Thanks MouldBuilder,
The wait was due to my lack of preparedness, I didn't even have video editing software a few weeks ago.
Yes all being well I will attend next years show. 😊

Cheers,
Stephen.

Thanks flaxbyuck,

I am glad you liked the video, it was a good show.

Cheers,
Stephen.

Hi JB,
Thanks, yeah it was a good show.
That is quite an amazing setup that you have mentioned pity it is no longer, would have been great to see up close.
I don't belong to a club we are an informal group, there are however still several clubs probably the biggest I would guess is TF72 which is Australia wide and more focused on naval subjects all at a scale of 1/72nd which makes battleships and the like over 12 feet long.
Lovely boats in the last series of pics at the Kauri museum.

Cheers,
Stephen.

Hi Trev,
Thanks for your glowing report. 😁
I think the show has potential and will hopefully grow at least back to pre-covid levels.
The P51 Mustang running was incredible, all home made including the engine, but bloody noisy when running and it ran quite often.
The train setups were amazing, I didn't even film all of them, got to a point in filming where I thought that's enough, I should have taken a couple of overall shots of the hall, maybe next time.

Cheers,
Stephen.

Hi Colin,

Wow that is a herculean effort it's people like you that are the backbone of shows and engaging with others. 👍👍

Cheers,
Stephen.

Superb video Steve. Well worth the wait. What a great show with everything under one roof. Looking forward to next years if you can go.😃

Great video Steve. Loved all the show entries, so many different thingsand some superb model boats !😉

Great video Steve, some fantastic models ! We used to have shows like that 40 yrs ago, haven't seen one for over 30 yrs. The model boat club I was in used to do similar displays at the annual Auckland boat show, and the plane club I was in did a few at boat/ home shows as well. There used to be a fantastic model park (Model World -Monterey Park) in Auckland built by a group of model enthusiast entrepreneurs, that had a huge artificial pond, which went from open air to the wharves under cover. There was a model boat 'workshop' with a guy showing how to build models, (Dick Hopper built some of the largest model boats in NZ)- 12ft carriers etc

There was a big miniature scale village beside it on the 'shore' as well. It had train rides for the kids, and a huge train layout in another part, done by NZs biggest train fanatic (Merv Smith). There was also a car museum/cafe next door as well. That's all gone now as it didn't get enough support. Virtually nothing in NZ now, just a few plane clubs, but mostly UAV flying.

I think there may still be some boat racing clubs in the south Island still surviving, but not sure. Now, any meetings for small clubs like cars/ off roaders etc (even full size) are done on Facebook and not advertised. The huge Japanese car meet in our local park and ride was done like that. I never saw any adds for it, just saw lots of cars on the motorway and found them by chance.

There don't seem to be many actual clubs any more, just meet-ups by facebook. With all the insurance costs - health and safety rules etc, it's too much for most people to bother with now.

Managed to find some pics of the park and car cafe (red roof) from a tourist from way back (around 2004), and a few of the village. Shows the indoor pond which ran through to the main pond outside. The complex was quite large, with the train line going round the outside (seen in Google Earth pics, 2004- plus what it looks like now. All now a retirement village, real shame, as it was a magical place for kids and adults. Graham would like the rowboat😁

http://whitetrout.net/nz/Jan01/index.htm (scroll down to Monterey park)

JB

Hi Stephen
What a fantastic Video!!
Very well put together!!
I was glued to the screen throughout!!
The show covered many aspects of modeling.
I did love the Airplane startup!
And of course, I have a weakness for Trains.
I am always amazed how the Modelers that set up portable train set are able to keep them on track. I have enough trouble keeping my trains on track on my stationary layout🙄🙄.
Many Thanks for Sharing!
Trev

Hi Hermmank,

Thanks for your earlier comments, yes smoking is quite taboo these days.
I am glad you enjoyed the video, it is similar over here I expect as far a getting people to show there models, I am in a group of around 30 members and there was only 2 of us that attended as exhibitors, both of us on separate days. It is quite a commitment to show the only benefit is you get into the show for free.
All being well I will be there in 2024.

Cheers,
Stephen.

Hi Herman,

Let us hope that all members of this great forum last much more than a couple of years!!

We will then find out. My guess is that more "Old Guys" than ever will take up the challenging pastime to replace any that leave.

We optimists may even see a few youngsters - but nobody should bet on it.

Like it or not, the World has changed almost beyond recognition since many of us were keen schoolboys playing with boats. That was before work, responsibilities and families came along.

With much more time, better equipment, patience, skill and even money; we all now have the opportunity. We really must not waste it!!

Happy building and boating.

