Christmas 2014 Newsletter

ails
f ul l det
d es 2015
Inclu n u i ty
ecca
for M

Chairman Chris’s 2-rail version of Keith Cameron’s Little Joe loco,

complete with waving driver, on shop-window duty in Wem. See p23
 Contents
Meccanuity Arrangements 3
There And Back Again Challenge 7
Accommodation in Ironbridge 8
November Model Report 10
Spreading the Word 18
Clever and Complex 22
A Shop Window Display Train 23
Dates For Your Diary 2015 24

Our Society Officials:

President:
Mary Linder, The Owls, 17 Tweedale Drive, Severn Gorge Park,
Tweedale, Telford TF7 4GA Tel: 01952 581867

Chairman & Newsletter Editor:

Chris Shute, 35 Churchill Drive, Wem, Shrewsbury SY4 5HX
[email protected] Tel: 01939 236299

Secretary-Treasurer:
Roger Thorpe, 44, Cromarty Road, Stamford, Lincolnshire PE9 2TQ
[email protected] Tel: 01780 754537

Vice Chairman-Webmaster: Chris Instone,

[email protected]

Inter-Club Liaison Officer: Dave Harvey, [email protected]

Photography in this Newsletter: Mick Burgess, John Evans, Peter

Haigh, Chris Instone, Brian Leach, Chris Shute, John Stark (p22, tak-
en from Melbourne Meccano Club Magazine), Bob Thompson. Many
thanks to all.

Minutes of our AGM will appear in the next newsletter. CS

2
 Exhibition 2015
Set-up Friday 1st May.
Open to public Saturday 2nd, Sunday 3rd, Monday 4th May.

We are delighted to extend Christmas greetings from all at the Telford

& Ironbridge Meccano Society. As we relax over the holiday period,
modellers everywhere may be working on that special Meccano crea-
tion. Our new calendars and diaries get marked-up with all those spe-
cial dates, like Meccanuity 2015 !

Now in its thirteenth year, Meccanuity has become one of the UK’s
leading Meccano exhibitions. Held in the massive exhibition halls of
Enginuity, Coalbrookdale, the exhibition can attract over 2000 visitors
during the Spring Bank Holiday weekend. Here in the beautiful Iron-
bridge Gorge, hailed by many as the birthplace of the Industrial Revo-
lution, visitors come to enjoy the hands-on science discovery centre,
and then discover the extra magic of a giant Meccano Exhibition.
Steam and radio controlled Meccano models will be most welcome,
and will have their own challenge events.

In the following pages, for TIMS members and visitors alike, is all you
need to plan your time at Meccanuity 2015. Please book in advance.
We look forward to seeing you!

Chris Shute,
Chairman Telford & Ironbridge Meccano Society

3
Booking your place
Please complete and return the attached form,
or email/phone the details to us. TIMS members,
especially, may submit forms at our next meet-
ing on Saturday February 7th. We’ll do our best
to accommodate you all. It’s quite a detailed
questionnaire, but it does help to make things
run smoothly!
Getting There
Set your sat-nav for TF8 7DQ. Alternatively,
leave the M54 motorway at Junction 4 and follow
signs for Ironbridge, then Coalbrookdale Muse-
ums, then Enginuity. Parking is free for exhibi-
tors. Non-exhibiting visitors might wish to use
the Park and Ride bus service near Jiggers Bank
TF4 3QE.
Registration
On arrival, please collect your Welcome Pack
from the TIMS information desk. This will contain
your car park pass, voting card and exhibitor
badges etc.
Setting Up
Our tables will be ready for models from 1200-
1630 on Friday 1st May. Access to the halls is
easy, without steps, via giant sliding doors. Trol-
leys and helpers will be available if required.
During exhibition days (Saturday, Sunday, Mon-
day) the halls can be accessed from 0900. It is
helpful (but not essential) if models are in the
halls by 1000. After 1000 on these days, when
the public are admitted, the external doors are
closed, and we enter by the public reception
desk.

Right: About half of last year’s layout!

4
The John Linder Memorial Shield

Awarded in memory of one of TIMS found-

ers, John Linder, exhibitors are invited to
vote for a worthy recipient. Each year, dif-
ferent criteria are suggested, to reflect the
range of talents, interests and achieve-
ments of those who share our hobby. Ken
Senar won the Shield, with Sum Flars in a
Vars (right) in 2014, which showed the
Most Novel Use Of Parts. At Meccanuity
2015 you will be invited to select the best
scale model of a known subject.

