011 at 09:00 #73700
KWIL
Participant
@kwil
Bristol is on my list every year, very well attended on Friday, met most people I expected to be there. It is a very relaxed show.

As regards the exhibits, remember this is a Club show and relies on its members for the underlying exhibits, perhaps they (we) could drum up some more. The third hall was “different” and the show the better for it.
22 August 2011 at 09:26 #73701
modeng2000
Participant
@modeng2000
I went on Saturday and the traders said things were not as frantic as the Friday.

I thought it was an interesting show and the catering was good. I was able to buy the metal I wanted and there was time for a chat with the traders and on the club stands.

The club deserves credit for putting on the show.

John
22 August 2011 at 09:27 #73702
Diane Carney
Moderator
@dianecarney30678
It was my first time there so almost all the models were new to me! I’ve heard nothing but good reports about the exhibition over the years and I was not disappointed. It was nice to see some machine tools; for me these were some of the best models in the show. It was good to see a cross-section of club stands and that they had opened an extra hall just for Harry Williams. (only joking….. always good to see Harry even if he has gone away with another silver cup and his arm twisted up his back!!). Speaking of arm twisting – tucked away in the corner of the new hall was one of the best exhibitis there – Reuben Smith’s wonderful 2in. steam yachts. A joy to behold!

Diane
22 August 2011 at 10:21 #73704
Niloch
Participant
@niloch
I went for my first ever visit on the Friday with three other members from ADMES, the overflow car-park must have been two-thirds full by the time of our arrival at about 11:30a.m.

I had hoped to see the work of the magician, I was not disappointed. Despite illness Brian Perkins is making good progress on the Mercedes W165, his ‘exploded’ Aquila was fascinating to study and who can forget his ME accounts of the trials and tribulations with the complex Hydra, since sold to a foreign collector so I was told. Both high and low pressure superchargers are in place on the W165 and a gearbox was to be seen. I shan’t be a bit surprised to hear in two or three years time that Mercedes-Benz have paid a six figure sum for this model.

I received some valuable advice during a lengthy conversation with clockmaker, Hywel Lambert, including the suggestion that carbon fibre rods (from kite suppliers) could replace the horribly expensive Invar for pendulum rods. When I complained about the unavailability of a specific size of brass tube for a barrel, I was told, “Turn it out of the solid”. Why didn’t I think of that?

I think the catering department was slightly overwhelmed with the number of visitors and my three colleagues experienced delays, I had taken a packed lunch.

A very worthwhile show, I shall go again.

Edited By Niloch on 22/08/2011 10:23:07
22 August 2011 at 10:51 #73705
Martin Cottrell
Participant
@martincottrell21329
Hi,

I went on Saturday and had a thoroughly enjoyable day as usual. The Thornbury Leisure Centre is a great venue for this event as being just outside Bristol it is easy to get to with plenty of parking. As always there was a very diverse range of exhibits to suit all tastes, locos, traction engines, I.C engines, jet engines, clocks, boats & workshop equipment. Each stand was manned by very enthusiastic members happy to discuss their exhibits in great depth. Brian Perkins is always a fascinating stand to visit and admire the work-in-progress on his latest Mercedes model, such a gifted, unassuming man and always a pleasure to chat to. Another fantastic display was the steam ploughing engine & rope driven cultivator in the new third hall. This was a truly superb exhibit with an equally enthusiastic exhibitor!

Outside there were traction engines in steam, a few stationary engines and regular demonstration runs of IC engines and jet engines.There were also plenty of trade stands which allowed me to stock up on the usual consumables and lumps of metal without incurring the postage costs! Full marks to the Bristol club for once again putting on a great show with a really friendly atmosphere. This show has now become a regular “must do” on my calendar, next one being the Great Dorset Steam Fair in a couple of weeks time!

Regards, Martin.

