well filled baps The Sheep Chronicles. The adventures of a Sheep, the Works Forecat and the Works Apprentice, George.

[NHY 581]

Morning all, 

 

Day two of the Penarth show beckons. Yesterday was good. Ewe behaved and the J70s toddled about very nicely. Hopefully same again today once I've cleaned the track. 

 

Only downside was I encounterd a thankfully rare beast,

 

A Gauge Snob. 

 

He arrived in the company of two mates and felt compelled to point out that I was using narrow gauge track.......I was too polite. It transpired he modelled in EM gauge and seemed to think everyone should do the same. I have no time for these idiots or in fact anyone who foist their beliefs or standards onto anyone. I pointed out to him that this narrow gauge layout was deemed good enough to appear at Scalefour South West and at Uckfield ( Scalefour South East ) last year and was seemingly well received at both...and funnily enough no one felt obliged to try and convince me to adopt a scale gauge at either nor to any of my friends who do model to such standards. They accept and respect my standards in the same way I do theirs. 

 

I have no time for idiots such as this. It has made me question why any of us take our layouts to shows when there is a chance of encountering such individuals ? They are of course in the minority but is it better not to bother ? Do I take this incident into account when I decide what exhibitions and how many to attend next year ? 

 

I've got to know many modellers who model in EM and P4 who are welcoming, eager to discuss 4mm modelling in general but respecting of the views and standards of others. When I see a 4mm layout, the last thing on my mind is the gauge of the track. I look at the overall scene and take it for what it is.....Am I doing something wrong ? 

 

I thoroughly enjoyed my day at Bracknell Expo EM. I took it for what it is, a showcase of fine 4mm modelling and as recounted earlier, up thread. I came away with a desire to make changes but not necessarily to change gauge. I will be going again next year, as I will to Railwells this year. I have no urge to join the Scalefour Society and perhaps yesterday's encounter has cemented this. To re-iterate, I am NOT tarring everyone with the same brush and I KNOW this individual is the exception to the rule but I really cannot be done with these kind of clowns. 

 

Rob. 

 

 

[Gilbert]

Did he have any pictures of his own "narrow gauge" layout to show you how it should be done Rob?

Chris

[NHY 581]

4 minutes ago, Gilbert said:

Did he have any pictures of his own "narrow gauge" layout to show you how it should be done Rob?

Chris

 

Funnily enough..............

 

 

[SR71]

I (rarely) didn't have one of these yesterday but you get them at every show. Ask them which layout they are exhibiting (they usually aren't, haven't, can't) because anyone who knows the effort it takes wouldn't even start a conversation like that.

 

Failing that I would run Mallard into the scene. A tenshodo motor bogie with the duck shaped handle off a hair brush on it. These people have no humour and are what trolls were before the internet, fun is a repellent to them.

 

I detoured 50 miles, the wrath of SWIMBO (I'd been away all weekend already), and the risk of seeing the (e)strange(d) side of the family just to see your work in person at a show. Others must have done same given the number of times I had to go past before I could even hope to get near the front.

 

That's a rare thing and talent you have. I stopped trains for 20+ years because of those sorts of p*s, don't let the minority get you down.

[St Enodoc]

21 minutes ago, NHY 581 said:

I have no time for idiots such as this. It has made me question why any of us take our layouts to shows when there is a chance of encountering such individuals ? They are of course in the minority but is it better not to bother ? Do I take this incident into account when I decide what exhibitions and how many to attend next year ? 

No and no.

 

22 minutes ago, NHY 581 said:

Am I doing something wrong ?

No.

 

There will be such individuals whatever you do or don't do. You can't do much about them but you can rise above them - often by stirring the pot as Chris suggested above.

 

Whatever they might think or say, we all know that at the end of it all railway modelling is fun.

 

 

[AdeMoore]

Don’t let this individual make you question anything Rob.

Everything your doing is mighty fine.

As John says above and I wholeheartedly agree all you can do is rise above them.

I do like the idea of asking the individual which layout here is there’s! Or do they exhibit there layouts! The very unlikely answer being yes, which shows? ah remind me not to go to those shows! 😂.

But engaging with them seems a waste of breath so better off engaging with some more appreciative member of the paying public! 
Your one of the best 4mm modellers around Rob of that there’s no doubt, consign this to history.

Might see you at Wells.

[Re6/6]

Don't let these sorts of anti-social and ignorant types upset you Rob. It isn't worth it mate.

 

If any oik had to the temerity to openly criticise any of my work they would get a resounding reminder of social etiquette!

[46444]

Hi Rob,

 

Sorry to hear about yesterday and the EM Gauge modeller.

 

I guess the the thing you need to ask yourself is have they actually ever built a running layout to the standard of your work? 

 

Sounds to me like the said gentleman had a few issues.

 

Otherwise good to hear the show went well and the J70's behaved. Have a good one today.

 

Cheers,

 

Mark 

[Mike_Walker]

I would have taken pleasure in pointing out he is using narrow gauge track too!

 

Don't be down-hearted Rob.  Your efforts are superb and an inspiration to many of us who aspire to reach such standards.

