The evening of the 30th. March saw this year's modelling competition at the Club. Bigger and better than before, with 19 very diverse entries in a range of scales and gauges, the winners in each of the four categories submitted worthy and highly professional models. Click on all photos below to enlarge.
First in the 'Diorama' section was Alan Burton, who submitted an extremely detailed scene showing the unofficial delivery of coal from the bunker of a Pannier to the garden of a terraced cottage [apparently rented by the driver's daughter!]. Alan and his entry are shown below:
First in the 'Miscellaneous' section was David Lane, with his excellent model of a Bowspring Girder bridge in 'OO'. This model will be destined for use on the Club's 'Downton Road' layout which is currently under construction. David was unable to attend on the night unfortunately, but his model is shown below:
Moving on, first in the 'Scratch-built or radically-altered RTR' section was Ian Stevenson, who submitted a WW1 train of 2 scratch-built 4 wheel wagons, (one with WW1 troops and the other with howitzer shells), a fully detailed and weathered WW1 Bachmann wagon, (with howitzer shells) and 2 4 wheel Bachmann wagons also loaded with howitzer shells, pulled by a Simplex 'Tin Turtle'. Ian's entry is shown below:
The final first place winner was Simon Durrer, who exhibited a large-scale radio-controlled Simplex 'Tin Turtle' in the 'Kit-built' section. Simon and his offering feature below [note that the accompanying figures are 'G gauge', which gives some indication as to the size of the model]:
All of the First prize winners received a cheque for £25 and their name engraved on the cups in their categories.
The four Second prize winners each received a £15 cheque and their names also engraved on cups [but smaller ones this time!!!]. They were:
For the 'Diorama' section, Richard Grigg, who submitted a famous scene from the first televised series of 'Thomas the Tank Engine & Friends'. Richard dedicated his model to the memory of his recently deceased father.
Second in the 'Miscellaneous' section was Gwion Davies, who constructed an ingenious, electronic train indicator board (with sounds). Gwion and his creation feature below:
And second again in the 'Scratch-built or radically-altered RTR' section was Gwion Davies, whose 3-D printed models of a GWR 'Loriot', in three gauges, caught the imagination of members:
The final second place winner was Tony Richards, who submitted a model of an ex-L&NWR 'Cauliflower' class 0-6-0 Express Goods loco in the 'Kit-built' class. He, and it, are below:
Finally, there was one further prize-winner, Robert Allender, who received a cheque for £25 [and an engraved trophy] for the Chairman's Cup. Robert submitted a model of an ex-Newport Docks Andrew Barclay 0-4-0 Saddle Tank which was part modified RTR, part kit and part scratch-built:
Finally, a series of photographs from the evening, including some of the other entries to the competition.
Building the competition over the last five years has been something of an uphill struggle. The Club has at last got there however and, hopefully, next year will see even more entries. Watch this space!