Attendence at Model Shows ?

[NARSES2]

If you have read the Sept SAMI then you will have seen Dave Francis's very gloomy editorial in which he comments on the death of the local model shop and the decline in attendance at Model Shows.

Now one cannot but agree with the first, but the second ? I don't know to be honest as I don't go to enough. The ones I've been to lately have perhaps been a tad down on a couple of occasions but I've put that down to the weather (either very good or very bad) and the fact that there are so many shows now and therefore a lot of modellers don't have to travel as far ?

Now I've chatted with Mr Francis and his a very jolly chap on most occasions so I don't see the editorial as a reflection of his personality.

Interested on the views of those who attend more shows then me

[Geoff]

Not been to many this year due to work/family commitments myself. Does not seem that different to me over the last few years except when there have been double bookings in the calendar. Sometimes there are not as many dealers, and that is a factor for me as I like to "shop" at a show.

[PR19_Kit]

I'm in the 'stable' category. I noticed almost no change between this year and last, and one, at MK, was MUCH busier this year. At one stage I was unable to get down the centre aisle, so great was the crush there!

[Bungle]

Oh dear. I have to admit to not having been to a show in over 30 years. Last one I attended was in 1983 and I (or should that be my model) got so ripped apart by the JMN's that I placed the model under my rear wheel as I backed out of the car park.

The thought of meeting them again has kept me well away (though there are not so many in the South East of England - shows that is, loads of JMNs).

[zenrat]

That was rather an extreme reaction Bungle.  I would have backed over these who wronged me...

I go to three shows a year.  One was cancelled this year due to illness but I think the other two were better attended than last year.  Particularly encouraging was the increase in junior entrants at the Ballarat NNL.
Model shops are not closing because of less modellers.  They are closing because of interweb shopping.

[Dork the kit slayer]

Opinion based on how the Huddersfield show has  become ever more crowded and outgrown the venue I would say increased. The "small" Bolton show was also quite packed as was SMW Telford.

[NARSES2]

Oh dear. I have to admit to not having been to a show in over 30 years. Last one I attended was in 1983 and I (or should that be my model) got so ripped apart by the JMN's that I placed the model under my rear wheel as I backed out of the car park.

The thought of meeting them again has kept me well away (though there are not so many in the South East of England - shows that is, loads of JMNs).

Yup lack of shows in the S.East is a problem I share mate. Nearest to me is the annual Sutton show which is mainly military and tiny. But makes a nice couple of hours on a Saturday - which is a day I prefer.

Try and get along to one where the SIG's in attendance. We have a couple of members who specialise in winding JMN's up. One is so good at it I actually felt sorry for the guy he was doing so to 

[PR19_Kit]

Try and get along to one where the SIG's in attendance. We have a couple of members who specialise in winding JMN's up. One is so good at it I actually felt sorry for the guy he was doing so to 

And that particular JMN baiter isn't all that far from you anyway. Perhaps a 'Joint Mission' to a show one day? The serried ranks of Me-109s would make a good foil to The Wooksta's monumental Spitfire fleet.