Scale 7 Group Spring Meeting 26th April 2025

[magmouse]

Well yes, Freddie is only 4ft high x 18" wide, but lets's hope his layouts grow at a faster rate than he does - (oh hang on, his not he....).

Presumably at some point in his teens, Freddie’s track gauge will put on a growth spurt, and he will start modelling in 7mm scale…

I greatly enjoyed the meeting - especially meeting a few WTers in person for the first time. Cratfield was a delightful bonus, so big thanks to the team that made that happen, and to the catering and organising folks.

I had the opportunity to run a loco and some wagons on Cratfield, once the insanely complicated DCC controller had been wrestled into submission:



I was told the layout would need to be fumigated once the GWR stock had departed, but at least the loco was approximately the right colour.

Nick.

 

[Osgood]

ALICE really did look a picture on Cratfield, Nick - well worth the lingering smell of Dettol........

We missed a nice photo opportunity as John Watson's Middy contractor's Manning Wardle sat dozing in the stock box all day
And who forgot to put No 2's cab roof on properly? (Me although it was sitting down properly on the operators' side).

 

[Wagonman]

Like Heather I was hoping to be able to come, but health issues prevented it. Next year my wife has volunteered to drive, bless her, so fingers crossed.

Some great photos – thank you all.


Richard

 

[Eastsidepilot]

Great to see everyone as it’s been a while, and many thanks for having Fred along with his first layout. I think he’s now realised how tiring it is to exhibit a layout, even if his is only 4ft by 18”.

View attachment 239236

JB.

Good to see Freddie enjoying the meeting, looks like he's beat the old man to building a layout ! . Having youngsters there is encouraging for the future .

 

[Osgood]

Another little slice of Suffolk in Hertfordshire.
This view reminds me of the time I fine-tuned the automatic gate mechanism that John had designed and built.
I was quite pleased when I got it just right but then one gate wouldn't open.
I spent an age going right through it again and again, but I just couldn't fathom it out.
The next day I started afresh and found the problem straight away - the gate bolt you see below (which I had no idea was actually functional) had moved over and locked the gate!
I think I probably muttered something I shouldn't have - and then I imagined John looking down with a grin on his face.....

 

[daifly]

A family commitment meant that I missed what was obviously a very good day. Thanks are due to those that went who have provided reports and photos for the rest of us to enjoy.

Dave

 

[ICH60]

I have say how I enjoyed the day, Good to see others fine S7 modellers and seek advice. Sadly though commitments ment I couldn't see Love Lane this year
I was very impressed with Cratfield great modelling and it all blends into a fine model, and a wonderful back scene, a work of fine art. Would be good to see that on the exhibition circuit next to the S7 stand.
Here are a few photos I took of Cratfield

 

[Bob Essex]

It's lovely to see these shots of the layout in a finished state. The last time I saw it was in a fairly early bare bones state at John's home when he hosted a get together of finescale modellers in 7/4/2mm scales. So thank you to all who posted shots.

Bob

 

[Scale7JB]

Couldn’t resist taking this shot of Cratfield with the sun streaming through window during the layout breakdown.



JB.

 

[Dan Randall]

Couldn’t resist taking this shot of Cratfield with the sun streaming through window during the layout breakdown.

View attachment 239340

JB.

That‘s certainly a good endorsement for S7!


Regards

Dan

 

[RichardG]

Adrian Marks took this photo and video of my Manning Wardle 'Lady Marion' on 26 April. Obviously 0-F on S7 has its limitations and is not for the purist, but there is a static aesthetic and mechanical achievement here. The wonders of battery power

 

[Osgood]

Trespass - with menace.

The poor little thing (it has a certain charm) had been unceremoniously stuffed into the pocket of the perpetrator who had that give-away synthetic look of innocence about him, and when he thought nobody was looking he swiftly swiped it out with one hand and hoisted it over the boundary fence onto the track while the other hand, remaining in the other pocket, operated the covert controller.

A quick-thinking shunter managed to pinch-bar a rake of wagons onto the running line in an effort to lure it into a position opposite the water tank, where the local gamekeeper happened to be hiding from the local Bobby and Inspector (see platform views), and from where the little runt would have taken both barrels before it managed to clamber ungainly over the first point

We have yet to inspect the permanent way for broken chairs.
What is even more galling is the perpetrator, when apprehended, had the audacity to wave a Scale7 membership card at us…….

Keep alert at shows, folks.

 

[76043]

I too noticed the poor thing trying to climb over the turnout, now I understand what was going on.

Shocked of Essex / Herts borders.

 

[Ian@StEnochs]

I enjoyed my day, It was good to catch up and fit some faces to names.

 

[Eastsidepilot]

What is even more galling is the perpetrator, when apprehended, had the audacity to wave a Scale7 membership card at us…….

Keep alert at shows, folks.

Not an infiltrator with a dodgy loco !

 

[RichardG]

The video has received 50 views so far, all through the link here, so that's more people than made it to the show. YouTube analytics take another two days or so but if audience retention figures exceed 75% for the whole clip I'll call it an informative and educational post

 

[Eastsidepilot]

Although Albury is an 'S7' meet in my opinion the favourite 'non' S7 visitor was young Freddie's little 'Inglenook' shunting layout, post #18, Hornby/Tri-ang 00, after all probably where most of us started our interest in model railways.

Great to see everyone as it’s been a while, and many thanks for having Fred along with his first layout. I think he’s now realised how tiring it is to exhibit a layout, even if his is only 4ft by 18”.

View attachment 239236

JB.

Col.

 

[Hayfield1]

The video has received 50 views so far, all through the link here, so that's more people than made it to the show. YouTube analytics take another two days or so but if audience retention figures exceed 75% for the whole clip I'll call it an informative and educational post

Richard

Interesting, I would have thought there were far more visitors when you add in the organizers and those showing

Still good to see you again and all the others who said hello and introduced themselves

 

[RichardG]

Interesting, I would have thought there were far more visitors when you add in the organizers and those showing

I was counting only the paying visitors, I was told 41 (including me!). I expect there were nearer 55 or 60 in all with so many people helping out with the catering and setting up and other displays and so on.

 

[Hayfield1]

I really enjoyed showing Templot 3D and for a change only had to open the laptop to show how to create a 3D Templot print file

Secondly a great opportunity to top up on rail and Exactoscale fishplates

In addition I got a metal 1/6 filing jig, I know I can print them but as they do degrade and I have a few 1/6 vees to file up and it was second hand an opportunity too good to miss, I also bagged a s/h rivet press and a very cheap battery flock (tea strainer style) machine. Finally a great book about Bodmin LSWR branches

In short both a lovely time chatting as well as a fruitful one

John