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CMC Meeting, April 07

PLEASE NOTE: next month's meeting is the AGM on 4th May.

The challenge

This challenge was to "build a self-contained Meccano model (that is, one without trailing wires or controls), that will drive itself along the table-top at the club meeting, detect and avoid the end of the table, and return to the operator."

Three entries successfully achieved this target. Neil's entry is shown above, and consists of a vehicle riding on 1½'' pulleys, with extensions at each end running on 1'' pulleys. These parts drop off the end of the table (assisted by weights consisting of lots of 1'' gear wheels part 38, which looks like showing off to me), and activate the reversing gear. Although it wasn't required by the rules, this model will run continuously and reverse at each end of the table.

Charles' entry is rather more Heath-Robinson, consisting of a pair of ½'' pinions and a half-inch face pinion on top that drop by their own weight from one side of the contrate drive to the other, reversing the drive. The activation (with a half-inch pulley and tyre) drops off the end of the table and simply pulls the support crank out from under the large pinion. It's a bit unreliable in that the 'trip' mechanism can just work itself loose, reversing the drive when it's not intended. It only reverses once, in one direction.

Hugh's entry (below) is based around a truck body he had already built. Having six wheels means that it's stable at each end of the table, and the activation wheels are hidden under the front and rear bumpers. The mechanism uses tension springs and pawls to work directly on the reversing lever of the clockwork motor. The front activator reverses the drive, and then the rear one stops the motor when the model reaches the beginning again.

As well as operating perfectly, the model was particularly neat in the way it used small flanged wheels front and back (you can just see the front one in the photo) as knobs to reset the mechanism.

Hugh's entry was a comfortable winner when all present voted, and here he is seen receiving the priceless challenge cup from Graeme O'Neill, President of the Christchurch Meccano Club.

Models on display

First, a set of planes from very different eras. Above are the recent Meccano Spitfire model (Marks & Spencer kit), and an Aeroplane Constructor outfit 00 from 1938. Below is a freelance aeroplane built from mixed Marklin and Meccano parts.

Grace continued her bike micro-model fixation with this pair.

And above, the big wheel made a comeback after a long absence.

The CMC Challenge - "Back to Basics"

Build a model in time for the next CMC meeting after the AGM, on the 1st June 2007.

The Challenge

It’s Christmas 1955, and you have just received your first Meccano outfit! An outfit 2, and to go with it, a Magic Motor. Make something using only these parts!

The Competition

At the CMC meeting in June, all present will vote for their favourite entry, and the winner will be the one with the most votes! In the case of a tie, the most senior disinterested club member present has the casting vote.

The small print

As usual, you can substitute any reproduction part that is structurally identical to its Meccano equivalent.

For the purposes of this challenge, parts may be bent but not cut. You may use incorrect era parts, including pre-1951 small hole flexible plates if you prefer. Only those parts that existed in the contents of an outfit 2 and Magic Motor at 1955 are eligible, this includes restricting the use of string to a length of 12 feet in total.