Death of Model Engineering?

[Barnaby WildeParticipant @barnabywilde70941]

Posted by Bazyle on 16/11/2018 20:01:02:

Funnily enough someone brought this up at our club meeting which must have been about an hour before this thread was started. We were also voting on an increase in subs which are lower for OAPs. The Treasurer remarked that of the 32 people present I was the only one still in full time employment. When I joined I think I was 33 and while probably the youngest then at least half were paying full subs. Now I think only six out of 80 are working and several of those are part time and past retirement age.
It was even suggested that we should drop the 'engineering' from our club name to emphasise the need to diversify from pure metal and balsa bashing to take in the plastic kits, model cars, makers etc.

I wouldn't want to join a club that would have me as a member, but in the only 'club' I do belong too everyone is treated as an equal & that includes the subs.

My old man sat me down many years ago & told me the story of the 2 wolves & the 1 sheep sitting down to discuss what's for dinner. Don't be the sheep my son, & don't be the wolf either . . .

In this 1 club I do belong to it can often get very political, there seems to be this overwhelming need by some to factionalise & categorise the membership. Some folk seem to get off by attempting to structure the rules to suit themselve's & the sycophants that surround them.

I say it's a club, & the club belongs to all of it's members. If you don't like it then there's the door.

[Tim StevensParticipant @timstevens64731]

Perhaps we need to remind others that the term 'model' has extensive meanings. It certainly is not limited to a limited area of engineering. Just remember that Cromwell had a model army, which had all the characteristics of other armies of the time, and was good enough at its job to beat a King and lots of Knobs and their Royal Army, and which led to us having many of the characteristics we enjoy in our politics. Model never means 'limited'.

Cheers, Tim

[HopperParticipant @hopper]

Posted by Tim Stevens on 16/11/2018 22:47:27:

Perhaps we need to remind others that the term 'model' has extensive meanings. It certainly is not limited to a limited area of engineering. Just remember that Cromwell had a model army, which had all the characteristics of other armies of the time, and was good enough at its job to beat a King and lots of Knobs and their Royal Army, and which led to us having many of the characteristics we enjoy in our politics. Model never means 'limited'.

Cheers, Tim

Perhaps to clarify they should rename the magazine "Exemplary Engineer".

[Ian S CParticipant @iansc]

I note that many "clubs" include experimental in their name, and my hot air motors(and other things) would come in that category, as they are not models. I suppose a freelance locomotive would be the same.

The first article in ME was about wireless telegraphy, then a bit on clock making, then the first loco by Dr J. Bradbury Winter, a person who is still known in the ME world. Next, lathe carriers(for driving between centres), then how to make a carbon zinc battery. And so it goes on.

In September 1898 there is a note: Will new readers kindly note that the reprinted editions o Nos 1 and 2 of The Model Engineer are now entirely sold out? They may possibly be obtained by advertising in our Sale Column.

Ian S C

[Neil WyattModerator @neilwyatt]

+1 for SDR

I use one for meteor detection using backscatter from the French Graves Space Radar.

This is HDSDR.

I use SpectrumLAB for automated detection:

My hourly plots over the Perseid shower this year:

[Anonymous]

Posted by SillyOldDuffer on 16/11/2018 19:14:03:

I'd rather cut threads than think about Fourier Transforms.

That's sad.

Screwcutting is easy, but an understanding of the Fourier transform, and it's role in convolution, will allow you to understand the theory behind things; like SDR!

Andrew

[Steve CParticipant @stevec73837]

I agree with every thing you say except no one has mentioned the fact very few younger (read under 40) people own there own properties now or they live in flats with neighbors who don't want want neighbors who make noises in there back garden also the hassle gaining permission from your landlord to put a shed in the garden if you have one

[Another JohnSParticipant @anotherjohns]

Posted by Steve C on 17/11/2018 21:38:16:

I agree with every thing you say except no one has mentioned the fact very few younger (read under 40) people own there own properties now or they live in flats with neighbors who don't want want neighbors who make noises in there back garden also the hassle gaining permission from your landlord to put a shed in the garden if you have one

Steve – I agree with you; even over here in Canada, "Densification" is a word that you hear, and see. (tear a house down and build 3 dwellings on same lot; build a "coach house" in your backyard for the in-laws, replace single family dwellings with 20 story condo towers, etc)

In terms of models we make, we have gone the opposite direction; we have gone from making small models to making larger ones.

Kozo Hiraoka described his workshop once as being an 8×8 foot square in a living room in a flat, and he built beautiful models, but to 1:16th scale, not 1:8 or larger, that seems to be the norm now.

A few years ago I calculated the costs to go and set myself up to build large 7-1/4 locomotives and store them easily on the property we own. The cost in terms of $$ and disruption was huge. Much better to retire years earlier and stick to building small stuff.

I have taken my little Tich 3-1/2" gauge locomotive on airplanes, and on city buses, easy to carry, portable, and able to pull 2 on a flattish track. No cars or trucks to transport required.

Oh well! My opinions and I'm sticking to them!

[SillyOldDufferModerator @sillyoldduffer]

Posted by Andrew Johnston on 17/11/2018 21:22:15:

Posted by SillyOldDuffer on 16/11/2018 19:14:03:

I'd rather cut threads than think about Fourier Transforms.

That's sad.

Screwcutting is easy, but an understanding of the Fourier transform, and it's role in convolution, will allow you to understand the theory behind things; like SDR!

Andrew

I know, but that would mean all those hours I spent at the back of the class staring out the window and scratching myself were time wasted. No way can I admit that now I've decided it's vital to explain to the young people of today just how useless they all are…

Dave

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