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This is a busy time for us meccano nuts. Last weekend we were at the Magic of Meccano Show and next weekend we will be in Ironbridge for the bank holiday weekend at Meccanuity 09, the annual exhibition staged by the Telford and Ironbridge Meccano Society (TIMS).
Today we have been to HTMC meeting in Hildenborough, Kent. Nice local outing for us, just half an hour or so in the car - less time for the bolts to work loose! We had intended to take our completed Derrick crane but work got in the way of Meccano building and I ran out of time. I did however take the jib and gearbox which gave rise to some discussion. We also took the Forth Bridge -all sixteen foot of it - having booked the front of the stage to display it on and the fully refurbished French display crane. We arrived just after 11am and managed to get set up before the masses arrived. I was concerned that attendance might be affected by the absence of our friendly neighbourhood trader, who, after spending all last weekend at Kew is loading up the Taylor charabanc with lots of goodies for us to peruse for three days at Mecanuity 09. My fears were unfounded as the place soon filled up with lots of models and a good smuttering of collectables. First job was to set up the bridge along the front of the stage and claim a table for the other models. Sue set about ‘bridge repairs’ while I set the French crane running and got the other bits and pieces ready. Taking the gearbox and jib for the unfinished Scotch derrick crane was a last minute decision that was a good one as it gave me something to chinwag about as I am often lost for words at these events…. We also took some of the new Meccano we have acquired lately. These being the Micro-kits that Sue bought from DT last week at Kew and a couple of the new robot kits in tins that I managed to find on the web HERE. Once we were set up Sue was off with her trusty box brownie recording the sights for posterity. Lots to see After Kew last weekend I thought that it would be a bit of a re-run but I was pleasantly surprised at the number of models I had not seen before. Nick Rodger's brought along the fretsaw that he has rebuilt from the Bert Love original. He is drafting a moel plan of it so now he has to take it to bits and count the parts! Ivor Perrett’s interpretation of the Jazz band from an old Meccano magazine article made me smile.
Alan Wenbourne’s London Eye won the Noel To’Bois Trophy and Jim Cass’ combine harvester, George Foard’s Dartford tunnel breakdown vehicle and Jim MacCulloch’s Waddon steam pumping engine were all runners up.
Chris Fry is going through his F1 phase with an ever-growing display. The much modified and improved M&S single model set from the Mechanical workshop set is looking good now it has a full bodywork and a posh new stand - why do those large red plates look so much better than the light yellw ones? - See the Spring SELMC report.
...and finally Every hobby has its characters and this one is no different. Mike Dennis is a model maker who uses Meccano and I for one welcome his input and expertise. His models often court comment good and bad and he is the first to defend his corner. Although I have had ‘discussions’ with him on the Spanner II list, Saturday was the first time I have met him face to face. It also gave me a chance to get a look at some of his fine models first hand. No matter what you think of his methods and whether or not it is true meccano modelling you cannot deny that he is a master of his craft. |
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As usual time flew by and before we knew it we were packing the car and turning our thougths to next weekends three day event in Ironbridge. Ralph. |
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