Sunday 26 February 2012

Post-Exhibition review

Ever wondered who else reads this blog? Well we met him today. Dave ventured all the way from deepest Birmingham to join us and was good enough not to laugh at our efforts. Apparently he recognised Andy and Allen at Shepton Mallet show "from the photos on your blog!".

 Great to meet you Dave and we hope you will join us.

Although it seems a long time since we were at Mickleover, this was our first meeting since then, and so we began with the traditional review of what had worked well (and what had not). We had some problems with derailments from our flatcars and with unexpected uncoupling of the Kadees as they passed over some of the fixed magnets. One particular instance sticks in my mind......

 Someone (well, OK, to be honest it was me!) forgot to take a spirit level to Mickleover, so we used the time-honoured technique of "up a bit, stop" to align the boards by eye. Obviously our eyes are not that steady! At one point I was reversing two coaches stereotypically slowly into the depot. They unexpectedly uncoupled themselves from the loco and ACCELERATED into the depot area, coming to rest level with the platform.....

So we spent much time today leveling the boards, checking Kadee heights and alignments, plus the freedom of movement of the bogies and the back-to-backs on the wheel-sets. Andy produced seemingly endless amounts of flatcars from his box - he must have been building them continuously since Mickleover. At one point we had one of Allen's much-modified Shays pulling and pushing ten flats the length of the layout, which made a fine show as they snaked across the turnouts.

Dave was treated to an example of our haphazard building techniques when we decided to convert one of the fixed uncoupling magnets into a "moveable" one. This meant digging up the ballast, dragging the existing magnet out and then cutting yet another hole in the baseboard (I swear the boards are only half the weight they were when we started).

 Then Allen fitted the magnet onto a flap, which is closed by yet another servo motor. This being the prototype, no doubt Allen will bring an improved version to the next meeting, so hopefully pictures next time.

 Somehow the meeting after Mickleover always seems to result in digging up track, cutting holes and generally making the layout look less ready than it did before. Oh well, here's to the next 11 months!

Wednesday 1 February 2012

Mickleover exhibition 21/1/2012

Can it really be a whole year since we last took Anderton to the Trent Valley group's Mickleover Member's day?  Of course, since we only meet once a month it is only "12 days" since we were last here.  Always interesting to see how many people can see what we have done in the time.

Thanks to the Trent Valley group for their hospitality and to the ladies in the kitchen for the tea, bacon butties and baked potatoes.  If you have not been to the exhibition do try to get there next year.  It is a really friendly, low-key exhibition, with some great models, traders and a good chance for a chin-wag.



Anderton
Here are some photos of the layout at the exhibition.
The layout, resplendent in its new skirt. Thanks to Mrs Law for the sewing!
The smaller fiddle yard, at the Station end of the layout.
The large fiddle yard, loaded with rolling stock.
The box cab waits to shunt the timber yard
Allen's scratch-built timber loader, with timber stacks. Coffee stirrers have so many uses.
Double heading from two (almost) twin diesels. Allen doesn't like to make two identical locos.
The rail car awaiting a clear run into the station.
The West Midlands Group pose proudly with the layout. From Left to right: Peter, Ken, Andy, Allen.



Minimum Gauge Models - Allen Law
As well as being a member of the Anderton team, Allen is the owner of Minimum Gauge Models, which produces brass kits for
  • 09 (7mm to the foot on 9mm track) and
  • Gn15 (1/24th scale)

He brought along his demonstration 09 layout, which exhibits his range of locos, rolling stock and scenic items, including wrought iron tables and chairs and the foliage in the borders. He also supplies the 7mm kit for the engine shed and his latest is the splendid greenhouse kit.
The "Minimum Gauge Models" demonstration layout. All rolling stock, buildings, foliage and furniture are from their range.
Close ups of some of the models available
Another view of the Minimum Gauge models, all available as kits (except for the figures).



"Henmore Vale" layout from the Trent Valley group.
Our hosts were once again showing their layout, Henmore Vale, which is a masterpiece of modelling.
Henmore Vale: the turntable.
Henmore Vale station
Some of the scenic features on Henmore Vale.
Henmore Vale timber yard