ADMES

[NilochParticipant @niloch]

Time and time again one reads of disenchantment and disappointment when a prospective new member approaches a model engineering club with a view towards membership.

Not so with ADMES. The club treasurer gave myself and a neighbour his undivided attention for two and a quarter hours or more to show us the club’s facilities yesterday morning/early afternoon.

ADMES has occupied their current sylvan site for less than three years. It is clear for all to see that a phenomenal amount has been achieved in that time. The Nissen huts tell us that that there must have been a war time connection, but oddly, one of the huts is in as new condition. So it should be, apparently a company in Wales still supplies components for re-furbishing. A welcoming cup of hot tea was provided and a donation gladly given

The rented site consists of 40 acres and there are hugely ambitious plans for future development.

Disappointed, disenchanted, disinterested; not a bit of it, I signed my cheque for membership there and then. Thank you Rex.

[NilochParticipant @niloch]

Thriving ME club

[Rex HanmanParticipant @rexhanman57403]

Thanks Niloch, but I’ve got your money now so no more Mr nice guy!!

 

Rex

[NilochParticipant @niloch]

Choosing a date which coincided with Mother’s Day in the UK didn’t seem to affect attendance at the club running day today, my first as a new member and, thankfully, whilst I was there April showers stayed away, neither was it so hot to cause concern to club officers because of the coefficient of expansion of aluminium track.

Some of the locos to be seen in steam were a 7.25” GWR Mogul with tender, a 5” Ajax, Juliet and at least two varieties of Sweet Pea, a rather beautiful GWR TorquayManor besides a Tich and an electric 08 shunter and a further diesel outline electric. I was shown a Rob Roy, a work in progress with it’s brand-new commercially made copper boiler.

I was fascinated by the club president’s loco built in 1946 and appearing on the cover of ME round about that time but re-boilered in 2000. Unfortunately G and his assistant W couldn’t raise steam today for reasons that are totally beyond me. G’s knowledge however is encyclopaedic and I’m sure all will be put right in no time at all.

I had a ride behind the club loco on the raised track but the fireman/driver hadn’t done his job as well as he might because we had to have a push from the 0-6-0 variant of the ubiquitous Sweet Pea belonging to the club’s boiler inspector.

It was shortly afterwards that a bombshell was dropped on me, I was instructed by the society treasurer to sit on the driving truck of the 0-6-0 Sweet Pea. I looked quizically at N the owner who assured me I’d be OK. What a thrill and how responsive the loco was to the regulator coping with gradients effortlessly.

As I have found on previous occasions, everyone in this society is so helpful. I pointed at something on the magnificent GWR Mogul only to be given a perfectly understandable explanation of a snifting valve. Thanks both to Ro the lucky part owner of the Mogul and as ever to R the society treasurer.

I now look forward to the first Sunday in May when a ‘by invitation only’ event means yet more varied motive power to enjoy. Invitations have been sent to a good many ‘local’ clubs, I understand in this context that ‘local’ is moderately distant! If you don’t know about it, see your club secretary without delay.

This was only my third Sunday visit but I continue to be astonished at the progress this society has made in a little less than three years. However, in view of the fact that one frequently reads correspondence voicing concern over the average age of model engineers the most gratifying thing of all was to see D, a 14 year old piloting Juliet with such expertise and enthusiasm. I have a lot to learn.

[NilochParticipant @niloch]

The Hon. Sec. Has asked me to pass on the following information. Southern Federation members are invited to come along on the 1^st May, 5^th June, 3^rd July and 7^th August. ADMES is not open to the general public on these occasions.

The tracks comprising 1200feet of 7.25” and 5” ground level and 960feet of 5” and 3.5” raised will be open between 10:00 and 17:00. There are also SM32 and G45 garden tracks. There are concrete surfaces aplenty for road steam. If in doubt contact: stephentucker8@gmail.com 01264400041. Full ADMES details are available from the link in the original post.

[NilochParticipant @niloch]

Saturday the 24^th of September was a great day for ADMES members who have a particular interest in the the ‘garden’ scales, Gauge 1, SM32 etc. The Salisbury and Stonehenge Gauge 1 group had been invited, otherwise, advertising and advance planning were limited to about three weeks prior to the event. Attendance at previous events of this nature was poor so, perhaps, enthusiasm was not at its highest during planning.

