BSR Posted January 18, 2015 Share Posted January 18, 2015 Was (re... re... re) reading August 1989 RCM&E which had a short piece about closing the gates on the Sunday, with over 21,000 people visiting and 2,000 exhibitors and representatives attending.... I do remember it was the highlight of my year show-wise... I wonder if that was the peak of popularity for the trade show/ show in the UK? We do have Cosford and the like, do these match the broad range of models we saw there, flown and available to buy? (And made and designed in the UK!) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paul Marsh Posted January 18, 2015 Share Posted January 18, 2015 The last Sandown I went to had only 700 through the door by the last day.I know, I was on Fantastic Foam stand and a discussion with Ian, Traplet and the security guard that we know highlighted the plight at the time That was it, end of Sandown. Falling attendance, increasing venue costs led to the demise. Really model shows need to evolve, or die. Weston Park is a good example of evolving model shows. It's gets bigger every year and this year, there are three shows happening at once. Take the Weston In the Dark last year. A new approach, different and gets the ohh! aah! going again. Just seeing models go round and round gets a bit old and needs an injection into the heart every now-and-then to keep the punters coming back year after year. This was taken at 13:20. Usually Inwoods is flooded with punters, but here, hardly anyone, the halls were empty. This was taken at the last Sandown. The camera says 11:52, the probably busiest time of the day. Hardly anyone there. Edited By Paul Marsh on 18/01/2015 21:38:03 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Former Member Posted January 18, 2015 Share Posted January 18, 2015 [This posting has been removed] Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John Privett Posted January 18, 2015 Share Posted January 18, 2015 I wasn't at Sandown in 1989, but from 1991 or 1992 I probably went every year up to the end. Sandown wasn't just a flying show, it was a place to go and grab some bargains - in the earlier days, at least. Whether it was increased charges that meant the traders could no longer offer 'show prices', or the beginning of Internet shopping meaning that prices were cut to 'show prices' all the time to try to maintain sales, I don't know. But the bargains became fewer and fewer with each passing year. Certainly in the latter years attendance dwindled. In the early years that I went it was often a struggle to get through the crowds and reach the counter at many of the traders' stands to buy something. In the last 2 or 3 years that certainly wasn't a problem... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paul Marsh Posted January 18, 2015 Share Posted January 18, 2015 This was taken near the door. Notice the time, 9:10 and no streams of people coming through... Go back 4 years, and looks better weather, loads more people...(2002 at 13:45) Edited By Paul Marsh on 18/01/2015 22:36:45 Edited By Paul Marsh on 18/01/2015 22:37:43 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Former Member Posted January 20, 2015 Share Posted January 20, 2015 [This posting has been removed] Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John F Posted January 20, 2015 Share Posted January 20, 2015 Trying to put a positive spin on the obvius decline in popularity, the huge increase in FPV and multi rotor flying may well help to increase numbers in future model shows, especially if they cater for that side of the hobby and get some investment to aim advertising at them. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cuban8 Posted January 20, 2015 Share Posted January 20, 2015 Myself and my flying mates were regular visitors to Sandown in its heyday, mainly because much of the flying was done by traders eager to display their kits to the public and demonstrate how good their kits were to drum up sales. (I remember one year we bought so many kits, we had to take the contents out of the boxes in order for us all to fit in the car). I suppose now we'd just do a search on YouTube for a model being flown and then order on-line. I have a commercial video of the '86 Sandown and it's a history lesson of many now defunct companies that used to be at the forefront of the hobby. These days it's mainly the big distributors who just demo a small selection of their ARTFs and I think that's a lot to do with the demise of the big shows. OK, I know there's the stars with their beautiful models and I enjoy the showline at the Nats as much as anybody, but the character of the shows has changed with time and just reflects how modelling and modellers have altered over the last 30 years or so. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ken anderson. Posted January 20, 2015 Share Posted January 20, 2015 Bob Dylan- the times they are a changing---- since the good old days there have been many changes-not only radio modelling that's effected...... up here in the north east we have nearly no public houses as such...who would have thought that...and we used to have lots of 'working men's club's'..they have all gone...and every day another pub is closing......and our local high street is non existant ect,ect,.......sorry off topic.....we should have a thread-"whats it like where you are"... ken Anderson...ne...1..... end of the world dept. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Former Member Posted January 20, 2015 Share Posted January 20, 2015 [This posting has been removed] Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KingKade Posted January 20, 2015 Share Posted January 20, 2015 Does anyone know how many attended the nationals 2014? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