Meccanuity 2015 Theme Project

Can’t decide what to build or bring? We have an op-

tional theme: Time. Clocks, calendars, counters and
sundials will be most welcome. Your model can be
displayed with others on the project tables, or on your
main table space.
Live Steam!

We now have a dedicated area for running live steam engines and
steam driven Meccano models. You are welcome to book
this space for your main display, but be aware that this
‘Covered Bays’ area is unheated (except for
meths fumes the odd puffs of steam!).
Please follow the safety code displayed.
There will be a race event for steam-driven
buggies on Saturday 2nd May.
Radio Controlled Vehicles

Our halls can get quite busy, but we

have a dedicated area where Radio
Control enthusiasts can run their
vehicles safely, and still share them with
the public. This year we shall also hold a time
trial event for radio controlled vehicles on Monday 4th May.

5
Trading

Meccanuity is not a commercial

event. TIMS aims to showcase as
much Meccano modelling talent
as possible. Our public visitors
pay museum admission charges
to our generous hosts, the Iron-
bridge Gorge Museums Trust,
which is a registered educational
charity. The museum shop sells
some modern Meccano sets. By agreement, TIMS allows only one
trader at its events, and we ask exhibitors not to trade on the museum
site. But rest assured, our ‘resident’ dealer, is well stocked with a
wide range of items at familiar prices.
Electrical Safety
GOO
D
We aim to provide a reliable power outlet beneath your
table, or the one next to it. Please make sure all your
own mains cables and power supplies
are tested and passed fit for use. A
number of TIMS members are able to
advise or help with testing. Ideally, this should be

D ! done in advance. We provide rubber cable covers

BA for use between wall sockets and tables.

Insurance
We have recently been required to double our public liability insur-
ance to £10 million for events in Ironbridge Gorge Museums. Other
Meccano clubs’ insurance (normally £5 million) will therefore not be
acceptable. However, all guest exhibitors can be given temporary
membership of TIMS for a modest fee of £1 per exhibition day. Of
course, we all need to observe good safety practice, for everyone to
enjoy the exhibition. No other charge will be made for exhibiting.
Catering
Tea/coffee/biscuits: 1030-1130 and 1500-1545 (cake too!)
Buffet lunch: 1230-1330: All-in £5 daily. To guarantee lunch, please
book in advance when you book your table space and pay on arrival.
There is also a museum cafeteria and pub nearby with food. (uphill!)

6
 Meccanuity Challenge 2015
THERE-AND-BACK-AGAIN!

Do you enjoy a light-hearted challenge? Try our ever-popular Mec-

canuity Challenge, to be fought out on Sunday afternoon 3rd May,
in the lecture theatre in front of a baying crowd. Here are the rules:

1. Devise a vehicle to travel across the arena floor (15 feet) reverse
automatically, and return to cross the starting line.
2. Vehicles may not be guided by any means after starting.
3. Vehicles must strike a wide wall at the far end of the course before
starting the return journey.
4. Vehicles must be built from recognised Meccano parts or their repli-
cas.
5. Motive power must be on-board clockwork or electric Meccano mo-
tors. If numbers permit, there will be a separate contest and prize
for each category.
6. Non-Meccano battery-holders, wire and switches are permitted in
electric vehicles.
7. Vehicles will start from behind a line, and be released by their han-
dlers.
8. Vehicles will race against each other, in a series of races/heats de-
cided by the Adjudicator.
9. The overall winners of both electric and clockwork contests will re-
ceive a small trophy.

7
 Accommodation Around Ironbridge

A search online reveals plenty of accommodation within a few miles

of Ironbridge. The following hotels each had several rooms available
for the Meccanuity weekend (Friday, Saturday, Sunday nights) when
we searched in mid December. TIMS is unable to endorse any, but
we list some here, in no particular order, as a guide for intending visi-
tors who may not have easy internet access. If phoning from outside
the UK, dial +44 then omit the first zero of the numbers listed below.

