Fighting through the snow …

It’s not unknown for there to be a bit of snow in the verges when it comes to the January meeting of NMMG, but I have never seen a meeting like this! After repeated snow showers on successive days there were various messages flying around asking if the meeting was on, and others sending apologies. Members normally come from all over the country for this meeting, so with some of them facing up to six inches of snow locally and most of us facing icy conditions it was quite understandable that many members didn’t make it. But at least there was plenty of room to spread out when some of us got there!

But as always the food and the fellowship was great, and even when the committee decided we could all head home before dark for once there was still plenty of time for lots of good conversations, to study the models, and for purchases from the various dealers. While many of our far-flung members didn’t get there, the record and our congratulations must go to Kees Trommel and his wife Ria who made it by ferry all the way from the Netherlands!

NMMG in the snow

 

When it was decided we needed to celebrate the adventure with an out-door photo (!) it was surprising to see just how many people were there.

 

Congratulations to you all! I hope you all got safely home.

Kenworth Logger on display

Kenworth Logger on display

This was my model -perhaps I should have opted for a snowplough!

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..and here’s the truck

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some daylight shots to show the truck in both running order and, minus logs, with the trailer riding piggy-back for the home run.

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I said there’d be more! When I put up a picture of my latest model, a rear bogie for a logging trailer, I promised the front end would be next. Of course, there’s not much point in that without a truck to mount it on – so here is the truck as well, a Kenworth in dark blue. Just a taster – better photos of the truck in due course.

So, now we have a Kenworth hauling logs, and a cabover Pete with a reefer on … what do you think ought to come next? 🙂 ImageImage

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Drive safely!

Taxi 1Off to a party? This might well be your best bet for getting there and back safely over the Christmas period.

This was my version of the Classic London Cab as envisaged in the 1950s No 7 Set manuals – remarkably effective in terms of outline despite using very few parts.

Photo: Greg Webb

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Logging Trailer

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What starts someone off on a new model? All this really began when a lucky bid in a recent club auction netted me a rather nice set of wheels. I had to do something with them – so I started … Continue reading

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An Automotive Gearbox

This is back to an old favourite subject. I’ve built loads of these in my time, and many of them appeared in “Everything Automotive III”, a compilation of gearbox designs that I edited a few years back (still available from MW Mail Order). This one, though, is slightly different from any of those. It is based on an idea I found in a French Magazine (CAM) and uses an extra pair of layshafts to provide a convenient input. I developed this to add a useful reverse gear in line with the others, and then developed my own ideas for selector rods, “detentes” and gear change. Coming up with a “gate” of the right size was fun, too!

But eventually it all came together and at a scale that would fit inside a 1/10th scale truck chassis with the gate sitting neatly between the truck’s twin seats. You can check out the photo (and a few others) here at

http://www.flickr.com/photos/46060578@N03/8233994831/in/photostream/

The truck? That is a Kenworth Logger, coming on pretty well, so watch this space!

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Unexpected pleasures

The third Saturday in October generally means a trip up the M1 towards Sheffield, and a turn off before the city to the little village of Laughton-en-le-Morthern for the autumn meeting of the Sheffield Meccano Guild. So it was this year, despite the looming fog of an English autumn. Even that could not disguise the beauty of the woods that flank much of the motorway, now bronzed by the passing weeks, nor did the chill of the air lessen the usual warmth of the welcome. Like other Meccano meetings this one seems to be growing ever more popular, and however early one arrives there will always, it seems, be a good crowd in there first! It was just as well I had booked some table space since my own model of the American Mercury Atlas Launch Pad needed most of a table. Some people had brought their own, and the usual layout of tables had been altered so with one thing and another all of us seemed to find a space. There were the usual features – good sales tables of new and old material to pore over in search of a bargain, great refreshments, and of course the chance to catch up with old friends and find out how they were and what they have ben working on. The social part of our clubs is almost as important as the models!

The autumn meeting includes the award of the Members’ trophy – given to the “best in show” model according to the votes of all those there. There were some great models there – I was particularly taken by a giant tower crane (one of my weaknesses, I know), and fascinated by many others, some of which you can see below. But much to my surprise when the votes were counted I found that this time I was the winner! The last of many great pleasures in another very enjoyable day. To all my colleagues – my grateful thanks! And my own congratulations to you all for making it yet another really memorable show.

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Space, the final frontier

Well, actually it was lack of space that proved the barrier! With the prospect of the autumn season opening (for me) with the next NMMG I have been busy working away at my latest model, the promised rebuild of the Mercury Atlas launch complex. It’s going well. I have learned that an early start is always wise, so I had the car packed up the night before, and set off soon after an early breakfast for the 50 minute journey to Oxton. Arriving ten minutes before opening time I not only found the car park well used, but every table in the hall was taken! People had come from all over the country – and it was great to see them – but space was really an issue – appropriately enough for my exhibit, I suppose!

I might have squeezed a small model in a corner, but since I was going to have to leave after lunch this time for an afternoon service it didn’t seem worth while, so I took the rocket and mini-truck in with me and perched them in a corner on top of the piano. Not the most distinguished of displays, but at least I made my contribution.

Maybe next time! But in the mean time, so you can see what I might have shown, here are

English: Aerial view of Launch Complex 14 with...

English: Aerial view of Launch Complex 14 with Missile Row visible to the right. Mercury-Atlas 9 (MA-9), visible on Pad 14, is scheduled to carry astronaut Gordon Cooper for the fourth manned orbital mission. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

a few images to give you an idea of what is developing here at home.

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The Last Gasp of Summer

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The Saturday following the August Bank Holiday has been observed for years in the world of Meccano by a pilgrimage of the faithful to Henley-on-Thames in Oxfordshire. Coast down Remenham Hill, cross the Thames on the old humped bridge that … Continue reading

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Workbench News

Sometimes an idea takes root and then blossoms into something bigger.

Years ago I came up with an idea I’ve never seen anyone else use – a small-scale staircase which used the Meccano Flexible Track pieces as treads. I thought I’d revisit this for a larger model I’m working on and this is the result.

Philip Webb’s design for a 1/32 scale industrial stairway

Alternate links of Flexible Track and Plastic Chain are clipped together and then formed into a zig-zag. The hinged knuckles are then held firmly between a pair of Strips of the appropriate length which are bolted to each other by Long Bolts or Threaded Rods on which a Collar or Spacer and a pair of Washers act as spacers. Outer Strips on the same Bolts or Rods act as stringers at the side of each run of stairs and it is to these that handrails and bracing girders are fixed. 2″ Girder Bracket make good landings between the three lengths of stairway.

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