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MAFVA HQ was  at the show, and a good number of people were able to join, resub and take advantage of the massive clearance sale of MAFVA magazine Tankette.  If you don't know Tankette, where have you been?  Do look.  Page for page it is probably the magazine with more plans than any other, in 35th, 48th and 76th.

Photos on this page by Mike Whitty

ON TRACK MODEL SHOW
Saturday February 26th 2011, The Leas Cliff Hall, Folkestone.

As a result of the sudden cancellation of the popular ‘Trucks ‘N’ Tracks’ show, there was a countrywide feeling of disappointment sweeping the chat rooms and forums of the internet. Loathe to see the show disappear, Harold Hanna, impresario of Matador models, sought agreement with his brother Bill and others to look into the feasibility of putting a replacement show. The word spread like wildfire with e-mails and phone calls pledging support arriving every minute.

Harold made enquiries at the Leas Cliffe Hall where the manager confirmed that the hall was available (Surprise!), agreed a price and money changed hands. Then came the hard bit, communicating with all the traders and clubs. Luckily, Paul Middleton of MAFVA was press-ganged into the group early on, and he was able to use his list of contacts from the MAFVA Nationals Show at Duxford. With less than three months to go bookings were fast and furious, and Harold was pleased to see that traders were willing to send in their table fees promptly. Bill soon had a website set up once the name ‘On Track’ had been decided on. This provided a focus for people interested in the show and attracted even more people.

While the commercial magazines carried notices and adverts for On Track, discussion groups on the internet promoted the show and organised group displays. MAFVA, the Miniature AFV Association were given the foyer of the hall to set up the established ‘MAFVA Zone’, where several branches and MAFVA HQ were grouped together to provide a cohesive display.

After all the planning and organisation suddenly it was the Friday before the show. Harold had assembled a small force of people to set the show up. Tables had to be laid out to the master plan and the checked against requirements, notices put up, and the thousand and one little tasks completed. Traders and clubs arrived through the day offering to help, which eased the load, and once done the early arrivals were able to set up.

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