MERSTHAM MODEL STEAM SHOW 17th & 18th MAY 2008

Titan · ***MERSTHAM MODEL STEAM SHOW 17th & 18th MAY 2008***

I have got an official invite to the above show. I will be taking the portable layout, but I hope that there will be enough forum support to justify having a couple of tables (or more!) for a forum stand.

The show is held at St. Nicholas School, Taynton Drive, Merstham near Redhill, Surrey, RH1 3PU.

Exhibitor Invitation - 16mm Mamod Track Layout

The show, which will be held in the school hall and gym. one or more marquees and on the school recreation field, will have a mix of Live Steam Railway Layouts, Trade Stands, Preservation Groups, Model Engineering Societies, Model Boats and Steam related exhibits. The live steam model railways will be l6mm and G-Scale, with the emphasis on Narrow Gauge and the school's permanent 7 1/4' Narrow Gauge Railway will be in passenger operation. Advertising and directions to the event will be extensive.

Space for exhibitors will be available both indoors under cover and outdoors without cover. Electrical power can be provided to the stands indoors but you will need to provide your own extension leads. Outdoor stands can use quiet generators if necessary. If you wish to attend, please complete and return the enclosed Exhibitor Application Form to me as soon as possible. We will base all your requirements on the information that you provide on this form. If you require tables or electrical power please indicate this on the form. We would also like to know how many attendants will be on your stand on each day so that personnel passes and vehicle passes can be allocated in advance of the Show.

We will continue to arrange insurance for exhibits but this considerably increases our costs and we would ask you not to request cover if you already have insurance under an existing policy. If you need our insurance please indicate this on the form. I will then send you an insurance schedule to complete but you must return it to me by the 21st April 2008 to enable us to arrange cover in time for the Show. There will be a £100 excess in the policy which means it will not cover you for the first £100 loss.

We regret we are no longer able to offer overnight accommodation in the school dormitories but Cars, Caravans and Tents can be accommodated without charge on the school recreation field with 24 hour access to water, toilets and waste disposal.

If you wish to carry out trading activities at the show you cannot be classed as an exhibitor but can attend as either a trader or a preservation society. In this case please let me know and I will send you the correct application form.

We hope that you will attend this long standing event as the proceeds will go to support the extra curricular activities of the pupils at St Nicholas School and we look forward to hearing from you shortly and to seeing you at the show next May.

This is a very good show with lots of support from traders - see list here:

http://www.mmss.co.uk/traders/

I hope to bring a caravan so I should be able to offer accomodation, although it will be strictly first come first served!

I am anticipating asking for four exhibitors passes - if there are any more required I am sure that arrangements could be made.

This weekend will be lots of fun, and a good opportunity to promote the forum too, so I do hope that as many people can make it as possible!

MTA

Got it written down in my diary Ian (yes, I do have a diary!). I would definitely like to bring along 'Victor' and possibly my railcar if it is finished by then for a run as to an actual forum stand I think 2009 would be the best bet

steamyjim

Railcar?????? When did you start building this??? PICS???

Titan

MTA

SillyBilly

SillyBilly

Minor1PJG

Sounds good.

I could bring my SL1 and SL1K

And some rolling stock too

Titan

Yup, the more the merrier!!

Boilertite

Andy (sleigh) and myself have been to this exhibition a number of times and Andy has run his locos on the GMES portable layout when our club was there. Its a good show and certainly worth attending.

We will be happy to bring some stuff along, either to run and/or display, just let us know so that I can put in in the diary - Looks like we have 4 or 5 events to exhibit at in 2008 already!

Titan

Well I am officially in!

And a little advertising for the forum too - see here!

http://www.mmss.co.uk/exhibitors/

I have booked a couple of tables too, just in case we have a few stationaries to display, come along to this it will be well worth it!

I look forward to seeing as many of you as possible, as has been said before it is a very good show and the more the merrier!

I still have a couple of spaces spare in the caravan if anyone requires overnight accomodation - unfortunately they are not letting people sleep in the school dormitories like they used to.

