Go take a look at the club project suggestions, proposals and ongoing. Listed under the Members menu section of the website.
New “Project” Section added under the Members category!
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Author Archives: Quenton
A Message from Your Events Secretary
Dear All.
I have arranged a wonderful evening for Wednesday 7th January.
A Mr Geof Hale who is a BBC camera operator has made a 50 minute film of the Restoration of the MV Barmoral in Bristol Docks.
He will show the film and talk about the restoration.
Now I know it is late in the planning, but we need to get a good turnout that evening, I have amended the events page but for those without email or web access perhaps we can all talk to any member we meet over the next few weeks to fill the room.
I hope you have a wonderful Christmas
Owen
Your best Model Photos
Hello all, I would like to add more up to date photos to our website and add some of them to the front page from time to time to keep it looking fresh.If you would like your favourite photos of your wonderful creations added to the website and don’t fancy adding them yourselves, email them to webmaster@bristolmodelengineers.co.uk along with a full description of the model and I’ll post it for you to the gallery. As an alternative bring them along to a Begbrook meeting on a memory stick and I’ll transfer them from that.
thanks
Quenton
BSMEE Library books
Hello all.
My name is Quenton. Club Librarian.
Having recently taken over the role of club librarian I am trying to organise our book collection and though I have yet to do a full audit it is clear that we have a number of books out on loan, one of which appears to be the loans records book, so I don’t know who has what or where. I would appreciate it if everyone could seek me out at one of the meetings with a list of the books you have on loan or preferably email me at webmaster@bristolmodelengineers.co.uk with the details of the books you have and if possible the library index number. I have outstanding requests for some of these books so would appreciate your help.
Many thanks. Q
Geoff Sheppard – 1936 – 2013
Geoff Sheppard 1936 – 2013
It is with deepest regret that we inform you of the death of our President, Geoff Sheppard, following a major heart attack. He died on Wednesday 27th March 2013 whilst undergoing treatment at the Bristol Heart Institute (BRI) having been transferred from Frenchay Hospital, where he was taken immediately after his collapse.
Geoff has been a major contributor to the Model Engineering Hobby in general and BSMEE in particular for many years. Amongst his many credits he was editor of Model Engineers’ Workshop and held several management posts within BSMEE, culminating in his appointment as President in 2012.
Geoff was a lovely, kind hearted man and, when asked for a favour or advice, nothing was ever too much trouble for him. He will be greatly missed by all who knew him and our deepest condolences go out to his wife Gill and their children.
The funeral was on Friday 12th April at 12 noon at Westerleigh Crematorium
and afterwards at The Kendleshire Golf Club.
http://www.westerleighcrem.co.uk
http://www.kendleshire.com
The Frys’ Sentinel railway Locomotive
On the 15th February Eric Miles came to our evening meeting at Begbrook and gave us a fascinating account of the recovery of the Sentinel steam railway locomotive originally purchased by Fry’s of Sommerdale (latterly Cadburys, and now sadly closed by Kraft).
Arising from this visit David Cole has invited us to view progress on the restoration of this locomotive which is presently taking place at Avon Valley Railway. This has been arranged for 7.00pm on Wednesday 30th May and I hope it will be well supported by members of our society. This is an almost unique railway locomotive from this company who are more usually associated with steam road vehicles. A donation to our hosts from members attending will be appreciated.
New Locomotive for Ashton Court
Class 67 Thomas Telford
A New 7¼” Ground Level Locomotive for Ashton Court
Latest update – Thomas Telford goes Public
Thomas Telford commenced public service over the August Bank Holiday weekend.
It operated throughout the weekend without a hitch and a number of members took the opportunity to drive. All were complimentary regarding the simplicity of control and the ease which it handled the load.
A test run was carried out with 7 carriages and 42 passengers plus the driver. The train pulled away with a hint of slipping and completed two laps in style much to the excitement and relief of all.
The photos below show ‘The Body’, ‘On the Track’, ‘The First Run’ and ‘Some of the Team’.
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Details
The locomotive will be petrol electric based on the Class 67 Diesel 67014 – Thomas Telford. A single ended version of this locomotive was designed for Virgin operation but never produced and this will form the basis of our new engine. Whilst representing a modern locomotive this version provides a flat end for the controls and instrumentation and keeps the length down to a manageable 8ft.
In the 7¼” version a Honda GX240 petrol engine will power a 24v commercial vehicle alternator, complete with its rectifiers and voltage regulator. This will charge two 12v vehicle batteries. A standard 4QD controller will control the power from the batteries to two Parkside 1500watt four wheeled bogies. The frame will be steel angle of welded construction with a body formed by a specialist sheet metal supplier – Manuflex (http://www.manuflex.co.uk) Ample power of some 3hp should be available to haul heavy loads throughout a running day and the limiting factor is likely to be the adhesion of the wheels on the rails.
Mark Phillips is doing the design with Bob Lilley managing the project together with the controls, instrumentation and electrical wiring. Frames have been built by Tim Hims, with mechanical assembly of the main drive by Colin MacEke. Phil Bridgeway is looking after the vacuum system and Don Cordall the handbrake. Geoff Hinbest is pulling the paper work together and will produce a handbook and maintenance schedule. Ron James is producing the forced ventilation system and Mike Keighley, Andy Field, Terry Phelps and Colin Ball will be working on the body detail. Andy Nicholls has volunteered to make the buffers and Andy Harding the throttle and choke controls.
The photographs give a good indication of the component parts of the locomotive.
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