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Melbourne Meccano Club Inc

MECCANO DIARY

Newsletter June 2003

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Secretary: Graham Jost 36 Gladwyn Ave BENTLEIGH EAST VIC 3165 9578 6850

MMC NEXT MEETING Sunday 10 August 2003 MMC Annual General Meeting At Bri Phil Hall,80 Gardenvale Rd ELSTERNWICK (Melway 67 H7) 1.00pm Sales Table 2.00pm Meeting Starts Please bring a small plate of afternoon tea to share. FORTHCOMING EXHIBITIONS Melbourne Meccano Club Inc Annual Exhibiton Yes, our own exhibition! Sat & Sun 11&12 October 2003 Sat 11 Oct 7.30 am to noon members only, noon to 5 pm open to public. Sun 12 Oct 10 am to 4 pm for everyone. For information about any of following exhibitions please contact Jack Parsisson on 03 9789 5796 (jackp@meerlu.com.au). Bendigo Society of Model Engineers Sat 5 & Sun 6 Jul 2003 at Kangaroo Flat Leisure Centre (Bendigo). Labassa Historic Mansion (in conjunction with the Hornby Club) Sun 27 Jul 2003 at Labassa, 2 Manor Gve, N Caufield. Model Train Expo and Hobby Show Sat & Sun 15 & 16 Nov 2003, 9 am to 5 pm each day. World Vision Centre Cnr Springvale Rd & Vision Dve, EAST BURWOOD (Melway 62 D8). OTHER MECCANO CLUB MEETINGS. Meccano Modellers Association (Sydney) Meetings are held at a members house normally on the fifth Saturday of a month. Contact Malcolm Booker on (02) 9451 8807 for details. SEQMG (SE Queensland Meccano Group) 19 July at 1.30 pm at Dave Harrisons, 15 Inveray Ave, Benowa. Phone: 07 5539 4867 Paul Dale (Secretary, ph (07)3202 5352) is more than happy to organise a special meeting for visitors if he gets a bit of prior notice. Maylands Meccano Club (Perth) Meetings are held at the Maylands Meccano Club, 16 Kennedy St MAYLANDS usually on the first Tuesday of each month. Contact Ross Smith (Secretary) on (08) 9367 8906 for details. Wanted. Gold parts girders, strips, double angle strips etc in good condition. Also Meccano Magazines please write or phone for a list of requirements. Vern Ellis, PO Box 3277, ALICE SPRINGS, NT, 0871 (phone, 08 8953 8282)

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MELBOURNE MECCANO CLUB INC NEWSLETTER

Issue No 3 June 2003

Meccano is a Hobby for all the Family

Andrew Weaver with Daughter Alison and Son Alan

President Mike Maloney Treasurer Bill Davis Newsletter Editor Bill Fitzgerald

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Yet another excellent afternoons entertainment for our third meeting for 2003. Who said you couldnt have fun on a cold and wet winters afternoon in Melbourne? Altogether we had a roll-up of 40 33 members, 4 wives and 3 children. These happy people were: Bruce Beattie, John Brand, Chris Comer, Peter Dalliston, Bill Davis, David Doddrell, Bruce Douglas, Peter During, John Edgar, Bill Fitzgerald, Roger & Sandra Hall, Neville & Diane? Handcock, Stephen Hatton, Peter Holles, Bill & Margaret Inglis, Nigel Jolley, Graham & Mary Jost, Mike Maloney, Rod Marrow, John Martin, Wal. Maynard, Barry McDonald, Alan Middleton, Kimball Monger, Carol Parsisson, Jack Parsisson, Tony Press, Graham Russell, Craig Stevens, Jeff van Hees, Doug Ward with grandson William, Andrew Weaver with children Alan & Alison and Mike Wright. Apologies were received from Dave Denner, Arthur Kirkbright and Graeme Thompson.

