Robert MacKinnon Posted October 27, 2014 Share Posted October 27, 2014 Hi RMweb members, Do you feel like your layout research/design and modelling skills are under 'scrutiny' at an exhibition. I know this is a rather obvious question! Thanks Rob M. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold roundhouse Posted October 27, 2014 RMweb Gold Share Posted October 27, 2014 We used to put up a monitor showing photos and video of the real location on one layout. We often got asked 'is this a real place?' No longer take a monitor as a folder full of photos tends to get noticed more!! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Glorious NSE Posted October 27, 2014 Share Posted October 27, 2014 Do you feel like your layout research/design and modelling skills are under 'scrutiny' at an exhibition. I think the short answer is yes. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium ColinK Posted October 27, 2014 RMweb Premium Share Posted October 27, 2014 To some extent yes, but you are also giving other modellers ideas as well as entertaining the general public. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
PLD Posted October 27, 2014 Share Posted October 27, 2014 Depends on the audience... At the national Specialist Expo - yes - definitely. At the local village hall show - no - its the entertainment value that matters. In both cases the finest modelling can be let down by poor operation or reliability... Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium jamie92208 Posted October 27, 2014 RMweb Premium Share Posted October 27, 2014 Yes we are always under scrutiny. We also need to be aware that the public are paying to come and support our hobby and indirectly to subsidise it. I agree with PLD's comments above but can also say that I've had modelling standards ctiticised and the authenticity of modelsd and operating procedures questioned, usually politely sometime not so. The hobby is also very attractive to many people who are on the Aspergers/autism spectrum and you need to be very aware of this with some of the questioners. (As an aside when one of these gentlemen questioned my wife's abilty to make a sanwich at a small show I feared for his continued survival). However in contrast to PLD's experience I once got some serious questioning at a village hall show though in unique circumstances. we had taken our model to the village that it was based on and some 700 locals came through teh hall over the weekend to see the model of their station that had been demolished in the 70's. There were many questions and comments, all very warm hearted but the one that was the highlight of the weekend was the lady who had grown up in the stationmasters house and commented that we'd got the washing line in the wrong place. I wouldn't have missed that for anything. the model is now on permanent display in the hall. Jamie Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
black and decker boy Posted October 27, 2014 Share Posted October 27, 2014 There can be occasional punters who want to critique your invented creation but many do not and seem to be able to assess what they see (rather what they want to see). I always carry a folder of photos for the awkward squad who will still usually walk away telling me that I am still wrong and the picture of a loco \ working \ building \ feature is fake. I never feel under constant scrutiny or the need to have to defend my creation though. My only inner fear is not putting on a good show and letting down those paying to see the layout. 99% of punters appreciate the effort though as with most things, the satisfied rarely tell you direct. What can be noticeable is when you see the same face reappear to watch the layout, clearly interested in what you have produced, always a good feeling for me. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
trisonic Posted October 27, 2014 Share Posted October 27, 2014 I am literally in awe of people that exhibit layouts - particularly someone like Ian who has multiple layouts on the go (Banbury, Santa Barbara and more). Modelling Heroes in my book and deserve some kind of medal from the rest of us. To be honest I’d hate to do it... Best, Pete. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold roundhouse Posted October 27, 2014 RMweb Gold Share Posted October 27, 2014 Yes we are always under scrutiny. We also need to be aware that the public are paying to come and support our hobby and indirectly to subsidise it. I agree with PLD's comments above but can also say that I've had modelling standards ctiticised and the authenticity of modelsd and operating procedures questioned, usually politely sometime not so. The hobby is also very attractive to many people who are on the Aspergers/autism spectrum and you need to be very aware of this with some of the questioners. (As an aside when one of these gentlemen questioned my wife's abilty to make a sanwich at a small show I feared for his continued survival). However in contrast to PLD's experience I once got some serious questioning at a village hall show though in unique circumstances. we had taken our model to the village that it was based on and some 700 locals came through teh hall over the weekend to see the model of their station that had been demolished in the 70's. There were many questions and comments, all very warm hearted but the one that was the highlight of the weekend was the lady who had grown up in the stationmasters house and commented that we'd got the washing line in the wrong place. I wouldn't have missed that for anything. the model is now on permanent display in the hall. Jamie Having taken Banbury to Banbury show and others in the area we have had quite a few people say that they used to live or