Hello from Cambridgeshire

Hi

I'm new to this.

Hoping to pick up lots of know how from this vast knowledge base...

Also looking for a milling machine...

Julian

Hi Julian, and Welcome!

Whereabouts in Cambridgeshire?

I am a member of the Peterborough Society of Model Engineers and we draw members from a wide area.

The founding editor of MEW, Stan Bray is a member, and used yo speak regularly to the club..

Our next meeting, with a speaker, is next Monday, at The Community Centre, 70 High Street Eye, PE6 7UY, at 7:30 pm, if you want to come.

There is also an active Cambridge club.

Wherever you are, it will be worth finding a club and joining it, To meet with like minds, and gain help and experiences.

Howard

Edited By Howard Lewis on 15/03/2022 09:49:49

Hi Julian, I'm further east on the Norolk coast, welcome. Howard has said it all as far as clubs go. Good luck and best wishes Noel.

Not had much luck with clubs. When I moved to Grimsby I contacted the local club, Cleethotpes and district,band requested a copy of the club magazine magazine to see what they got up to. I got a reply saying magazines were for members only. I never bothered to join.

Bournemouth club was good as was Burnham on Sea. Nottingham was very good with great facilities when I visited while going to a Myford open day. Well worth joining if I didn’t live several 100 miles away.

Thinking about it, that is where I had my first black out. I stepped up a foot onto a concrete raised platform by the gauge 1 track and blacked out onto a concrete pad 4 feet below. Luckily the traverser was at the other end or I would probably have broken my back.

This must have been when I started to get weak. It was about 10 years later after feeling weak and unable to stand unaided for about 6 years that I had a pacemaker fitted. I had 2 black out episodes 1 month apart and was taken to hospital for tests. Brain scan and trace ok. Heart scan and trace fine. They did a 24 hour heart monitor fine. They did another 48 hour heart trace and lost the results. About a week later, they found the results and said they were fine. This was 4 weeks after going into hospital. They did a final review and they said they could find nothing wrong with me and I could go home. 2 days later, another doctor reviewed the case with a view to discharging me. He said he wanted to discuss me with the cardiac team because he was not happy with the trace,

So they reviewed ma a said they were going to fit a pacemaker, not because I needed one but I problem would in a few years so It would rule out a heart problem. So I had it fitted and no more blackouts. Pure luck than judgement but it worked. They think I had an intermittent electrical fault with my heart. So, 6 years being an able to stand all caused by an undiagnosed heart condition. Oh well, never mind.

Aren't clubs fantastic. Your experience at Bournemouth saved you from blacking out while driving and probable death.

You will make some great friends if you try out our local club either by contacting them through their website or perhaps turning up at one of their advertised meetings or open days. Ask to speak to a committee member as if you just pick a random person they too might be a visitor, or with clubs being very inclusive places the person might have communication issues.
Importantly you don't need to have built anything or ever used a lathe to go along. Lots of the members of both my clubs just like having a chat with like minded sort of technically oriented people. You will find from my experience that once you get into it you can also confidently go along to other model engineering clubs round the world and feel at home.
Oh and don't get drawn into the "they're only interested in locos" rubbish. This is NEVER true it is just they have to do public rides to earn the money to pay for the club meeting room and insurance. If you think the membership fee covers that think again it is usually about one third or less of club running costs.

Hi Bazyle

Not into locos, I like them but not for me. At least, not in larger gauges, SM32 OK though I was more into making tools although I did build a Blackgates oscillating twin.

To old for clubs now, I can’t get there now due to disabilities.

Hi Bazyle

Not into locos, I like them but not for me. At least, not in larger gauges, SM32 OK though I was more into making tools although I did build a Blackgates oscillating twin.

To old for clubs now, I can’t get there now due to disabilities.

Thanks for the welcome, chaps.

I live in Stilton. So, the Peterborough club looks a good option...Norfolk is a bit of a drive.

I'm actually away at the moment and will be away still on Monday next ...so maybe I could come to your next meeting, please, Howard...

Hi Julian!

Look at the Peterborough Society of Model Engineers website, for meeting dates (First and third Mondays of the month. First is "Bits and Pieces" and the third is a speaker meeting.

One of the heading pictures shows the stand that we had at the sadly now defunct Spalding Hobbies show.

It showcases just how a wide a range of interests our members have.

I am currently trying to organise a stand for the Garden Railway Show, (We shall have the portable track at Crowland that week end ) and for the Open Farm Weekend at Park Farm Thorney; both in June

We shall look forward to seeing you.

Howard.