ANDOVER Model Railway Club’s annual exhibition held over the weekend at John Hanson Community School delighted more than 1,200 visitors of all ages There were 22 exhibitors showing their model-building skills plus 21 traders catering for pretty much all that a modeller needs to start, build and equip a layout.

The layouts ranged from the Andover club’s huge 30ft Weyhill Road, in 0 gauge to the tiny Disaster layout, less than 2ft in N gauge.

Exhibitors came from far and wide, with one coming from Manchester, as well as the local Andover Dolls House and Miniatures Club, who took visitors for A Day In The Park in 1/12 scale, while South Hants Model Auto Club had a great display of vehicles.

The main exhibitors were showing railways of all shapes, sizes and eras, with notable exhibits showing a mighthave- been Ilfracome, a fictitious West Country Much Murckle and a very busy Minster Bottom!

For the children, a hands-on Thomas layout received much attention, as did some excellent working Lego models.

A club spokesman said: “The stars of the show were, firstly Bilton Goods, a 3mm scale model depicting a LNWR/LMS goods depot in the 1950s, built by Tony Briddon, which won the Chairman’s Choice Layout award.

“And secondly, voted the most popular layout by visitors was Q Dump, built by Nigel and Sue Tansley.

“Q Dump depicted an actual site on the Western Front in 1917.

“Modelled in 1:35 scale, it was based on actual scenes and photos from the time. No wonder it was so popular.”

Andover Model Railway Club’s annual show supports Hampshire & IOWAir Ambulance through profits from programmes sales.

Andover MRC meets on Wednesday evenings from 7.30pm at Tangley and Wildhern Village Hall and welcomes new members and visitors to come along.