Thoughts about Euro 2014

[Nige]

Popped down for the day with the wife - it had been a few years since we had last been. Yes it wasn't as busy as the heady days when Horan etc was around, and maybe I'm getting old - but I kind of preferred it this way. Its not much fun getting soaked in sweat and crushed in the trader hall or being unable to see the figs in the comp room. (What a boost having no barriers in the comp room BTW) so we both enjoyed our day.
It was great meeting up with old friends catching up and also browsing around trying to spark an interest in the hobby again. I do feel for the traders and despite the prices they have to pay there was still some great deals to be had.
Numbers may be low but the quality of figures offered both in the competition and the trader halls is still high.

 

[Babelfish]

I've never attended Euro yet, but it is still the event I want to go to some day.

Euro should be on every figure painter's bucket list.

When I hear there were less people this year, to me that sounds like an improvement.

It's an improvement if you're a punter, because it makes it MUCH easier to get round and view the trade stands at leisure and without getting jostled. Generally though it's not so much an improvement if you are a trader.

I've been attending Euro since 1998 (missing 3 or 4 years along the way) and time was it would be 2 or 3 deep at the trade stands and it took ages to get from one end of the hall to the other due to the sheer volume of people. It's not been like that for a few years, but attendance numbers are still respectable. I think I'm right in saying that last year (2013) saw a record number of entries in the comp. Things were much quieter this year, due I think in part to the fact that World Expo in Stresa was only a couple of months before. My guess is that next year will be busier.

In other years the common complaint was that it was far too crowded to properly view the entries and traders.

Even in "quiet" years, getting to look at the comp exhibits properly can be a right ball-ache. I usually leave it until the Sunday morning and go down first thing before the mad rush starts later on.

- Steve

 

[frank h]

Hi
When you are tired of Euro ......you are tired of life ........
The show is what you make it

Frank

 

[moz]

I`ve been to Euro 23 times I think but it always feels like my first I`ve attended as both trader and social leper and was there in that capacity this year, I was reliably informed by the bar staff that it was £2 a pint cheaper than normal events at the Leas cliffe hall so you can make your tenner back that way.
Missed the Nazis being outside though, I guess a lot of the octagenarian U.K war veterans who made their homes in Folkestone did too.
Nice to see all the familiar faces and a few newbies too.

 

[Rich Sculpts]

Let's hope the organisers next year will grab the opportunity to use the 30th anniversary to revitalise the event.

I for one will still support this unique event; after decades of being a devotee of figure modeling I am so pleased to be able to mix with enthusiastic like minded people. It would a sad day if we did not have an occasion like this and the hobby died through isolation.

Support it, enjoy it and be thankful an organiser can be bothered to host it.

 

[Ron Tamburrini]

Moan moan moan , that's all we do where would life be without a good Girn
Euro is more than a modelling show ,the crack in the Lees Cliff goes on forever in the saturday night and the breakfasts are to die for
nice to see you appreciation for fine cuisine Gells

 

[Ron Tamburrini]

I`ve been to Euro 23 times I think but it always feels like my first I`ve attended as both trader and social leper and was there in that capacity this year, I was reliably informed by the bar staff that it was £2 a pint cheaper than normal events at the Leas cliffe hall so you can make your tenner back that way.
Missed the Nazis being outside though, I guess a lot of the octagenarian U.K war veterans who made their homes in Folkestone did too.
Nice to see all the familiar faces and a few newbies too.

What no Nazis outside in there little tank , whats the show coming to

 

[davidmitchell]

I am also a veteran of Euro only missing once in the last 25 years.I have seen the ups and downs ,but have enjoyed everyone and made lifelong friends along the way. For me it is not just a model show but a chance to spend time with friends old and new ,eat, drink and be merry.Have to agree with Brian on all fronts and would not miss this event.After all you can't please all the people all of the time.

Cheers David

 

[Ron Tamburrini]

the Leas Cliff ,
Sunday morning Breakfast , Safft egg, watery bacon, soggy mushroom and a hard sausage all served by the pleasant Eastern European staff
knocks the socks aff the hotel Rhodesia

 

[Johan Kees]

I really have enjoyed the Euro weekend as it gave me amongst others the chance to meet with some old friends, and make some new ones.

