FAIRGROUND lovers will not want to miss out on a unique model fair event taking place this weekend.

Creators of miniature iconic fairground rides will showcase their hard work at Alford Hall, Manchester Road, on Saturday.

Event organiser, Jim Birchall, a fellow model fanatic, has enjoyed the magic of fairgrounds since he was a young boy.

“I have loved fairgrounds since I was a child, aged four. I love everything about them, the smell of it, the look of it, everything.”

Jim explained that as a child there was a fair ground often set up on the field behind his home where he grew up.

“As I got older, I would even take my children to the fair. I think as you get older you either grow out of it or more into it,” he added.

Jim and his brother Ray Lythgoe spent over 18 months building well-loved ride, the Waltzer, all from scratch using partially a 3D printer to create parts and crafting other parts themselves.

He now wants to share his unique hobby with other model makers across the country and allow residents of Warrington to come a see the magical creations in the flesh.

The fair will begin at 10am and will carry on through until 4pm and will be free entry.

There will be 20 modellers bringing their exhibits to the fair, travelling from all over the country including Loughborough, Gloucester and Leicester.

Stalls will also feature at the event with one selling parts to be used to make the models, and they will also make parts to order.

Another stall will have experts in 3D printing who can offer a tutoring service in how to use 3D printers, they will also generously be providing a 3D printer as a winning raffle prize for one lucky individual.

Speaking on how the hobby has changed and developed as technology has, Jim said: “In the beginning people used to cut wood and use nuts and bolts to build up models and plenty still do.

“But you can now use 3D printers to make the parts for the models. We used one to create the sign ‘hellraiser’ on the Waltzer model.

“The things that you can print with a 3D printer are amazing. It has changed the game.”

Jim explained how the model he and his brother created is dedicated to one of his favourite films, Hellraiser, with main character ‘pin head’ featured on the sign of the ride.

“All the rides that will be in the exhibition take hundreds of hours to make.

“Approximately 800 hours went into making the Waltzer.”

The Longbarn resident said how the hobby first grew from wanting to find something to keep him busy after he retired. But when lockdown hit in 2019, he focused solely on building the model.

But when lockdown ended, Jim struggled to get entry into an of the regular exhibitions with such a back log of entries having had no events over the period of the pandemic.

So last year Jim set up his own fair in Warrington and it has now become an annual thing.

Continuing with the fairground theme, Jim will have a candy floss machine, a tombola raffle as well as a duck shoot and food and hot beverages will also be on sale throughout the day.

Two prizes will be handed out to modellers, one being for ‘Best in show’ and one for ‘1x24 model’.

“Last year was a really good turn out and this year Mayor, Councillor Jean Flaherty will open the show.

“Just turn up and come and have some fun at the fair ground.”