Welcome to Model Engineer

Model Engineer is the premier UK model engineering magazine. It has been published for over 100 years. Content includes constructional articles, interesting articles on engineering related topics and many other varied subjects about models and model engineering.

Model Engineers' Workshop is a relative newcomer, first published in 1990. It is much more concerned with machines, both manual and CNC, tools, methods and processes. Historically, it does not include articles on the construction of models. It usually contains drawings for the construction of a machine, a tool or a machine accessory.

Special Issue: 300 Years of the Steam Engine in Industry

Available to purchase in the shops from 25 May 2012. Order your copy today!

The publishers of Model Engineer are bringing you a Special Issue to mark the Tercentenary of the Steam Engine. Three hundred years ago, in 1712, the very first steam engine was put to work above a coal mine at Dudley Castle. Thomas Newcomen (the first model engineer!) made an atmospheric beam engine and the World was changed for ever.

This publication describes the early development of the steam engine in industry, its evolution through two centuries and a look at some of the best museums housing stationary steam engines today - many in their original locations. Read Roy Simmons' in-depth article on the Crofton beam engines as they celebrate the Bicentenary of the Boulton &Watt No.1 Engine - still at work!

Click to place your order today.

IMLEC 2012 - Update

The Nottingham Society of Model and Experimental Engineers will host this competition in 2012. Our thanks go to them. The dates for the 2012 event are 14th & 15th July. The NSMEE track is within the Nottingham Transport Heritage Centre next to Rushcliffe Country Park to the south of the village of Ruddington about 5 miles south of Nottingham city centre. There is still a little time left to apply to take part in this great competition.

Visit the NSMEE website for application details.

The Nottingham Society are pulling out all the stops to make sure this will be a fantastic weekend for competitors and spectators alike.

Little LEC 2012 at Swansea

Little LEC 2012 is being hosted by the Swansea Society of Model Engineers on the weekend of the 23rd and 24th of June. The track is located on the west side of Swansea in an area known as Derwen Fawr (Big Oak for those who cannot speak Welsh).
The competition will be run to the rules laid out by the Guildford Society and Peter Langridge. More information can be found on the Little LEC website at www.littlelec.co.uk.
The Swansea site has very limited car parking. Competitors may leave trailers on site but will be asked to park cars on the residential roadway adjacent to the track. There is room for a small number of tents for those who want to camp. (No large frame tents.) Space will allocated on a first come first served basis. There is a good Caravan Club Site approximately 8 miles away at Gowerton.
Swansea and Mumbles are nearby seaside towns, and there are many hotels and B&Bs within a short distance of the track.
It will be possible to store locomotives in travel boxes in the clubhouse for those who wish to extend their visit to this beautiful part of South Wales.
The track is 1215ft in length and is suitable for 3 1/2 inch and 5 inch gauge engines and comprises flat bottom rail on plastic sleepers on concrete beams. The layout is in the form of a folded figure of eight with two tunnels and an over-bridge. Visitors say that it is a well laid track with some challenging gradients.
For more details and an entry form please contact the club Secretary at :-
sue.dave229@btinternet.com
or by post at:-
229 Dunvant Road
Dunvant
Swansea
SA2 7SS

Alternative Exhibitions

Following comments in an Engineering In Miniature Editorial (March 2012) any threads or comments about any Meridienne Exhibition will be deleted from this forum without notice. Comments and threads about the Sandown Park Exhibition, The Harrogate Exhibition and any other Non-Meridienne Exhibitions will still be welcome.

We will continue to print reports on Meridienne Exhibitions in Model Engineer and Model Engineers' Workshop unless we are asked to stop doing so.

Model Engineer Exhibition 2011

DID YOU VISIT THE UK's BEST MODEL ENGINEERING SHOW?

The 2011 Model Engineer Exhibition was held at Sandown Park Racecourse on 9, 10 and 11 December 2011. This year's exhibition celebrated 104 years of the very best of Model Engineering, in conjunction with Model Engineer, Model Engineers' Workshop and www.model-engineer.co.uk. This three day extravaganza once again included the most highly respected model engineers' competition in the world and attracted competition entries and visitors from across Europe.

A new dedicated website www.modelengineershow.co.uk is still live and will remain live for contact details for clubs and traders.

MyHobbyStore were delighted to have Mike Law and Steve Eaton on the team this year. Both Mike and Steve are themsleves respected model engineers and have been section judges in previous years' competitions. They were responsible for organising the competition classes and loan models as well as co-ordinating clubs and societies and what a terrific job they did. The whole event was, as always, a big team effort and this year it really did have something special!

The dates for the 2012 Exhibition will be 2, 3 & 4 November. Our apologies for previous publication of dates in error. This has been due to changes at the venue caused by the Queen's Jubilee Celebrations which have had a knock-on effect throughout the events calendar.

On display on the SMEE stand were many very fine models of stationary engines. Mitch Barnes was amongst the SMEE team with his one-twelvth scale model 'maquette' of an early 19th Century Beam Engine. This model is absolutely faithful to scale in every respect which not only makes for a beautiful thing in its own right but forms a part of the extensive research for his ultimate ambition; a quarter scale model of an engine of similar design. This model is the builder's first to his own design and demonstrates a progression from a kit built engine and, as such, an inspiration to all.

Duke of Edinburgh Competition rule change

After consultation with the judges, it has been decided that the rules for the Duke of Edinburgh Challenge Trophy will be modified. Rule 5 has been altered to allow models to enter more than once so if they don't win the first year, they may win on a a succeding year. The new entry form can be downloaded at
MEX 2011 Entry

New locomotive classes at the Sandown Park Model Engineer Exhibition

New kit built locomotive classes at the Sandown Park Model Engineer Exhibition

Class B-K1 sponsored by Polly Engineering Ltd.
B-K1 Working steam locomotives built from a commercial kit.
Entries were not judged in the medal classes but were eligible to receive commended certificates. At the 2011 Exhibition the Polly Engineering Ltd. Shield and a Polly gift Certificate was awarded to Marcus Peel from Sefton, Merseyside, for his Great Western 57XX class panier tank No 5764. The competition was open to any kit built working steam locomotive of any scale or gauge.

GWR panier tank by Marcus Peel.

Darjeeling Reference Photos

The Editor visited the Leighton Buzzard Light Railway about 3-years ago to see the Darjeeling Himalayan railway locomotive that was on loan from a private estate railway in Oxfordshire. He took many photos and, as a similar locomotive is being serialised in Model Engineer, it has been decided to put the photos on display to help prospective builders. Follow links below for the complete collection:

Social networking

We are now on Facebook and Twitter.
See left-hand column.

I am new to Facebook so it is a learning curve so please be patient as I get to grips with it. I will upload photos and useful information as often as I can.

Twitter will be used to keep you up-to-date with entries and traders to the Model Engineer Exhibtion and I will update it as it happens.

So, please join us, both on Facebook and Twitter.

Coming soon, The editor's Newsletter.

A round-up of hints, tips and news from the world of model engineering.

Watch this space.

Check out our new Model Engineer Exhibition website as well.