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CMC Meeting, June 07

The challenge

This challenge was: "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!"

There were five entries for this months' challenge. In no particular order, they are shown below:

Hugh Aston's utility three-wheel truck Hugh Aston made a very capable three-wheeled truck. The Magic Motor is mounted on the steering mechanism and turns with the (single) wheel. Drive is geared down with a rubber band running from an anchoring spring to a 1'' pulley and gives a good speed. The truck can reverse as the front wheel turns completely round. A seat and truck body complete the model. See the 'other models' below for more about this model.	Grace's windmill Grace's windmill was ready last month, and was powered by the Magic Motor
Charles Steadman's railway breakdown crane Charles' railway breakdown crane is from the 1955 manual, and is unpowered but has sufficient 'playability' to keep small boys amused for a good while.	Joy's horse and cart Joy showed this lovely motorised horse and cart. The Magic Motor is under the cart, and powers the wheels of the cart -- the horse rolls in front on a bush wheel.
Neil's 'man and cart' This strange man-and-cart model is from the Meccano Magazine (issue, anyone?). The Magic Motor drives the bush wheel upon which the man's left leg is attached eccentrically. Incredibly, it works, albeit somewhat unreliably. The motion is one of the left leg furiously stamping up and down which moves the model along quite unexpectedly. And then overconfidence led to another broken Magic Motor spring. A very close vote this month, and the winner was Joy's horse and cart.

Models on display

As a follow-up to the last challenge (the reversing mechanism), Dave Lang brought this very capable reversing vehicle to the last couple of meetings. Too late for the competition, which is just as well for the rest of us as it would have done very well! The arms rotate in different directions, while the head turns too. The reversing is very precise and reliable, and works in both directions. There are all sorts of obscure and modern Meccano parts in here, although the MW long sleeve pieces mounted on the head might have caused controversy with the judges!
This fire escape ladder is from the 1960's "special model leaflets", issued between the removal of the 9 manual and the set being discontinued in 1970. These leaflets are the biggest models designed by Meccano at this time, and were reprinted as model leaflets 21-30 for the 10-set. This model has a maximum ladder height of about five feet, good front-wheel steering, but no drive or differential to the back wheels. It is a good big model, but is mechanically weak and doesn't stand up well to being played with.
As a follow-up to the model entered in the challenge, Hugh also made a larger scale model of the utility truck shown in the photograph. The larger scale version uses a No.1 motor and 2" pulleys with tyres for wheels, but interestingly the smaller version is probably the more successful. Both are shown here.

Business

After many years of faithful service to the club, Doug King tendered his resignation from the position of Treasurer of the Christchurch Meccano Club. The Secretary nominated Neil Pluck, who was seconded and unanimously voted in by the required majority of the offices and members of the club present. It was pointed out that, more years ago than it would be gentlemanly to remember, Neil's mum was a previous Treasurer of the Christchurch Meccano Club.

The CMC Challenge - "A straight race"

Build a Meccano model, powered only by a Meccano No.1 clockwork motor, designed to travel as quickly as possible from a standing start along a straight course of around 10 metres. The start of the course will be on linoleum, and the finish on carpet.

The model must have an accessible start button or lever, such that they can be lined up at the start line and set off when required.

The Competition

At the CMC meeting in July, models will compete in pairs drawn by lot, over the best of three races for each pairing. The winners will progress to semi-finals or finals of two or three models as required depending on the number of entrants. The winner will be winner of the final set of three races!

Definition of ‘Meccano model’

As usual, you can use any Meccano part ever made and sold as Meccano, or any reproduction part that is structurally identical to a Meccano part. Parts may not be cut or deformed such that they cannot be used for their intended function again. You can cut a 2 down into a 2a (it becomes a reproduction part), but not down to a 5” long strip (which has no Meccano equivalent).

Cord, driving bands, and springs may be of any type. Motors must be genuine Meccano. Non-Meccano washers may be used in your model solely to protect the paintwork (these don’t count as a part).