Vacancy - Club Publicity Officer
The club is looking for someone to be responsible for publicising our activities. The aim of increasing our publicity is to lead to an increase in membership and more visitors to our events. These combine to increase the vitality of our club by giving us more choices and resources.
The role details are as follows:
following.
If you wish to put yourself forward or discuss to this role please drop Mike Collins a line on
chairman@stalbansmes.com to arrange a chat.
8th Feb 2021
It is with great sadness that we report the passing of Mick Bell.
His obituary can be read HERE
December Club Night Report
As it is December we did without the usual club business apart from our Chairman confirming to all that the club stand at the Alexandra Palace exhibition was organised. He also asked how many would support the building of a 45mm & 32mm gauge permanent garden railway type layout on post catering for 16mm narrow gauge and Gauge 1 trains at the puffing field.
The tables were out and it was nice to see some members models. Terry Summers had a beautiful steam boat called Opal and Trevor Jones brought in his enormous 5 inch gauge Duchess class ‘City of London’. Still under construction.
The evening started with Nick Hale explaining the steam set-up he had at the club exhibition. The commercial 2 cylinder engine now worth a considerable amount due to its rarity (how that word is misused!). This a simple Bowman engine and has a unique porting arrangement. As each piston approaches the top of its stroke it twists slightly and opens the inlet port and closes the exhaust port, and on reaching the bottom of its stroke the exhaust is opened and the inlet closed.
Nick then gave a detailed description of his three cylinder engine build, with photos taken during the process. There was discussion on the finer points of construction which Nick took on board. Nick was assisted by Rob on the camera although Nick protested he was a cameraman and could manage but you can only do so much on your own. The camera projected images of the models on to the large screen for all to see.
He then described the 'Bash Valve' steam engine although it does have a better name. Utilising many parts from an old sewing machine it does work but not with a lot of power output. At the exhibition it was driving a Trix electric motor as a dynamo but this will be replaced.
The Chairman thanked Nick and he received a nice round of applause. We then adjourned for tea and hot sausage rolls and quiche and Malcolm's cake. Members gathered around exhibits to chat.
The Chairman called meeting together again and your Secretary gave a short talk on the Norwegian fishing boats and the ferry he had modelled. The model was not built as per the original in balsa wood but in obechi / bass wood. The construction was illustrated using PowerPoint on the big screen. The model proved heavier than expected and would not float upright. A decision was taken to saw it in to two pieces and lengthen it. This had been quite a common practice full size after WW2 due to steel prices being so high for building new boats.
The model is now a third longer, has an extra two hatches and has 40% more displacement enabling more lead flashing to be carried which now keeps her upright and stable. The exercise I think has improved the looks of the model and sailing her is very pleasant with the batteries lasting several hours.
At this point Ian Ferguson told us that he was retiring from the Marlborough School at the end of the year but had taken up a new part time appointment at Oaklands College, which he was very pleased about as this is what he was hoping to do and he is now released from the rigours of marking exam papers and all that entails. His workshop evenings will continue but see Ian for details.
The next item was the raffle, this was handled in a quick way with a prize being displayed and a number drawn. Rob took photographs of winners to be used as evidence next year if any are returned in 2020! Generally the number of members attending was greater than previous social evenings and the raffle ticket sales were an all-time record all proceeds going into club funds. Thanks go to all members who brought in raffle items and also to the ladies who produced the hot food for us and the usual supporting team with tea and coffee and also the gallant band who put the chairs and tables out and return them.
Roy Verden 13 Dec 2019
Ian Ferguson’s 47xx – Maiden Trip
Some of you will have enjoyed the sound of Ian’s newly self-built 5 inch gauge running on a rolling road at this year’s Club Exhibition. So damp weather was ignored and a steam-up at the Puffing Field on Friday 1st November was to be the locomotive’s first actual run.
Ian, a couple of friends, Roger and myself provided assistance with opening up and preparing the track.
As I suspected and as with most newly built model locomotives the start to the run was hesitant.