Not only was the weather very kind but attendance was highly rewarding with Aster, Barrett, Mamod, Merlin and modified G1 ‘project’ locos running. There were examples of coal, gas and spirit firing. There were also some superb rakes of coaches to be seen as well as a speed recording device using a GWR van to house some of the electronics and a hand held cycle computer for the display.

There were visitors also from the Medstead and Alton areas who were duly impressed, as indeed I was, at the progress the society has made at its new home. The Alton member accepted an invitation to drive the 5” gauge battery/electric around the ground level track with alacrity and who can blame him!

Our member DonC who has an enviable selection of Gauge 1 equipment was committed to the 7.25″ gauge AGM at Swindon, never mind, I’m sure there will be further events of this nature.

[NilochParticipant @niloch]

May I please draw to your attention ADMES’ new web site which is very much a work in progress:

http://www.admes.org.uk

[Rex HanmanParticipant @rexhanman57403]

50th Anniversary ROB ROY RALLY

Martin Evans designed a 3 1/2” gauge locomotive for a competition. Based on a Scottish dock tank, the challenge was to build the locomotive in one year and enter it for judging at the 1962 Model Engineering Exhibition. Rob Roy was born!

There have been many examples of this design built since that initial
introduction and no major exhibition is complete without at least one. Our
club has several members with a Rob Roy.

As far as we are aware there has never been a Rob Roy rally so the Andover
and District M E S plan to mark the 50th anniversary by holding the first gathering of “the clan”.

When?

We plan to hold it over two days, a Friday and a Saturday. This is to try
to avoid clashing with other events which are usually on Saturdays and
Sundays, and hopefully at least one day will be dry. The dates will be in

August.

Under the terms of our lease we can’t open to the public and have a “free for all” with no idea how many are coming, so it will run on an invitation basis.

Format

An informal gathering of complete or part built Rob Roys for running on
the raised track or for display only. Each day will start around 10 30 am until all present have had enough, probably about 4 pm. A Barbeque style lunch will be provided. Boiler certificates will be required for those wishing to steam their engines. Visitors will be asked to provide their own riding trolly with suitable couplings and
safety chains. Coal and water will be provided. Around mid afternoon all examples will be gathered together for a photograph.

If any one would like to attend this event or would like more details, they should please contact me at….

Rex Hanman (ADMES Treasurer)

01980 846815

rexwilliam@fsmail.net

[Ompa OmpaParticipant @ompaompa11814]

Looking back at this thread I have a question. Since the writer (Niloch) states very clearly on 10/04/11, that members of the Southern Federation were invited to their Open Day back in 2011 does that meant that members of clubs/societies belonging to other affiliation bodies would not be able to attend. We have received an invitation/notice of their Open Day for this year (2012) but since we have 're-located' to the Northern Association I do wonder if we should travel despite the ever increasing costs.

[Rex HanmanParticipant @rexhanman57403]

Hi Heronsgate,

To answer your question, anyone is welcome to come. Our lease precludes us from having open days for the general public, therefore any of our events are technically "by invitation only". This doesn't mean we turn away unexpected visitors but after many years without a site we have no wish to upset our landlord.

For this reason we have to be a little careful. Usually on our open days we get a few visitors from our neighbouring clubs and are not inundated. That said, we hope that the Rob Roy event will be well attended. If you or anyone else would like to come please email me or phone me and I will supply more details, you will be most welcome!

[NilochParticipant @niloch]

Another huge achievement for this:

**LINK**

thriving club. The building of an 800metre extension to the 7.25" ground level track was completed today after considerably less than six months work which also saw the earth moving work on a model boat pond completed. Congratulations fellow members.

[NilochParticipant @niloch]

Perhaps I was exagerating by 50metres! Do have a look at this YouTube video, the scenery is a joy and come the Spring there will be thousands of bluebells. Sorry, the first train was IC hauled, not steam!

**LINK**

[NilochParticipant @niloch]

The monsoons were late leaving Hampshire this year, in consequence ADMES' first open day for 2014 on April 6th was a rather damp affair.

We sincerely hope that the 4th May will be in complete contrast with the sunshine showing the bluebells and our location to their best.

Do come along to exploit our facilities and experience, most probably, the friendliest club you are likely to encounter. Even so, if intending to run steam, please bring along the appropriate documentation.

Earlier posts in this thread such as the one for 21/10/2012 gives a link for all the relevant information. See you there?

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