avtur Posted January 20, 2015 Share Posted January 20, 2015 Posted by ken anderson. on 20/01/2015 15:49:17: sorry off topic.....we should have a thread-"whats it like where you are"... ken Anderson...ne...1..... end of the world dept. Good Idea, you start it and we'll follow! Avtur ... SK8 ... not wanting to cause too much thread drift dept Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bert baker Posted January 20, 2015 Share Posted January 20, 2015 Not to sure but there was twice the amount of them when we left the Bar, mainly twins Edited By bert baker on 20/01/2015 23:19:15 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bill_B Posted January 20, 2015 Share Posted January 20, 2015 Posted by John F on 20/01/2015 15:33:41: Trying to put a positive spin on the obvius decline in popularity, the huge increase in FPV and multi rotor flying may well help to increase numbers in future model shows, especially if they cater for that side of the hobby and get some investment to aim advertising at them. Can't imagine a display by multi rotor craft (drones) or FPV models being very enthralling, or dragging in the crowds, even if they are increasing in popularity. Maybe displays need adding that include modestly priced ARTFs and electric Foamies which the average club member fly? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
avtur Posted January 21, 2015 Share Posted January 21, 2015 Posted by Bill_B on 20/01/2015 23:54:07: Can't imagine a display by multi rotor craft (drones) or FPV models being very enthralling ..... I don't know I've seen some entertaining videos on You Tube, I could imagine closed course/pylon type racing being quite good, formation aerobatics and precision flying (and maybe more) being quite entertaining. Especially if some of it could be demonstrated by machines which are affordable. They could also offer options for indoor events. I do agree with your comment about modestly priced ARTF's and electric foamies. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KingKade Posted January 21, 2015 Share Posted January 21, 2015 I still think for good publicity (to a captive audience who are interested in aviation) more model shows should be combined / integrated with full size air shows, it has been done before at several air shows. And has the potential to reach 1,000's+ pairs of eyes (maybe 10,000's), compared to 100's at a specialist model show. There would also be a better publicity, bigger draw for caterers, press, supporting stalls, car clubs, better cleaning/ baby change/ WC facilities, etc. Although we may not admit it, there is not enough of a draw to this hobby for kids in their teens/ 20's. And it could be perceived as a bit boring standing in a field watching small planes fly around. Imagine the roar of a Vulcan taking off, its like nothing else, hits you in your chest and you have to stare, now imagine a model of the same aircraft, if the crowd is 2 deep you don't necessarily get to see it parked up, taxing or rolling for take off as views are blocked, so for wives and kids it can be frustrating. If the hobby needs mass publicity, it seems a good way to me. If models have regular appearances at full size air shows, kids remember them and search them out at the next one, dad gets to see jnr smiling and excited, he gets out his cheque book, etc..etc.. its a common storey that once you start in this hobby you are more than likely to come back to it... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Prop Nut Posted January 21, 2015 Share Posted January 21, 2015 As Ken says, it's off topic, but his point about pubs closing in the North East is the opposite of the South and Midlands. Marston's Brewery are opening a new pub every two weeks, and the new-build rate is accelerating. Obviously, they're not like the old-style pubs, but they must be doing something right to attract such a big customer base. I never missed Sandown, because it was the first major show of the year and I thought it was well-organised and seemed well-attended by both trade and visitors. I had no idea numbers had fallen off so badly, nor do I have a clue as to why. The Much Marcle show seemed well-attended, last September, but maybe the economics work better for the LMA. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Area 51 Posted January 21, 2015 Share Posted January 21, 2015 Shame to read Sandown was so poorly attended in the end.. I did not visit the last two years but was a regular before that.. even with a round trip of 500mls+ for me; two or three of us shared the car.. great for seeing the latest gear and bagging a bargain too.. The flying was good as it was usually the latest trade models being demonstrated.. probably sold quite a few too! I feel some of the show nowadays are pretty much the same! Mostly the same gear in the trade tents and the "odd" bargain.. I think watching the guys fly on a nice day make you think, I can do that myself back at the club field.. so perhaps this is why attendance is down! The idea of club fly-ins is a nice one and appeals to me, low key, non competative - get to meet some like minded fellow modellers and a chance for some to flying at a site that maybe is not as restrictive as your own at home.... a balance of this and maybe two organised shows (to stock up on bits) is my plan for 2015! Happily pay a small fee to be a "infrequent member" at a few nice sites and help them with their subs/be a nice way to make a few new chums too.. Only my thoughts though! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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