Initially the sluggish but mighty GWR 2-8-0 was a challenge: keeping steam pressure up and completing a complete circuit was tough and the job of maintaining a good hot fire with a 10 inch firebox needed working out, but even so, progress remained a bit sluggish.
However, after a problem with a stray linkage on one of the cylinder cocks and a dragging tender brake had been fixed the locomotive at last freed up and began to show its paces.
Ian kindly let me complete a couple of circuits and I can tell you this ‘beast’ is quite something to drive, with its powerful bark and wonderful acceleration.
Well done Ian and we look forward to enjoying the sight and sound of your new creation again at the Puffing Field.
Tony Mason 02.11.19


Society exhibition 2019
A Report By Roy Verden
The Society exhibition came together on the evening of Friday 27th with the models coming in on the Saturday morning. This year we had an Official opening by Councillor Geoff Harrison. This was to thank him for help given by him to ease our visit to Verulam Park in August.
Councillor Harrison cut the tape and we were officially open.
Visitors paid their entrance fee and received a coloured band to wear as a ticket and immediately saw the RNLI which is the main charity the club supports, we also have donation boxes near the rides for the Wish Tree charity, a local one nearby.
The exhibition again filled the school almost to overflowing and this year due to an adverse forecast we had to plan for wet weather. We brought into use the picnic tables which are under cover for Live Steam exhibits and the shop into the Gym.
One of the big display items was the Flight Simulator which was a self-contained free standing unit housed outside, nicely placed with covered access, very busy the whole time.
The train rides ever popular were re-arranged to have covered access from a school corridor. The team were kept busy both days with passengers, who may have got a little damp on Sunday.
Also in that corridor was a new innovation, a 5 inch gauge ground level railway with a 0-4-0 electric loco and driving truck. Visitors as young as 5 and 6 were given the chance to drive a train while sitting behind it. This was supervised by the guard who also had an emergency switch to stop the loco if necessary.
Always a queue there!
At the end of the track we had an organ diorama with music playing as wanted.
The double doors lead out to the picnic tables and on show was Ian’s 5 inch gauge GWR 2-8-0 Goods engine which had its’ first steam up on a rolling road, consuming vast quantities of coal and water, a sight to behold.
Tony was also demonstrating on a rolling road some of his collection of steam engines bringing in different ones on Sunday.
Nick had a working steam plant with a stationary engine driving various accessories and we have the promise of a talk about it early next year.
The now, well known, Toyshop steam exhibit belonging to Mike was running effectively as ever this always attracts the younger visitors with the tiny workshops and their machines of a past age.
Rounding the corner and returning into the school we have the large display of Road Vehicles presented by Tamiya Truckers occupying the whole of the dining room area.
Ant and his group were driving loud brightly flashing vehicles on a layout of roads and inclines and an impressive bridge. While to one side an operating crane and a motorised shovel was loading gravel into trucks. In another corner was a chance for visitors to run a truck around a short road course using radio control, quite challenging!
Going down an adjacent corridor the first room has a large Garden railway running several trains with a very elaborate countryside and stations, all hoots and puffing noises but electrically powered, and just at the right level for children to view.
Further along and on the left a smaller room but with excellent lighting has the Spithead Review with miniature models of the Royal Navy through time.You could also see how they were constructed on a demo table.
The last three large class rooms were full of Meccano Models and showed the many possibilities of building with Meccano.
Models ranged from a large floating crane through Fairground Rides to clocks, models from the sets and working models for the visitor to operate.
Pride of place was a model of the USS Missouri Battleship a full 9 feet long in appropriate grey and with many working parts. The model had come up from the South West Meccano Club and was built and exhibited by Steve Briancourt.
https://southwestmeccano.org.uk/
There was also another Frank Hornby product, a tinplate ‘O’ gauge railway for visitors to wind up the engines and run them around the track, courtesy of a NLSME member. Many young visitors had never seen wind-up toys before. The Chairman of the West London Meccano Society was at the end of the corridor with his large Digger Crane made from Meccano for small fingers.
Returning to view the Gymnasium we have the Luton Model Boat Club with an excellent display of model making at its best with many ships mainly working but also some static. The Plastic Magic area has models that have featured in the Model Boats magazine. Members were happy to answer questions and chat to visitors.
