2mmSA Diamond Jubilee Exhibition, June 2022

Several FCAG members made the journey south to Derby to sample the delights of the 2mmSA Diamond Jubilee exhibition, and we were not disappointed. The standard of modelling on display was very high indeed, but the best part, of course, was the opportunity to ask direct questions of the experts with plenty of time and space for unhurried and thoughtful answers. It was also a chance to meet new people from other area groups and put faces to names. In short, a great weekend.

 Here are a few snaps to console those who for one reason or another could not be there. The uneven coverage has got more to do with my incompetence in using a camera (quite a few ended up on the darkroom floor) than my admiration for the modellers concerned.

First the Challenge layouts, in no particular order. (A prize was awarded, to Steve Nicholls' "Gakunan", but every display was fascinating). Each scene is 60cm x 9.42 inches. The descriptions are from the show programme.

Clyde (Richard Doust) Set in the Clyde shipbuilding yards in Glasgow

Callington (Chris Carlton)  The terminus of a BR(S) branch to the tin and copper mines of the Tamar valley

Line No 16 Ripple (Nick Bastable) A standard/narrow gauge line in the Kent hopfields

Golden Mile (Tom Cunnington) A modern-day 'might have' take on the Brentford branch in west London

End of the Road (Bryn Davies) The recovery of an old branch line in the 1970s 

... and it's the Milwaukee Road, before you ask.

Ale Dock (Kevin Knight) Inspired by a photograph of an ale loading dock in Burton-on-Trent

 Coal Road (Rod McCall) A small part of Rod's layout Coal Road

I somehow missed taking photos of Rod's  Challenge entry, but Coal Road is featured later on.

The Coal Hole (Nick Mitchell) Part of a loco shed

Gakunan (Steve Nicholls) Japanese narrow gauge industrial railway near Mount Fuji

Port Jubilee (Anthony Yeates) A rail-served pier somewhere on the Scottish coast

 Merchant Bridge (ex programme, so I don't know who to credit)

Then there were the invited layouts - again in no particular order.

Evercreech Junction (Alan Smith and Keith Gloster)

British Oak (Mark Fielder). Unfortunately I messed up most of the photos I took by incompetence :-(

Coal Road (Rod McCall)

Ivybridge (John Aldrick)

https://2mmfcag.blogspot.com/2022/06/diamond-jubilee.html (Nigel Ashton)

Moretonhampstead (Pete Warren)

Copenhagen Fields (Model Railway Club)

Freshwater (Ian Morgan).

A mantelpiece clock??? In 2mm scale ??? Oh come on ...

St Ruth (Midlands 2mm group)

Fencehouses (Bob Jones and team)

Wadebridge and Padstow (John Greenwood)

Very many thanks to the exhibitors, stewards, organisers, and the hotel staff.

May 2022 Forth and Clyde area group meeting

This month's meeting saw a slight dip in attendance ... not due to any virus, but to holiday fever. Most of the group were unaccountably absent. Perhaps they were in Italy for the Eurovision song contest final? At least one was talking about a foreign trip, although it transpired that "foreign" meant Berwick-upon-Tweed.

The loyal few who remained true to our 2mm vows met at Graham's home in Edinburgh - no names no pack drill - and registered a symbolic protest by doing very little modelling, but much talking and tea-drinking. A little gentle Humbrol enamelling of a 2mmSA Toad E kit was undertaken, a propelling pencil applied to a sketch pad ... there was animated discussion of the monthly illustrated papers: nothing too strenuous.

We expect normal service to be resumed next month - the meeting (hopefully back at ESME's excellent Almondell headquarters) will exceptionally be on the first weekend of June, to allow a pause before the 2mmSA Diamond Jubilee show in Derby and the Perth exhibition on the 18/19 and 25/26 weekends respectively. See you there!

