markdavy wrote:
In general, I think there are three main reasons to attend a model railway exhibition :-
1. Layouts – for entertainment and inspiration
2. Traders – to meet the owners, view the products and buy them !
3. Social interaction – to meet and make friends
Mark
Mark - you seem to have overlooked
4. Demonstrations.
These are a significant attraction for me (and many others?): in fact the presence of the radio control demo this time round was the decider for me.
As for layouts, I too once thought that the more the merrier, especially if they were big. Now I realise that size doesn't have much to do with inspiration, it's the ones that are beautifully executed or break new ground that really stick in the mind: Sudely Iron Works; 50 Shades of Grey (yes, really! Coarse scale TT in a 50cm cube but wonderfully evocative of a cold night at the docks); Portchullin; Obbekaer ....
As for incomplete layouts - it's much easier to see how things are done and to pick up practical tips when they are in this condition. And the owners are much more amenable to discussing the whys and wherefores than when they are focussed on providing a faultless performance of their finished masterpiece.
I thought the balance was spot-on.
Bob