This meeting was very enjoyable with many members attending, albeit not all with models. However, it was a very social event and everyone had a good time. As usual, there was a wonderful spread of food for which we thank Dianne and Linda. Also thanks to Sally for helping and to others who brought cakes. Although we provide the food for free, there were many members who donated money towards the catering cost.
We also ran the scrapheap challenge and the photos and video of this can be seen on the 2026 Challenge page.
There was a very successful array of Meccano for sale all kindly donated recently, which raised a lot of money for the club. Those who donated Meccano will be happy to know that it lives to see another day in new models.
A lot of the donated Meccano was made up into the contents of a Set 10 albeit of various colour eras and all presented in one of the donated boxes. This sold as a single item, including a full Set 10 model instructions pack, and contributed a lot to the overall sales.
Rob brought to the meeting a motorcycle and sidecar made from the Spinmaster/Meccano ‘Off Road Rally’ set No.16210 which was on sale approximately 10 years ago.
Rob has commented:
The set was found in a local charity shop and a quick look at the contents suggested that it might be complete so a purchase was duly made. However, on closer examination at home it was clear that there was a surfeit of some parts and a complete absence of others to the extent that it was not possible to build any of the three models shown in the set manual. (Instructions for a further twelve models were available by download from the Meccano website).
Having obtained replacements for the missing parts the motorcycle and sidecar was built without any problems although I did use aero collars instead of the nylon ‘collars’ in the set.
On completion it was disappointing to find that the front wheel would not revolve as the tyre was trapped between the front forks. That was soon cured with a couple of washers from outside the set contents but one can only imagine the disappointment of a youngster who experienced the same problem and had no stock of washers to draw on!
Chris has remade his Bristol Tram, which now incorporates lights at the front and rear. It was a challenge to take power from the overhead cables and return via the rails. The most difficult build aspect though, was the winding staircase. He also displayed a small clock designed by Dave Harvey.
Greg said:
'For a number of years, I have been invited to take some of my Meccano models to the Model Railway Exhibition held in October at Hinckley in Leicestershire.
Shortly after the 2025 exhibition, the organiser (Richard Starbuck) sent me some Meccano model plans with a Fairground Ride theme (his other interest). Included in the model plans were the instructions for a Set 10 Showman’s Traction Engine. I was not too impressed with the model being restricted to the parts included in a Set 10. Consequently, I have made a few changes. Although there was not a model plan, I thought a Showman’s Living Van would go well with the Traction Engine.'
Note that the trailer door is actually a Metallus component.
We know John likes to build Meccano clocks and this time he brought along three clocks as well as a tractor from an early model plan.
One of the clocks is a Krazy Klock, which John is building using Richard Smith's (in blue) as a guide.
He also brought a 1930's Mantel Clock, which was an original Meccano factory design and powered by a clockwork motor. The other clock was a Meccano Congreve Clock designed by John Wilding (as described in CQ No.73). The ball bearing runs down the zig-zag track until it reaches the end, then the track tilts the other way starting the process again.
John's red and green tractor has operational driving tracks, though the original plan just had some Meccano chain wrapping around the sprockets to simulate the caterpillar track. John improved on this by replacing the sprockets with wheels and using proper caterpillar tracks. This is also powered by a clockwork motor.
Steve's current build hasn't progressed since the last meeting due to other commitments, so instead he brought his fully operational Penny Falls machine. This was built during the first Covid lockdown at the request of one of his daughters (for his grandchildren). This machine features several aspects to frustrate the punters to bias the profits towards the machine (just like the real ones!). More information about the build of this machine can be read on 2021 January Virtual Meeting Page 2 (scroll down to see Steve's write up).
Roger's contribution was a phenomenal display of almost all the other products which the Meccano Company produced additional to the original construction system. Probably the only thing missing from this collection are the Meccano Super Skates. This array of products demonstrated the efforts made by Meccano to diversify as interest in the construction system started to decline. Many of these products failed as they were up against already established market leaders, plus many of them were just inferior in quality.