Melbourne Meccano Club Inc

Newsletter June 2003

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Vern Elliss Meccano Did You Know Did you know that, The bought in pieces for the Mechanics Made Easy sets were packed next door to Elliotts firm. All sets were marketed by Elliott and Hornby. The shop was a rented premises in James St. An announcement for a competition in 1903 mentioned a Book of Accessories for 5/- (25 p). It included gear wheels, large and small contrite [sic] wheels, pinions and a worm. By 1903 there were wholesalers in Liverpool, London, Birmingham and Sydney. In 1903 boys from the Bedford Grammar School made a model of the Forth Bridge. This impressed Frank Hornby who described it as well made, realistic and true to scale. Also in 1903 a pawl and a small pinion to act as a ratchet wheel was included in the A set. Then in 1904 the A B, C sets were enlarged by the addition of more perforated strips and grooved axle rods. There was a new 1 pulley with 6 holes and the grooved wheels and 1 pulleys now had 4 holes while the bush wheel had 4 large extra holes. There was also a new instruction book with 25 models and French/English version was published.

Neville Handcock and Wal Maynard

At the start of formal proceedings President Mike welcomed us all as well as two visitors, Alan and Alison Andrew Weavers children. He reminded us that the next Club meeting in August is the Annual General Meeting and that one of items of business will be to elect a Committee for the following year. All Committee positions fall vacant at the start of the AGM, so all are up for grabs! Anyone who may be motivated to participate in the new committee can obtain a Nomination Form from the Secretary. Annual Exhibition 11 & 12 Oct 03. Kimball Monger, the Coordinator reported that preparations are well underway in particular the matter of Public Liability Insurance is in hand. The main requirement now is for members to start building models to bring along. Kimball is particularly looking for models from the Outfit Manuals and added that small models are very welcome. (Kimball is a regular exhibitor at our outside exhibitions and his experience has shown that

Army green and black nuts and bolts it looked stunning. He also had a trio of neat trucks all built to the same scale and two of his reliable locos. All in all a very pleasant weekend. PS Kimball has finally tired of driving his Lartigue. He will now be taking the sensible

[Vern has just built the Warehouse Crane and Crane model in blue/gold from the pre-war No 9 Manual. But he has used nickel plated girders for the rails for the crane and train to save

way out and automating its travelling arrangements about time too, I reckon! Graham Jost (photos by Graham and Jack)

Doug Ward with Grandson William

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of the Bernard Perier CQ tip trucks but in blue/gold, a farm tractor built around a No1 clockwork motor, and a large semi-trailer car transporter (another Mrklin model) - all these in blue/ yellow/zinc. Also a treadle sewing machine (Mrklin red/blue/green) and Jack Nelsons old steam excavator with the Mamod/Meccano steam engine. Quite a bit of interest in and appreciation of our models, not only from the more mature members of the public, but also from a number of young parents and their offspring looking to advance from Lego or from their small Collection models - Dick Smith stores will probably see a few new customers eventually and maybe Jack too! On the
The MMC at Sandown MMC members fronted up to the Leisure & Collectors Hobby Carnival, Sandown Racecourse, June 21 & 22 to contribute their usual magic of raising the tone of an otherwise all the same show or so it seemed to me! Dave Denner, Peter During, Roger and Sandra Hall, Graham Jost, Kimball Monger and Jack Parsisson participated in an enjoyable though not overly busy weekend. Dave brought along his current model collection plus a car built from the very new Design 2 set. Peter has his octopus working well now and Roger and Sandra brought along the helicopter from the same Design 2 set, as well as several other small models. Graham had his two braiders in

Melbourne Meccano Club Inc

possible member side, a number said that they still had their outfits (in a box about THIS BIG), but usually put aside for the children or grandchildren - where have I heard that before? - and a few took our Club leaflet. A good number took the Exhibition flyer. There was quite some interest in the steam engine, one chap telling me he had two, still unused, in a their boxes. In the last hour of ther Exhibition, one of the local model railway club members mentioned that he still had some Marklin construction parts that I might be interested in, if he can find them. I assured him I was - so you never know your luck!

