Introduction Our April meeting was held at the Bri-Phil Hall in Elsternwick on Sunday, April 18, (delayed from the usual second Sunday to avoid a clash with Easter). Thank you to Russell Hiscock for the photos he has provided. There was a good turnout with thirty members, one family member, and two visitors attending the meeting. Members present were: John Brand, Malcolm Brodie, Lindsay Carroll, Chris Comer, Peter Dalliston, Bill Davis, Dave Doddrell, Peter During, John Edgar, Roger Hall, Steve Hatton, Peter Holles, John Hutchinson, Arthur Kirkbright, Mike Maloney, Rod Marrow, John Martin, Wal Maynard, Barry McDonald, Kimball Monger, Jim Osborne, Carol Parsisson, Jack Parsisson, Tony Press, John Riley, Graham Russell, Graeme Thomson, Catherine and (son) Alexander Tritt, Jeff van Hees and Doug Ward. Visitors were Russell and (son) Callum Hiscock. Apologies were received from Angus Cummings, Dave Denner, Bill Fitzgerald, Sandra Hall, Bill and Margaret Inglis, Paul Johnstone, Nigel Jolley, Graham Jost, Ken Guilliard, Willem Secker, D. E. Thompson, and Mike Wright. As usual, trading and chit-chat occupied the time from 1 pm until 2 pm when Mike called us to order to commence a Special General Meeting Special General Meeting The purpose of this meeting was to vote on a proposed new By-Law dealing with the safety of electrical equipment at Club activities, the formal wording of which had been circulated to members as an insert with the February newsletter. Prior to the meeting, the Committee had received feedback from a number of members about concerns they had with the wording of three subclauses in the proposed By-Law, even though they generally supported the thrust of the By- Law to introduce a system of testing and tagging of electrical equipment. As a result, the committee through the Secretary moved a motion to improve the wording of the subclauses causing concern. With these amendments approved and incorporated in the proposed By-Law, Jim Osborne spoke in support of the motion, and there were no dissenting views. It was very pleasing that the meeting then voted unanimously to adopt the By-Law, and Mike Maloney thanked all Club members who had been involved in its development, in particular Lindsay Carroll and Graeme Thomson who had expended much effort in producing the draft. Nine proxy votes were received from members (two of which became redundant when members were able to attend the meeting in person). The full text of the approved By-Law is included as an insert with the printed version of this newsletter. Normal Meeting This followed on the heels of the Special General Meeting. Mike started proceedings by informing the meeting about several issues discussed at a Committee meeting earlier in the day. - Testing of electrical equipment. One of our members, Rod Marrow, as an electrical contractor qualified to perform testing and tagging of equipment, has generously offered his services free of charge to test equipment brought along by members to forthcoming club meetings. Mike thanked him very much for his offer, and Rod later gave a presentation of what is involved in the tests, and provided some useful information about preparing items for test. (Refer separate item on page ) - Sales of Exhibition Magazine in New Zealand. The Club has accepted an offer by the New Zealand Federation of Meccano Modellers (through whom we arrange printing of our magazine) to promote and sell copies of our 2003 Exhibition Magazine to their members. We are very pleased to have this extra promotion of our Magazine, which has attracted additional subscribers, one as far away as the United States. - Club Newsletter. Bill Fitzgerald wishes to take a break from Club activities for a time and this leaves us without an editor for the Newsletter (and possibly the Exhibition magazine). Mike expressed praise and appreciation for the wonderful job Bill has done, and the high standard of production he has achieved, and we all hope he will return to the role in the not-too-distant future. However, until this is decided, Mike asked that anyone willing and prepared to take on the task to please contact a member of the Committee. It may be that we will have to resort to the old style newsletter. Although not present at the meeting, Bill had kindly offered to assist with the publication of this current newsletter. Thank you Bill! Mike indicated it would be appreciated if any photographers at the meeting could provide photos of the model displays (thanks again to Tony Press and Russell Hiscock for their response). - Membership application Form. The Committee is proposing to change the Membership Application Form to eliminate the requirement for applicants to be personally known by the proposer and seconder. This often proves impractical, particularly for potential new members from interstate and overseas. The change will be considered as an agenda item at the August AGM. - Date of AGM. For some years there has been a clash between the Club’s AGM in August, and the annual auction of the Victorian Branch of the Hornby Railway Collectors Association of Australia. One of our members asked whether our AGM could be moved to another date. Since the date of our AGM this year (August 8) has already been well publicised, and the hall hired, the Committee decided to make no change. However, for next year, the Secretary will liaise with the Hornby Association, and try to avoid a clash. - Advertising of sales by non-members. Until this time, the Club has had no formal policy on allowing non-members to advertise Meccano for sale in our newsletters. In the interest of alerting our members to opportunities to purchase Meccano, the Committee has decided to accept advertisements from non-members for a flat fee of $10 per advertisement