The Tontine: The Square, Ironbridge, TF8 7A 01952 432127

Foundry Masters House: 43 Wellington Road, Iron- 01952 433658

bridge, TF8 7DU
Best Western Valley Hotel: Buildwas Road, Iron 01952 432247
Bridge, Ironbridge, TF8 7DW

Bridge View Guest House: 10 Tontine Hill, Iron- 01952 432541

bridge, Ironbridge, TF8 7AL

Days Inn Hotel Telford Ironbridge: Junction 4, M54, 01952 238400

Priorslee Road, Shifnall, Telford, TF11 8TG

Buckatree Hall Hotel: The Wrekin, Telford, TF6 5AL 01952 641 821

8
 Swan At Forton: Eccleshall Road, Newport, TF10 01952 812 169
8BY
Springhill B&B: 2 School Rd, Coalbrookdale, Iron- 01952 433225
bridge
Premier Inn Telford North: Donnington Wood Way, 0871 527 9084
Donnington, Telford, TF2 8HH

The White House Hotel : Wellington Road, Muxton, 01952 603603

Telford, TF2 8NG
The Raven Hotel: 30 Barrow Street, Much Wenlock, 01952 727251
TF13 6EN
Premier Inn Telford Central : Value Deal Euston 0871 527 9082
Way, Telford, TF3 4LY
Gaskell Arms: High Street, Much Wenlock, Much 01952 727212
Wenlock, TF13 6AQ

Park Inn by Radisson Telford: Forgegate, Town 01952 429988

Centre, Telford, TF3 4NA

The Stanage B&B: Dawley Road, Lawley Village, 01952 507742

Telford, TF4 2PG
Sytche Caravan and Campsite: A4169 Much 01952 726701
Wenlock

Poolview Camping, Buildwas, Ironbridge TF8 &BS 01952 433182

(Campsite and holiday lodge cabins)

TIMS Chairman: Chris Shute. [email protected]

Phone: 01939 236299
TIMS Secretary-Treasurer: Roger Thorpe [email protected]
Phone: 01780 754537
Our website: www.tims.org.uk
9
 Model Report: November 2014
By John Evans

About 30 members turned up with models, along with a few who

came along to support. Starting in the corner, we had John Evans
with a small Evolution All Terrain Vehicle (some aspects of which he
found very difficult) and a small Bulldozer – Bruce Geange design
featured in CQ. Unfortunately he forgot the transformer so was not
able to demonstrate it in action.

Next came Janet Way showing Keith’s BR 4-6-0 Standard Class loco
75000. A splendid reminder of Keith’s modelling skills and a fitting
tribute to his memory. Tony Clapperton showed a Tank – a John
Linder design, now motorised by Tony. There was also a tracked ve-
hicle with 2 pdu motors demonstrating the Gleasman system of steer-
ing tracked vehicles. Chris Shute gave us another viewing of his po-
etry machine, but no steam this time! The steam engine, on loan
from Chris Instone, has now been removed from the rear of the ma-
chine, and the epicyclic clutch mechanism has been reinforced.

John Nuttall has built the famous Quebec Bridge. It was splendid in
Blue and Gold.
Tom Lewis had a whole table full of models. I counted 9 Army mod-
els, two Concordes, a Spitfire, a Red Arrow Jet and four other planes
and rockets, seen on the next page.
10
Ken Senar gave us another chance to admire his Shield winning
Vase of Flowers and also a tantalizing look at part of his new model,
below – a Russian plane called Orlyonok. Shades of the Cold War, I
think. The completed plane, at a scale of 1:27, will be huge, it seems.

As usual, the Nightingales were

out in force. Anne showing the O-
Line and Direct Line Meccanograph;
Les Junior had made the MM Bag-
gage Handling Truck (seen right)
and a Vertical Steam Engine; Les
Senior had a Tracked Vehicle.

11
Sid Beckett showed a Diesel
Express loco from a 1955 Mec-
cano Magazine.

As usual, Paul Hubbard was work-

ing on a model and also showed a
Coles Mobile Crane modified to run
on tracks and a 10 Set Dumper
Truck. Paul found he had to modify
the front axle as the instructions
are incorrect. I under-
stand he is not
alone in this
finding!

Terry Wilkes has built the Gi-

ant Dragline Excavator from
the 50s manual cover. Using
PDUs for the separate mo-
tions enabled the machine to
perform realistically.

