An Apology

Due to illness Nigel was unable to show St Levan at the Portsmouth Exhibition today.
Never  a decision that is taken easily, it was too late to provide a substitute layout of the same dimensions.
So if you visited today- please acceept our sincere apologies.

3MM Society Mixed Traffic- April 2015.

Please accept my apologies for the delay in reviewing the latest Mixed Traffic which appeared over two weeks ago.
Edition 199 is a mixture of nostalgia and current thinking. Our editor starts the ball rolling with suggested landmarks in the Society's history . Simply put suggestions are invited for the finest models produced over the last fifty years- with some very worthy examples.
Howard Love looks at his stash of twoits- and recounts the ways in which some were completed after a number of years in varying states of building.Peter Bossum constucts an oil tanker for Hoath Hill whilst Ian Fraser describes the building of one of his articulated Andean Beyer Peacock Meyer locos.
John Carter continues his saga of layout building and John Sutton shows a photo to inspire a street scene worth modelling.
Returning to nostalgia see's two pioneers celebrated and a pair of Eric Brutons photo's of Western Region Halls- there is also a list of Society Officers who have served over the last half century.
Photos include members exhibiting at Southampton Model Railway Exhibition, Bob Browns new layout- Chipping Compton shares the centre pages with Teignford by Steve Fackrell.
Add to this the usual Blastpipe, Bits & Pieces and Tail Lamp and another excellent read has been produced.
There is also some good news about certain wagon kits being offered at half price for a limited time- this will boost the rolling stock-again!!

Dorset Group meeting 1st May 2015

 Well the Dorset Group had its latest meeting at our new exclusive home!
The Dorset 4 are very relaxed at this arrangement and progress is at long last moving forward where Swanage is concerned.
We now have the boards ready to receive track- the first bit was actually laid today.
Thanks are due to our newest 3mm member Colin who has really moved the project- and us forward.
Must post soon about the latest Mixed Traffic- watch this space.

Out and about.

Rarely get the time to visit model shops other than those local to me.
Recently I had reason to visit Bognor Regis with the family. Whilst they went for a swim I decided to walk lunch off.
So I set off along the prom and found Bognor Models. A very welcoming atmosphere and a range of plastic kits as well as a reasonable model railway selection.
There was a fantastic selection of Valejo paint- together with undercoats to suit all genres.
Recommend a visit if just to stock up on paint-I did!!
Hope you all remembered to put the clocks forward- yes an hour less in bed.

Dorset Group.

After more years than I care to remember, we have given up our regular meeting place. I have tried to enlarge our group , but to no avail.
Because of a muck up of dates we have vacated Furzebrook from immediate effect and there will be no more published meetings.
We will continue to meet- the Dorset Four as we will be from henceforth be known- but at a location known only to us and no longer will we accept further members except by invite only.
Sorry it has come to this but we all feel that this is the way forward and no longer puts pressure to recruit new members or having to justify why we have to charge for our meetings- yes some thought that it was free and why should they have to pay!!!

Give us a chance Guv!!

Recently I was asked where to obtain the 1:100 vehicles.
The answer is from Finney and Smith- amended post.
Dave Finney has a new web site and contact details so needs a bit of searching.
The main reason for this post? The question was posted by Anonymous- how do I respond?

Hello John gotta new motor?

 Apologies for borrowing the title of an annoying song from a while ago.
But I have aquired these beauties.
A pair of Morris saloons, a split screen Minor , Minor van and a 4 door 1000. Add to this a mini van and a ZX MG saloon- one of my favourite cars.
Unfortunately the Land Rover and MG are overscale but with careful positioning they will be used.
These are all by Finney and Smith.

Rolling Road.

E-mailed Dave Finney the other day to see if, amongst the stock residue, he had a spare Bachrus roller and saddle.
The result is seen here and I am well chuffed.
Now I can run the deisels and support tenders on locos.

3mm Society Midland Brake Van.

Fencehouses chassis.

 I mentioned this a while ago and have slowly been building it.
Pairing it with a Southern van , with a bit of work this is what it ends up like before painting.
The sole bar and spring and axle box have been separated and superglued to the nickle silver etch.
Is it worth the extra cost and work?
I think so and patiently wait for fine weather to start applying paint.