Spalding Model Railway Exhibition 2024 - Another day out for Mrs. Woody!

Mrs. Woody was delighted when I told her I was taking her to the Spalding Model Railway Show. My confusion at her positive view on this trip out was soon solved when I remembered the shopping outlet that was just around the corner! No doubt Mrs. W would seek retail therapy following the viewing of model railway layouts!

I always enjoy the Spalding show as it is a largish but not over large show. Lots to see and buy but easily doable in an afternoon. This year the show organisers seemed to have concentrated on more smaller layouts and the normal large layout that would take up the space of ten smaller layouts was absent which was fine with me. I like smaller layouts and this Scotish based one, Loch Syd, caught my eye and being only 7 feet by 5 feet is small for an 00 gauge continues circuit. However being based on Scotland the small size worked well.

  

Cutting the corner of the baseboard at a 45 degree angle as on this layout does make it easier to move baseboards as well as visually looking more interesting than a right angle.

Smaller still were these briefcase layouts which if you cannot find a space at home for, you really are pushed for space!

If was not just briefcases but also this guitar case in which there was a sizeable layout in n gauge. Not sure where you are supposed to keep your guitar if you go down this route!

An interesting take on a box file layout with the main layout in the box and another on the underside of the lid. Remove the bridge and the box file can be closed and stored away!

Moving up from n gauge to 00 gauge Sutton Bank TMD showed that a layout can be built in this scale in about 3 feet by one.

Operationally it may be limited but to display a collection of locomotives it is a really nice and compact way of doing so.

Getting back to bigger layouts, Hornby Magazine were exhibiting their TT gauge layout. Not sure what to make of TT even after two years of it being about now. Nice layout though and certainly a lot smaller then if built in 00 gauge!

I will cover a few more of the layouts tomorrow but to end this post you just cannot beat Hornby Dublo three rail in a tail chaser format. Most of the models on the board are sixty plus years in age and still going strong.

Retail therapy after the show - well lets just say that Mrs. W exercised my wallet!