UKTSLive Logo
 

Exhibition Report
Maidstone
18/19 October 2003
As exhibitions for punters go, this was probably one of the best. Although it was only in two rooms of a Technical College, it had layouts of all the standard guages, Z, N, TT, HOn9, OO, and O plus a tramway or 2. We took up our position Centre Stage on the Saturday morning and were up and running by 08:45. Three shuttles and three projectors giving it the max. Cab-It took up position on a table below the stage next to a trader and encouraged visitors to pop up and see us for a chat and have a go.

General view of the main hall from the stage.

It was great to see some new faces at this exhibition as well some of the regulars. Talking of regulars, we met up with Paul and Kevin AGAIN. These two guys are part of the operating team for the N Guage layout REDBURY. Several times over the weekend they were to be found at the controls of UKTrainSimLive, much to the annoyance of their chief operator Andy. We also attracted one of the Redbury junior operators to have a go on the Sunday with their approval, TeeHee. As can be seen by the photographs we also attracted a number of operators from other layouts over the weekend.

Saddletank, Leviathan1949, Neutronic and THREE operators from other exhibition layouts. Two operators from other layouts trying their hand on the fourth PC we setup to the side of the main display. Mike Symonds of Electronix Connections came to talk to us about MSTS. He had just purchased a new PC and was keen to find out what was available. One of the Rebdbury operators on the left and two other layout operators on the right.

On Sunday we set up a fourth PC to the side of the main display area for visitors to try their hand on. Saturday had started out well with a good number of visitors but had trailed off by lunchtime as there was football on the telly in the afternoon. Saturday afternoon was very quiet with only the diehards making the effort to visit the exhibition. That all changed on the Sunday when the halls became very congested and our fourth PC came in for some considerable use. I can only assume that all those that skipped saturday because of the football decided to come after all on the Sunday. We were very glad for the extra help on the Sunday from our additional users who had arrived.

Brittania Pacific Models specialising in the supply of kits and built models of Southern Electric units. He spent all weekend starting the construction of 6 of his latest kit, the Plasser and Theurer Track Tamper. Who says you haven't got room for a layout. Build one in an old monitor case, a cake box or a television. The Tram Man with all sorts of trams and Stephenson Rocket models. EuroTram. An HO scale European Tramway layout.

Our thanks always go to the kind people who come along and help us demonstrate the routes and models and promote UKTrainSim Saddletank (who always brings his PC, monitor and his American Routes and Highworth), SouthCoastTrains, ThinLizzy, Decapod and Lad491 (nice to see you for the first time and I guess from your comments, not the last time either).

Thanks also to the K & ESR Maidstone Area Group for the invitation and we look forward to seeing you again in 2004 (assuming you can use the stage next year).