Nearby was the North London MES with a working 3D printer and the Hanwell club with their exhibits.
A nice end to end model railway on ‘OO’ was run by regulars Steve and his wife Petra and their daughter.
At the far end is the host society, the St. Albans model engineering society with their large stand.
A big feature was the big screen showing recent club activities at The Puffing Field and our stands at other shows. The video was produced by Rob Briancourt and is most impressive with its content and sharp definition. There was also a 70 year old clip of the opening of the track the club uses at Chipperfield.
The video can be viewed HERE
The tables carried a display of club models showing all the different interests members have from scale yachts and electric powered boats to locos, vintage toys through to steam engines running on compressed air to the steam boats that they power.
Godfrey had his shovel caterpillar tractor powered by high pressure hydraulic oil heaving an enormous rock up an incline and dropping it. The noise of which ensured nobody dozed off anywhere!
There were some novelty items to amuse as well.
These included a Thomas the Tank engine that was running up and down, controlled by Guy Ellerby our redoubtable ex-Chairman now having passed 100 years old, and his trusty assistant Noel, a mere stripling in his mid 90’s. To paraphrase ‘Strictly’ ‘Keep smiling’!
For the inner man or woman there is a very busy newly refurbished catering area where the ladies of the club toiled ceaselessly to provide food and drink to all.
The Main Hall had local clubs from Stevenage and Welwyn and the Moorhen club.
Stevenage had a nice display of radio control items and some of the old electric motors and I/C engines.
The society has a club shop and there were many ‘interesting’ items on sale!
Moorhen club had some larger model boats on a very nice display.
Close by was Richard from the Association of Model Barge Owners with some splendid examples of 1:24 scale Thames Barges.
Welwyn club had some large modern examples of cross channel ferries as well as tiny working models of various ship types.
On the stage were two displays, on the left a Warehouse layout with fork lift trucks loading and unloading crates onto lorries from the storage areas. Next to it was a gravel grading machine separating different size gravel from the loads supplied by heavy duty lorries.
Down below was the Handley Page society stand.
The Lifeboat Appreciation group had a splendid display of large working RNLI lifeboats with information and photos.
In the corner of the Main Hall, by the door was MidAir. A small group devoted to encouraging flying model aircraft. Visitors could sit down and with tuition construct a small glider and go out onto the grass outside and test fly it.
Outside was the portable pool that has Have-A-Go radio controlled model boats for young visitors to operate under tuition, very busy on the Saturday, there was some sailing on the Sunday when the weather permitted.
The Flying Field was in operation on the Saturday but intermittent rain and gusting winds curtailed flying on Sunday.
Some hot air balloons were flown at the school entrance but the gusty wind condition prevented them from being flown too high.
Scattered among the halls were opportunities to buy various modelling items including vintage plastic construction kits and toys.
Although this was the worst weather we have ever had for our Model Show it did not dampen the spirits of those present.
The many children visiting on both days were quietly absorbed by all that they saw and did.
We would like to thank all the clubs that participated and without whom the Show could not take place.
Their models were an inspiration to all and must have kindled a few fires with some. I had many conversations with club members and visitors alike who were very much taken by the scale of the Show and the wide range of models.
We would also like to thank these clubs for the assistance rendered in setting out the 70 odd tables and bringing them back afterwards.
Our visitor numbers were down on last year due to uncertain weather but we still entertained more than 1300 over the two days with many pre-school children coming in for free.
Roy Verden.
29-09-19
Watch the Highlights Video on our YouTube channel HERE
1st Dec 2019
ST Albans MES on Radio Verulam.
Listen to the interview or watch the video HERE

September Club Night Report
The September meeting was a little different from the usual club nights as members were invited to bring along any model boats that they would like to be checked out for 'seaworthiness' and to get them running again and discuss problems and solutions with the boats with fellow club members.
To facilitate this the usual theatre style seating arrangement was changed to a more open layout with tables as well as chairs.
