Hi all, it is Wednesday, 13th. May the club evening is various members telling us what they are doing or what they have done or possibly what they are going to do, always a dangerous area. Man plans God smiles!
Our Chairman started proceedings with news of opening up the track now the safety measures have been completed. A few members spoke supporting the opening of the track next Sunday. Our Chairman then introduced the first speaker Michael, who had just purchased a live steam 5 inch gauge, Class 3F loco 0-6-0 with tender, which was the work horse of the railways in general delivering coal and also his own favourite. Mine too as I always preferred coal trucks to carriages.
Michael gave us detail about the loco the builder and his own hunt for information and finding the number on the model coincided with the number on one of the few original pictures of the prototype. None of these locos were saved for later preservation. Questions came and were answered, Michael received a warm round of applause at the end.
Next our Chairman gave us chapter and verse on progress on his Stirling single build. We got really technical with comments offered and answered and even suggestions of other ways to do things. (bit dodgy that considering)! Pictures followed and small hand drawings illustrated different points on lapping. All went well with the promise of more to come.
We broke for tea and biccys provided by Jack and Neil dispensed with a kind smile and sympathy for the aged amongst us! I had to ring the bell to get the evening back on track and everyone seated. It was boat time and off the tracks.
Brian and I were going to discuss how we had dealt with some donated models. The first one was a Billing kit of the Ocean-going tug Zwarte Zee. This one was at 1: 100 scale and was the all-wood version. It was the result of a phone call to the club about 20 years ago. I visited to see the model, I often worry about this as so many models are first builds where the owner finds he is out of his depth, but this one was OK as the kit was complete, well started and straight and true.
I worked on the model on and off for some months fitting the innards prop shaft and motor and made the hull waterproof etc. I completed the mast and cabin details. I got stuck on how to operate the rudder and just stopped work as another project looked more appealing. Brian some years later asked if I had a model of ZZ which surprised me as I had not mentioned it, so the baton was passed on!
Brian leapt straight in solving the steering problem, refitting somethings and less than a month later she was on the water for the first time and she went very well, justifying all the time and effort put in over the years.
Next, I did a presentation on a rather unique as it turned out donation. The email invitation was quite definite. It was a trip to the skip or collect it now as we are moving, scenario! It was November evening and in the dark and all house numbers were hidden by long drives, but no matter, she said they were moving so look for the For Sale notice. I made contact at a very precise time as instructed just as the lady of the house put on the evening meal, we had a 10 minute slot! I was shown the model which was in a generally bad state but, my thoughts were towards what the motor inside might be!
I thought she looked from the 1930's and fingers were crossed for a Bassett-lowke electric motor lurking beneath. The top came off and there was a large clockwork motor! It was big, bold and brass, I loved it even though not all of it was visible. The boat was pretty awful and the parting shot from the lady was, "Are you going to restore it?” I said "It looks more like a resurrection".
When home I had a better look at it, definitely old and the clockwork motor was actually built in to the model. I checked it worked OK which it did and phoned my friend Terry Summers for advice and with his persuasion I decided to restore her. The deck was sawn around the motor area to release the drive motor. I then cleaned and oiled it, 30 turns were required to wind it up and the last few were hard ones. A very powerful motor far more than the familiar Meccano ones and very nicely constructed, no twisted metal tabs to secure it, all nuts and bolts.
As it turned out the wood was in excellent condition but I had to use my electric sander to reveal it. The prop shaft was jammed in, that is until a sharp tap with a hammer shattered the glue holding it in place. Friend Brian sorted that out as it was a commercial item never meant to come apart. I did the rudder and devised a simple method to control it with a servo.
The superstructure was chaotic and too much in my opinion, with a weighted brass tube for a funnel which weighed enough to capsize the model. The essential charm was that it was a 'Toy Boat', and needed reviving as such. I re-made the s/s and reduced it, moved saveable accessories and kept as much as possible of the model. She improved no-end with a new coat of paint and proper stanchions etc. No money was spent it was a re-use of existing and salvaged parts plus radio control already in hand.
First outing was not so easy as I had to wind up the motor and hold the prop still while lowering all into the water and by that time the clockwork had half run down, but she floated up-right and on the water line so OK so far.
Some thought on the journey home produced a small servo with a wire prod attached to interfere with the motor connection. It was easily fitted and worked fine. Perhaps she is the only home- built radio controlled clockwork boat?
The evening was near ending, I asked if the audience would like another 10 minutes, no body moved so we finished on the Thames barge which Brian had got working again. Not much wrong with this just a broken mizzen mast which was secured and fitted.
The builder was a member for many years Jim Isaacs who made lovely models many earning awards at exhibitions and his Thames Barge was no exception. Brian being the way he is introduced a small electric motor in case of less wind and a need to attack his sandwich lunch. The insides were demonstrated via the camera and Brian's iPad to reveal how she worked. There were some on the water shots etc.
It was later than usual and from a personal point of view I was very pleased everyone had stayed. We threatened to do it again as between us we have a lot of boats!
All set about clearing up to remove our presence, and depart quietly.
Thanks go to all who made the evening happen the next meeting is at the Puffing Park, weather permitting.
Regards to all,
Roy Verden 15th May 2026