Guildex 2026

The first weekend in September is the weekend of Guildex, the main annual show for the Gauge O Guild and Sunday morning saw me making the short drive across the county to the Staffordshire County Showground for the event.

Whilst I didn’t spend much, most of the new O gauge products available are for the main line modellers, there were a few new things, mostly for buildings and detailing that got me pondering how they could fit into future projects, I did top up on some modelling supplies and was able to catch up with Adrian, David and Frank who were running the 7mmNG Association stand.

Attending Guildex for me is all about inspiring my modelling over the coming winter and this year was no exception, with most of that inspiration coming from the layouts attending.

Invermire

Some of the layouts there I’d seen before. Invermire and Harlyn Pier are both some of the finest O gauge models on the circuit, both ran well and looked immaculate. Newchappel Jn excels with its operation and full signalling, and there is always something moving about to entertain. For some of the other big layouts, me appearing to look at them seemed to put the mockers on their running with trains derailing or coming to a grinding halt.

Not having space for such large layouts, it often the smaller layouts which I find most inspiring. There were two medium sized and two smaller layouts that caught my eye.

First up was the Belgian Chocolate Factory. With so much detail in the buildings to draw the eye, I particularly liked the detailed interiors on buildings with the open fronts where the baseboard edge had sliced through them. Best in show for me, the chocolate escaping from the fiddle yard was a fun touch.

Second was Cobbolds Wharf, East Anglian docks. Again, packed full of detail, with some exquisite buildings and the trains weaving through the dockside clutter. An L shape that ran well, a backscene would’ve aided taking photos, but that did little to distract from some excellent model making. There was a couple of interesting looking ships tied up to the rear that left me wanting to walk round the back and look at the layout from all angles.

Holmeshurst was the third, a layout that I’d seen on social media. A light railway terminus making use of an array of Petite Properties buildings kits, similar to ones I’ve used myself. Has helped me ponder over what to do for my O gauge and another exponent of ‘less is more’.

Last but not least, Knype Bridge, as featured in the current issue of Railway Modeller. A small cameo depicting the bay and parcels sidings of a larger station in the blue period. Also a modern image layout that didn’t have DCC, yet didn’t distract from the atmosphere created.

Knype Bridge reminded me of an O gauge version of one of James Hilton’s ‘Mosslanda’ shelf ideas. I liked the use of forced perspective and the detail that had been added. It reminded me of trainspotting trips from my youth in the 1980s to Nottingham and Crewe where you could always be something unusual in a bay platform, often an 08 and possibly some parcels or newspaper vans. Plus DMU coolant tanks, and Brute trolleys for carrying the parcels and mail. Some time was spend watching the 08 shuffling the vans around and the DMU coming and going. It took me right back and wasn’t what I was expected to experience at Guildex at all!

A great show, all credit to the Guild for their 70th anniversary show. Now to put that rejuvenated modelling mojo to good use.