May 2023 Scottish Mini-meet

Was it really five years ago? The last time the two Scottish area groups of the 2mm Scale Association attempted to explain themselves to a select group of invitees was in Perth in April 2018. (The original Perth, Kevin, not the one in Western Australia).

High time then for a follow-on event. Public halls available for hire at pocket-money prices have become even less common than five years ago, so we were fortunate that the Edinburgh Society of Model Engineers stepped up with the offer of their large conference room for our 2023 Scottish mini-meet. This gave us space for eight layouts in various stages of development, two specialist traders, and two demo tables.

Alisdair Campbell's "Aucheidh" started life as a test track but then took on a life of its own as (according to the show guide) "a highly unlikely minor Highland Railway station somewhere near Granny's Hielan' Hame". Highly unlikely or not, an intensive train service of green locomotives and green-and-white coaches was to be seen:

Those who went camping or caravanning in 1970s Scotland may recall that "Granny's Hielan' Hame" was a real place not far from Dornoch. Perhaps they built it on the site of Aucheidh goods yard?

Andy Peggie's "Lomond Bridge" is a development of his N gauge layout based on elements of Leslie in Fife. Regauging is still under way.

Martin McIntosh only put saw to timber in late December, but his baseboards are ready for tracklaying in earnest with most turnouts already built from Finetrax kits. His terminus layout, "Cathkin Central", is inspired by the Cathcart Circle in Glasgow but with aspects of other locations added in to the mix. He had some of his Caledonian wagons, from member Jim Watt's Buchanan Kits range, in the goods yard.

A backdrop of low-relief tenements is planned and the first cutouts for these are propped against the back board.

 Simon Hadwin brought a couple of boards from his West Highland Mallaig Extension project - the station boards from Glenfinnan, now with track more or less complete - and a selection of stock including a 20-van fish train.

The Forth and Clyde group's own cameo project, intended as a conversation point for the 2mmSA Further North roadshow at exhibitions, was also on display. Alistair Mearns took the chance to measure up for the backscene he will paint for the layout.

FCAG member Jim Watt intended to bring "Kirkallanmuir" but had to withdraw at the last moment due to a "heavy general" repair at the NHS main works. The boilermakers did their job and outshopped him in good order but put him on gentle running-in turns for a few weeks. We missed him, and wish him a fast return to top-link duties.

The Grampian area group brought a section of Dunallander, their development of the late Neil Ballantyne's layout based on Dunblane near Stirling, with three of their members making the journey south to explain their work. Their blog has more details. A variety of locomotives were in their stock box.

 

The North East (of England!) Area Group provided 2mm finescale inspiration before the Scottish area groups got going, so it was fitting that two of their stalwart members brought their established layouts to the event.

Mick Simpson (who also had a "heavy general" recently, but who is happily back on main-line duties with his bone-crushing handshake intact) brought Callaton:

and Anthony Yeates brought Corrieshalloch, with stock from both HR and BR(ScR) periods:

The fiddle yard cassettes are worthy of note:

Chris Gough, who is well-known for his P4 layout "Cadhay Sidings", is also a FCAG member who in the past has given us some memorable demonstrations of his 2mm scale building techniques. He offers a complete layout design service as "Model Layout Services" and had brought some of his laser-cut baseboards along:

 

 

Martin Stewart, who modelled in 2mm for some years and had "Ketton Cement" on the exhibition circuit, now  runs his own design firm, "Architectural Railway Models", producing laser-cut and 3D printed building components in 2mm, 4mm and 7mm scale. His West Highland station elements are a particular delight for those who know the buildings: they capture their subtle textures better than we've seen elsewhere. He's used them on several of his own West Highland layouts.

All the shots below are of the 2mm versions, straight from the cutter or printer. The different media fit each other very precisely.

Martin is contactable on archrailwaymodels (at) gmail.com or 07536 677756 ... we hope to see him at FCAG meetings again when he can find time.

FCAG member James Batchelor was demonstrating various elements of getting started in 2mm scale, as well as the piezoelectric steam generation technology he is building into the P4 "Burntisland" layout:

 

Ray Nolton, another who works mostly in P4, had the next table to James.

Ray brought along his 1:144 ship models with a beautifully-observed diorama including 1:152 wagons. He was seen to depart with an Association starter kit, so we await furher developments with interest!

We had a healthy number of visitors from outside the 2mm scale fraternity - strong contingents from the N Gauge Society and the Scalefour Society's East of Scotland and West of Scotland groups, and individuals from the 3mm Society and of course from the larger scales favoured by ESME members. By mid-afternoon everyone had settled down to the kind of contented chat familiar from other Association mini-meets.

The event was certainly a success for the attendees, and we signed up a new member, paid our hall fee with something left over for local Area Group funds, and sold a good number of 2mmSA publications. Thanks to all the exhibitors, traders, demonstrators and visitors, to Alisdair Campbell for organisation, and not least to ESME for tolerating the 2mm folks. We look forward to the next event, hopefully this time sooner than five years away!