Newsletter June 2003

the public really identifies with such models remember the customer is always right!) Some members may be discouraged from exhibiting because they can attend only for one day. Kimballs suggestion is that it may be possible to get someone else to look after your model on the day you cant come. But if you can exhibit only for one day, approach the Exhibition Committee anyway. A Model Entry Form is enclosed with this Newsletter please return to Jack Parsisson by 11 Sep. Outside Exhibitions. Jack Parsisson provided a run down on these activities. Details of forthcoming expos are set out on the back page. Entries are still open for the Show at the World Vision Centre in November. Jack, Carol and Mike Maloney went down to Morwell on the June long weekend for a very successful exhibition (see Mikes report) and were well assisted by Arthur Kirkbright (who lives locally) with setting up etc. The Latrobe Valley Model Railway Club was obviously impressed they have sent the MMC a donation of $150. This is most gratefully received. Another expo (at Sandown) on 21 & 22 June was advised to the Club at short notice see report. Model Presentation Peter During led off with two of his recent creations. The first was a tricycle from a No 1 set manual of the 1950s modified using a generous supply of EzyBilt parts! His second model was a mobile crane from a No 4 manual an attractive model Peter.

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action and a new ball roller, Kimball his Lartigue loco and small high rider, and Jack a beautiful Bernard Perier Jeep in

Doug Ward showed off two mechanisms, a 4 speed and reverse gearbox and a rear axle and differential assembly. The gearbox was designed by Philip Webb and was described in the IM about a year ago. Doug found it to be straightforward to build and very satisfactory in operation. His plan is to incorporate these mechanisms into a motor lorry described in CQ perhaps to be ready for our October Exhibition? John Brand fulfilled a childhood dream and constructed the truck from the 1950s No 8 manual, using a R/G No 8 he acquired a year or so ago. Another very attractive model to look at, though John describes the design of the steering as rather agricultural given the limited range of parts in a No 8.

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Roger Hall brought along a multi-ratio epicyclic gearbox and motor assembly obtained from Dick Smith. The design is similar to the one Peter Dalliston demonstrated at the April meeting but is generally not as good the output shaft must be bushed to fit Meccano and the mounting holes need to be modified. Roger also produced one of the new Meccano sets (with flexible strips that will spring back after you curve them) he had to go to Launceston to get it! His other contributions were a 2.7 million to 1 worm reduction gearbox and a

Melbourne Meccano Club Inc

Climbing Monkey game. (Turning the handle faster may not make the monkey climb faster because of the slowing effect of a governor on the input drive!) Andrew Weaver demonstrated the crane from the 100th Anniversary Set he has trouble with the legs continually slipping down. His other model was a motor car from the 20 Model Set. Barry McDonalds contribution was another car, this time built from the contents of the Anniversary Set. Mike Maloney has tried making a model of a solenoid operated engine using Mrklin parts but it wont work! The core of the Mrklin solenoid is much smaller than the Meccano equivalent which may be part of the problem. (Well, you will insist in dabbling in the dark realms of non-Meccano Mike!). Bill Inglis has improved the motor cycle (Motion Series No 50) that he showed in December by adding trainer wheels to keep it upright when moving slowly all within the contents of the set. Kimball Monger demonstrated that small is beautiful with a delightful model of an excavator in French Plastic Meccano that he had bought that day at a