Members were also asked to complete a survey to, amongst other things, understand the range of interests members have and their ideas for the club.
And not not forgetting the engineering side, Malcolm has presented the club with a nice new (quiet) compressor and members were given a chance to test and run their engines on compressed air.
Malcolm also gave a talk about some of the engines he has built and mostly designed himself, and his use of a video camera and the halls projector made viewing the detail and operation of his engines so much easier.
A full description of the design and construction of Malcolm's Three Cylinder Engine can be found HERE
Nick Hale brought along his live steam powered exhibit using an old Stuart 405 with four engines. The engines are a Stuart 10V, a Balham Basher which is Nicks own design, and also his design for a beautiful three cylinder single acting marine engine. He is using the Balham Basher to drive an old Trix electric motor as a dynamo. The fourth engine is a little Bowmans twin cylinder marine engine.
Ian Gurton brought along his electronic development prototype for the club Dynamometer Car project to demonstrate. The project is coming along well with the group having regular development meetings.
https://stalbansmes.com/dynamometer-car-project/
Brambleton Model Railway Open Day
Saturday 7th September 2019 – a report by Tony Mason
Saturday 7th saw another invasion of the mountainous terrain of Harpenden known as Brambleton.
Roger Stephen had recruited at least four committee members and other willing workers from our Club to have a final push selling our Exhibition to members of the public and their children.
Two tents were quickly erected and 'exhibits-that-move' placed on tables.
Fireboxes were filled with fuel and before long glowing coal could be seen. Soon the air was filled with steam puffing from chimneys.
And so it was for nearly four hours during which over 700 of our leaflets were pressed into the hands of Mum’s, Dad’s and eager children’s hands.
We had proved you don’t need a printed circuit to create joy with juniors and parents were assured that a visit to our annual Expo would guarantee to exhaust their children once again.
What more can we do for mankind?
Finally I should point out that the main event at Brambleton was their ‘0’ gauge layouts and garden scale narrow gauge layouts which stretched as far as you could see.
Great cakes, savouries and beverages were sold too. 391 adults, 351 children had visited and earned the show £2231.
Well done those Brambeltonians and may you continue to prosper.
Tony Mason, Sept 2019.
The Brambleton MRC website can be found here: http://www.brambleton.org.uk/index.html
Summer BBQ at the Puffing Park


Sunday 11th August was the day of the annual BBQ and despite the changeable weather forecast the attendance was very good.
Happily the the weather stayed dry and warm and was ideal BBQ weather with everybody taking advantage of the BBQ grills to prepare their food.
Roger Stephen with his steam loco 'Princess Marina' and Clive Reynolds on the club'e electric loco 'Joyce' gave rides to club members and visitors young and old.
Other engines, both steam and electric were also run for everyone's enjoyment and the even neighbours from the adjoining properties came along and had train rides around the park.









Please scroll down to see the CRICH report
A visit to The Postal Museum
Wednesday 26th June saw an outing to The Postal Museum at Mount Pleasant, London.
The group met at the welcome space to be greeted by Kevin Gray, the retired colleague of a club member now working as a guide at the museum. Kevin gave the group a brief history of the area including how it became to be known as 'Mount Pleasant'.
The first part of our visit took us to the 'Mail Rail' part of the museum and the group boarded one of the two trains that take visitors on a 15 minute ride around a loop of track beneath the local area.
The train stops at various points along the route where some very impressive audiovisual displays show the history of the railway and describe its use throughout its service life. It's remarkable to consider that this system was the very first automatic and driverless railway system in the world at the time it was constructed and nothing else like it was built until 40 years after it's construction.
Returning to the Postal Museum the group were given a couple of 'Pop Up' talks by Kevin on the history of the postal service from its earliest years to the formation of the Royal Mail, and another talk about the brave men that formed a postal service during the war years to bring mail to the troops at the front lines and return with letters for loved ones at home.
The group then spent the remainder of the visit touring the various galleries and exhibits in the musem at their leisure.