April 2022 Forth and Clyde Area Group Meeting

 

"The spring has sprung, the grass is riz, I wonder where the 2mm chappies is?" So wrote our national barr, Robert de Irn Bru, in his epic poem "To an Easitrak Turnout". Of course, the answer came yesterday, when nine of southern Scotland's finest 2mm modeller chappies (as such all were) wended their way to the fine premises of ESME in picturesque Almondell. Those finest did not not include those usual stalwarts Al#1 and J#2, but Graham, J#1, Stephen, Nigel, the Junior Als #2 and #3, Simon, Andy and Martin made their way in the weak spring sunshine for the monthly blether session.

As usual, there was much talk before settling down to a bit of modelling. But hark! What was that sound of sobbing heard from the dark corner where Al#2 was lurking? It turned out that the eejit had forgotten his tools, so Martin and Andy rummaged through their own toolboxes to keep the overgrown toddler quiet. Al#2 then proceeded to do nothing much with them anyway, but others were beavering away on their Particular Pet Projects. (Ooooh! Wull ye look at thon! Smart Alec's daein' alliteration noo! Getting above hissel', so he is! Ah kent his faither, ye ken. Always had ideas above their station*, so they did!)

Those others included  Graham who, after many sair trauchles, had completed his turnout for the as yet embryonic Group layout, and brought it along to prove it. Despite his own self-deprecation, we (who are normally quite happy helping with his deprecation) were duly impressed.

On the day, he was working on an Association kit for an amphibian of the LNER variety. There was much pondering amongst the motley crew as to why the LNER had aligned itself with the ungodly GWR in naming it's brake vans. 

J#1 had come along with his completed tandem turnout for the Group layout. As expected from one of his experience, it looks the part. As Simon had already produced one, we'll have to invent some sort of  blind testing to choose which will have the honour of being place in the layout. Hmm...

Jim had also brought along his rather special Caley Conner 2-4-0 nearing end of its construction. It was set upon rails and made to run, which it did, but still with a wee bit of rubbing causing slight stutter. Knowing the maker, this will soon be dealt with to create a smooth running beastie. His (as yet unfinished) lining is a wonder to behold.

Talking of Caley matters our neophyte member, Martin, has been churning out rolling stock faster than St. Rollox back in the day. He is certainly putting us auld yins to shame. As well as adding to his burgeoning wagon stock, both scratch and kit built, he is now prodigiously constructing some 45 feet carriages, starting with the Worsely Works etches.

And he has also been playing with Easitrak turnouts, both old and new versions.

 

 

Nigel has been resurrecting some old coaches, which, some time ago, had been put away almost complete, but not quite. (I'm glad it's not just me...). They are some rather attractive Wisbech and Upwell Tramway vehicles, both the earlier 4-wheel and the later bogie varieties. They are going to make rather attractive vehicles with their low floors and verandah railings. However, the combination of those two features are giving Nigel a challenge in terms of getting a good fixing for the buffers which are above the level of the carriage floor. Knowing the man, there is no doubt a clever solution on its way.

By the way, the W&UT was the prototype for the Isle of Sodor Railway. I wonder how the faces are going to be fixed to the ends?

 

 

Still on the rolling stack, Alastair was drawing up a North British mineral wagon with the view to 3D printing them for his planned South Queensferry layout. Source material and sustenance to hand.

 

When they eventually roll off the production line, there is bound be demand for more from others. Although, I doubt that Jim will be...

Alistair also brought along some brackets he had 3D printed out from Nigel's model. These are to be used for assisting the construction of the layout to be cut from ply laser cut by Chris.

Meanwhile, Stephen had been on a spending spree, bringing along some N gauge goodies which he had recently smuggled into the house, on the basis that it is easier than an O gauge loco. The boxes contained a class 92, a few Caledonian Sleepers and the recent NGS Hunslet shunter. Just awaiting the procurement of some 2mm wheelsets. He had also brought along his usual stash of magazines which kept the rowdier members of the Group quiet for a while.

Next month's meeting will be on Saturday 14th May.

*Partick Central

March 2022 Forth and Clyde Area Group Meeting

That mysterious rhythmic thudding sound which resonated across Central Scotland last Saturday has now been identified as the sound of the eager footsteps of the 2mm Scale Association's Forth and Clyde members approaching their monthly devotions at the altar of Tooemem, in the broad bright uplands of Almondell. 

