Exhibition May 2005
The exhibition saw a good number of members present with a wide range of models.
David Miller had accumulated enough Hornby clockwork O gauge track to convert some of it to electric operation with side-rail pick-up. He then built a model train based on a London Underground design to run on it.
Ralph Clark had built a Brian Rowe designed beam engine which ran very smoothly from a motor in its base plinth. He also had a fascinating model of what was probably the first commercial steam loco in America. Built by George Stephenson and shipped to the States in bits, it then had to be adapted to run on uneven track.
Sam Medworth came with some of the Crazy Inventor’s range; the car, boat and helicopter. He had also built a supermodel steam shovel adapted from its original steam drive to run from a set of electric motors. Power for this came from a cleverly modified torch which contained a large lead/acid battery and to which several switches had been added to give remote control.
Paul Montacute had built lots of models that he displays at various shows. There was a nice clockwork driven clock in black and white Meccano, an Adams radial tank loco designed for the Lyme Regis Railway and a steam road locomotive which ran beautifully. These were contrasted by a modern Meccano Ltd made robot, remotely controlled and with several movements but lacking any tradition Meccano characteristics in its manufacture.
Richard Collis, returning to Meccano building after something of a gap, had built a fork lift truck from a design in a 1955 Meccano Magazine. It looked good but Richard was somewhat unhappy with the functionality of its design.
Richard Smith brought two ‘project’ models. The first was the 1954 Number 10 set Snow Loader. Impressed by its design he was surprised at how large the finished model would turn out to be. His other effort was based on a German half-track vehicle of World War II origin.
Pete Miller and Ian Lane had both managed to lay their hands on modern Meccano sets, made for Marks and Spencer, of Concorde. Though tricky to put together the models looked good and, rather bizarrely, were sold in the gents clothing section of stores!
Neil Bedford returned with his Scammell explorer, a six-wheel cross-country vehicle. He had been unhappy with the build up of friction in the model in its previous incarnation, but judicious placement of socket bearings around the differential had reduced the problem considerably.
David Northcott entertained us again with his Pat Briggs designed orrery or(another view) and a clever gearing device, to produce a 59:1 ratio.
John Day, having previously brought a supermodel sized block setting crane along, switched to the other end of the spectrum with a couple of small models, a set 3 model of the block-setter and the simple but charming garden seat.
Ron Garside was still sticking to Supermodels however, this time they took the forms of a Hammer-head crane and a Goods Warehouse with Electric Elevators.
Malcolm brought an exclusively blue/gold display. This included a complete run of late 30s style sets from a Number 0 to a number 10, with models of seaplanes built from each (a) (b) (c) (d). Also an entertaining Number 8 set model of boxers who really fight and a 1954 design Number 10 set model of a Beam Bridge. The latter was made from a mid-60s French set that was still being manufactured in blue and gold.