Hi and welcome to this virtual meeting. We hope everyone is well and are pleased to be able to report on the models you are making and have chosen to display. The words about each model have been provided by each member as if doing a virtual 'walk and talk'. There are also some photos of members' dens and a few articles mixed in. You can also see a model constructed for this year's Scrapheap Challenge.
This meeting spans 4 pages so please use the links to the other pages which are at the top and bottom of each page.
Philip Bond: My Meccano build has been a personal challenge as I have always liked the shape of the Bugatti Type 35 having made one as my first Air fix model. I have Taken inspiration from David's, Richard's & Peter's versions.
Martin Arnold:
Car Transporter 9.7:
This model was a trip down memory lane for me. I first made this when I was 14. The steering has a very good lock and turns rather nicely. The screw rod mechanism is very effective in lowering the top platform. I improved on the manual by using bevel gears and a larger non-standard screwed rod obtained from Dave Taylor, which is much stronger. A good model with good play value.
Fire Escape:
This model is based on the one shown in the Meccano Magazine from June 1951.
The forward and reverse drive is powered by a Mike Roades motor through bevel gears which works very well given the weight.
The ladder roller bearing is operated using a worm and large spur gear and a ball thrust part nos. 32, 27c and 168 respectively.
The ladder Lifting mechanism is operated through a two worm and pinion arrangement (for strength) which acts as an automatic brake. The ladder itself functions through a simple cord arrangement with a spring and pawl. The model operates well and has good play value.
This model is a "Bulldozer" based predominately on manual model 9.4. I used different plates from that shown in the manual and a PDU instead of the No. 1 clockwork motor.
The drive is pinion and worm driven and the PDU set at 60:1. The model moves quite well and the steering is very effective.
The lifting arms are reasonably effective at raising the blade which is straight (the model version is angled). A fairly straightforward model and a trip down memory lane as it was my first 9 set attempt when I was 15.
Barry Winslow: As we are not going to be having meetings for a while I thought I would show photos of one of my new acquisitions. This is Meccano outfit number 9 and as far as I know it is from 1978, probably one of the last number 9s made at Binns Road.
As you can hopefully see from the pictures it has never been used, although there is slight corrosion to one or two parts although not usually as bad as the zinc number 9. It also came in its original box from Binns Road as you can see from the pictures. I shall not be opening it and using it but think it will look nice on my display of 70s Meccano shop displays.
This is my Wilesco steam engine, from an Andreas Konkoly model. The first photo is of the model under construction, with help and guidance from Pete Evans and Martin Arnold.
With all the extra time I’ve had on my hands I’m astounded to find that with help and hints from Martin Arnold and Pete Evans I finished my Andreas Konkoly version of a Wilesco steam engine.
They say the imitation is the sincerest form of flattery and when I initially saw Martin’s version of the steam engine I just knew it was something that I was going to try and build. This is probably the first real model using parts available that I’ve built so I’m quite pleased with how it turned out, although I had to improvise with certain parts to make life a bit easier and with the limitations of what I had available.
Alan Perry: The first photo is my work bench in the spare bedroom with the makings of my half size windmill.
This is the existing 1/12 scale windmill amid my general building stock. This will be the very last picture of the windmill as it is destined for deconstruction during this period of social isolation.
The next photo is a closer view of my building stock and the Austin K2 truck.
Moving to the loft...… these photos show the block setting crane and the grandfather clock in storage among the roof trusses.
The last photo is a general view of my Meccano stockpile in the small loft which may look a jumble but I can usually find anything except the piece I need.