knew some one who lived in buidings long gone or just off scene. All adds to the enjoyment. We have also had some point out that the 'Banbury' sign on the main building isnt like the one in their photo. This is one issue with modelling a real location - the name board was changed just after I photographed it and used that to do the nme board!!! There has been many a time that such coimments have helped us get things better on a layout though. Ian Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold roundhouse Posted October 27, 2014 RMweb Gold Share Posted October 27, 2014 I am literally in awe of people that exhibit layouts - particularly someone like Ian who has multiple layouts on the go (Banbury, Santa Barbara and more). Modelling Heroes in my book and deserve some kind of medal from the rest of us. To be honest I’d hate to do it... Best, Pete. Thansk Pete No medal required as I enjoy doing it most of the time. Helps take the ind off other issues not just work!! (its my other half who needs a medal for putting up with me). The majority of comments / critisism is still constructive so the odd one that isnt doesnt really sink in. Ian Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium Barry O Posted October 28, 2014 RMweb Premium Share Posted October 28, 2014 Yes. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium TheQ Posted October 28, 2014 RMweb Premium Share Posted October 28, 2014 I certainly scrutinise every layout, however this is mostly for pinching ideas and appreciating the modellers skill. I normally only comment if I would like further information or if I see something that would cause running problems. e.g. on a tram layout recently they had had to make rapid repairs due to transport damage and hadn't noticed some of the road surface had gone over the rails causing the trams stutter (it was obscured from the operators side). Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Killybegs Posted October 28, 2014 Share Posted October 28, 2014 We had a bizarre situation at one show where two visitors were 'remembering' Brinkley. It seemed a shame to embarrass them by telling them it was a fictional location! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baby Deltic Posted October 28, 2014 Share Posted October 28, 2014 I was watching a video clip featuring my layout (Sumatra Road) at Shenfield last month and someone was commenting on the lack of road markings and how coarse the tarmac was. Many streets in London didn't have road markings in the 1960s. The tarmac is 'cinders' which is pretty standard for road surfaces on a lot of 4mm layouts. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium jamie92208 Posted October 28, 2014 RMweb Premium Share Posted October 28, 2014 I used to help on a Lancashire and Yorkshire railway based layout set in a fictional Pennine Mill Town. The title ws a pun on the L & Y and it was called 'Ellanwhy'. At one show there was a discussion by two punters about which valley in Wales it was set in. I hadn't the heart to dissabuse them. Jamie Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andy Reichert Posted October 28, 2014 Share Posted October 28, 2014 You don't need to go to the trouble of exhibiting. Just putting up photos of your modelling on the web (here on RM WEB for just one example) causes considerable scrutiny. But then what do you expect??? What concerns me more is the problem with putting up the best possible pictures on a web site to illustrate carefully and exhaustively designed model railway etched products to help buyers, then have some disreputable people scan them surreptitiously to make their own, clearly copyright infringing, versions. In some cases even for commercial resale. Andy Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
LNER4479 Posted October 31, 2014 Share Posted October 31, 2014 If you can be open-minded to seek opinions and can accept when it is pointed out that you have got things 'wrong', then 'scrutiny' of your work can only help make it better / more accurate. Exhibiting is one way (but not the only way) of achieving this. If I had elected to undertake all the research for my project before starting to build it I wouldn't have started building it yet(!) as I am still finding out new information eight years into the project. By having something to show people then that can stimulate the feedback comments in the first place. Some things can be 'too late' to work into the model but most things can easily be incorporated. It is important to me that the thing is reasonably 'correct', both in looks and operation, as there is an educational element when displaying it in public. Overwhelmingly, I find exhibiting an enjoyable (if tiring!) experience. It is of course nice to get complimentary remarks but the engagement of people who knew the place in its heyday and are able to share their memories and knowledge can be particularly gratifying. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