Club Outing to the National Tramway Museum – Crich June 23rd - A Report by Tony Mason
The collapse in popularity of Trams started as early as the 1920’s and they finally disappeared from our streets , with one or two exceptions, in the 1950’s. The consequent availability of time expired Trams stimulated enthusiasts to save them and restore them, rather in the same way as the Narrow Gauge movement of the same time.
Crich, or ‘Kriche’, as the locals pronounce it, is a sleepy location in Derbyshire. Just south of the Peak District the tramway is on the site of a mining works’ and it’s incline, engineered by George Stephenson himself. Apart from working trams on the incline and the quarter of a mile of tramway with it’s four passing places there are many other attractions. These include a Learning Centre, a Workshop Viewing Gallery, Tram Depot and a Discovery Depot. The entire collection consists of some eighty trams in varying states of preservation with many of them in excellent working order. The standard of restoration is very high and we were fortunate to have a conducted tour round the Workshop conducted by a technical manager who could answer our many questions. The standard of restoration was superb doing great justice to these fascinating machines. Well done!
This is one of the latest projects being undertaken in the workshop. It is in fact the very last tram built by the LCC (London County Council) in 1933. The London Tram fleet, along with all the other transport facilities was passed over to London Transport in 1933.
Restoration is to the original LCC livery. The picture shows the tram in the Workshop and some of our members are climbing aboard to view the high quality of the restoration
Surely one of the most elegant restorations in the Crich collection. The car numbered 159 was built in 1902 and became a member of the LUT ‘W’ class. It ran until 1921 when it became the home to a couple in Ewhurst Green, remaining with them for 55 years! It was restored over a seven year period to the highest standards in its original London United Electric Tramways livery.
106 is a London County Council ‘B’ Class tramcar dating back to 1903. It is open-top , four-wheeled and built by Dick-Kerr. The trams were too small to handle London traffic and many were sold off to other operators while the remainder were used during peak hours. The last of the class ran in 1925. 106 was restored between 1971 and 1983 by the London County Council Tramways Trust and presented to the National Tramway Museum and is pictured here in the Tram Depot.
Portugal is famous for its Trams, in fact they can still be seen today in Oporto and Lisbon. 273 was restored to post-war Oporto ochre after acquisition in 1996. These trams are closely related to the American Streetcar and restoration was aided with monies from the Heritage Lottery Fun. Photographed during Club’s visit the children and dogs shows what a relaxed and all-embracing place the Crich Tramway is.
While members of the Club crowd onto the LCC tram they hardly noticed the lovely presentation and restoration of this, the second tram to arrive at Crich. This one was from Leeds and started its career there in 1926 and retired from in 1951. It was used on steep gradient routes being fitted with air braking for the steep hilly routes around Beeston.
Blackpool can hardly be avoided in a collection of trams. 167 dates back to 1928 when it was purchased from the English Electric Company in Preston. Note the luxury of a clerestory roof and the elegant pantograph. It came to Crich in 1962 and was restored by
Smithills, Bolton so it could participate in the Blackpool Tramway Centenary in 1985, since when it has represented its owners, the National Collection at other similar venues.
The trip was organised by Mike Grossmith and while the ratio of travel time to visit time was a little high it was well worth the journey and great value.
Thank you Mike.
https://www.tramway.co.uk/
June 2019 Club Night report
Club members turned out in numbers to join in celebration of Guy Ellerby's 100th birthday when he was presented with a birthday card signed by the members and an engraved name plate
that will adorn one of the steaming bays at the Puffing Park.
A deciciously fruity birthday cake was made by Malcolm Beak for this very special occasion and it was enjoyed by the members during the refreshment break.
The guest speaker for the evening was Richard Thomas from the Black Country Living Museum who gave a very entertaining and animated talk about 'President' a Fellows, Morton & Clayton steam powered narrowboat.
The 71 feet (22 m) long President was constructed in 1909 at FMC's company dock in Saltley, and cost £600. She was registered on 23 June that year. Her riveted, wrought iron hull is shaped in the 'Josher' style, named for FMC director Joshua Fellows.
