Last Saturday saw the monthly gathering of the Forth and Clyde Area Group at the premises of the Edinburgh Society of Model Engineers. We had a good turnout with Simon, Graham, Andy, Alistair, Alastair, Stuart, Steve, Martin and Tony all present for at least some of the meeting.
Simon had brought along some of his MERG components, edging towards completion. As has previously been reported, after operating Mearns shed last year at Perth, Simon, and several others had joined MERG to get their hands on their DCC Controller kit. Simon has made probably the most progress on this front.
Here Simon is seen discussing the DCC Controller with Andy and Alistair. Andy's layout is DC controlled by a "big and bulky" controller and he too was taken by the compact size of the MERG system - another convert perhaps?
Stuart was working on more buildings for his N-Fine layout. This time a schoolhouse. Whilst at a lesser scale than his previously reported Mill buildings, it is no-less impressive in its detail.
Andy was working on trees. He uses a wire armature onto which he places cotton wool (or a cellulose fibre) to make the canopy.
There was a great deal of activity around Graham's laptop for much of the session. He was working on a 3D CAD file for the Station Attendents house at Glenfinnan (for Simon).
There was much discussion around how to get started on 3D CAD and comparisons of various proprietry softwares (and their costs). Alastair, as our resident experet, has volunteered to give a talk, and to assist with those who are struggling.
Aside from offering his sage advice on 3D CAD, Alsastair was continuing work on turnouts. He is using the "classic" soldered PCB method, with the rail soldered directly to the PCB.
We catch Alastair in a moment of concentration as he slots cut and gapped PCB into the jig ready for soldering on the rail.
Tony, down from the Grampian Area Group, was working on Finescaling a Graham Farish ex-LMS Ivatt Class 2 2-6-0 for Dunallander. This will be used for the Pick-Up Goods service, and for trunding around the Goods Yard. The conversion is using a number of methods - primarily using the now-unavailable Nigel Hunt "upgrade" etch, but with the tender wheels turned down and in the original frames.
Here, Tony was explaining the conversion to Simon and Martin, the latter of whom has a loco, and the start of the conversion etch to try, but is rather put off by the complexities of the valve gear.
More generally, inspired by a previous challenge the Area Group ran in 2016, Martin has proposed a 2025 Diorama Challenge. Participants have been encouraged to produce a railway related scene, not larger than 335x210x180mm (so as to fit into a 9L XL Really Useful Box). There is no requirement for moving parts or integral lighting etc.
Martin has pitched this as a means of testing out ideas, or doing something a bit different from the normal modelling in a relatively modest space. The Challenge was inspired by his own attempts to build a layout, wanting to trial things away from the layout to make sure he can actually do them, and as an advocate of the land existing before the railway, that the scene he has in his head comes together in miniature.
Several members have had ideas for the challenge - we can see Alistair sketching out his plan for a compact urban terminus, inspired by the likes of Leith Citadel. The plan is larger than the 335x210mm proposed, but Alistair was discussing taking "a slice" from his plan and building it.
Graham had been taken by an image on a postcard of a colliery loading facility in the era of the Caledonian Railway and was giving consideration as to how the stilted building over the track could be 3D printed.
The Forth and Clyde Area Group will be represented at Model Rail Scotland later in the month. Please feel free to drop by Stand B44 and discuss all things 2mm Finescale, or even railways.
Our next Area Group Meeting will be Saturday March 8th at ESMEs premises. We welcome waifs and strays of all persuasions, particularly if they bring cake!
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