Tony Evanson was busy working on Set 9 “Art Deco” clock and also
showed a Set 10 Dumper Truck and a Mercury Orrery (with an ellipti-
cal orbit).

12
Dennis Backler has built one
of John Sinton’s Giant
Block Setting Cranes.
A masterpiece in
miniature.

Michael Sharps gave us a last show-

ing of his “Electronic Cat” as well as his
progress with a Gottwald AMK 400-93
telescopic crane; it will be big. Only 4 of
these cranes were built in the early
1980's.

13
Bill Gardiner had a table full of
models including a Gantry Crane,
a Tank, the rarely seen Panto-
graph, right, a small windmill, a
drag motorcycle, a Bagatelle and
Ferris Wheel, the last two being
operated by a crank handle.

An Austin-
Healy 3000 sports
car in 1:4.5 scale was
the chosen subject for Tony
Wakefield. He has caught the lines
beautifully. Wire Wheels set of the appear-
ance and it was equipped an engine and 4 speed
gearbox in one removable unit.

Dave Bradley also had

a vehicle, this time a
radio controlled VW
People Carrier.

14
Mick Burgess is always a welcome visitor with his carefully prepared
displays of fully described models; this time they were all in Blue and
Gold. Among his models were a Petrol Tanker, Streamlined Electric
Truck, Motor Launch, 3 Sports Cars, an Aircraft Carrier, a French
Camion a Benne Basculante (Tipping Lorry), Bluebird, Sewing Ma-
chine, a Two Wheeled Trap, a Tricycle, an Organ Grinder with Mon-
key, an Army Lorry, a Farm Tractor, a Canadian Pacific Loco and an
Aerodynamic Car, pictured here with Mick’s wife, Frances.

Chris Instone combines Meccano with Mamod steam in clever

ways. A TE1A Traction Engine has been fitted with Meccano steer-
ing; also a TE1A kit fitted with a Meccano ploughing winch and a
small Meccano Balance Plough, above. He also had a comprehen-
sive display of the latest sets and of the “Rabbids” range.

15
 Greg Worwood had a
magnificent model of the
Volks Electric Railway
from Brighton.

Tony Homden
recently saw a
Flying Flea and
decided it would be a suitable subject for a model.
Apparently a tricky plane to fly, it was realistically
displayed. Tony also had two Wallace and Gromit
models – the NASA Techno Trousers, left, and a
Jumbo Generator (above, connected to an ele-
phant’s rear end) potentially a smelly model!

16
 Bob Seaton left his locos at
home and brought a Morgan 3
wheeler, based on the Peter
Mathews leaflet as well as an
Evolution 3200 model. Anne
Seaton had several small models
including a helicopter. a tractor
with low-loader, a swivel chair,
the Pink VW, a Racing Car
and another
Car.

Colin Bull had the Grasshopper

Beam Engine (in memory of Bob
Ford) as well as a WWI Tank, a
Bernard Perrier Land Rover,
Evolution models, Excavator,
Skid Steer Loader, Recovery Ve-
hicle, two Cranes and a Liebherr Tony Seed, below left, chose
Telescopic Mobile Crane. an unusual subject for a mod-
el – a Canal Barge, re-
splendent in Red/Green. The
barge was accompanied by a
hard working horse. Tony al-
so had a 50s style petrol tank
and a period petrol pump.
How many of us remember
the attendant turning the han-
dle to deliver the petrol?

Photos: Mick Burgess, John Ev-

ans, Peter Haigh, Chris Instone,
Bob Thompson.