President was bought by the Black Country Living Museum in January 1983. During the year both boats leave the museum and travel around the inland waterways attending various events and rallies promoting the Black Country Living Museum and the inland waterways in general.
More information on President and The Black Country Living Museum can be found here.
http://www.nb-president.org.uk/index.htm
https://www.bclm.co.uk/support/friends-of-president-steam-narrowboat/205.htm
Brambleton Model Railway Show Report
Brambleton Model Railway Show Saturday 11th May 2019 – A report by Roger Stephen and Tony Mason
We were invited by Alan Day to join the event in order to promote our exhibition. The venue was located just north of Harpenden and intriguingly adjacent to the site of the disused railway line from Harpenden to Hemel Hempstead. The models on show were a mixture of ‘O’ gauge and 16mm Garden scale. All the trains were remote controlled by ‘drivers’ who used both radio control and two rail electric supply. The system meant that the trains ran continually throughout an afternoon which lasted from 2pm to 5.30pm. The clientele were enchanted and very much fitted the profile of our own exhibition.
The Brambleton members seem to be a very friendly and helpful lot and they provided suitable transport to get our heavy stuff from the cars outside to where our gazebo went, and back again at the end of the day. Alan Day arranged this in a truck measuring approx 7’ 6” by 4’ 6”, sides about 1’ high which could take up to about 500kg. He said he is happy to use it to transport stuff if ever we need to, either with him towing it or by lending it to a member with a tow bar. I think it would be fine for events not needing the track, like Oaklands, but I would not recommend trying to load it with the portable track, station timbers, accessory boxes (wood packing, buffers, etc), passenger car, guard’s truck, and driving truck. Even without a gazebo that would be too much. Worth remembering his offer though. Members who attended and brought models were Roy Verden, Roger Stephen, Tony Mason, Jack Green, Chris Scivyer and Malcolm Beak.
As for the Brambleton open day itself, Alan Day says they had well over 1,000 people paying to get in (Adults £2:50, Children £1:50). I can believe that – the place was buzzing by 3pm. If one assumes the average family was mum, dad and two kids, that would be a ticket income of over £2,000 for a single afternoon. Their refreshment tent seemed to be doing good business too, charging £1:20 for a hot dog (with onions and ketchup/mustard) and fizzy drinks in cans at 80p. They probably turned over a total of around £3,000 on the day. I think it would be worth looking into how they publicise their open days. If you Google “Brambleton Open Day 2019” you get their website plus several social media sites, notably;
https://themummysphere.co.uk/listings/brambleton-model-railway-club-open-day/
Whatever they do, it seems to work.
Having the steam workshop on a table in front of the gazebo was fine but the three tables in the gazebo was not ideal - we wanted them under cover because of the forecast showers and ended up with rather restricted access to them. The wall panel at the back was OK but with hindsight, and the lack of showers as it turned out, we could have taken down the single side wall panel we had. We live and learn! Alan Day kindly returned the kit to the Puffing Field the next morning in his trailer.
Their next open day is on Saturday 7th September. That’s just three weeks before our own exhibition and obviously a great opportunity to hand out exhibition flyers. Alan Day is very keen for us to have a stand again and is desperate to have a bit of 5” gauge track there, even if it is only a short length (like 10 to 20 feet) for us to demonstrate a loco on. I did not promise that! Given that they attract a large number of families (which must be our target audience?) I think we should definitely have a stand there in September.
The Brambleton MRC website can be found here: http://www.brambleton.org.uk/index.html




May 2019 Club Night report
The May club night commenced with the usual club business from Clive and Roy and this was followed by a short talk by Mike Collins about the proposed Dynamometer project.
Members were invited to be involved in the project and a special meeting for those taking an interest has been arranged and will meet at Clive's house on Wednesday 15th May @ 10.30 am
Mike's talk was followed by the main speaker for the evening.
Chris Scivyer is a club member who also has a special interest in aviation and his talk was titled 'A Tour of Airfields and Museums In and Around Moscow'
- Four airports around Moscow
- The 2003 Moscow Airshow
- Star City (Russian Cosmonauts training)
- Several plants reworking old Russian aircraft and helicopters
- Three private airfields
- Three aircraft museums




During the refreshment break club members inspected a demonstration model of a 'RetroReflector' by David Brown.
