The sun seems to have finally got its hat on in central Scotland so it was shirtsleeves and shorts for some attendees of this month's meeting, as usual at the Almondell premises of the Edinburgh Society of Model Engineers. Others, for whom experience overrode hope, stuck to their sweaters. The word "anorak" was heard, in its non-pejorative sense. But in the event, the weather stayed sweet and we were even able to eat our sandwiches outside at lunch-time.
Simon, Alisdair, Alistair, Andy, Graham and Martin (with James making a cameo appearance) spent the day largely on personal projects. There was also some organisational discussion of the Scottish minimeet next Saturday, 20th May. Not aware of this sensational event? Weel, ye ken noo. Set your sat-nav to EH52 5PF and turn up at 11.00am next Saturday with a fiver in your hand and we might even let you in.
A little more fettling was made to the Group Layout, Alisdair elbowing his way to the front of the queue of willing volunteers so he could check that the P.W. was up to his full-size standards at the Bo'ness and Kinneil Railway a twenty-minute drive away. Did we mention that the B&K is running a steam timetable on May 20th and 21st? Another reason to visit the area.
The lump of wood on the track is in fact a test vehicle (prompting the inevitable gags about timber traffic and one-plank wagons) which was propelled by finger through the turnouts to see whether it stayed on the track now the turnout operating units are linked up. One slight kink was found in the curved road of a point and adjusted slightly with the soldering iron.
Since last month, a bank of slide switches has appeared at one end of the layout (top left of the next photo):
These change the polarity of the turnout crossings while simultaneously
operating the wire-in-tube drive to the TOUs hidden below. As mentioned last month, the turnout at the far end of the baseboard resisted attempts to be operated directly by wire in tube, so an operating rod in the form of two bicycle spokes and a bell crank was added to transfer a more positive drive. One of the baseboard bracing struts also had to be moved. Our experience is that the Association TOUs are slightly more flexible than expected, so that it helps to secure them at both ends to ensure motion is not lost through flexing.
Meanwhile in the background, Graham made a further slow progress with an Association etched kit for an LNWR van, bought on a whim at the Derby expo. The bottle contains liquid rosin flux: the needle turned out to be a bad idea, since it delivers far too much rather than the small drop required, but in any case it blocked solid after first use. A length of wire with a flattened end for dipping would work better and make much less mess.
Simon was busy with 2mm scale boats:
Martin had a Worsley Works LMS non-corridor 57' carriage under construction, as a temporary stopgap until he decides how to tackle the prototypical LMS 52' stock he will need for his Cathcart Circle-inspired layout:
Andy was working on turnouts for his layout which is scheduled to be at Almondell on show next week: will he, won't he be ready:
Alistair was working on the backscene for the shed layout. (Maybe we should call it "Mearns Shed" ... geddit). All that was missing was his beret.
And so another meeting drew to an end and we went our separate ways. We hope to see as many of you as possible next Saturday for the mini-meet!
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