Mamodman123

MTA

James

Oi oi lock up your grannys! James is legal to drive on the road in September, in his lean, mean, lass pulling ploughing machine!

Titan

James

LMFAO!!!!!!!

Naa I'm more into sheep and young blonde lasses who have them

Titan

Just bumping this BTTT, its only a month away so getting closer!

Two spaces left in caravan if accomodation required, There is my railway and a couple of tables available to run stationaries on + loads of other railways you could probably run on if you ask nicely!

Not forgetting trade support etc - just check out the link earlier in the thread to get all the details!

Titan

9 Days and counting ...

CCairns

This is the steam event that started me off with toy/model steam engines (my 1st was an RS1 bought from the members stand), and I've been back several times since.

Incredibly I've got a return flight with Ryanair from Prestwick to Stansted for £11.98 inclusive. Not sure how this worked as there should be 2 x Air Passenger Duty of £10, knowing Michael O'Leary there will be something hidden in the depths of his website that says this will be paid as you reach the departure gate!

As I'm flying no chance of bringing any engines, so I'll just be looking & browsing.

I see the list of traders has shrunk from previous events, must be a sign of the poor financial times if they feel that coming to this show is not worth it anymore.

Look forward to finally seeing your portable track & locos in action, assuming I do not get another batch of man flu like before STIA 2008.

MTA

What day/days are you there for Chris?

My plans have changed so it appears I may only be able to make just the one day

CCairns

D'oh! I forgot to say that it will be on the Saturday 17th May 2008. I'll be travelling over the Forth Bridge behind steam on the Sunday.

Minor1PJG

I hope to be there at least one day

MTA

Whoever is going tomorrow, I will see you there!

MF, please check your PM's

CCairns

As my Ryanair flight was a little early, I managed to get an earlier train, which allowed me another 30 mins at this show.

First up was my shopping list.

Locolines for an Ivor the Engine, and his last Wickham Trolley (sold like hot cakes in less than an hour). Unfortunately he had no open wagons, which I'd like to modify to fit some Mamod flat bed wagons.

Busy Bodies for a Fred Dibnah, plus the rest of the Ivor characters he has made so far. Here's a family photo.

Fred in the foreground, unpainted Edwin Jones the Steam that comes with the kit, Dai Station, Idris the Dragon & Evan Evans the Song. On the left various drivers from Modeltown, including a sitting one which will go in the Wickham (Note the great little scale bucket he is sitting on from Chuffed 2 Bits).

Went to see what was on the Members stall (this is where I got my first steam engine, an RS1 set, some years ago), and helped a young enthusiast identify an IP Jane. He was none other than our own MTA, and he bagged a nice IP Jane with some extra options & a pressure gauge.

We walked out into one of the marquees, and meet up with Titan's portable railway layout.

This is his William running, with the Titan loco & MTA's IP Jane in the station.

Sadly I only had limited time at this venue, due to returning on an afternoon flight, so did not have as long as I would have liked to chat with Titan & MTA.

Also had a very informative chat with Andy Bell of AnDel Models. Bought one of his Guards Van kits, and some coal loads which just need a slight adjustment to fit the Mamod open wagon. He has now introduced a metal based wheel set as standard, and changed the supplied couplings to a new style as well. If you've not heard of AnDel Models, have a look at his shop on ebay, http://stores.ebay.co.uk/AnDel-Models , and take the time to read the 'About Me' page. Makes a very interesting read. He is planning to have his own website soon, but likes the coverage that his ebay store online, even selling a few items to non-UK customers.

As I was returning with hand baggage only, I had to remove all the sharp items from the various kits, and bits & pieces, and post them from the airport to myself. Just hope they do not get Royal Mail'ed and sent to China for earthquake relief!

andysleigh

some good stuff there chris.

i also went, and picked up a couple of nice open wagons from the members stall. which i ran behind my train on the visitors layout with edrig and annie.

sadly for me i didnt take any pics, as my camera is still broken and due to a recent pc hard disk deciding to pack up i now cant put pictures on the computer.

i love the new loco simon.

i also saw a te1 in fairly good cond on the members stand, only £30.if i was a mobile mamod person, i would have got it, but i am more of a loco person

MTA

Whilst my pics are uploading, I thought I should give you a little run down of the day and some thank yous.

