The Little World

Actually there are about four Big Local Model Shows during a year…some of them at the same venue as next year’s April/May affair for scale models. The business might be a bit confusing if it were not for the fact that Perth enthusiasts of the various hobbies generally have the things sorted in their minds.

The Doll House and Teddy Bear exhibition is every bit as big as the plastic model fair, but focused upon structures and furnishings. The same trestles are used – they’re part of the equipment of the halls – but I’ve noted in the past that the ladies rig up pipe barriers to protect the aisles of doll houses and dioramas from probing fingers. One year they provided a box full of cheap field glasses for the visitors to peer more closely at the entries. I thought it was a darn good idea.

The WA Model Railway exhibition spreads itself within several halls at the main Royal Show grounds. These are considerably bigger than the Cannington venue, but then the train layouts and truck runs are so much larger than the models we show. This is not to decry what we plastic modellers do…but you have to admire the train societies who can truck in, assemble, man, and remove entire rooms full of track and scenery. They do big business amongst themselves, too, and have in the past had a large number of interstate sellers showing up.

The Die Cast and Toy Collectors have several big fairs or shows, though they seem to divide them into either a display show or a selling fair held at various times. I’ve taken part with 1:18th dioramas and won a few gimcrack trophies. The layouts of models mostly represent searching and shopping, rather than building, but you still got some enthusiasts putting an effort into a farm scene or a petrol station scene. There was always trading around the tables and bargains could be had, but you sometimes got what you paid for and sometimes got what you deserved…

I certainly enjoy the big local scale model exhibition better…mostly because there has been more effort put into the building by the displayers. Of course there is the trade aspect of it and I hope that all the shops will put in an appearance with new stuff to lust after. But I do dearly love the Sunday Swap Meet Feeding Frenzy. I don’t take a lot of money and I don’t try to be greedy, but I’ve treasured the various unloved kits I’ve picked up in the past. Every one of them has been built and put to good use.