Newsletter June 2003

were put to good use by the Latrobe Valley Model Railway Club Inc. Jack and Carol Parsisson and I provided models, with Jacks collection of LARGE models in new condition red/green Jackano parts(!) filling probably 12 metres of table. Carol and I did the rest in more modern yellow/blue (or in Carols case, black/zinc Centenary and some plastic). As you can see, we were along the front of the stage with our backs to the hall, with tables about 750mm wide, so only one model deep. There were model railway and commercial stands at the back of the stage, but plenty of room left for people to move. And we had plenty of people! - we were told that they sold about 750 family tickets on each of the Saturday and Sunday, so that would have to equate to, say 3000 each day (although there were lots of toddlers and young children). Jack had plenty of steam protoype models - the Climax and Heisler locos, each about 1m long, a traction engine,a ploughing engine, a vertical boilered roller, a smaller stationary steam engine and a 3x cylinder marine engine. Motor vehicles included a Rolls Royce (with a mirror under the chassis displaying the gearbox and differential) and a set of three Bernard Perier / CQ trucks using the same chassis and cab, but each with a different body - a tipper, a flat tray and a tanker (Jack tells me he is also working on a cement mixer, extending the chassis for a third axle). All of the models above were in pristine red/green. Hed also built a small and very neat Bernard Perier CQ army jeep and trailer, finished in khaki/green and held together with black plated nuts and bolts. Carol had the more modern Centenary kit crane, a small motor bike, a go cart,

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and a shovel/loader(?), plus a couple of the Plastic Meccano models. I had the tower crane (same as last time, and still hand operated!), a working backhoe on a plinth, a small beam engine, another

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NSW 38-Class Locomotive and its builder John Thompson

Melbourne Meccano Club Inc

machine were some of the other models shown. Finally, on the centre table, Warren Johnstone showed a showmans engine and an interesting device resembling several radially-arranged lacrosse racquets, each enclosing a snooker ball Im not sure whether Warren thought he was on the verge of cracking perpetual motion, but it certainly looked like it! Ken Freeman came next with a gantry crane featuring genuine old Meccano weights and at the other end, Murray Tullet had a beautifully built crane, a development of the 100th anniversary crane (the $150 one this time!) hauled back and forth by a magical endless rope system. The drive detail was very cunning, and your correspondent has filed the details away for possible future reference. Sufficient paying adults came along to pay all the bills, and to provide a little excess, and there were stacks of kids of course. Everyone appeared well pleased with their visit, and I can report the same of the exhibitors too the whole show was judged most enjoyable and up there with the best of them. PS A little icing on the cake Mary won second prize in the raffle! Guess what? A Meccano set the Crazy Inventors No

Newsletter June 2003

garage sale! Kimball would like to see plastic models at our October Exhibition theyre a great hit with younger visitors. Does anyone have Plastic Meccano? If so, what about an exhibition model? Peter Dalliston showed us the model built by his 7 year old grandson that has attracted so much interest on Spanner recently. Peter posted a picture of the model and asked Spanners to guess what it was. There were over 30 replies on my count Meccanomen clearly enjoy a challenge! [Answer: The model is the Starship Enterprise]. Tony Press has been acquiring rare Meccano (again!!) and had on display the E outfit of 1907 the No 10 set of the day. It contains sufficient parts to build a 16 model of the Forth Rail Bridge (see Verns column) but its makeup is very different from sets familiar to most of us. There are no plates, only wheels, girders and strips. The last are similar to todays strips similar gauge with rounded ends but the hole punching is somewhat unconventional and they are covered by a very rough tin plating. The girders are of the original Mechanics Made Easy type lighter gauge tinplate with rolled edges and square ends. Tonys other acquisition is a No 3M set from 1971, packed in an enormous box (mostly polystyrene foam) and containing the (in)famous Junior Powerdrive Motor, without doubt the worst motor ever marketed by Meccano. Not to be outdone, Mike Wright produced a No 8 set from about 1987 in unused

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Down the right side of the hall, Jack Gentle showed a neat transporter bridge and several other smaller models, and John Thompson showed a fine scale model of a steam-driven electrical plant and his freshly refurbished well-known NSW 38-class loco and tender now in the correct colours. The refurbishment involved completely dismantling the original model, repainting all the parts, and then reassembling it again not a project to be taken on lightly! This model is some 7 in length, and a masterpiece in its own right. John is an expert on 36s and 38s, having authored a book on each class, and this model reflects his intimate knowledge of the subject. The Stuarts, Jonathan and Peter, had a fine array of unusual models, as per their usual showing. I think the oscillating fan has been recast, to really do its job well now. A well-lit fairground ride, cash register, level-luffing crane and wire-wrapping

condition (in a much smaller box than the 3M!). When Marc Rebibio took over the Meccano factory in Calais in 1985 he decided to re-introduce the older style 1970s sets. But there seem to be very few examples of sets larger than about No 5 or 6 about these days.

