This April's meeting was well attended despite a number of illnesses preventing some from attending. We had a number of guests, including one who donated some Meccano to the club. Lunch was a splendid affair once again. Many thanks to Dianne and Lynn and to others who brought cakes and biscuits.
The Scrapheap Challenge results and pictures can be seen on the 2025 Challenge page.
Sam brought along a replica of Antoni van Leeuwenhoek's microscope. You can read about the history of this microscope and Sam's construction of it in the image following the picture of the model.
Alan displayed a Meccano Platform Scales built from a plan for a Set K. It will accurately measure anything from 1/4 ounce to 4 1/2 ounces. Drawings still in existence show that this type of balance was used by the ancient Egyptians.
Chris brought a fresh model to this meeting - a single decker bus in red and green.
Rohan has been using the time during meetings to make a bus of his own design. It includes a sliding door for the passengers to enter and exit. He has already installed a driving wheel and driver's seat.
He also brought another small model of a water fountain, again of his own design.
Barry's display comprised five Multikit sets, all from the 1970's era. These were themed kits specifically to construct models of the same type. He added one example of a model bulldozer typical of the type made from parts of that era.
We were very fortunate to have a mint condition Elektrikit for auction brought to the meeting by a non member, as well as some other Meccano which he donated to the club to be sold to raise funds.
Pete brought a variety of models, mostly made from Nickel parts. How to build the yellow Showman's engine was described in the December 1969 issue of Meccano Magazine.
Accompanying Martin's fork lift truck was an example of a Bascule bridge in Blue, Yellow and Zinc.
Neil brought two models, both of which he has displayed before. The first picture shows a customised VW pickup with racing motorcycle combination. It is mostly made from older, restored parts, sprayed in genuine VW colours. It is powered by a small geared motor with onboard batteries and a 'working' engine is visible under the rear bonnet.
The second model was an Aeroplane Constructor monoplane, built from very rough parts which have been resprayed in a smart but non-original sage green, with a resin pilot which was cast in a home-made mould.
Hugh's model is a work in progress of the Seattle Space Needle. The elevator is driven to go up and down by the Powerdrive motor, but clearly, it will not be ascending the full height as the hall isn't tall enough!
Gwyn brought a model to the meeting for the first time. This is a model of the Makatote Viaduct in New Zealand, which is 78 metres high and 262 metres long. He placed a loco on the top which highlights the scale.
John displayed his Locomotive and Tender, built from a 1950's No 7 set.
Kevin D brought two models, both in red and green; a caterpillar tractor and a windmill.
The red and green steam wagon was given another outing by Philip. This model was described in a Meccano Magazine from 1971.
Eric's latest endeavour is a World War I tank which is progressing nicely. A sample of different possibilities of track construction were on show along with parts of the side walls.
Automatons are quite popular these days. The two dogs and the man were all made by Richard S from parts painted to his usual high standard. All three machines have multiple motions.
Mark H-S had an operational display excavator. There is write up of it in the October 2021 issue of the Runnymede Magazine.
Many Meccano builders have a plate roller to put neat curves onto plates and strips, but bending the thicker flat plates is more of a challenge. Mark brought one solution as seen in Meccano Magazine March 1969.
Gregg brought the Set 10 Lifting Shovel, built for the Skegex 2025 Challenge.
Steve's current build has been tweaked in the last few months to run more smoothly, and is now powered by a more appropriate DC supply to handle the power requirement without overheating. At each end of the moving staircase will be a large door constructed to appear to be made from oak in medieval style. A possible door design was shown at the meeting which, when repainted, should look the part.
Getting a right angle on small angle girders is easy enough in a vice, but longer ones can be tricky to get an even result. Steve has made a special jig, that clamps a nominally straightened angle girder which can then be tapped with a hammer along all its length. The jaw topped with a steel strip has been carefully set 2 degrees beyond the right angle, such that when the Meccano is tapped down onto it the natural springback results in a 90 degree angle.
Roger's first display board showed all the varieties of windmill blades, propeller blades and fan blades. The windmill blade selection illustrates nicely just how many variations there are. His second display board included various different parts each of which have been identification stamped in a different way.
Richard G brought a Vertical Steam Engine, constructed from Stokys, a Swiss 'Meccano-esque' system. He also brought a model of a Giant Liner built from a No 10 Set, model 10.7.
Finally, the Scrapheap challenge was won by Roger (in the dark polo shirt) seen here receiving the trophy from the club Secretary Steve. See 2025 Challenge page for photos of all the entries.
