In addition to the above you need to ensure your layout can withstand repeated taking down and setting up.

While it can be time consuming, by taking the layout down, boxing it up for transport and then setting it up again, it will reveal loose track/buildings etc, poor electrical joints and vague baseboard joints. This can save a lot of trouble at your first show.

Prepare some "Exhibition Managers Notes". Mine gives basic details of contact details, layout description, power requirements, number of operators required and a diagram showing the dimensions of the layout, which side it is to be viewed from and a footprint (Layout plus working area).

OK after more than an hour swearing at the computer I still cant work out why some of the pictures are upside down in my album, but I'll try to post a few pics. nd at the moment I'm finding it impossible to put anything from my album into this post, we have 2 machines running one showing the tutorial, the other wrting this, still nothing is working, hey ho, keep trying.

These first pictures show parts of the layout just after I collected it, it was then called "Ramsey Junction" and had be last shown as a modernish Scotrail themed layout with the landscape being "Scottish", however I believe that it had already had at least one change of identity as the buildings etc. seemed very American in style, I guess it was originally intended as a US maybe rocky mountains style layout with a lake, station & timberyard. There were a few holes in the landscape, and quite a few bits of cosmetics to touch up. I also wanted to get rid of any US connotations and have a more UK based theme.

   Before (one end of the Ramsey Junction Layout)


and After - the same area, buildings still need weathering etc.

 
I like your changes it now definitely looks more British than before

Wahay! managed to get some photos posted. so here a few more, this is what the layout looks like today, we spent some time yesterday cutting new bits of board to put the backscene on, hence the plain brown MDF coloured "sky". and there is still the small problem of getting the wiring sorted so that it actually works. We also have quite a few figures to paint, and small Langley kits to make up, so plenty more to do. & we don't have a name for the new version of the Layout yet.









thanks for your interest John & Diane

Looking good. Hope you manage to get the wiring sorted.
Thanks for persevering and posting the pictures.

Looks nice.
The factory could do with a little careful weathering as it looks too new. With that type of scenery and Great Western stock this must be somewhere in mid Wales.

yes, Diane is in the process of "weathering" the buildings using water colour paints, she has done the station building, lineside huts etc, the factory area is next on the list.

As a show organiser, I absolutely agree with the several recommendations to approach a local model railway club, but will add don't do it during their exhibition - they will likely be rather busy and papers can easily get lost in the chaos. Better to visit the clubrooms at a later date.

Even better would be to join a Club which would (a) give the opportunity to see how an exhibition works from the organisers side (there's far more to it than turning up and playing with trains) and (b) give a opportunity to attend an exhibition as an operator either with a club layout or another members layout to gain experience before exhibiting your own layout.


I'll also confirm that most Exhibition Managers will be very wary of inviting a layout unseen except from a known modeller with a known track-record. Invite the Exhibition manager to visit and see the layout in the flesh - this will allow him to see for himself how it runs and how it is presented.

Finally be prepared with all the other information he will need to know:

• How is it transported? - does it fit in your car or need to hire a van?
• How many operators do you need? you will NOT survive a weekend on your own (or if you do you won't want to do it agian!) but don't abuse it as a means to get all your mates in to the show for free.
• How much space do you need in total (it will probably be more than the exact size of the layout)
• What is your total power consumption in Watts (this really matters in some venue that are reliant on temporary supplies) "1 13 amp Plug" is NOT an acceptable answer!!
• Have a brief write-up ready (100-200 words)
• What is the value for insurance purposes.  be realistic

Once you are at the first show, if the layout looks presentable and runs well, other invitations should follow...

Thanks PLD,

Do you organise the show at the Costello stadium? If so I went along this year. It really was very helpful for a newbie like me, the soldering workshop especially. I'm Scunthorpe based but work in Hull, we recently joined Scunthorpe Model Railway club, so I have access to some support & advice about getting the layout back to its original standard.

I didn't realise that exhibitors got expenses etc. I was thinking people would just turn up with a camper van / trailer or maybe stop in a B&B, and sort themselves out. They would simply be having fun sharing their hobby and showing what would otherwise be hidden away in a bedroom, garage or club room. That's kind of how it works with motorcycle shows, when I had the bike on the Suzuki Owners Club stand at Stafford Classic Show I got free entry to the event and took my own tent with me, friends who didn't want to camp paid for their own B&B etc, you don't even get a free sandwich, but people still travel hundreds of miles to exhibit and take pride in showing off their two wheeled pride & joy just because they enjoy doing it. Clearly showing a motorcycle is very different to showing a railway layout. I have a lot to learn.

Johnchell

While realising that things will be somewhat different in the UK, might I suggest that, PLD's comment that 'you will NOT survive a weekend on your own'  notwithstanding, after doing exactly that for the past eight years, I have to say that  it actually CAN be done, but requires a bit of prior-effort on your part.

The key to doing-so is to work on the premise that, in fact, you will actually be totally on your own, will see very little of the Exhibition Manager (EM) and so provide-for yourself accordingly. This is in no way intended to denigrate EM's but simply practical realities; they can be very, very busy, and as a result (and their very-best intentions), can actually 'forget' that you exist - sometimes for an entire day (been there, got the T-shirt; twice!). As a result I have found that it is absolutely essential to at least have a thermos of coffee or tea (or even a simple bottle of water) on hand, since your biggest enemy is dehydration. while mint sweets also help to keep you alert.  Food can be problematical (although most events do provide at least a lunch of some sort for the operators) , but, again, go self-prepared 'just in case' with some sort of packed lunch  and / or biscuits. And, most importantly, go to the toilet BEFORE  the exhibition starts!!  This is never mentioned in any discussions on this subject, but if you have a sudden 'need to go', I can assure you finding a temporary replacement for you as operator (should the need arise), can sometimes be a little fraught...

Also, take examples of any medication you may need, just in case the unthinkable happens and you need the medicine in a hurry.

The 'exhibition experience' can be very rewarding but for a first-time display, I would advise that, before attending the venue itself, you check, check and check your layout again, and make very, very sure that everything actually works  - and then assume that in fact it DOESN'T!!  I would also suggest that you arrive at the venue early and that you take two examples of of such (important)  things as transformers (controllers), extension cords, double plugs, and locomotives (the 'important bits'), together with a small phial of denatured alcohol or methylated spirits and a cotton cloth to apply it with.  A 'Bright Boy' (track cleaning rubber) is also essential as it is surprising how dirty track can suddenly appear on places where it previously didn't exist.

All of which sounds terribly complicated, but actually is not; it's just intended to make sure that you cover all reasonable possibilities.  With time and experience, you will whittle-down what you really need to take, but for the first two or three it is (IMHO) better to err on the side of caution.

Trusting that this is of use, please let us know how you get on.

Thanks.
   

Quote from: JohnChell on December 15, 2015, 09:19:07 PM
Thanks PLD,

Do you organise the show at the Costello stadium? If so I went along this year. It really was very helpful for a newbie like me, the soldering workshop especially. I'm Scunthorpe based but work in Hull, we recently joined Scunthorpe Model Railway club, so I have access to some support & advice about getting the layout back to its original standard.

Hi John,

The Hull Model Railway Show at the Costello Stadium is a Hull MRS show - very much a team effort, I'm primarily treasurer for that one, but with input to other areas including 'layout spotting'.

The Workshop at the shows grew out of the regular workshop sessions in the clubrooms, and does seem to go down very well.

Good move joining Scunny MRC - from my limited dealings with them, a decent friendly bunch 

Paul