Many thanks to Chris for expertly identifying my IP Jane. I caught him eyeing up a tender whilst I was looking over the IP Jane... Some more pics of her in a mo

I met up with Ian (Titan) and I was left in charge (!) of the layout a couple of times to leave him free to have a wander. I hope he isn't lonely tonight, all on his own you see.

Unfortunately, Titan didn't want to work well with RC so she had to be driven manually all day. Then her front left hand wheel worked loose and then only two wicks would light!

William was better behaved so he had a few runs. Ian also had to drive his wife's car down as the head gasket on his Range Rover blew! Oh well...

I also met up with Ian (MF) and had a great chat, as per usual, with him about all things machine and steam. He also dropped something off for me which I will post pics of tomorrow...

I also spoke to Andy & Mike, and I believe Andy bought a couple of things.

I met so many people I know today it is nigh on unbelieveable. I met 3 people who volunteer at Amberley, and one of my Dad's friends who lives in Redhill (45 years in the same job don't you know

).

Now, the pics!

I couldn't help but spot this:

An Accucraft Baldwin. An engine with a serious drool factor, I have since decided to not get one of these. There have been numerous problems with these engines straight out of the box, and I would much rather have 3 engines for the price of this one...

The Gauge 1 Track was in attendance. I tried to capture this Aster Bulleid but they run at extremely high speeds...

My MF Steam Twin was steamed up, Ian (Titan) explained to me how he couldn't justify buying one and butchering it to use in a tram

In the adjoining marquee was this rather nice display of Mamod's:

Titan gave him our details

Titan's Faller engine rushes past behind the Twin:

Outside in the grounds is a 7 1/4 inch gauge railway. A friend of mine had brought his loco down for the weekend (the engine piloting, that means the one in front!)

I took this one just for Odilon:

A Paddle steamer engine

A close shot of the legend that is 'Titan' (the engine you twit!):

If you think Titan doesn't look 'right' in this picture, you'd be right. She derailed!

This is the only 'decent' shot I was able to get of William:

And now for my purchases!

As Chris has already said, I purchased an IP Jane from the 'Bring & Buy Stand' for the price of £180.

She has a pressure gauge, 3 wick meths burner, tube sight glass, top up valve, add on regulator and a specially purchased driver:

Jones the Steam has terminated his employment on the Merioneth & Llantisilly Rail Traction Company Ltd. to drive the Amberside Light Railway's recent acquisition. He also brought a friend along with him:

Idris appeared from the chimney when she was first lit up. Asking if I knew 'Land of my fathers', I had to say I didn't although I asked her to keep a good lookout for Jones as he can't see much past all the pipework:

'Victor' now has a part time driver as well:

Mr. F Dibnah, or 'His Dibness' as the employess call him has joined the crew on a temporary basis.

I also bought an oil can to allow easier oiling.

Oh, can you guess what my new engine's name is?

IVOR!!!

steamyjim

Brilliant pics!!!!

Thats a Stuart 10H on that paddlesteamer

I love your new loco MTA!

Les

Very nice pictures, thanks for sharing them.

CCairns

Great photos Si. I really wish I'd had more time today, as I missed your MF twin in steam, and did not get to ride the 7 1/4" railway as I have always done in the past.

Looks like Busy Bodies has made some money this week-end. My Dia has actually got craters around his neck, so he must have done a session on the sister TV series - 'The Clangers'.

I'm pretty sure that the tender I bought is one that IP Eng made as an option for the Jane. It has the same side tank filler tops, a multi-height coupling (only one other is A.W.O.L.), and the buffer plates are the same as the IP Jane.

