MEX Photos for those that stayed home

[Ian WelfordParticipant @ianwelford58739]

Didn't go as working so can't comment on it.

Many thanks Jason and others for a flavor of what was there.

[Nicholas FarrParticipant @nicholasfarr14254]

Hi, well I went today. My journey turned out to be a bit of a nightmare, as there were serious delays on the big London car park (AKA M25) so Mrs Sat Nav said I could save 14 minutes via an alternative route, but what she didn't say was that she told just about everybody else me thinks, so I think I had an even bigger delay taking her advice. The post code given for the event, took me to the exhibiters entrance, but the guy at the gate gave me good directions to where I needed to go. I don't consider this to be the best MEX that I've attended and found it very fragmented and the trade attendance was very disappointing, must be the least spend that I've ever had, none the less I do appreciate the hard work that goes into the event and I did like the way the competition and loan exhibits were arranged so that you could see them clearly from both sides, but I do think that Sandown was a better venue overall. I do have to say that JasonB's photos do the displays justice, and it was good the see the Southam as if it had been in service and the "Mega Adept" in the flesh, as well as JasonB' exhibits, Rod Jenkins hardness tester looked well made also. The chap who made the spot welder on the Gas Turbine Association stand gave me a good overall description of how he made it, which is one thing that interested me quite a bit.

I really only have a passing interest in cars, bikes and planes, which are at Brooklands but I did find the Barnes Wallace Stratosphere Chamber very interesting, the fabrication of which I felt amazing, given the time it was made and I think I must have spent as much time looking at that as I Did everything else.

I did enjoy my day out, but even my journey home was a bit frustrating, I became desperately short of fuel, with no filling station to be found until the very last drops almost must have run out, my fault entirely of course, but it is a new car to me and hadn't anticipated how far I can get on the last quarter of a tank.

Regards Nick.

[Colin BishopModerator @colinbishop34627]

It is encouraging to see the more positive and considered posts now emerging and I’m sure that the organisers will happily take on board the more helpful suggestions being made if the show is held at Brooklands next year.

Taking a step back, I think we need to acknowledge that model related hobbies are rapidly becoming ever more of a niche interest and that the numbers are simply no longer there to support shows at the more prestigious venues. I was sad to learn recently that Brighton Modelworld, considered to be one of the best general modelling shows, will not take place next year as the organisers can’t make the numbers add up.

In that context, moving the MEX to Brooklands could be considered an imaginative exercise in managed downsizing. OK, you have to live with the rather fragmented layout in historic buildings but improved signage and directions will go a long way to overcome that. On the plus side you have access to all the wonderful full size engineering of different flavours on the site which can hardly fail to be of interest to most of us. So perhaps not a bad all round compromise really. Some show is generally better than no show.

As far as trade presence is concerned, it is a similar story in the model boating world. Retail operations are increasingly being conducted online with direct sales from China looming large. Model Boaters do like to see before they buy though and the UK retail side is largely made up of small family businesses. Attending a show represents a significant overhead for them and impacts on their day to day sales operations which are mostly online these days. In recent years many have simply been priced out of shows at the larger venues and now often only attend smaller regional shows or piggyback on club events.

So we have to adapt to the situation and I do think that despite a few drawbacks due to this being the first time the show has been held at Brooklands, it does have the potential to literally keep the show on the road for a little while yet.

Colin

[JAParticipant @ja]

Posted by Colin Bishop on 18/09/2016 09:56:02:

Taking a step back, I think we need to acknowledge that model related hobbies are rapidly becoming ever more of a niche interest and that the numbers are simply no longer there to support shows at the more prestigious venues. I was sad to learn recently that Brighton Modelworld, considered to be one of the best general modelling shows, will not take place next year as the organisers can’t make the numbers add up.

Colin

I have nothing against MEX, except that anything close to or inside the M25 is difficult to visit from far away, but I have not been to the show for some years. I visit shows less and less these days since a lot of the traders are happy to use the internet and see no reason for the shows. To be honest I, like a lot of others, visit shows to buy stuff. It is nice and good to see fine models but really they are the icing on the cake. I am not surprised that without traders the numbers don't add up and I guess that for the traders their numbers don't add up if they go to all the shows.

Like high street shops shows are slowly going the way of the small local shop. They are unable to move with the times, particularly the advent of the internet and the instant shopping experience it brings.

JA

A quick thought; Where shows can win is the interchange of ideas face to face. That is meeting knowledgable persons either formally, as in organised talks, or informally on stands. That means anyone on a stand must be prepared to chat and be outgoing, no just sit there with a thermos of tea looking bored.

Edited By JA on 18/09/2016 11:58:29

[NJHParticipant @njh]

Duncan

"Norman, who are you trying to kid? Best county in England is well known to be Yorkshire……."

​Well, of course, Yorkshire is known for its puddings so that would be attractive ……. but then Devon is known for its dumplings ( and other things!)

In truth I "escaped" from work early and "Retired to the Country!" My daughter lives "over the border" in Cornwall, my eldest son lives close by in Devon so we see both of them often. (…….. and the youngest son lives in Australia!) .

Norman

[Half centreParticipant @halfcentre]

Big enginnering, small engineering – all in one place – terrific!

Martin

[JasonBModerator @jasonb]

Round two of todays photos, few more locos, boats and bits and bobs in this album or slideshow.

More signs about today and the weekend parking arrangements that make use of the nearby office carparks seemed better than the park & ride and the sun even put in an appearance.

Thanks to all involved with the organisation and those that showed there models.

J

Edited By JasonB on 18/09/2016 18:01:12

[WatfordParticipant @watford]

Would it be possible to have a listing of the awards winners please?

