Scotland Area ScOONs meeting Wednesday 6 July

[Ian McAulay]

Greetings ScOONers

Is it too early to comment that the nights are drawing in? I thought not (even though we're past the solstice). Anyway, don't forget our next ScOONs meeting at the usual time of 8pm UK time (1900 GMT, adjust according to your longitude). The meeting will be MC'd by Graeme Dunbar.

Zoom details below

Ian

Ian McAulay is inviting you to a scheduled Zoom meeting.

Topic: 009 Society ScOONs online meeting
Time: Jul 6, 2022 20:00 London

Join Zoom Meeting
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/82857065181?pwd=L1FZS1c5TkhHRTU0dEdWUm54NzZBZz09

Meeting ID: 828 5706 5181
Passcode: scoons6jul

[Alan Pollock]

Thanks Ian

I look forward to seeing you on Wednesday

Thanks
Alan

[Graeme Dunbar]

Sorry, my write-up is a bit later than I hoped but I'd better do it now as I'm about to upgrade my PC so fingers crossed I'll be able to get back online!

The format of the meeting was a bit different to usual. It would be good to say it was intentional, but however it came about I think it produced some engaging conversation. Rather than, or more correctly as well as the usual working around the screen gallery with each of us taking a turn the meeting followed a series of themes with contributions from several members on each theme.

First up was the washup of the Perth exhibition. John and Dave gave their impressions and Ian shared his photos, followed by photos from myself. The general feeling was the exhibition was quiet for a lot of the time. That might have been coloured by the extra space due to exhibitors that had withdrawn that resulted in the space allocated to Dave's Glen Dull layout an the ScOONs stand more than doubling. Even so it was a very intensive weekend for Dave and John. They got some respite from visiting members Ian and Tom on Saturday and I was there for part of Sunday, but I think the feeling was it really needed a third person at least to be there all the time.

This segued into a discussion on couplings and uncoupling, on seeing how neat the couplers were on John's micro layout.

Alan kicked off a discussion on ballasting and the condition of grounded vans, based around the Ratio kit, their colour and weathering, with contributions from others including photos from Sara and if I remember Ian too.

Sara introduced machining to the conversation and then motorised versions of the Lisbon tram model. Paul I think it was had a model bought from the Lisburn Tram Museum itself.

This led to Hugh R mentioning NG catenary and quarry lines and also gave a quick update on the layout he hopes to have ready for Aberdeen in October.

Hugh N added to the tram discussion with photos of his Belgian Garratt tram loco and Nigel Brooks 3D print Wisbech Tram and John added he had put a new chassis in his one. My one sadly remains unpainted.

Paul introduced us to the Quincy smelting works that included a 2 ft line and also showed the work he was doing on his Bachmann Plymouth switcher conversion to NG.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Quincy_Smelter

We also heard from Malcolm and go an update/reminder of the location of the surviving P D  Hancock models. At the Perth show we met a lady with her very elderly father who noticed the photo of Dundreich on one of our banners. We learned our visitor knew P D Hancock and was interested in getting in touch so contact details were provided. Malcolm said someone had been in contact some time ago but it had not progressed further.

We also discussed dying insulating rail joiners that is the topic of another thread on the forum. Ian and I have both given it a shot using Rit dyes with varying degrees of success. I now have some of Ian's rail joiners to see if over-dying with the colours I have can make any improvement.

Edit - additional

I forgot to mention that we received an invitation from the Renfrewshire Model Railway Club at the Perth show. We have been invited to their exhibition which takes place on Saturday 3rd and Sunday 4th December at the Paisley Shopping Centre. We discussed the possibility of attending and representing the Society with a small stand. It was felt that it might be possible to do so, but it depended on their being enough members available to cover the stand adequately at all times. Alan expressed an interest in being one of the team. If we can muster sufficient people there is an online registration form:

https://www.renfrewshiremrc.co.uk/layoutinvite.html

I understand the Society will pay for postage/courier costs to get the banners and other stand materials to whoever organizes the stand. The form and extent of the stand will depend on what is available. As well as the banners it should be possible to set up the video slide show if suitable display equipment can be sourced locally.

[Ian McAulay]

Good summary, Graeme, however a couple of points:

The yellow and white trams are from Lisbon not Lisburn. You will be disappointed if you travel to NI to see them!

I found an image that matches the prototype for the free grounded van body kit that came with RM a while back. It's an ex-GWR Mink A:



Reproducing that would be a challenging weathering job! Things to note:

• The roof canvas is hanging off, revealing some of the boarding.
• There's a big section of boarding missing from the side - you can see the insides of the rivets on one of the vertical stanchions
• There appears to be some BR bauxite still remaining but the steel vents have been painted grey at some point
• There has been something fixed over the boarding between the vents but it has largely crumbled away

Fun painting exercise!

Ian

[Graeme Dunbar]

Thanks Ian. I don't know how the slip occurred - I meant Portugal!

I must have been thinking:

"He is dead and in his grave, but she's alive and sinnin'.
For the razor blade was Dublin made, but the sheet was Belfast linen."

I'll correct the post.

[Alan Pollock]

Hi Graeme

Didn't we discuss attending the Renfrewshire MRC show if the invite is still available

Thanks
Alan

[Graeme Dunbar]

Hi Graeme

Didn't we discuss attending the Renfrewshire MRC show if the invite is still available

Thanks
Alan

Yes we did. Thanks Alan. I've found it now. I'd forgotten to turn over the page when looking at my notes. I'll add a bit to my post.