Max Stafford's Kennel

I’m just back from a couple of days at Glasgow where along with other members of the Scottish Region Study Group, I was involved in a demonstration of practical modelling skills on our stand at Model Rail Scotland in the SECC.

Among other illustrious members including Obi Wan masochistically producing keystones for Wharfeside’s viaduct, we had Chas demonstrating copperclad pointwork assembly ( though at times while battering away with his Dremel it sounded like he was torturing a hapless wee wasp!) Davie doing scary things with Sprat and Winkle couplings and myself and young Johnny demonstrating stock and locomotive weathering techniques respectively. Johnny’s nicely turned-out Locos are illustrated below

I was there for the Friday and Saturday although the Friday usually involves a large proportion of Carlisle’s modelling (and a goodly chunk of the city’s railway community) upping sticks to Glasgow for the day!
I always look forward to the Glasgow show for the very strong social aspect and this year was no exception to that rule although the presence of Willy McKnight on the Caley Association stand was greatly missed.
Among the layouts of note this year were Roundtrees Sidings; a really nice Finescale layout, set on 1980s Tyneside, Kilbowie; a fictional station set on North Clydeside circa 1960 and Garrigill, based on a projected Stockton and Darlington line to Nenthead on the Durham/Cumberland border in the 1860s. This layout has lovely scratch-built locomotives and stock with true, resourceful modelling on display, this era not being heavily covered by even the cottage industry manufacturers.

On Friday night I met up with friends, Ian and Paul (Wee Ginger Dug) Kavanagh for dinner at the Trans Europe Cafe in Parnie Street. I can thoroughly recommend this spot as the host, Tony provides great food and friendly service. Give it a try next time you’re in town.
Saturday was again spent at Model Rail, providing demonstrations and I was astonished at the level of interest generated by my efforts. I had a lot of interested and intelligent questions from people of both sexes at all modelling levels and ages. On Friday I became a star of the big screen too when I was interviewed on film as part of an ongoing arts project concerning hobbies and crafts. That’s me had my fifteen minutes!