Mark H-S's Recovery Tow Truck is from the 1930s and was designed by Alex Barker. It has a number of working features, including a separate winch motor.
Sam didn't bring a model but he did bring a motorised No.3 set from the 1970s for sale. This set included a Junior Power Drive motor which, as we know, was not particularly gutsy.
Tony displayed a number of different models, mostly with an electrical theme. The steam engine within the red shed will be powered by compressed air and is a work in progress. He won the yellow/zinc Stevenson's Rocket in an auction. The other models included some built using Electrikit set components, a multi-model truck and a very small traction engine.
Barry always puts on a good display, and this time included some really interesting items, which were unknown to most of us. There were some very nice near mint condition 1970s boxed sets (actually for sale), and the complete collection of all six Crazy Inventors kits.
It is little known that during WWII, Meccano produced small tins containing ampules of Morphine for use by injured soldiers as pain relief. Unfortunately, this had the side effect of getting them hooked on this drug. The tins had a cardboard sleeve with the Meccano name, looking very much like a parts box seen in dealers' cabinets. After the war the same tins (empty) were used for Meccano parts in sets.
Lastly, he displayed a non-Meccano construction set which very cleverly fitted inside a matchbox sized container. These were made by Clou - a German company - in the 1930s and 40s. There were even instructions to show how to fit it all back into the box. After the war, another company - Marx - took on the product.
One of the beauties of the Meccano system is that one could convert any set to the next size set up using a conversion set. Richard showed examples of the smallest conversion - 0A - which made a set 0 into a set 1, and two incredible examples of set 9A. These large conversion sets were an order of magnitude bigger than all the other conversion sets as it enabled the jump from a set 9 to a set 10. However, these 9As were only produced for a few years from 1962 to 1964, and are, therefore, quite rare.
Brian brought something we have never seen before. This was a hydraulics kit made by a company in Sheffield in 1990 specifically aimed at the Meccano fraternity. It was touted at Skegex in 1990 but was quite expensive at the time at a price of £89.99, but the first 150 sets were offered at a special discounted price of £59.99. The other downside is that the company required a minimum order of 5,000 units to make it viable as a product. I doubt there are that many Meccano modellers now worldwide who would benefit from this.
They produced a glossy brochure to accompany it, and it would have been quite an interesting addition to the Meccano arsenal. It operates at about 20psi but looks quite bulky, although there was a smaller version planned. Without the required uptake, their preliminary manufactured batch was offered at £39.99 each to clear stock.
Neil displayed an Evolution Series mobile crane from 2013 which has a number of working features, including steering and an extending jib.
He also built the smaller blue RAF Coles mobile crane to his own design which was published in CQ Magazine. This model also has working features and is very compact. Additionally, he showed a small tractor powered by a clockwork Magic Motor plus a mini traction engine. The part built chassis is a work in progress from a challenge set by George Illingworth to build a jeep.
The green and red bike and sidecar were made by Richard S from the Meccano Supermodel No.3 plan. His other model, also in red and green, is a dumper truck with front operated tipping.
Eric is currently building two models. The green and blue turntable structure is part of the Fishguard Titan Giant Block Setting Crane, Model plan 169. He has modified the design slightly, to make it run more smoothly. His other work in progress is of Shackleton's ship Endurance of Antarctic exploration fame. The ship will incorporate a full hull and include a cutaway portion to show some of the interior, just like the illustration in the photo.
The postcard has history as it is an original sent by a relative of someone who supplied the expedition with equipment such as sleds etc.
Kevin's 1950s Refuse Truck is from a No.7 set model plan. It does have some working features, but typical of Meccano models, it failed to operate after the journey to the meeting.
Hugh's Ball Roller is one of those models which looks simple enough, but can actually be quite tricky in getting the timing right. When the ball has finished its journey around the track it is lifted by and Archimedes Screw, constructed using hundreds of fishplates.
