Hi again,
I visited Harrogate on Friday and enjoyed seeing the wonderful range of exhibitors and exhibits on show, the huge numbers of people attending on the first day must show that the hobby engineer is not in decline.
I was extremely fortunate and happy to meet my all time hero in model engineering; Barry Jordan. I have long admired his work and been inspired to follow in his wake (although some considerable distance behind) in aspiring to make models of the engineering machinery we all use.
After being encouraged (nagged) by she who must be obeyed, I took along my first effort in making such a model machine. I had intended to enter it for competition but suffered an attack of "it won't be good enough" nerves. I dared myself to show it to Barry after meeting him initially and managed to locate him in the teeming halls. He was very complimentary toward my efforts and I left with a mile wide grin and a promise that I would enter the item next year.
I am so glad I took the model along now and thank my better half for her persistance in getting me to "man up" and seek peer review. As a non-club member with no engineering mates it is hard to get a steer on whether what you are up to is hitting the mark and I would encourage anyone to take their work along to a show for some help and advice.
Many thanks to Barry Jordan and Mike Chrisp for their kind comments and to the organisers of the Harrogate show for yet another great model making spectacle.
Regards T.