[Donw]

I would ask whether they have the correct number  of turns on the electric motor or  the correct number of boiler tubes inside their locos.  We all need to make compromises and even if you minimise them there are the effects of scale to cope with.  Once you realise that it becomes a matter of choice where you draw the line. 

One should be a bit sympathetic for new converts to a standard they often have the zeal of a religious convert and believe a wonderful layout is just a matter of  adopting the right standard.  Our hobby is not just a matter of engineering good layouts need a large dollop of artistry.

This is something where you excel 

 

Don

[Captain Kernow]

Un-be-fu*king- lievable!

 

That was my first reaction to what Rob has encountered, here and now, in 2024.

 

Obviously - obviously - don't let the tw*t get to you. And I hope, in your usual politeness, you were able to land a few sarcastic words to counter this kind of insidious poison.

 

And Chris is right - the idiot is also modelling a 'narrow gauge', if we really want to be pedantic about it.

 

Oh, I wish I had been there. This has wound me up on your behalf!! As a non-owner or exhibitor (ie. a friendly bystander), I could have let him have both barrels (in the usual polite, supportive and non-pejorative way, of course....)

 

If the individual inhabits this forum, I challenge him to demonstrate in what way his approach to the hobby is superior to anyone elses...

 

Have a jolly good and friendly day today!

 

 

PS. If you see him again, do congratulate him on his wonderful invention. I never thought time travel was possible. And then, tell him to sodd back to the 1970s, where such attitudes belong!

 

 

 

 

Edited July 7 by Captain Kernow

[vaughan45]

Probably a recently defrocked MP, who also wants to bring back public flogging?

[SteveyDee68]

As others have said, this individual is an absolute 🤬

 

I mean, he obviously doesn’t read that much, as otherwise he would be aware that you are mentioned in a recently published book as being a master of creating believable layouts!

 

Guessing he hasn’t appeared in any form of printed material, let alone been written about in print in such glowing terms by other modellers?!

 

I, for one, cannot wait to see your “narrow gauge” layouts as soon as possible!

 

In the words* of the great Brian Blessed, “DON’T LET THE B@ST@RDS BRING YOU DOWN!!!”

 

Steve S

 

 

 

* For best effect, these should be roared out loud in a “GORDON’S ALIIIIIVE!” style

 

 

[Captain Kernow]

8 minutes ago, SteveyDee68 said:

* For best effect, these should be roared out loud in a “GORDON’S ALIIIIIVE!” style

https://getyarn.io/yarn-clip/48252c93-00ac-4fce-98c4-63af0ec73482

 

[Northroader]

Ignore the , for one of him there’s hundreds of us who admire your layout at shows.

 

(edit: when I posted, a word was removed, wonder why?)

 

 

Edited July 7 by Northroader

[chuffinghell]

Did the t**t in question wear an anorak and have an adenoidal voice?

 

I wouldn’t be allowed to exhibit anything twice, it’s frowned upon by the organisers when exhibitors punch patrons in the face

[chuffinghell]

8 minutes ago, Northroader said:

Ignore the , for one of him there’s hundreds of us who admire your layout at shows.

 

(edit: when I posted, a word was removed, wonder why?)

 

 

Asterisks are your friend!

[exmoordave]

Very sorry to hear about this Rob. In my (and obviously many others) opinion, you are an excellent modeller and you are welcome at EXMOOR RAIL any time!!! Just keep on doing what you're doing - it gives pleasure to hundreds of people, and not many people in this world can say that.

To reiterate and translate what was said above - NIL ILLEGITIMO CARBORUNDUM........

[Graham T]

On 05/07/2024 at 17:01, Willl said:

Hi Rob,

MS Models sell a similar building but at a slightly lower price.
https://www.msmodels.co.uk/products/boston-lodge-based-blacksmiths

The resin prints are also amazingly well detailed from my experience. I’d be interested to see if a standard gauge loco fits in it like the Scenecraft building

 

Will

 

Those are lovely looking buildings!

[Graham T]

And sorry for drifting away from the topic at hand.  Agree with all that's been said.

[Ruston]

4 hours ago, NHY 581 said:

When I see a 4mm layout, the last thing on my mind is the gauge of the track. I look at the overall scene and take it for what it is.....Am I doing something wrong ? 

Not at all. Or if you are I am also wrong.

 

I'd like to build a Saundersfoot Railway layout using Peco OO track and then have some EM berk tell me that I'm using narrow gauge and I then point out to him that I'm actually using broad gauge by about the same degree as he is using narrow gauge. I doubt he'd have an answer for that. 😁

Edited July 7 by Ruston

[KNP]

Over the years I had exhibition layouts I used to just ignore these type of people as normally they where inferior modellers and most of the comments where borne out of jealousy.

Keep up the great modelling and remember you have friends on this website that appreciate lovely modelling.

Edited July 7 by KNP

[chuffinghell]

[chuffinghell]

Whilst training to become a Jedi I was taught

 

 

 

Edited July 7 by chuffinghell

[Hibelroad]

Disgusting behaviour, I thought the days of gauge snobbery were long gone. Anyone who is prepared to go to the time, trouble and personal expense of exhibiting at a show deserves respect. Over the years I have seen many layouts, not all were to my taste but all were interesting and obviously the result of many hours of dedicated work. When it comes to choosing what to model and how to go about it I say, to each his own.