21 attended our first Saturday meeting of 2023.
Julien Webb brought his test plank / layout ‘Xavier’s Creek”, but no stock. Thankfully some review samples sent to Ben Powell from Bachmann – RNAD brake van and flat – helped. Ben also brought a pair of Peco freelance vans fitted with new NEM compatible chopper couplings from Tramfabreik (also review samples).
Ben had also brought along his Proxonn mini milling machine. Several in the group had expressed an interest in how Ben was using it to assist with his scratch building. This was demonstrated in Ben’s finished Bagnall Meyer ‘Monarch’ and another pair of similar locos as works in progress.
Ian Willetts brought along a small layout. Whilst new to Ian it had originally been built by the late Pete Smith. Ian was seeking some advice about the venerable H&M point motors that Pete had fitted but not fully wired up.
Steve Mann brought along a new layout / test track (built with the help of Geoff Harper). Various things were spotted on it during the meeting. Steve’s Kato ‘Princess’ hauling a pair of bogie liquid chlorine bogie tanker wagons. These were converted from Triang TT items by fitting Peco 009 bogies. Also running was Steve’s new FR Linda with tender (Bachmann), a Chivers freelance Bagnall and Fourdees Models ‘Baroness’.
There was also some model making going on at the meeting. Geoff Harper working on a white metal Sierra Leone 2-6-2T kit. Paul Atkin working on a railbus built from two Maudslay bus bodies joined at the cab ends.
Adrian Hall brought along his 2 ‘Bear Creek’ HOn3 modules that incorporated the loco servicing facilities.
Alec Matthews brought along his embryonic layout. This has a track plan loosely based on Towyn but with a Colonel Stevens light railway feel. Alec ran a selection of his own 3D printed stock along with his converted Bachmann Baldwin. Ben’s Monarch made a guest appearance.
Blair Hobson’s brought along his latest HOe layout “Mittenberg” for a shake down run before it goes to NG North next month. It ran very well at the meeting (when Blair remembered to switch the cab control correctly!) and members spent some time looking for all the hidden figures on the layout.
Will King managed to make it home from North Wales and brought along a selection of SM-32 Simplexes. These ranged from a WD 40hp protected model to WD Bow-frames 20hp to a 12hp version that was in essence a powered skip chassis! He’d also brought along a white metal bodies 009 L&B 2-6-2 and Backwoods Barclay 0-4-0.
New member Dave Marriott set up a Kato test track and ran his Bachmann Baldwin in Snailbeach condition. Miles Bevan borrowed it and ran a pair of Fourdees “Avontuur” Manning Wardle 2-6-4T locos that looked very handsome hauling the Bachmann steel bogie coaches.
Pete Hardy brought along his test track. Whilst I missed most of what ran on it I did manage to catch Peter’s latest loco project in the form of a mostly built Golden Arrow kit for the Southwold 2-4-0T Sharp Stewart on a much modified Farish 2-6-2 chassis.
John Brookes brought along his ‘layout in a box’, a small 009 project also called “Foremill”. This ran a selection of John’s stock, including some rather nice conversions of Triang TT wagon bodies.
