I hadn't been to the NEC for a while and so, for me at least, there was new stock to inspect.
I was lucky to find a dealer with a brand new collection of first series 1 -75s. Nothing spectacularly rare, but I was pleased to find an example of the 48a trailer without the strengthening webs - the first one I've ever seen! Other finds were an as-good-as-mint 32c Tanker with white grill and a very respectable SF 33c in yellow. (The latter is available for trade against a similarly playworn transitional.)
One notable absence was TuT, his space having been taken over by two other dealers. I'm not sure Les Duplock (Model Road & Rail) was there either.
I think there was one fewer aisle than previously since my walking pattern brought me out at the opposite end of the final row. I've noticed this previously at Donington, and certainly a couple of dealers I spoke to had deliberately gone for smaller tables in order to keep costs down.
I also bumped into a very tanned Pete (whom I think was probably taking a short holiday in the UK before jetting off again
). He said that he'd signed up for this new Forum but, having registered, was now having problems logging on.