Edited By Martin Cottrell on 22/08/2011 11:05:27
22 August 2011 at 11:02 #73706
Richard Willcox 1
Participant
@richardwillcox1
The Bristol show was simply brilliant. We bought early bird tickets and this made entry a lot quicker. The catering seemed to be coping when we visited, this is a venue which hosts quite a lot of exhibitions.

There was an excellent range of traders, and I was able to acquire most of the items I wanted for my mill. Mrs W made a bee line for the Sterling engines (shes had years of coaching !) and spent quite some time interrogating an elderly gentleman on the stand. Next door the miniature models of machine tools were well worth spending sometime on. The third hall was a good ideal. The space normally occupied by Myford was taken over by a trader selling very cheap Chinese products, I joined others in purchasing a few items.
22 August 2011 at 13:06 #73709
NJH
Participant
@njh
I don’t really know if I want to share this with you but ……….Having attended regularly on Fridays for a long while, the last couple of years I have gone on Sunday. There are far fewer visitors and there is a really nice relaxed feeling about the day.

The exhibition did not disappoint (although I must say I found the catering dire)

I liked the new hall and was very encouraged to see lots of youngsters enjoying railway rides, model aircraft flying and great involvement with building and testing balloon powered cars! OK so not model engineering but encouraging an interest in making things and how they work is surely the bed rock of the hobby for the future.

Having recently picked up my latest copy of ME featuring the new series of Armstrong’s Hydraulic Pumping Engine I found that someone has made one already and it looked just like the one in the mag!

It’s always nice to have a few words with Anthony and see that all his creations look so good and work so well. I really must get on with some of my projects.

For me the highlight of the show was the IC Builders Group stand and the piece de resistance there was the model of the Bentley engine. Never mind the extraordinary engineering and finish of the engine itself but I’m stunned by the radiator and even more stunned by the smoothly sculptured surround. I couldn’t begin to contemplate such a project.

A great day out – look forward to next year.

Please don’t ALL go on the Sunday!

Regards

Norman
22 August 2011 at 13:41 #73711
KMP
Participant
@kmp
I went on Saturday as I do every year and was not disappointed. As always there was a good range of interesting exhibits, some excellent models to look at and admire and a reasonable range of traders on hand to take my money. The Bugatti replica was interesting as were the machine tools and a couple of very impressive locomotives even to a non steam buff.

I was able to buy the last couple of genuine spares I needed for my Myford S7 even if the price made me swallow hard. I couldn’t find an ER32, R8 collet chuck but those are easy enough to find on the internet if I need it before Leamington Spa.

I particularly like the relaxed atmosphere and the friendly and enthusiastic guys who take the time to man the exhibits; for the wife and me the catering was quick and filled a hole as they say. She also likes the fact that she can sit and read and visit a couple of very good garden centres nearby. So all in all we had an excellent day and many thanks again to the Bristol club.

Regards

Keith
22 August 2011 at 17:59 #73720
Ian Abbott
Participant
@ianabbott31222
Nine of us went up from Brixham and had a great time. Friday was a bit swamped early on, but it seemed to steady up after lunch. The catering was great, just a few minutes line up.

Bought a 0-1″ Moore and Wright micrometer for a quid that I don’t mind leaving on the bench with everyone around at the Youth project. Spent too much on books as usual and came away hoarse from talking to too many people. There were so many fabulous models that I couldn’t even start to decide which came out on top. I do agree with Diane, the steamboats are something. Shame that they were tucked away in the corner, but on the good side, they were easy to get around without lots of people.

Ian
23 August 2011 at 21:54 #73799
Laurence B
Participant
@laurenceb
I went on the Sunday and thought the exhibition was as good as ever,even better with three halls in use.I particularly liked the GWR locos in hall 3;the ‘Coal Tank’ model on the City of Newport club stand and the 5″ gauge ‘West Country’ near the entrance.The GWR ‘training school’ lever frame was very interesting and Mr Hanscombe kindly let me operate with it!

Always a very good show-well done to all involved.
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