Friday 24 April 2009

Twelve months on...

Yes it hardly seems that a year ago we formed as a group. Regular monthly meeting, well attended and if someone isn't coming I get an email and a totally hopeless excuse, usually work or something equally feeble.
This month was no exception, Bernie Baker has bought shares in Hornby Railways as hes' added 13 chips to his fleet of converted locos. What makes this special is the action of these engines, very, very smooth and beautifully weathered. Bernie has worked wonders on some of these machines as I've always been a little suspicious of RTR conversions, not usually a candle to a good built chassis. But Bernie's are right up there and you would be hard pressed to tell the difference.


The two panniers and the two 56xx run equally as nicely. Alistair Stannard has been as equally busy, producing some very nice rolling stock to run on Belle Vue. Rod Hall has been really busy building a stock of plate wagons and hoppers all with sprung under frames and really looking the business. Rob Foot has been producing some very elegant lineside additions, some water cranes.

All in all, the group is now well established with many arm chair modellers now producing some very fine work. We have not gained any more new attendees but, on the other hand, we have not lost any members from our inaugural meeting either. Everyone who attends, contributes during the evening. A very healthy state of affairs, so my thanks to all the members for their support, but one big thank you to Dave Hagger, who has helped so much in getting this group going and continues to help with the monthly meetings.
The next meeting will be the end of May...

Tuesday 21 April 2009

New Area Group

North East of Scotland (Grampian) Area Group (Proposed New Group)

We wish to consider setting up an Area Group based on a reasonable travelling distance around Aberdeen. The group is intended to be a meeting of like minded modellers sharing ideas and techniques details of which would depend on the interests and wishes of those participating.

An initial meeting is planned for some time in the early summer.

Interested? Please contact: John Anderson: 01224 743503
j.anderson177 at btinternet.com
or Peter Heald: 690c Great Northern Road, Aberdeen, AB24 2GG phone: 01224 684002 e-mail: pj.heald at virgin.net

Thursday 16 April 2009

Fylde Area Group

On the 9th April we had the usual run and natter meeting, this time I took the camera to the meeting and have a number of photographs to post. The meeting was well attended with 10 members present Martin Walmsley brought along a number of interesting locomotives shown below, some very local to Preston:

An LMS jackshaft shunter 7080-7119 built from 1939, a derivative of the design from English Electric (Dick Kerr) works in Preston in 1934.


A LNWR box tank, which worked Greenbank sidings north of Preston before the Kitson's displaced them, the yard had very tight radius turnouts, apparently these short wheelbase locos has to be escorted (coupled to another locmotive) through the station area to avoid them disappearing off the track circuits.

Now that Preston has been convered to DCC, we also had a visit from a nice, sound fitted, class 20 (used by Graham Seed at the Scalefour North demo stand the previous weekend)

Also nicely sound fitted was an early Type 2 (class 25) sat in the carriage siding on tickover.


Our next meeting (run and natter) is back to the usual third Thursday, 21st May. Please contact Mike Norris (details on blue sheet), should you require more information.

Wednesday 1 April 2009

Fylde Area Group

On Thursday 19th March, we had our usual meeting attended by 10 members.

This month was a talk and presentation by (myself) Mike Norris on 'P4 Track Construction', I do not intend to write my own review, but if any one would like to read a review one is present in the March 2009 HMRS Points newsletter. I will also be presenting this talk again for the Manchester Model Railway Society on September 11th at Dean Hall Manchester.

Needless to say this did lead to an extensive discussion after the talk with many experiences aired, problems discussed and the permanent way generally put to rights by the gang.

Our next meeting (run and natter) is not on the usual third Thursday but on Thursday 9th April. Please contact Mike Norris (details on blue sheet), should you require more information.