in a particular newsletter (a repeat advertisement in a later newsletter will require a further $10). The advertisement may include a description of the item(s) for sale, the asking price, and the contact details of the seller. The Club takes no responsibility for the accuracy of the advertisement, or the reasonableness of the asking price. - Treasurer’s Report. Bill Davis advised that our current balance was about $4070, and our current membership was 73. Presentation on Testing of Electrical Equipment Rod Marrow provided some details of what is covered in the required electrical tests, and demonstrated with some of the equipment he had brought with him. The testing commences with a visual and physical inspection for undamaged cords, fittings and well-anchored terminations. If the cord or plug is a 3x core type, or the casing is substantially of metal, then Rod would expect that the equipment was meant to be earthed, and look for evidence of an earthed attachment. Likewise, a 2x core cord or plug would indicate an unearthed power unit, motor, etc., and he would expect to see evidence of an acceptable double insulated unit. Rod recommended that if plugs (and/or sockets of an extension cord set) need to be replaced, that they be replaced with a clear plastic type, so that the connections could readily be seen to be sound and correctly terminated. There are now available plugs and sockets with a ‘shroud’, which help to prevent exposure of the pins. He pointed out that whilst older Bakelite or rubber fittings were not prohibited by the test, the possibility of deterioration was higher and it was good practice to use more modern fittings. For 240V motors, the most satisfactory arrangement was for a unit with permanently connected cord, which could be checked in the same way as a power unit. Other 240V motors incorporated into a model would require specific inspection and test and may need to comply with other electrical regulations beyond the scope of AS/NZS 3760:2001. If the equipment is acceptable from the physical inspection, Rod then carries out an electrical test of insulation between live and earthed terminals and casing/s, a test to prove the electrical connection of the earth conductor to what should be earthed apparatus, and an electrical test to prove correct polarity (correct connection of active, neutral and earth conductors). If all tests are passed, then the item is deemed acceptable and can be labelled as passing the Standard. The labelling is valid for 12 months for Club purposes. Rod has generously offered to carry out inspection and testing of members’ equipment free of charge, at our next meeting on Saturday, June 12th – in particular for those items likely to be used at our exhibition or a Club meeting. The Club will cover the costs of the appropriate labels, log book, etc., and is required to have registered in its Log Book those items that are used at Club activities. Please bring along for testing any mains power electrical equipment you intend using at club activities. Model Presentations / Items of interest Lindsay Carroll displayed two small ‘Space’ models from the late nineties’ period, not generally available in Australia, but brought to mind from a recent discussion item on ‘Spanner’. He also displayed a very neat miniature silver Rolls Royce model from plans in a recent CQ, complete with wire wheels (from the ‘Crazy Inventors’ series). Roger Hall displayed an original fairground model Flying Boat, driven by a standard 3V motor and using multi-stage pulley/driving band speed reduction within the tower (grunt of satisfaction from Kimball!). Roger had a brochure showing proposed new items from Meccano for the coming year, including some with radio control. Peter During brought along a simple Ezybilt model windmill from the 1940’s, and a partly-built racing car chassis from the “Master Connections” series, and explained he was having a problem in following the instructions for the model. Certainly the diagrams in the Instruction Manual are not very clear with regard to the steering mechanism and springing! Peter also mentioned that he had some copies of a Club photograph taken at Jack Parsisson’s meeting last February. Members wanting a copy should contact Peter. Jeff van Hees had a number of mini models he had constructed from small sets available over the last few years. John Riley again displayed his Outfit 9 locomotive (seen at the August 2003 meeting, and a photograph in that month’s Newsletter), but since dismantled, parts re-painted in black, and rebuilt. It now looks much more realistic and runs well, if somewhat noisily, from the Powerdrive unit in the firebox. Our youngest, keen modelbuilder member, Alexander Tritt, again brought along three original models. There was a fine and realistic Plastic Meccano racing car inspired by the recent Grand Prix, a simple but recognisable traction engine in metal Meccano - limited somewhat by the parts available to a young builder (we all went through that stage), and an intriguing catapult- like device he had entitled an ‘Easter Egg Flicker’. The mind boggles!! Alexander had brought along a small Easter egg to demonstrate, but it was quickly reclaimed after the first flick, before eager members could take possession! Tony Press brought us back to more traditional items of Meccano – in fact, pre-war traditions! He showed a ‘00’ Aeroplane Construction outfit, a Motor Car Construction outfit and a Kemex Chemical outfit – (remarking on the difficulties the Club would have if we had to comply with relevant regulations to use that!!). Also a Hornby Speedboat, with leaflet advising the availability of replacement clockwork motor, and the existence of a Hornby Speedboat Club. Back to Home Page |
Meeting April 18 2004 |