luckymucklebackit Posted October 31, 2014 Share Posted October 31, 2014 You don't need to go to the trouble of exhibiting. Just putting up photos of your modelling on the web (here on RM WEB for just one example) causes considerable scrutiny. But then what do you expect??? What concerns me more is the problem with putting up the best possible pictures on a web site to illustrate carefully and exhaustively designed model railway etched products to help buyers, then have some disreputable people scan them surreptitiously to make their own, clearly copyright infringing, versions. In some cases even for commercial resale. Andy What is worse, having your photographs scrutinised and having some constructive criticism levelled at them, or having them ignored? I go for constructive criticism anyday. Jim Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Boris Posted October 31, 2014 Share Posted October 31, 2014 So, let me get this straight, people think that you have photoshopped a picture of a real place to justify your model?!?!?! I shouldn't be surprised, a few years ago I was at Goathland station and asked where the warehouse and bay platforms were, along with where the junction used to be. After a WTF moment I managed to pry out of them that they had been up to the village hall exhibition organised by Mr Wurzell and seen Aidensfield Junction, and being slightly dim thought it was a model of what Goathland station used to look like. There then followed a monologue from said nugget along the lines of why would the NYMR allow someone to build a model with the sole purpose of deceiving someone and why would anyone model a fictional place.... Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Glorious NSE Posted October 31, 2014 Share Posted October 31, 2014 ... why would the NYMR allow someone to build a model with the sole purpose of deceiving someone... Many years back I had a lady ask me once what that cute little freight train carried, and when I replied that it was for nuclear waste she shot me an absolutely black look, grabbed (literally) hold of her kids and stormed off before I could say another word... I've never quite resolved whether the quick departure was because she thought I meant it carried *real* nuclear waste, or she thought I was winding her up, or she disagreed strongly in principle with modelling the transportation of nuclear waste in 4mm scale... Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
chaz Posted October 31, 2014 Share Posted October 31, 2014 Scrutiny, yes certainly. But I would be very disappointed if it were not so. The worst moments at shows for me are to look up having done a move or two and realise that there is nobody watching. I like the attention the models get and am happy to talk to visitors about them. The inevitable questions about materials, methods, whose kit etc are always welcome. More informed questions -"How early did the class 20s run on the ER in London?" - are often the start of an absorbing conversation, although I may be forced to hand over the controller to one of the team so that I can talk. One of my operating team told me that at one show, when he was exhibiting his superb layout he watched a bloke walking with his wife and children in tow. He gestured towards the model and said "And that's O gauge" as they passed without a pause. My own feeling about exhibition layouts is that they all should have an appeal, have a certain charm or impress on some level, stir memories or create atmosphere, be absorbing to watch or paint a picture. If they don't have anything appealing (and I have seen one or two which don't) then I move on, inwardly wondering why the exhibitor bothered. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
chaz Posted October 31, 2014 Share Posted October 31, 2014 Many years back I had a lady ask me once what that cute little freight train carried, and when I replied that it was for nuclear waste she shot me an absolutely black look, grabbed (literally) hold of her kids and stormed off before I could say another word... I've never quite resolved whether the quick departure was because she thought I meant it carried *real* nuclear waste, or she thought I was winding her up, or she disagreed strongly in principle with modelling the transportation of nuclear waste in 4mm scale... It takes all sorts..... As an exhibitor you have to develop a thicker skin and be ready for the odd (very odd in that case) reaction. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Boris Posted October 31, 2014 Share Posted October 31, 2014 Many years back I had a lady ask me once what that cute little freight train carried, and when I replied that it was for nuclear waste she shot me an absolutely black look, grabbed (literally) hold of her kids and stormed off before I could say another word... I've never quite resolved whether the quick departure was because she thought I meant it carried *real* nuclear waste, or she thought I was winding her up, or she disagreed strongly in principle with modelling the transportation of nuclear waste in 4mm scale... There are some truly silly people in the world who are extremely easy to offend, please see exhibit A: http://www.whitbygazette.co.uk/news/local/campaign-group-is-cooking-up-a-storm-1-6925894 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium Reorte Posted October 31, 2014 RMweb Premium Share Posted October 31, 2014 There are some truly silly people in the world who are extremely easy to offend, please see exhibit A: http://www.whitbygazette.co.uk/news/local/campaign-group-is-cooking-up-a-storm-1-6925894 Sometimes people don't get offended enough either, there's plenty in the world I hate and get really bothered about which lots of people just seem to accept (don't ask me what, the site probably doesn't have the bandwidth for the complete list...) When it comes to modelling though it's weird, I can very happily watch and appreciate a model of something that I've no interest in or even rather dislike in the real world. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Glorious NSE Posted October 31, 2014 Share Posted October 31, 2014 There are some truly silly people in the world who are extremely easy to offend, please see exhibit A: http://www.whitbygazette.co.uk/news/local/campaign-group-is-cooking-up-a-storm-1-6925894 I think the locals should run with it - In July it could be Bacon Fryup, in August they could go BBQ... Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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