During late 2019 I was invited to exhibit for the first time at Ross on Wye and for a second time at Welland. In both cases I was unable to attend on the Saturday of the weekend so required a sealed or semi sealed static display unit that would require minimum invigilation by those nominated to provide security.
Fortunately, Cheltenham Model Centre were in a position to sell me a perspex display unit which had originally been supplied as a sales aid for diecast traction engines. This required the replacement of the left hand end panel by Haden Browne Plastics of Barton Street, Gloucester, but otherwise saved me much time, money and effort in constructing an equivalent from MDF.
The only drawback was having to load vehicles, structures and figures from the centre outwards to the removable end panels before screwing them back into place.
More importantly though, I now had a main road, two minor roads and a short length of railway on which to display vehicles normally associated with my Ming Ing coach, lorry and car diorama.
Hence the concept of Ingrow in Toedale (inspired by Ingrow on the Keighley and Worth Valley Railway) being the rural equivalent of Ming Ing and in the same imaginary world as Castle Mingington and Royal Reach.
Another advantage of Ingrow in Toedale is that it can be easily adapted to different historical periods, and for this reason I added Peco’s Victorian style gas lamps rather than anything more modern.
The bus shelter though was removable and later appeared on Universal Works in Integration Station and the Wills SS14 Tea Kiosk was designed only to be a semi permanent feature. This was painted red and white in the style of a well known cola rather than the blue suggested by kit artwork and is handily positioned for both thirsty lorry drivers and enthusiasts of railway preservation.
One particular talking point on Ingrow in Toedale at both the Ross on Wye Model Railway Exhibition and the Welland Steam Show Model Tent was my articulated reefer in the markings of Trevor Pye of Wem.
But could the livery be more dramatic with 22 Trevors pictured over 7 other Trevors? Apart from Mr Pye himself my list of famous Trevors would comprise:
Trevor Morgan. (Model hobby legend)
Trevor Howard (Actor)
Trevor Eve (Actor)
Trevor Bannister (Actor)
Trevor McDonald (Newsreader)
Trevor Francis. (Footballer)
Trevor Brooking (Footballer)
Trevor Bayliss (Cricketer)
Trevor Bayliss (Clockwork Radio)
Trevor Phillips (Commission for Racial Equality)
Trevor Philips (Grand Theft Auto character)
Trevor Bailey (Ffestiniog Railway)
Trevor McGill (Photographer)
Trevor Peacock (Actor)
Trevor Laird (Actor)
Trevor Hall (American Folk Singer)
Any more suggestions gratefully received