Local Clubs, and where to find them?

Not sure if this is the best place to ask or not, but does anyone know of any model engineering clubs around the Farnborough, Hampshire area? Specifically associated with stationary engines.

Regards,

Ed.

Would that be stationary as in steam engines or hit & miss/diesel stationary engines?

Most clubs are mostly loco biased with a few members more interested in the above. Guildford would be the most likely to from what I hear heavily into locos. Basingstoke is another worth a try

J

Edited By JasonB on 03/01/2014 20:46:25

Edited By JasonB on 03/01/2014 20:50:01

Thanks Jason,

Yes, by stationary I refer to stationary steam engines.

Regards,

Ed

Not forgetting ADMES and again here

Ed,

May I suggest that if can visit the London Model Engineering Exhibition at Alexandra Palace (17-19th January) and once there visit the stands of Southern Federation of Model Engineer Societies and the Northern Association where they can supply information of clubs in the area. In meantime can look at this site **LINK** .

Note:-  not all the links works but by googling you can usually find a link.

Regards Luigi

Edited By Halton Tank on 04/01/2014 00:13:47

Ed, You are less than 10 miles from me... I am still looking for a club in the area that shows an active interest in model Stationary engines.

When John Day died Guildford really lost its prime focus on stationary engines, I put on a large stationary engine display at the GMES show last year (along with my turning demo) but there was little club member interest. I gave in taking my engines to their bits and pieces again because of the lack of interest from the loco enthusiasts.

Jo

I'm sorry to hear that Jo, it was an ideal set up from what I could see from here. Followed things on the other site, MEM.

Just a thought about the locomotive only types, your clubs need to have a wider view of model engineering, todays youth, who are your future often have little interest in steam locos that they may have not seen, and only heard of through their grandfathers.  Most of these clubs are Model Engineering, and some times experimental club, rather than Model Locomotive Clubs. Just my idea of things.     Ian S C

Edited By Ian S C on 04/01/2014 10:27:12

Thanks fellas,

I'm not sure what I expect from a club, as never been part of one previously.

Suppose I'm just after a bit of banter and shared experience.

I'm not a steam loco man, so think I'll avoid those dedicated to steam locos.

Regards,

Ed

Just because you see me eating chips does not mean I am never interested in mashed or boiled. If you give me a pastie now I won't be interested either because I am rather busy eating my chips of just full. But if you offer me a slice of chocolate cake at tea time I may well go for that instead of chips. It is just a matter of timing.

You are very lucky to find a club with loco enthusiasts who will form a revenue earning core to build on. Looks like Jo made an effort but it is no good expecting quick results - you might have to wait 20 years for that person to finish their loco.

ADMES (see above) has it's annual table top steam evening. I don't deny that there is a preponderance of Mamod, Wilesco and Jensen 'toy' engines but Stuart engines and boilers have also made an appearance. Perhaps, for the next such evening. I should invite Jo & JasonB to come and show us the results of their prodigious skills.

Speaking from no experience of ME clubs...but others..

People join primarily for acces to resources.

be that people/experience..buying power..group "society"..etc.

in the ME case that might include tools/instruments..and or shared workshop space...

Thus there are three particular reasons for loco enthusiasts to join a club ( over more general me )

1 Track / layout

2 "Boiler " inspection...

3 insurance ( third party)

the last two also apply to traction engins but you get the point

the down side is few newcomers are going to be looking to build locos. (at first)..so might put head round door at say an openday , see nothing matching their near future aspirations..and politely leave...

Sadly the railway side of a society might bring in revenue but my experience is that their ability to spend money far exceeds their contribution.

I had hoped that my demo at the last GMES rally would have attracted new members to the club: I don't think we got any this year. But I know that the MEM membership rose rapidly around the show time.

Niloch: Andover is a long way for me and a very long way for Jason to travel, especially in the evening. And I would worry that something like my 1/6th S&P is rather a long way from the sort of simple engine you would get at that type of evening, it is likely to scare off someone thinking about building their first model stationary engine.

Jo

I was impressed with your display at the GMES do, but I can't find the time to get involved with the club at the moment.

Maybe when I retire (hopefully) in 2017 there could be a chance.

Bert

The internet also plays a big part nowadays.

You can go onto a forum such as this one or a dedicated one for say your lathe or mill, ask a question and get an answer the same day / night usually.

The reply doesn't have to come from someone close to you or even in the same country and beats having to wait a month until the next club night.

I must admit that I stuck my head in at two of my local clubs a few years ago and although I was made welcome it was obvious as I had no interest in loco's or running them that I wasn't the person they were looking for.

Everything seems to be based round loco's at clubs because of the fixed track and the need to generate money to run from giving rides to the public.

Hope Apple don't spot this link or the next thing will be iChoo's

Hi Ed

I'm a mile or so away from you, why not start your own club ?

you might be surprised how many people are close enough to make it happen

cheers

Rather than starting a "club", why not something like our Sothern Counties Traction Engine Group? We rent a village hall three times a year and get together for a chat, bring along work in progress and have a guest speaker.

I am sure one of the ME clubs would let us use their clubhouse for an initial meeting to see if there was sufficient local interest.

Jo

Just a bit off topic, in 1898 when model engineer was first published, you could ask a question one week, and receive the answer the following week,(only in UK of course), snails were faster in those days, but that was the internet of the day. The nay sayers gave the magazine about two years before it would fold.

We had a club here, "The Malvern Motor & Machinery Club Inc."  We where given space at our museum at Homebush to display our bits and pieces, but due to lack of interest, and people saying Oh I'll do that, I'll help with this that, then not turning up, Oh sorry, too busy this weekend.  A small group of us, and we have got three or four younger guys helping now, carry on.    Ian S C

Edited By Ian S C on 05/01/2014 10:13:44

Ian,

I think this blowing hot, blowing cold attitude is there in all forms of groups.

Possibly a lot can be put on the spread out of the clubs, Jo mentions 3 times a year, bit like waiting and waiting and then just at the time something crops up so 1/3 of the year is lost.

Sorry to harp on about this but this is where the internet scores, I see a question on a group and want to post the answer. I don't have to post it between 7:0 and 8:30 when a club is open. I can post it when it suits me.

I'd go for that, good idea!

Bert

I don't think anyone could argue with that, but there's nothing like seeing people's creations in the flesh.

It's one of the things that I look forward to seeing at the shows.

Bert