If you've been here before, you'll notice that our web design is still on the simple side: probably due to all the time we spend building models and planning the show! Seriously, we'd love to meet a web-savvy modeller who can design something a little higher-tech to suit the Noughties of the 21st Century!!

We're very pleased to confirm that there will be have-a-go Scalextric to entertain the junior boy (and girl) racers. I can see the cars flying into the aisles already.

It looks like being a big year for live steam as we welcome the return of Arthur Honey, Peter Ballard and a posse of friends, who expect to arrive with up to a dozen traction engines, rollers and lorries, some of which are actually road-legal. STOP PRESS! We have confirmation that Arthur will be leading a convoy of steam-powered vehicles from Wallingford to Cholsey. Departure time from Wallingford Hospital will be 11:00 am, arriving at Model Mania around 11:45.

Our poor boat modellers have had to do without a pond since the school swimming pool was removed several years ago but still put on a great static show. If you're a resourceful type who can lay hands on a portable pool, we want to hear from you, please.

Our caterers this year will be Cholsey W.I., who are already making a name for themselves serving home-made cakes and other treats. We expect bacon butties to be on sale in the morning, but come early to avoid disappointment! We now hear that hot dogs and ploughman's lunches will be on sale, besides a large range of filled rolls, crisps and other tasty nibbles.

We decided a couple of years ago that, with regret, we had to do without the interesting control-line carrier deck landing display in order to ensure the maximum field space for radio models. (We mention this because some folks still seem to think the radio boys are having to work around the carrier deck. It ain't so.)

Whilst it's still very unofficial, we have high hopes that certain interesting full-sized aircraft will pay us a short visit during the day. Watch this space (and the skies over Cholsey)!

One last thing: we've had a request for Bring'n'Buy table space. This we can do for you for a modest fee but you MUST book space beforehand and be prepared to go where we can find space on the day. Primary schools are not the easiest places to plan, down to the fine details!

Cheers from the Model Mania team!