The only constructive comment I would like to make is that the organizing staff really should consider rethinking the protection and security of the miniatures put on the show tables. I myself witnessed the tumbling down of a miniatures on the Saturday morning (which actually refrained me to join the competition with my own miniatures), and I was told that during the event at least one other miniature was damaged.

I know that much depends on the self-dicipline of visitors which tend to forget about the protruding lenses or the straps of their cameras. Nevertheless, we all know that the human species occasionally needs to be protected against itself...

In short, maybe it is time to install some sort of a barrier between the show tables and the public, or to point out to the security staff that they need to react with a pre-emptive strike as soon as something is bound to turn wrong.

The above is really not meaned as a rant, but we all spent many hours on our miniatures and none of us likes to collect a damaged piece after the show's closing hour.

Jhan

 

[Ron Tamburrini]

cameras and slung bags are a problem at the show ,mind you at ingolstadt show some stuff was perched very perilously to the edge of very narrow shelfs including my own right at the corner ,don't know how it wasn't knocked over
Security is a problem now with some figures commanding very high prices don't know how more are not stolen

 

[Gellso]

The 200mm Paget figure went down like Klinsman on the six yard line, rugby tackling my Op Herrick guy, breaking his antenna. Chief Judge gave us a talking too and we fixed everything up.

Regarding the breakfasts Ron....I heard Del mention you were a bit partial to a hard sausage now and then.

Gells

 

[moz]

I think folk should only be allowed to use wooden bases on their miniatures, that way they could be nailed down to the shelves with stout six inch nails.

 

[Gellso]

The shelves were a bit shaky to be fair.
Maybe some no more nails would've done the trick or even solvite!

Gells

 

[Ron Tamburrini]

The 200mm Paget figure went down like Klinsman on the six yard line, rugby tackling my Op Herrick guy, breaking his antenna. Chief Judge gave us a talking too and we fixed everything up.

Regarding the breakfasts Ron....I heard Del mention you were a bit partial to a hard sausage now and then.

Gells

Thats a figment of his imagination Gells and part of his fantasising in his Father Jack mode

 

[kagemusha]

Noticed you only staggered to the opposite end of the venue Moz...........the bloody bar ..............Anna's sides still ache from being around you

 

[moz]

Yes Ron good times had by all I think, it was good to see you both again, it will be Euro weekend again before you know it.

 

[kagemusha]

A very good time mate ......yeah....looking forward to it already

 

[ChaosCossack]

I feel for you guys over there with three or four figure shows a year not counting the one's on the continent.

Here in Canada, every year, we have exactly ZERO-NONE-NADA proper figure shows. Therefore, for the first time, I'm loading up the truck and driving about 1500 miles roundtrip to attend the Chicago show... an actual figure show, not tanks and planes with a card table in the corner for figures. I'll spend 3 nights in a hotel room, by gas, 10 or 12 restaurant meals and if the guy at the door wants $20 (about 10GBP) I'll fork it over, give him a big hug and run through the hall like a 10 year old with a sugar high at toys-r-us... Because this will be something I can do maybe once every 5-6 years. Whether there's 50 figs or 500 figs it'll be more than I've ever seen in one place before. Not to mention all the modellers I hope to meet while I'm there.

Really sorry some of you guys didn't enjoy Euro... I hope it's still around for a while as I'd like to see it before I die.

Colin

 

[Colin_Fraser]

I feel for you guys over there with three or four figure shows a year not counting the one's on the continent.

Here in Canada, every year, we have exactly ZERO-NONE-NADA proper figure shows. Therefore, for the first time, I'm loading up the truck and driving about 1500 miles roundtrip to attend the Chicago show... an actual figure show, not tanks and planes with a card table in the corner for figures. I'll spend 3 nights in a hotel room, by gas, 10 or 12 restaurant meals and if the guy at the door wants $20 (about 10GBP) I'll fork it over, give him a big hug and run through the hall like a 10 year old with a sugar high at toys-r-us... Because this will be something I can do maybe once every 5-6 years. Whether there's 50 figs or 500 figs it'll be more than I've ever seen in one place before. Not to mention all the modellers I hope to meet while I'm there.

Really sorry some of you guys didn't enjoy Euro... I hope it's still around for a while as I'd like to see it before I die.

Colin

Brilliant words Colin