By Everybody, especially grown-up and young kids, loves scale models*. That’s everything from large radio-controlled model aircraft and ships – through detailed model cars, trucks, Armoured Fighting Vehicles (AFV), figures, space & sci-fi, scenes & dioramas – to elaborate model railways in all gauges down to tiny z-scale. There are whole worlds in miniature on display at model engineering shows, exhibitions and other events, for the whole family to enjoy. And the entry fees are usually as ‘cheap as chips’!
So, if you happen to be in the neighbourhood when a model show/display is taking place, why not pop along?
These are some events I’m aware of for this year.
| Royston & Distri |
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| Model World Live | 27/28 Apr 24 | Hall 12, National Exhibition Centre, Birmingham B40 1NT | A new national scale model and model railway engineering show. |
| Scottish National Scale Model Show | 27/28 Apr 24 | Live Active Dewars Centre, Perth TH2 0PH | Plastic scale model exhibition |
| Bristol Model Railway Exhibition | 03-05 May 24 | Thornbury Leisure Centre, Bristol BS35 3JB | 30+ layouts from around the UK. |
| South Downs Model Show | 04 May 24 | Bohunt High School, Worthing, West Sussex BN14 8AH | Plastic scale model club show |
| expoEM Spring Show | 11/12 May 24 | Bracknell Leisure Centre, Bracknell RG12 9SE | EM Gauge (4mm/ft) spring show with 4 railway layouts |
| Jarrow MRC Exhibition | 18/19 May 24 | Primrose Community Association, Jarrow NE32 6QY | Jarrow Model Railway Club annual exhibition showing around 18 layouts. |
| de Havilland Aircraft Museum Model Show | 19 May 24 | de Havilland Aircraft Museum, London Colney AL2 1BU | Plastic scale model show with the real thing in the background |
| Railex 2024 | 25/26 May 24 | Stoke Mandeville Stadium, Aylesbury HP21 9PP | Risborough and District Model Railway Club show with 13+ layouts |
| Gauge O Guild – Summer Show | 01 Jun 24 | Kempton Park Racecourse, Sunbury-on-Thames TW16 5AQ | “7mm” or Gauge O railway modelling show. |
| IPMS Salisbury Scale Model Show | 01 Jun 24 | Wyvern St Edmund’s Sports Hall, Laverstock, Salisbury SP1 1RE | Plastic model show |
| Teesside Model Flying Club Airshow | 01/02 Jun 24 | TMFC, Stockton-on-Tees TS21 1EW | Large RC models on static display and flying |
| Weston Park Air Show International | 14 – 16 Jun 24 | Weston Park, Telford TF11 8LE | Model RC aircraft, helicopters and hovercraft |
| St Neots Model Railway Club – Exhibition | 15 Jun 24 | The Priory Centre, St Neots, Cambs PE19 2BH | Displaying the club’s layouts |
| Sleap Large Model Airshow | 27/28 Jul 24 | Shropshire Aero Club, Harmer Hill, Shrewsbury SY4 3HE | Large RC model aircraft show |
| Elvington Large Model Airshow | 10/11 Aug 24 | Elvington Airfield, Elvington, York YO41 4AU | Large RC model air show. (Next to the Yorkshire Air Museum – drop in!) |
| expoEM Summer Show | 17/18 Aug 24 | Kettlethorpe High School, Wakefield WF2 7EL | Eight finescale EM Gauge (4mm/ft) railway layouts. |
| Gauge O Guild – Guildex | 07/08 Sep 24 | Bingley Hall, Stafford Showground, Stafford ST18 0BD | “7mm” or Gauge O railway modelling show. |
| Much Markle Large Model Airshow | 7/8 Sep 24 | Much Markle Steam Show Site, Ledbury HR8 2LX | Large model air show |
| Swansea Model Railway Exhibition | 14/15 Sep 24 | Swansea Leisure Centre, Swansea SA1 3ST | Model railway show |
| Swindon Railway Festival | 14/15 Sep 24 | Steam Museum, Swindon SN2 2EY | 20+ model railway layouts displayed alongside the real thing; Swindon-built locomotives. |
| Aldershot Model Railway Exhibition | 12/13 Oct 24 | Alderwood Leisure Centre, Aldershot GU12 4AS | Farnham & District Model Railway Club layouts |
| Blackpool Model Show | 19/20 Oct 24 | Norbreck Castle Hotel, Blackpool FY2 9AA | Large show focused on RC and static model boats, ships, trucks, and tanks. See a video from last year. |
| Newbury Model Railway Exhibition | 02 Nov 24 | St Bartholomew’s School, Newbury RG14 6JP | Around 15 club layouts |
| Spalding Model Railway Exhibition | 2/3 Nov 24 | Springfield Events Centre, Spalding PE12 6ET | Club show with around 20 layouts |
| LOMEX | 2/3 Nov 24 | East Coast College, Lowestoft NR32 2NB | The Lowestoft Model Engineering and Model Making Exhibition has a mixture of scale models, steam traction engines & locomotives, RC aircraft and boats. |
| Falkirk Model Railway Exhibition | 16/17 Nov 24 | Grangemouth Athletic Stadium, Grangemouth FK3 0EE | Annual club show with around a dozen layouts |
| Gauge O Guild – Winter Show | 07 Dec 24 | Robin Park Leisure Centre, Newtown, Wigan WN5 0UL | “7mm” or Gauge O railway modelling show. |
* If they didn’t, Miniatur Wunderland in Hamburg wouldn’t be regularly voted ‘Germany’s Most Popular Tourist Attraction’ by the German National Tourist Office!
