Lowmex returns – bigger and better...
The Lowestoft Model Engineering and Model Making Exhibition (Lowmex) returned from Pandemic hibernation for its seventh event on the last weekend in October this year, a bigger, better, and brighter show (writes Julie Williams). It had a new venue, the Energy Skills Centre at the East Coast College, Lowestoft, and the extra space was put to very good use.
It was all there, spreading over 300 tables, not including the floor exhibits, free-standing models, mobile models and models on their own bases, shown in two large halls and 14 rooms over two floors and two buildings, using the corridors as well while of course there were also outside exhibits. I have to be honest here, said outside exhibits were not treated kindly by the weather, but that didn’t stop skilful flying demonstrations and some steam engines from damply strutting their stuff.
The main event, though, was inside – and it was spectacular. The core of the exhibits was provided by Halesworth and District Model Engineering Society (HDMES), the parent club of Lowmex, and the club had the bulk of a very diverse display in the two main halls.
Jonathan Welch showed two stationary engines he had built from Tubal Cain’s book Building Simple Model Steam Engines (Photo 1). The larger one on the left is a ‘Wenceslas’, powered by fuel tablets and the smaller one on the right is a ‘Kitten’, powered by methylated spirit.
Further round the displays was John Child’s work in progress, a very impressive model of the 1:24 90-inch Cornish pumping engine, in preservation at Kew Pumping Station (Photo 2). John has already laid about 7,000 of the estimated 12,000 miniature bricks needed.
Kevin Rackham, his wife and three sons all displayed some of their models, a real family affair. Photo 3 shows, being set up, just three of the many models that the Rackham family had on show: at the back is Tom’s 2-inch Fowler Road Locomotive in War Department colours, which Tom is restoring: in the middle is Marion’s 3½-inch gauge ‘Rainhill’: at the front is Kevin’s 5-inch gauge 0-6-0 tank locomotive ‘Pansy’.
Also in the display but not in the photo was Chris Rackham’s Gresley A3 ‘Solario’ on his custom-made realistic track or Mathew Rackham’s radio controlled K9, Dr Who’s robotic dog – and the family had other models on display as well.
Andy Belcher and Chris Nobbs displayed a large 16mm scale World War 1, Darjeeling Himalayan Railway and Penrhyn Quarry Railway layout, (Photo 4). They also ran a 16mm live steam exhibit in another room with another club.
All sizes, all gauges
So many other clubs and societies, as well as individual modellers, showed models ranging from all gauges to a huge 12ft long model of a Cowens 75-ton crane by Charlie Lovett – this was too big to photograph all of it, but Photo 5, showing Charlie attaching the (temporary) nylon cord illustrates the scale beautifully. Charlie also displayed his previous project, a very large, impressive LNER Gresley Teak Diagram No. 5 1st class combined carriage (Photo 6).
Another individual exhibitor was Malcolm Barker who had a large glitzy floor layout of a fairground in the refreshment area, (Photo 7) with classic fairground music as well. He made a collection alongside the model for Great Ormond Street Hospital.
There were stationary engines running on air; there were boats and planes; traction engines; showman’s engines; locos; there was a model of just about anything you could name. There were even individual workshop tools, all made by Bernie Towers, and some designed by him, as well as Richard
Stratton’s display of workshop equipment that he’s built – he said that likes to make the stuff that makes the stuff!
Lowmex doesn’t have prizes, there are no best-in-show or highly commended awards, and it doesn’t have many trade stands, just a few that a modeller would find useful or interesting. What the show does have is wall-to-wall models, made by very skilled like-minded enthusiasts who can talk all day about their hobby.
Why not come and have a chat with the exhibitors at next year’s event? It will be up to you then as to which one you think is the best! This year it was the Daleks which stole the show with the public, especially the ‘small humans’...
Full details of the show can be found at www.lowmex.co.uk