Uckfield 2024

Once again the Uckfield show presented an array of top quality layouts covering a range of themes, any would have been star attractions at some smaller shows. I think there were about 20 layouts so I won't try and cover them all here, but here are some of my favourites, mainly focusing on the narrow gauge and light railway themes. 

Bunkers Lane (O9) - Bill Flude. I've seen this grow on NGRM and saw it at Alexandra Palace, but it rewards another look. It's colourful and fun, with lots of details, trains are always moving (with sound too), and being double-sided there's a lot more to it than you first realise. 

Nettlebed Lime (SM32) - Giles Favell. Another layout I've watched develop on NGRM, this features radio control realistically weathered locos with "steam" (actually water vapour), drivers who move their heads, and of course tipping lime trucks. 

Hexworthy (009) - Michael Campbell. Yes, my own little layout, which I felt like an imposter amongst the high-quality finescale layouts. It did attract a lot of nice comments, and the working playground went down well.

Clereley End (O16.5) - Peter Jackson. A compact and nicely done 7mm NG line, and yes that's a Bachmann quarry Hunslet just like the smaller one I was running on Hexworthy!

Sandshifters (P4) - Steve Howe. This layout was built on a surf board - yes, seriously! A delightfully minimal depiction of a light railway it looked great, with quirky rolling stock. 

Tucking Mill & William Smith's Wharf (2mm finescale) - Jerry Clifford. This delightful model depicts a GWR and S&DJR branch in Somerset. The detail belies the tiny scale, it oozes atmosphere and runs beautifully too.

Ruyton Road (P4) - Paul Bannermann. An imaginary terminus of the Shropshire and Montgomeryshire railway run by Co. Stephens, this tiny layout had the atmosphere just right and looked surprisingly spacious. 

Conyer Creek Signals (O) - Greg Coomber. A pre-grouping minor branch set in Kent. Being O gauge it was a large model, but used that to provide spaciousness rather than filling it with station. The scenery is excellent, the trains look superb. 

Hoath Hill (3mm scale, 14.2mm gauge) - Geoff Helliwell. A gypsum mine set in sussex as an excuse for a variety of mainly kit built industrial locos. Just look at that Garratt!

St Ruth (2mm finescale) - Midland area group of the 2mm Society. An ambitious layout for this scale and recognisable as Penzance, with a few tweaks, and with the lighting looked even more impressive at "dusk". 

I'll stop there even though there were more excellent layouts, and lots of light railway and industrial themed layouts. Good trade support too. Looking forward to next year already!