17
 Spreading The Word
By Chris Instone

Just after Meccanuity, back in May this year, I was asked if I could put
on something using Meccano for a local Beavers group in aid of their
"Creativity Badge". Of course I accepted as, so I've heard time and
time again, "I didn't think they still made it". So an opportunity was
here to, at least start to put this phrase to bed.
I gave it some thought, asked a few questions, then gave it some
more thought. The conclusion? I needed some Meccano! As the aver-
age age of this particular Beavers group was around six, I needed a
lot of plastic Meccano! After all, it's easier to learn, and of course
more fun, if you can actually have a go at something.
So, we fast forward around five months to early one autumn morning.
The doorbell rang and I was greeted with two large cardboard boxes.
OK, I have seen larger boxes, but lets just say it would have been
easier for me to move my flat into the boxes, rather than the other
way around! Tubs of plastic Meccano do stack rather well, but they
don't half take up some space. Still, there were only 16 tubs to find
space for!
The following evening, I gave a little more thought as to how to go
about things on the night. I dismissed the idea of using notes, as, so
I've found with my videos, notes mean hesitation, or rather, more hes-
itation, and as I was told that the attention span of the Beavers was
pretty short, I couldn't waffle too much.
Come the evening I made my way to the Scout hut with my Land Rov-
er loaded up, not only the tubs of plastic Meccano, but with many
models too. I tried to show a decent ‘timeline’ of Meccano, although
not totally complete, from the 1914 London bus, some late 50's stuff,
some 70's, 90's and right up to the present day. As usual, the Rab-
bids were very popular.
18
Whilst I was setting up, a few helpers asked about Meccano, and the
oo's and ahh's started when the Ferris wheel was carried in. I did have
a bit of bother: The belt on the Ferris wheel was missing. It was found
in the back of the Land Rover, but broken. Well, it was something like
40 years old. Fortunately a suitable elastic band was found.
Before the Beavers arrived I'd already been asked where Meccano
could be bought. When they did arrive it was nice to hear the word
Meccano (no R). I started my chat about Meccano with a question:
“How long do you think Meccano has been around?” I started with the
bus and went through the display, rather quickly, including firing up the
Ferris wheel, showing some of the Rabbids and new models in action,
including the R/C Turbo set car.
I then opened one of the 150 piece tubs for some nuts and bolts.
handing them out, with the help of my assistant, youngest nephew,
Joefish. A nut and bolt each. By the time they'd been handed out, sev-
eral kids had already put them together. I then showed them how to
sandwich parts together using the bolts.
Then it was time to play! Needless to say it was a great night. The
only sad bit was when one young chap came over to the display with
his half made model, a sword. He asked politely if he could, take it
home with him. I felt so awful telling him that he couldn't because the
parts were going to be used again. I still do.
Still, overall a fine evening with much building fun. It was a little bit of a
concern that except for three aircraft, all models were either swords or
pistols. However, it was such a success that we did the same again
the following week. For the second evening I took a different set of
models to show, quite a few less than the first night. I still had to bring
back ten tubs of plastic Meccano.

19
Again I took a bit of a timeline of Meccano, in
model design, if not in actual parts, the age
range stretching from the 1914 battleship
almost to the present day with my lat-
est two Rabbids set builds: the Rodeo
Machine and the UFO. My
display also tried to show
what else you could build,
other than set models.
There were around half a dozen
early arrivals, who all began examining the display. Soon after, eve-
ryone was getting stuck back in to building with the plastic stuff. Some
very smart models being created. There was far more variety this
week, with a fishing rod, walking sticks and crutches, guitars, rockets,
and aircraft, although there were a few swords and pistols again!

I didn't know until about half-

way through the night that there
would be prizes. I was asked to
pick the top three, which by
now was difficult, because word
of the first rocket had spread.
Others were being built. In re-
verse order, third placed model
was a Hex Bug (http://
www.hexbug.com/) seen right,
Second was the first rocket
made. This was a difficult
choice, as by now there were a
few rockets, but I chose this
(below, opposite page) be-
cause the chap had had some
difficulties the previous week.
Nuts and bolts had been com-
ing loose because he hadn't
been using the tools. However,
he did the right thing and asked for help. This week he asked again
and then everything fell in to place and his rocket took off (sorry!). The
attention to detail, even in this basic form, was excellent. OK, we are
not talking rocket science, err, hang on, yes we are, but it was the
thought about the basic detail that was great to see.
20
The First placed model I was amazed
with. Not because of its complexity,
but because it was different and just
about as small as you could get. I
must admit I didn't recognise what it
was, but after I was told it was an egg
timer I thought, in fact I think I said,
WOW! As you will know, there comes a
time building very small models
when it can get very difficult.
Using the chunky plastic Mec-
cano, with a smaller range of
parts, this difficulty soon be-
comes apparent. So the
egg timer, right, was, to
my mind, a worthy winner.

