Lowestoft Model Engineering Exhibition 2019

Julie Williams takes us on a quick tour of this year’s LOWMEX.

- Julie Williams

Despite the original bad forecast, the weather actually came up trumps for the Lowestoft Model Engineering Exhibition. It is the biggest exhibition of its kind in East Anglia and for the 6th year in a row it didn’t disappoint. Organised by a subcommittee of the Halesworth and District Model Engineering Society (H.D.M.E.S.), there were over 300 tables laden with models of all shapes, sizes and persuasions, as well as freestanding exhibits, trade stands, live steam models and flying demonstrations.

The philosophy of the show has always been to share information, promote skills and encourage enquiring minds of all ages. The members of H.D.M.E.S., as well as the other societies and clubs who supported and displayed models, have always been extremely keen to talk about their hobby!

There were several ‘firsts’ on display. No, not First in Class - that is not part of the Lowmex philosophy - but first as in the first model made by the modeller, or a model being displayed to the public for the first time, either as a work in progress or as a finished item.

Last year’s appearance of two Daleks inspired the then 18-year-old Mathew Rackham to make a K9 to join them for this year – his very first model (photo 1). Mathew’s father and brothers are all into steam, and he wanted to make something different - so decided on wood and radio control. Mathew admitted that he didn’t realise how long the project would take him, or foresee some of the problems.

Keeping it in the family, Mathew’s brother, Tom, displayed, for the first time, his work in progress, a 3 inch Marshall traction engine, chosen “because it is different, everyone has a Burrell” (