by Phil Holman

Would the Radio Forth - Help a Child Auction be interested in something a little different to auction off in 2008?

We think we can help!

Someone had an idea (no names, no pack drill) about doing something as part of the Radio Forth - Help a Child Auction weekend on the 28th and 29th November 2008. It needs more work before we can be sure it is feasible and will be having discussion to see exactly how we progress this idea. What we need, at this stage, is to speak with someone official about it….

So – Who are we and why would we do this?

Firstly - Scottish Modellers. We are a ‘Virtual Clubroom’ on Yahoo Groups and seem to have collected most of the modellers interested in Scottish railways under one title! We don’t do exhibitions as a group, but our members are involved, one way or another, with every model railway exhibition in Scotland.

Secondly - Falkirk Model Railway Club. We are based, as the name suggests, in Falkirk and are one of Scotlands’ busiest model clubs.

We have an annual exhibition on the same weekend as the Radio Forth - Help a Child Auction is being held. It is intended to have the layout on display at the show is whilst the Auction is happening.

Thirdly – Bonnybridge & District MRC. Based in Bonnybridge, we are a club with members whose interests cover many aspects and scales of model railways.

We have an annual exhibition 6 weeks before the auction and we will provide the opportunity for the layout to have a test run once it is completed.

Finally – Diesel and Electric Modellers United – DEMU. We are a society whose members have an interest in modelling the railways of Britain since the modernisation period – 1955. Our members are spread throughout the world.

We are involved as an information and help source because several of our Scottish members are involved.

The Idea:-
We build a model railway layout as a contribution to the Help a Child Appeal – then it is auctioned off!

The Theory:-

• We plan and build the layout.
• This process then features as a Blog or similar on the Radio Forth website – call it a Progress Record.
• The completed layout is first displayed for a test drive at the Bonnybridge & District MRC Exhibition
• Then displayed at the Falkirk MRC 2008 Exhibition on the Radio Forth - Help a Child Auction weekend.
• You publicise the auction during the Saturday of the weekend.
• Auction takes place on the Sunday – Let’s say 1pm plus however long the auction takes.
• The winning bidder then collects it at the Exhibition from Radio Forth - Help a Child Appeal Representatives/Personality and take it away!

Page last updated: 28/04/08