Mike

[Michael GilliganParticipant @michaelgilligan61133]

Posted by JasonB on 18/09/2016 18:00:54:

Round two of todays photos, few more locos, boats and bits and bobs in this album or slideshow.

.

Thanks again, Jason

… Much appreciated.

MichaelG.

[JasonBModerator @jasonb]

As I said earlier list of awards etc usually comes out in ME about a month after the event. Diane has photos of all the award winners with their certificates, medals and metalwork. I doubt that they will all make it into the mag but maybe she could upload them to an ablum on the forum when she has recovered from her long journey home?

J

[brickyParticipant @bricky]

Thank you Jason. I couldn't face the journey and the M25 to see for myself ,you have made my day. The nearest MEX to me is the new Spalding show of three years.It is better every year,so to all who moan about the Brooklands venue give it a chance to improve yearly and thank goodness that there are people prepared to put on these exhibitions.

Frank

[Rik ShawParticipant @rikshaw]

Jason – Thanks for todays slideshow. I don't know how we missed the loco with the cow catcher and the layout behind it on Friday. Where should we have been looking?

Rik

M25 and M1 on way back home Saturday morning were utterly clogged – what fun

 

Edited By Rik Shaw on 18/09/2016 20:56:36

Edited By Diane Carney on 19/09/2016 15:02:47

[JasonBModerator @jasonb]

Vickers room, serveral railway layouts and the larger models that were too heavy to lug upstairs.

Having been on Thursday, Friday and Today I did not find the M25 too bad, over the six trips I had a couple of 40mph variable speed limits and a few more 50/60mph ones but never came to a stop. Best run was back home tonight, don't think anything passed me and just one 60mph limit which was very short. Slowest bit of road was the bit between A3 and just south of brooklands but that was during the week, OK today.

[HOWARDTParticipant @howardt]

Visited MEX today, Sunday, 120 miles 2hours 10 minutes there, 2 hours 27 back. Interesting look round, never been to Brooklands before. MEX exhibition pieces were interesting, I am sure if I had another life time to dedicate to model engineering I might get close to the quality on display. As it is I will limit myself to what I can achieve without taking all of my final years trying to achieve the impossible, and be happy.

[Harry WilkesParticipant @harrywilkes58467]

Jason

Thanks for posting the photos

H

[Neil WyattModerator @neilwyatt]

Posted by JasonB on 18/09/2016 20:57:13:

Vickers room, serveral railway layouts and the larger models that were too heavy to lug upstairs.

Having been on Thursday, Friday and Today I did not find the M25 too bad, over the six trips I had a couple of 40mph variable speed limits and a few more 50/60mph ones but never came to a stop. Best run was back home tonight, don't think anything passed me and just one 60mph limit which was very short. Slowest bit of road was the bit between A3 and just south of brooklands but that was during the week, OK today.

You were lucky Jason, after all the table stacking it was about 6:00 when I left, then by the time I had found a petrol station the M25 had filled up.

Funnily enough, door to door took three hours in the morning with no congestion on the M25. Going back with congestion and a fuel stop took three hours and twenty minutes. Just as with over 17 years commuting into Birmingham, the delays in congestion always feel longer than they really are.

[Neil WyattModerator @neilwyatt]

I hope my experience shows it's worth entering models made by mere mortals; believe me, getting a certificate is a buzz

Neil

Edited By Neil Wyatt on 19/09/2016 11:13:46

[SillyOldDufferModerator @sillyoldduffer]

Posted by Neil Wyatt on 19/09/2016 11:13:32:

I hope my experience shows it's worth entering models made by mere mortals; believe me, getting a certificate is a buzz

Neil

Edited By Neil Wyatt on 19/09/2016 11:13:46

Surely not a 'mere mortal' Neil – you have an Avatar!

Cheers,

Dave

[John Stevenson 1Participant @johnstevenson1]

Good heaven’s, don’t tell me the Sooper Adapt got “Best over the Hurdles” ?

[Neil WyattModerator @neilwyatt]

Posted by John Stevenson on 19/09/2016 11:39:43:
Good heaven's, don't tell me the Sooper Adapt got "Best over the Hurdles" ?

It won the 'most practical piece of workshop equipment award'.

I had to smile, two lathes in the SMEE display – a Mini Lathe and another Super Adept.

Neil

[John Stevenson 1Participant @johnstevenson1]

So does that make a Myford, impractical ?

[JasonBModerator @jasonb]

Posted by John Stevenson on 19/09/2016 12:48:56:
So does that make a Myford, impractical ?

Yes Very impractical to carry up a flight of stairs for an exhibition. For this sort of thing the Adept wins hands down.

[Roderick JenkinsParticipant @roderickjenkins93242]

But not as impractical as an under-drive Boxford

Just goes to show that there isn't such a thing as a "perfect lathe"

[Neil WyattModerator @neilwyatt]

'Super Adept' – the lathe you can throw at people

Neil

[Frances IoMParticipant @francesiom58905]

actually there were two lathes on SMEE’s Guildford stand the same nicely painted Adept + my ex jumble sale but working Perris – I can just about carry that + baseboard + motor + tools up a short flight of steps by myself!

Maybe I can add that Brookwood was I think an inspired choice of venue – obvious minor problems such as lack of signage should be easily fixed next year – I suggest that some serious consideration be given to a bus link between Weybridge station + the site – also that as the trade stands are one important draw that these not be looked on as a money making component but actively encouraged especially the smaller traders (eg my suggestion of a car-boot-sale on the Sunday) – I hope that next year’s show won’t have the same foul weather on opening day.

Edited By Frances IoM on 19/09/2016 14:17:26

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