It was made from a discarded mirror that David acquired and he had the pieces cut by a glazier.
It serves to illustrate the principles of the Lunar Laser Ranging Experiment
'Retroreflectors have been left on the Moon by the Apollo astronauts to reflect lasers from Earth so that scientists can measure the moon's distance with millimetre precision. We now know that the moon is receding at about 37 mm per year. If you look at the centre you will see an upside-down mirror image of yourself regardless of your position. The ones on the moon are glass prisms made very accurately and each panel contains many prisms. If you put your hand or anything in the centre you will see seven reflections, 3 single, 3 double and one triple'
The first StAlbansMES Newsletter has been published, registered club members can view and download it HERE
April 2019 Club Night & AGM Report
The April club night commenced with Annual General Meeting with the minutes of the last meeting read by Roy Verden, the election of Committee members and the financial report by Mike Grossmith.
The chairman then gave his report for 2018/2019
Read the full Chairmans Report Here
With the business of the AGM concluded the members enjoyed 'tea and buscuits' while viewing and discussing the projects and models brought to the meeting by fellow members.
The red truck in the last 'photo will form the basis of a 'Dynamometer' project that some members will be working on during the forthcoming year.
12th April.
March 2019 Club Night Report
The March club meeting was also Auction Night and there was a good turnout of members and a good selection of auction lots!
From our Chairman:
Thanks to all those who provided an assortment of items for sale at our auction last night. Thanks also to all those who put their hands in their pockets thereby putting £229.80 into club funds.
It was, as usual, an entertaining evening thanks to our excellent auctioneer Peter Haycock. Thanks to Peter, Ian Gurton who kept the books and Malcolm Beak who undertook the role of porter.
Clive
Sadly the garden strimmer attracted no bids and remains unsold !
Don't worry readers, you'll get another chance to buy it from the club shop at the annual exhibition in September!
14th March 2019
February 2019 Club Night Report
The club was delighted to host a talk by Ant and Mike Pritchard from the Tamiya Truckin' group.
The duo described and demonstrated the Tamiya models that they construct and operate, many of which are customised with special lighting and sound units, the latter are able to authenticaly re-create all of the starting and running sounds of the real trucks and construction vehicles.
During the refreshment break the club members closely inspected the models that Ant and Mike brought to show and many interesting questions were asked and comprehensively answered by Ant and Mike and their father Ted who was present and is also a member of the Tamiya Truckers.
The Tamiya Truckers are regular exhibitors at our Annual Exhibition and occupy an entire hall with their layout. They also exhibit at all the major model exhibitions in the UK and are an extremely popular attraction for young model makers at all the shows.
A video of the talk can be viewed on our YouTube channel..... or play it in the window here.



January 2019 Club Night report
At the January club night the Chairman presented two awards.
The first was the Hugh Beardwell trophy which is awarded to the best display by a club member at our exhibition.
This year this was awarded to Bill Langton and Terry Wybrow for putting together our club stand. The stand was the best for some years and displayed the society’s heritage.
The second award was the Chairman’s shield. This is awarded to recognise a member’s exceptional dedication to the society.
This year it was awarded to our gazette editor Tony Mason.
Tony has been involved with the editing of the gazette for 15 years. He assisted Roger Stephen during his term as editor and undertook a lead role advising and assisting Michelle Hysom during her term. Over the last few years Tony produced the gazette single handed and developed it into the excellent journal we have all enjoyed.
Ian Gurton brought along a couple of his Arduino Mini-Bots to show to members, these were to be seen scurrying around following guide lines and trying to avoid each other.
Ian will be exhibiting these at the Alexandra Palace show later in January.

The awards presentations were followed by a film Show presented by Frank Banfield and included some facinating vintage films depicting maritime and railway history, his show also included a selection of short cartoon films including one of our all time favourites.......Roadrunner & Wile E.Coyote....Beep Beep.
That's All Folks !