Here it is with my IPS Janet rebuild (bodywork from an IP Jane, boiler and other bits from a PPS Janet).

alan2525

pauly

that fred model looks more like him than that statue of him they have just unveiled.

is there a website that I can get them off

Les

pauly

thanks havent seen this site in a while

Titan

Well what a fantastic weekend!

It did unfortunately start off badly. The Range Rover disgraced itself by being difficult to start, and when it did would only run on about four cylinders (out of eight). I was hoping that it might be cured by a new distributor cap and rotor arm, but unfortunately coupled with some other symptoms I was forced to accept that it was most likely a blown head gasket, so it was going nowhere.

So it was down to the wifes Daewoo to tow the caravan down to Merstham. Hows this for a bit of free advertising!!

I eventually arrived about 3 hours later than intended. So instead of having a leisurly evening to set up, it was set up the caravan and straight to bed. Fortunately I awoke reasonably early, so I had enough time to set the layout up without too much of a rush, and here it is just before the gates opened.

As most of the first days activity has been well documented, I will move on to the second!
Now amongst some of the problems experienced on the first day was poor performance of Titans burner. As I did not have to set up the layout this morning it meant I could devote some time to sorting it out. The main issue appears to be the poor glass fibre wick that I was using. Whenever the burner starts getting a little low, there is insuficient flow of meths to keep the wicks cool so the ends start to melt. This eventually impares the performance to the point where the wicks won’t even light, let alone burn well. So the wicks were carefully retrimed removing the melted bits. There was an immediate improvement in performance, and Titan ran impeccably for about an hour or so, but then the burner was giving trouble again. I had no choice but to take it all apart and tend to the wicks again. This was where a battery loco comes in useful – I could not fix Titan and run William at the same time!
So eventually the wicks were sorted again and Titan was back in action – with a vengence! This time I was going to make sure that the meths did not get low enough to melt the wicks, so Titan was stopped before any signs of a loss of performance – probably around every fifteen laps or so I was not counting!
With this regime it just kept on running and running and running!
Titan was run virtuously continuously for the rest of the day, only being taken out of service every 90 minutes or so just to be given a little check over to make sure that all was well, and to refil the lubricator. Now technically I could refil the lubricator whilst in steam, but I prefered to steam up William and have that running around for a short while so that I could at least blow the burner out to make things a bit more manageable. Since Titans ‘Pit stops’ were now being planned ahead rather than waiting for performance to fade, I could actually get things pretty well correographed – I would have William complete with train and saftey valve lifting, and with some deft point switching would have Titan running straight on to the pit road whilst William stormed out of the loop.

And for your entertainment a couple of videos:

Freight train, Freight train Runnin' so fast...

And who came along today?
None other than Phil Gravett! Had a nice little chat with him, mostly really catching up on what we have been doing over the last 12 years or so when we had last met!

Has anyone else managed to get through over half a litre of meths in one loco in one afternoon?

The Faller Loco did not get much of a look in that afternoon!

Mind you Titan did eventually sucumb at about quarter to five, when one of the crankpins unscrewed itself, but hey after around six hours of running I was not too bothererd – a bit of loctite will have it sorted no problem!

And then it was time to pack away…

Plenty of evidence that Titans lubricator was working well!

All in all a great weekend, and possibly a few new forum members to boot!

johnreid

I wish I could attend such an event, thanks for sharing it with us who could not attend.

Les

Very good videos and thanks for showing us.

Minor1PJG

I'm really sorry to have missed it

Looks like one for the 2009 diary

Thanks for the reports everyone

Sandman

Excellent report.

Wish I could have been there.

James

Brilliant!! You're making a bloody good use of that sign meyart!

Thanks!

CCairns

Well at least the padded envelope with the sharp items that I posted to myself from the Airport on Saturday has arrived.

But you pay for a 1st Class service, due to be picked up from Airport on Sunday's collection, and it takes 3 days to arrive. Good old Royal Mail!

***MERSTHAM MODEL STEAM SHOW 17th & 18th MAY 2008***

MERSTHAM MODEL STEAM SHOW 17th & 18th MAY 2008