This months' attendance consisted of 3 to the power of two members, being 4A + 1C + G + 2J + M. It should have included an S, but that letter had been laid out with a lurgi. The meeting was supposed to incorporate a Zoom session for our far flung members, but unfortunately they had been flung too far to reach their computers so the meeting remained with The Nine who were physically present.

Prior to lunch, whilst the blethering did not reach the great peak of last month, there was still a sterling effort to amass much gossip and spread rumours and nonsense. However, eventually, all members settled down to some physically distanced modelling, prior to stuffing of faces. After their repast, members somnolently gathered round to watch the displays of current projects being undertaken by some members. Although the Zoom session was shut down when nobody tuned in, we were still able to display the various sets of photos on the laser display screen - one of the advantages of meeting at ESME is the availability of good quality digital projection equipment.

Andy was getting back into modelling after a hiatus caused by such nonsense as home improvements and had dug out his work station and was knocking up a soldered turnout:

Andy had also brought along some photos of our old layout, Sauchenford (now retired to a safe house in Dumfries and Galloway). Amongst the pictures was one showing Colin, our late Area Organiser, working on the construction of the boards in Andy's garage, with our Senior Member, Alistair, in the background.

Seguing on nicely from our longest serving member to our most recent recruit, Martin showed his continuing development of a pre-grouping wagon fleet showing his expanding rake of Caley wagons (mostly from the Buchanan Kits range of member, Jim) along with a scratch built covered wagon.

He is also working on a Worsley Works Caley 45 foot Third carriage.

Speaking of Caley matters, our resident Caley expert, Jim, has been working away on his tiny, wee Connor 2-4-0 and is now at the stage of having the body on the chassis. Unfortunately, although he had hoped to show us it running on a test track, when he had put the body on to the chassis, it had badly affected the running of the previously sweetly controllable chassis. He thinks it is probably due to a lack of clearance between body and gearbox causing unwonted friction in the drive train, but had not yet had time to get all diagnostic with the wee beastie. Still, it made a fine sight in all its nickel-silver glory.

The other J, James, had been working on an Easitrak point kit. He had been introducing his own method of making the necessary internal electrical connections. He also showed a hand knitted turnout operation unit (using dauds of Plastruct) with microswitch for electrical switching of the crossing.

Graham, had also been working on turnout construction, but of soldered construction using the Association etched chairs as cunningly devised by Laurie Adams. He had had a precious attempt which had been a frustrating failure, but, with some lessons learned, he was much happier with the progress of this one.

Graham was finding the wee jigs he had made with his 500MW soldering iron (see the November blog) of great assistance. He also noted that he found that construction following the "official" method was not always working for him. This led to some discussion with James, who has previously built a turnout using the same method, as to various tweaks to the construction methods which suited their own ways of working. They have been prevailed upon to write an article for the Association Journal to spread their ideas (not always the same as each other). Note for Graham and James - Prevailing upon will prevail until such times as an article is delivered unto The Editor. You have been warned.

To Jim's horror, Alisdair had been working away upon his scratchbuild of a push-pull fitted version of an ex-NBR class M (LNER class C15) 4-4-2T. It is progressing in a two steps forward, one step back fashion, but slowly getting there. The main part of the body is still to be attached to the footplate in this photo. He likes to keep the two separate to make it easier to add small details, but the moment of truth is coming soon, when the two will be forever forged in an unholy unity.

There remains a great deal of pipework to be added in and around the loco. Graham, as a member of the North British Railway Study Group, is very generously donating his time in seeking out photos and drawings to assist and has identified a gentleman in New York(!), also a member of the aforesaid Group, who is providing further information. Alisdair is going to have to take back all he has previously said about members of said Group...

Next meeting will be on Saturday 9th April.

February 2022 Forth and Clyde Area Group Meeting

A rather reduced number of FCAG regulars made their way to Almondell on Saturday, to celebrate getting back to physical meetings again after the virtual meeting of January. So this was the first proper meeting of 2022. Hopefully the pandemic is really on the wane, and we won't have to revert to Zoom only meetings again.