Mind you, I wish I'd have

known about there being
prizes for the top three models as I could have gone out and bought
some sets, but, again, thanks to the Experiential Marketing Manager
at Meccano UK, I had a certain red hat to go with the First place
choccies prize!

What was also rather good was that nei-

ther the kids or myself had to put the Mec-
cano away, although I do have ten tubs to
go through and check!

I'd like to thank the Experiential Marketing

Manager at Meccano UK, and, of course
Meccano, for the loan of all the tubs of
plastic Meccano; Roger Thorpe for the ex-
tra copies of the TIMS newsletters and
Chris Shute for the TIMS info' sheet (put
together to form an info' pack for both par-
ents and the kids). There's no doubt that
without the help of the above it would have
been a much more costly and difficult
evening to put on. Many, many thanks in-
deed! Lets hope they carry the hobby on!

21
 Clever and Complex
A couple of Meccano milestones to look out for!
Brian Leach, right,
has created a full-
size traditional pinball
table, demonstrated
at the recent Hainault
Meccano Exhibiltion
in Northeast London.
As in a bagatelle,
steel balls are cata-
pulted around a ply-
wood surface, trying
to hit various targets.
At either side of the
machine, the player
has buttons to oper-
ate ‘flippers’ to re-
launch an exhausted
ball. Seen right is the
electromechanical
counter, which keeps
score, as the targets
are struck. The coun-
ter resets itself auto-
matically.

David Couch, the

man who brought us
French knitting ma-
chines, has now
made a Meccano
machine to solve a
Rubik’s cube. Helped
by a computer, the
machine has four
servo motors and
one geared motor to
manipulate the plas-
tic cube.

22
 A Shop Window
Display Train
by
Chris Shute

A 137 rpm Meccparts motor is

angled to drive a 50t plastic Con-
tate: smoother than the original
Worm drive. The slack tri-axles
allow the plastic wheels to sit
properly on the imperfect girder
rails, joined by 2" Brass Strips.

The loco is based on Keith Cam-

eron’s Little Joe (MM April 1979).
For 2-rail power, the shop-side
wheels are plastic, and power is
collected by a pair of wipers
mounted on a 2" threaded rod
stood-off from the chassis in an
Insulated Boss. Micro-switches The shop-side wheel linkage is
front and rear each strike a nail in extended rearwards to a Crank
the baseboard, causing the train whose rod carries a Cord Anchor-
to stop at each end of the line ing Spring, which pulls a short
until the polarity of the track sup- length of wire attached to the
ply is reversed by a motorised Driver’s arm, making him wave
switch elsewhere. constantly. Happy Christmas!

At last, a new use for Elektrikit sleeving (the lips!) and Girder Frames.

23
 Some Dates For Your Diary 2015
January 16-18 London Model Engineering Exhibition.
Alexandra Palace, London
January 17 N. Midlands Meccano Guild, club meeting, Oxton.

February 7 TIMS Meeting at Enginuity TF8 7DQ.

Exhibitors’ access from 0900
February 14 North East London Meccano Club, meeting and
AGM, Hainault Baptist Church Hall, Essex
March 14 W. London Meccano Soc. Meeting, Greenford
March 28 Midland Meccano Guild, Club Meeting, Baginton
March 28 South East London Meccano Society meeting
Sherard Hall, Court Road London.
April 11 Sheffield Meccano Guild, Meeting, Competition
and Auction, Laughton-en-le-Morthen, Rotherham
April 11 S. Birmingham Meccano Club, AGM & Club Meet-
ing, Hall Green Baptist Church.
April 19 Magic of Meccano Show, London Museum of Wa-
ter & Steam. Jim MacCulloch 01252 724703
May 1 Set up models from 1130-1630 at Enginuity.
No public.
2-4 May Meccanuity Exhibition. Exhibitors’ access
from 0900. At Enginuity TF8 7DQ
Public from 1000-1630.(normal admission charg-
es apply). Please pre-book your tables!
May 14-16 Club des Amis du Meccano, 42nd annual exhibi-
tion, Vence, South of France.
July 3-5 Skegex 2015, Embassy Centre, Skegness
August 15-16 TIMS Exhibition at Blists Hill Victorian Town
TF7 5DU
Come either or both days, please book with
Roger.
Public admitted from 1000-1630 (admission
charges apply). Victorian costume optional!
24