The Midlands Show (MMEX) 2023

[Neil WyattModerator @neilwyatt]

Now the forum is back up, I’d like to put on record my thanks to everyone who helped make a success of MEW and ME’s involvement in the Midlands Model Engineering Exhibition. My colleagues at Mortons, the SMEE, the other exhibitors and attendees, Chris Vine for a couple of AAA batteries in an emergency(!), the helpful stewards and of course Meridienne the organisers – especially Avril who found the time to sort out all sorts of things with no notice.

We enjoyed meeting many, many readers at the Mortons stand and the SMEE stand, where I was demonstrating two 3D printers. The SMEE stand came third in the Club and Society Display category, so I reckon that makes me a prizewinner 🙂

I’d particularly like to thank Roger Froud, Stewart Hart, Duncan Webster, Roger Backhouse, Chris Gabel and Bob Reeve for their excellent talks. Attendance at the talks was much more than our expectations.

I will admit we had some problems with sound that were only partly resolved by the end of the exhibition – it was noisy and the room had a lot of echo, limiting how loud we could have the PA. Stewart in particular was affected on Friday morning, which was the busiest time and the background noise was loudest. Next year there will be a larger room with better soundproofing, and I will get hold of a clip microphone.

Naturally I’ll be writing up the exhibition in MEW, but i’d be interested to hear your feedback and see your photos.

Neil

[noel shelleyParticipant @noelshelley55608]

A good show ! I caught up with many friends. Yes the lecture theatre was very noisy and the PA poor but I’m sure that can be resolved, Speak to me nearer the time I may be able to help.

[Grindstone CowboyParticipant @grindstonecowboy]

Went on the first day. I wasn’t too impressed at first – had to go alone, delays on the M6, too many elderly people pushing in front of me at stalls, etc – but attended Neil’s talk which was interesting, met a nice chap from Leeds to talk to, and when Neil had finished, I found it to be a lot quieter and so enjoyed the last hour and a half a lot more.

Rob

[A G BRENNANParticipant @agbrennan]

I would like to thank Stewart Hart for his talk on stationary engines i hope Stewart will return next year when improvements are made to the lecture room

[Nicholas FarrParticipant @nicholasfarr14254]

Hi, 3D printing isn’t something I intend to start doing, but it was interesting to listen to Neil’s lecture on the subject, and watch his demonstrations, while he was explaining some of the aspects and techniques he was using.

Regards Nick.

[Benedict WhiteParticipant @benedictwhite51126]

I enjoyed the show. Got to look at some good models have some interesting chats and get hands on with some potential purchases which became actual purchases.

Didn’t see Arceurotrade there or Chronos. RDG had a huge stand and Stuart had lots of goodies too.

[Chris CrewParticipant @chriscrew66644]

I enjoyed the show and some of the work on display was simply breath-taking. As regards the lectures, yes the sound was not very good with a lot of background noise from the exhibition hall but the preparation was more than a little slap-dash too. I attended the lecture on injector design and instead of the projection and sound equipment being all prepared and tested in good time for the start, those concerned still seemed to be cobbling it all together at the last minute. For example, the contrast on projected diagrams was constantly being adjusted during the lecture and it wasn’t until about half way through did they manage to get it right and the full details of the diagrams became discernible. I’m afraid all this was somewhat less than professional. They may have their got act together for the later lectures, I cannot say because I didn’t attend any others.

[Mike HurleyParticipant @mikehurley60381]

Generally enjoyed the show, but can only agree with the comments on the awful lecture room noise / poor PA which totally ruined the talk I sat in (Friday). Though I’m cheered to hear that this situation should be improved next year.

[Nigel BennettParticipant @nigelbennett69913]

I enjoyed the show, too, but I was concerned about the large areas of it occupied by tables and chairs; in previous years these areas had been full of models!

Benedict – Arc Euro haven’t been to an exhibition for quite some time; Ketan explained some years ago that the costs involved and the hassle with sorting out stock levels afterwards was too much to cope with.

The LNER P2 and Mike Sayers’ Delage engine were sight to behold.

Took us two hours to get down to the show on Friday and nearly four hours to get back – the weather and traffic was appalling!

[Nicholas FarrParticipant @nicholasfarr14254]

Hi, Chronos hasn’t attended any of the exhibitions for a few years now either.

Regards Nick.

[Benedict WhiteParticipant @benedictwhite51126]

Cheers Nigel and Nicholas.

[Chris Crew]

On Chris Crew Said:

I enjoyed the show and some of the work on display was simply breath-taking. As regards the lectures, yes the sound was not very good with a lot of background noise from the exhibition hall but the preparation was more than a little slap-dash too. I attended the lecture on injector design and instead of the projection and sound equipment being all prepared and tested in good time for the start, those concerned still seemed to be cobbling it all together at the last minute. For example, the contrast on projected diagrams was constantly being adjusted during the lecture and it wasn’t until about half way through did they manage to get it right and the full details of the diagrams became discernible. I’m afraid all this was somewhat less than professional. They may have their got act together for the later lectures, I cannot say because I didn’t attend any others.

In my defence, I had expected AV equipment would be provided, but instead had to cobble it all together from my own equipment which is focused on a live band not a lecture theatre! I also had to find a second hand projector at short notice and this was my first time using it other than in my home office which is a very different environment.

The problem with contrast was that before we started the talk, I set it up without Roger, and looking across the talk I didn’t realise there was missing detail in those diagrams after I set the projector on slides featuring photographs that looked best with plenty of contrast to compensate for the strong lighting. Roger’s diagrams used a fairly limited colour palette, and it took a long time to figure out that, counter-intuitively, they looked clearer with less contrast.

Similarly, before the show started we had no idea just how loud the background noise was going to be – I had brought a setup suitable for gentle sound reinforcement in a large but quiet room. But in all honesty, almost any sound system would struggle to be loud enough due to the reverb causing feedback (other than a fighter pilot’s throat microphone!)

[Neil Wyatt]

On Neil Wyatt Said:

But in all honesty, almost any sound system would struggle to be loud enough due to the reverb causing feedback (other than a fighter pilot’s throat microphone!)

Or a frequency shifter.

I went first thing on the Thursday, but since I was in constant pain from a bone infection* in my ankle (broken on 3rd July), I didn’t enjoy it as much as I wanted. After realising that I was spending more time sitting outside than hobbling around the show using MIL’s stick, I left just after lunchtime. Did pick up some goodies from Jennie’s stall and a few small slitting saws from RDG for the son to use.

Currently immured in hospital with a once a day IV infusion of Teicoplanin, waiting for availability of a nurse to be available to do it at home. They won’t let my wife and I do it. and won’t let me come to hospital for an hour a day for the infusion…

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