Page 9 - January February 2014

Achievement Program Progress
From Steve Park, British Region AP chairman
We seem to have the right formula as they keep coming back, and while they do, it gives us the opportunity to expand and continue to build layouts at a minimum cost and still keep our membership at five pounds a year, so it cannot be bad.
I know of several clubs/groups who just love the ‘Do not Touch’ notices draped all over their layouts, which basically are no better built than ours. Nothing is irreplaceable and could usually be quickly fixed should an accident occur. We, in all the time we have been running, have never had a problem, we trust our customers and they treat us right in return.
We let the kids loose on our layouts; can you imagine a three­ year­old little girl sitting on her dad’s lap working our timesaver switching layout? She was very gentle with it, more so than I. They sat there and decided where the wagons were going and dad pointed out which points to move – it was a joy to behold. I sat there fascinated and watched them both for 20 minutes or more before being dragged away.
We really need to trust the younger set, they really do respond to your trust and instructions. How are we to get the youngsters interested when especially in the NMRA you don’t want the public in, makes it more like a secret society. I heard quite a discussion going on at Meriden about youngsters and trains, with various schools of thought produced, but I am sure ours is best. Keep things as cheap as you can, don’t get greedy, mix people, children included, with trains and let them get to know each other, and throw away those ‘Do not Touch’ signs.
Master Builder – Cars
Master Builder – Structures
Master Builder – Scenery
Model Railroad Engineer – Civil Model Railroad Engineer – Electrical Association Official
Model Railroad Author Congratulations to them all!
Dioramas
David Cole
Alain Kap
Eric Belshaw
Eric Belshaw
Kathy Millatt Robin Swan, Chris Hobbs, Steve Scott, Keith Webb
Pit Karges, Alain Kap and Desmond Browne
Just little things a foot square or a square foot, they are ideal for trying out your modelling skills. I can’t understand how and why in the whole of our country we couldn’t find more than five of them to put in the competition at the NMRA Convention at Meriden.
I am sure all the old excuses will be trotted out; first up will be the old chestnut, ‘I don’t have the time.’ Have you by any chance noticed the number of people walking about poking their mobile phones for hours on end? Or sitting in front of the television watching hours of advertisements coupled together with some rubbish that they call programmes? Just think of the modelling hours wasted each day.
My diorama (it came first in the British Isles) took about ten hours maximum to produce, and the competition I was up against probably took about the same. I take my hat off to all of them, they actually got stuck in and did something for the hobby, and produced some really good efforts. I thought I didn’t stand a chance, and was pretty gob­smacked at the result. Next time let’s make it even better. All it takes is an idea and a few bits of something or other rubbish. Mine cost nothing, a few bits of stuff to hand and a poke about in the scrap box and you are there! Give modelling a try, please.
Allan Dobson
Onwards and Upwards
We, that famous (tongue­in­cheek) American Model Railroad Group, have just completed our latest PUBLIC meet NUMBER FIFTY. Once again the home­made cakes, cheap teas and coffees brought in the masses (well about 70 of them, from far and wide) and we hope that they had a good day and even enjoyed the trains.
HO Module Specification
Allan Dobson Tom Winlow
A draft update to the HO module specification has been placed on the Region website for comment. It can be accessed from the home page of the members’ area. For any comments on the proposed changes, a thread has been started on the ‘Modular Topics’ area of the Region Forum.
Peter Tobutt asks . . .
Has anyone any experience in scratchbuilding HO scale articu­ lated ‘steam’ locos? I would like to build one with separate motors in each of the coupled wheelsets but I am not sure about the details of articulation, position of motors relative to the pivoting points and prevention of ‘wobbling motion’ due to small bearing areas. Any information would be much appreciated.
Mob: 07813­654427 Tel: 01403­260783 email: ptobutt@supanet. com
Track elevation at Upper Narrows on Des Browne’s layout. Photo: Des Browne
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