MMC at Morwell 7 & 8 June Jack & Carol Parsisson and Mike Maloney showed the flag for the Club. Mike has provided this report nicely illustrated with some of Jacks photos. Thank you both. The exhibition this year (7 & 8 June) was in the new Kernot Hall in Morwell

6651. Carol, Sandra - you could have (the old Kernot Hall site in Yallourn is competition!

now within the Yallourn Open Cut!) As you can gather from the photographs, a large modern hall with a good size stage, ample storage rooms around the periphery, a large entrance foyer and side supper/meeting rooms, and modern and clean kitchen and toilet facilities. All

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Sydney Annual Meccano Exhibition Graham Jost went along with an armload of models and with his camera. Quite an impressive display, Im sure youll agree sets a high standard for our own Exhibition in October but we can do better than the Sydneysiders! Grahams detailed and well illustrated report follows.

Melbourne Meccano Club Inc

stage sliding mechanism most realistically. I took along my trusty braiders yes two! and my latest (more manageable) ball-roller. Im pleased to report that they all performed most creditably after the 1000-odd km trip. Nick Heinze, another of our MMC members, showed an impressive array of models, including a windmill Mike Hollands LNER 4-6-0 Loco (detail

Newsletter June 2003

On the next table, Chris Wilson showed the 100th Anniversary No 10 set Blocksetter Crane, the first time I had actually seen one in the flesh. Max, Shirl and Luke Whitten showed several models including a rebuilt shop display yellow blue traction engine. Al Hirschel came next with a battery-powered car made from the current 0507 locomotive set. Warwick Lewis downsized this time to a fine motor lorry cab driven by a No 1 clockwork motor (Itll do wheelies on a full wind, said Warwick - and it did!) and a built-up Elektrikit electric motor purring away effortlessly Warwick doubted it could actually drive very much at all though! Jack Hextell had another vast array of models in an area all his own. Of course your correspondent took particular interest in his ball rollers two! Jack is an independent spirit who always comes along with multiple models of his own creation. Across the front of the hall Gerry Wilson showed a nice array of Meccano Literature and models made from recent Meccano, both plastic and metal, and Mike Holland showed several models to his impeccable standard, most noteworthy of which were his Emmett afternoon tea train, his Allchin Royal Chester traction engine looking more beautiful that ever in black and pristine zinc, and a superb LNER 4-6-0 Loco and tender complete with all possible detailing within the scale used, this time in red and zinc. Tom Hughes displays his impressive Titan Floating

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Mary and I visited Sydney for the Meccano Modellers Associations 22nd Annual Meccano Exhibition on May 3. This was held in their regular exhibition venue, the Frenchs Forest Baptist Church Hall at Forestville, on a most beautiful day perfect in every way. Some 19 modellers brought along over 100 models, sufficient to well fill the available space. Malcolm and June Booker had very kindly invited us to stay with them, and this made the whole for us just that much more enjoyable. As usual at any Meccano exhibition, the models on show covered every possible subject. On the first table inside the door, and along with several other models, Malcolm had his latest creation, a No 10 set fork lift truck from a recent ModelPlan in nicely refurbished red and green. This performed its magic very smoothly, the mast power-tilting as required, and the prongs rising and falling in a three-

featuring an indecent quantity of mint blue/gold windmill sails beautiful things, those. Tom Hughes had his splendidly large model of the Titan floating crane, the one which sank off the NSW coast in the early 90s on its way to Singapore this is an impressive model.

Jack Hextell with his Ballroller