Dr. John Fowler. Leeds and Bradford. BBC. 🤞🤞🤞

I wonder what is going to happen in a couple of years when our génération has gone and youngsters réalised that tik tok and So called social média is à lot of rubbish.
I m curious for thé german exhibition in Dortmund in a couple of weeks.
Looking forward to it and keep you Guys postrd

Well said all model enthusiasts,and to Colin who always has boundless enthusiasm for our hobby.
I agree re clubs and meetings which seem to be receding more and more.
Luckily I have sons and grandsons who follow our hobby and will hopefully carry it on when we are long gone.
Glad your on the mend Colin.
Regards Bill👍

Here in the UK, most shows are well supported, but over the last 5 years a lot of the large vintage and steam shows are dropping the model display marquees,as they don't generate any income.
I have been exhibiting for 43 years at my own expense travelling hundreds of miles on the poor British roads transporting my models and often struggling on muddy show fields to recieve little or no recognition for the effort, occasionally a small brass or slate memento.
I enjoy meeting with the public and talking about our hobby as I think we would all like to see more interest from the younger generations.
Cheers Colin an enthusiastic modeller.

I got tears in my eyes when i saw your video. 3 Years ago i was on a business trip IN Australia.
namely Brisbane and Melbourne. Although it was business i have never met such friendly people. I enjoyed every minute, weather, food the only problem was the price of my cigars!!!
Australian politicians don't like people smoking. Even outside the hotel you have to be miles away from the entrance.
I enjoyed every single minute of your video. How can you get so much people for an event?!?!
When we organise an event in Belgium we have to beg people, go on our knees to have some models at the exhibition. I do have the feeling that there is much more intrest in Australia and the U.K. for these events. Apologise when i m wrong 😊
Im looking forward to the 2024 video.
well done congratulations

Hi All,
As promised earlier I have done a video of the show here is the link,



It's not the best polished video but it will do I think.

Cheers,
Stephen.

Many thanks Dave,

As you say, the Pandemic certainly accelerated an on going trend against all too many long established hobby shows.

I particularly enjoyed going to the Model Boat Convention at Haydock Park, the Elsemere Port Model Show and the Northern Model Boat Show at Doncaster.

Now all gone, and we in the North are just left with the Blackpool Show. This is now thriving after being brought back almost from the death by Ian Lewis of Component Shop.

As you say we must do all we can to ensure the success of the few shows still operating. Hopefully this will encourage new ones to start up.

In the meantime all Model Boat Clubs should do all they can to encourage visits at every opportunity by paid-up members of other clubs. Only in this way will our wonderful hobby recover and thrive.

With best wishes. Dr John F. Leeds and Bradford. MBC. 😐😐😐

Johnf
I am glad you publicised the show.
With the rapid return to freedom from all the lockdown impositions we have a dearth of shows to attend.
Hopefully this will return to more shows being held and whilst I accept some may be disappointed that previous expectations were not realised I would also hope that more will start to attend and restore the status quo.
I'm a firm believer in supporting my hobby be it exhibitions, shows, suppliers or on line stores.
Organisers expend a great deal of time and effort in putting on shows for our benefit and I would hope the majority of modellers would not wish to discourage their efforts.
There is an old adage that if you can't say anything positive or constructive it's sometimes best to say nothing at all.
dave976

Really Buck,

I now feel a little guilty for publicising the show on this great forum.

As you know, I displayed at Harrogate with different clubs for many years. That so, the very poor promotion of this now returned show pretty well ensured its failure.

The rapid disappearance of hobby shows continues!!

Dr John F. Leeds and Bradford. MBC☹️☹️☹️

It is a few years since this show was held in Harrogate so I was keen to attend. Early attenders on the Friday probably had to contend with snow but by 10.45 all was clear, even in the car park.
For a model boat enthusiast the show was a disappointment. Yes, there were a few model boat clubs there and a couple of individuals exhibiting their models, but otherwise the model engineering input was nearly all railway clubs and societies. In fact, I don't recall any other 'model engineering' exhibits that were not railway connected.
So, for railway enthusiasts perhaps a good show, but next year I think I will spend my money on something more helpful to my hobby.
🤔

For Northern UK readers, there is the Northern Model Rail and Engineering Show at The Harrogate Showground Exhibition Centre next Friday and Saturday (10 and 11TH of February).

The extremely well-organised Kirklees and York model boat clubs are listed as exhibiting. Much to see and admire - and no doubt there will be countless tool stands of interest to us boat modellers.

See Harrogate Events web page for full details!

Dr John F. Leeds and Bradford. MBC. 😊😊😊😊😊😊

One small step for JB from NZ, one giant leap for PV from Hungary.😬

Yeah that would be great but it's a bit far JB,

I hope it is a good show, there is going to be a portable pond setup for operating small boats.

I'll probably put up some pics after the show.

Cheers,
Stephen.

Hi Steve, wish I could jump the ditch and be there, looks like it might be a great show.

JB