Only seven attendees this month, with a few regulars being unable to attend for a number of reasons. However, The Three Als, Chris, Chris, Graham, James (bereft and pining for the other J.) and Stephen took their socially distanced places at scattered tables in the ESME meeting rooms. Much to everybody's relief, Al#3 had arranged for the heating to be on, thereby avoiding the near-death cold experience of the December meeting.

The Area Organiser, in his vast and boundless wisdom(?), had high-handedly decided that we would only have demonstrations every second month as his extensive neuron network is far too important to be wasted on such trivialities as dreaming up a subject. As a result, everybody had been forewarned to arrive with a project. And everybody did. But not much projecting was done, as blethering reached a new peak, even for the FCAG. A wide range of subjects was covered, such as what exactly is the enjoyment in playing rugby, prohibition of the teaching of technical subjects and the forcing of dead language learning on the unwilling. Occasionally, the subject matter would stray to railways, but not long before it would be headed off again in another abstruse direction. However, on a near miss, conversation did hover over the subject of machine tools for a good long while. Unfortunately, by that time the Mad Machine Tool Man had left to watch a rugby match or two on his televisual apparatus, before retiring to his basement to caress his wide range of tame machine tools and whisper sweet nothings into their belt wheels.

Just before he left, your scribe, rather belatedly, snapped a picture of the result of Graham's work as it was being stashed away. In case you can't work it out, it's a rake of crossing timbers duly cut to the appropriate length, gapped and filled with green filler.

You have to admire the dress sense of a chap who wears his best togs to a Group meet. No other attendee could match his dapper appearance.

In a reversion to the days of stagecoach travel, Graham was charging first class fares for an inside seat of his horseless carriage, so Al#1 held back until the car was leaving the car park to dreep down from an overhanging tree branch onto the roof rack for a lift home. That's my recollection anyway. Other versions may differ. Before he ganged awa' he had been showing us various photos in various books which may prove inspiration for the Group layout (if it ever gets inspired).

Chris, in the meantime, was ignoring the undignified scramble to the door by his near-neighbours, preferring the company of the more dedicated individuals who remained staunchly at their respective tables houking away at their respective 2mm coal faces. In Chris' case, this was doing something for his well-advanced Raithby 4F which involved a vernier, a book and a computer. I think the poor chap was working out what he needed to do to create a master for moulds for the tender axleboxes.

Meanwhile, Al#3 was threading rail through Easitrac sleepers in preparation for installation on his wee layout based on South Queensferry. His task was much eased by James providing him with his hand-knitted jig for carrying this out. His baseboard, using an Ikea* shelf can be seen in the photograph.

*Other furniture makes are available.

Meanwhile, Stephen was beavering away on creating a revised layout to fit his railway room having realised that he could make a much better space by knocking down a wall. (Apparently he managed to source some skyhooks on Ebay which will be very useful to prevent the master bedroom becoming entangled with the railway.)

The RM in the foreground is evidence of Stephen's generous provision of a railway magazine reading room service to the assorted bods of the group. He must spend a lot of time browsing station bookstalls to save us the bother.

Now, time for a confession of the gravest order. You will be shocked to read that your correspondent who has been trusted with the sacred task of presenting the activities of our Area Group to The Outside World, has let the nobility down. He committed the crime of failing to take notes or photos of Al#2 and James efforts because he was talking too much. Sentence will be handed down from on high. Perhaps he will released form his duties and banned from doing so. We live in hope.

The next Group meeting will be Saturday 12th March. 

We will be taking the 2mm Association Roadshow to the Model Rail Scotland exhibition (also known as Weegie Rail) at the Scottish Exhibition Centre in Glasgow on the 25th, 26th & 27th of February. Our first exhibition since the same event in 2020. Hopefully we will meet some of you there. 

If you are coming, please note the SEC restrictions due to Covid. They can be found here:

https://www.sec.co.uk/visitor-information/covid-19-customer-update