News.
2024 Annual Exhibition
The next Exhibition is planned for Saturday 11th May 2023 at Queens’ School, Bushey.
We already have nineteen layouts confirmed, as well as confirmation that the school will again provide catering.
As always, please keep the date free in your diary as we would love to see you there and we also need good attendance from members to help run the show.
See Exhibition page for the flyer and list of layouts attending.
Open Day and mini-exhibition 2023
The Open Day and mini-exhibition of club and members’ layouts was held on Saturday, October 7th, at All Saints Church, Leavesden. Seven club and members’ layouts were shown: Luffield (00) and the Dudley Frey Extension (N) both operating as ‘work in progress’, Cromarty (N), Fenworth (H0, US), Hobbs Row Halt (009), Springfield Street (H0, US) and Thomas Town (00). Luckily, good business at the sales stand offset the relatively poor (though enthusiastic) attendance.
On the plus side, some good experience was gained in operating the ‘work in progress’ layouts.
Autumn outing
Thirteen members (and three guests) had a great day out in the sunshine at the Didcot Railway Centre and then at the Pendon Museum last Saturday (2nd September).
We steamed up and down behind Hunslet 0-6-0 “King George”, watched it being watered and coaled at the coal stage, were fascinated by the broad gauge replicas and inspected the big collection of Great Western locos and rolling stock. At Pendon, we were treated to stories about the wonderful Vale of The White Horse model and the other layouts.
Film night
The next Film Night is planned for Thursday 7th December in the NAAFI hut next to the club – doors open 7:45pm.
Lincolnsfield Open Days
The next Open Day is on Sunday 29th October and we hope to have at least two layouts up and running to show to the visitors. Volunteers are requested to add their names to the attendance sheet on the club notice board for availability to ‘man’ the clubhouse on the open days.
‘Back to Basics’ sessions
These are aimed at beginners who want to broaden their knowledge but as there are a wide range of topics (such is our hobby) many members may like to attend 1 or 2 of the sessions.
The format will be in groups of 3-4 and will include a ‘have a go’ section where attendees can ‘ get their hands dirty’. Sessions can be repeated if numbers interested exceed the small group size, so no one will miss out.
The schedule for the next sessions is as follows: –
Scenery | Tues 21/11/23 |
Trees | Thurs 16/11/23 |
Other subjects to be covered will be: –
Loco and stock maintenance | Wheels, gears, motors, pickups, lubrication, service cradle, parts storage, spares |
DCC | How it works, what it can do, simple wiring, chip fitting, chip types, tuning performance, CVs, hardwiring chips |
Members’ Projects
See the Members’ Projects page for layouts available for Exhibition.
If you are prepared to show your own layouts (especially portable ones) to the world, we will add details and pictures to the web page and also Facebook. Please contact the Secretary if you have news and / or pictures of your own own model-related project.
AGM and Committee Meetings
The 2023 AGM was held on Thursday 9th March. The Minutes have been circulated and are posted on the clubroom notice board.
Subscriptions for the current year have been set at £125 to cover the fifteen months from 1st April 2023 to 31st March 2024. Fees for members joining during that period will be set proportionately.
The Committee members are as below: –
Chairman and Exhibition Manager: John Davy
Treasurer: Ron Drew
Secretary: Ken Halse
00 gauge rep: Rob Thomas
Committee member and Exhibition Trader Coordinator: Peter Hodge
Minutes from the most recent Committee meeting are also posted on the clubroom notice board.
The next meeting is on Wednesday 22nd November.
Clubhouse rules and COVID precautions
The Clubhouse is fully open for use by members.
Legalised COVID precautions having been removed, the Committee decided to retain the following measures on a voluntary basis: –
- Hand sanitising (sanitiser provided)
- Separation as far as practical
- Ventilation (open doors) as outside temperatures permit.
Hand sanitiser and facilities for boiling water plus soap and towels for hand washing are provided.
Club tidiness
A reminder: quite a lot of work is being done on the layouts, emphasising the need to tidy up afterwards and keep the clubhouse neat and clean, especially as we open up to the public once a month. Also, please would all members remove or otherwise safeguard any of their own possessions that are at the club – and throw away any unusable or waste material – bins are provided. Thank you.
We continue to wish all our members and their families good health and happy modelling.