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Wonwings Diary-a blog with a difference.

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Wonwings diary-More superb models made in Meccano.

Yet more superb models made in Meccano,given the number of parts and the determination nothing is impossible,here are a few pictures taken over the years at various Meccano meetings and events across the country,I was once a member of the Society of Advanced Meccano Constructors which used to be run by the late Bert Love from Hall Green,Birmingham,I understand that the society which fosters the construction of Meccano models is still in existance,I would like to dedicate these pictures to Bert who would always find the time to discuss and explain his many advanced models,memories of his 'other house' across the lawn at Hall Green where at Christmas time his lit up models would adorn a wonderful window display at 'Meccano house' which shuld have been re-named 'Meccano Alladins cave' ! parts and sets from the 1930's to the red and gren period and beyond would adorn the walls,just prior to a show or meeting Bert would spend many happy hours perfecting the models in readiness working late into the night,originally employed on Submarines during WW2 he eventually set up his retirement home on the Isle of Bute,where he would look across the bay where he was once employed on deep sea operations,his Meccano travelled with him from Birmingham where he was involved in the teaching profession.

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Meccano battleship at Skegness 20-06-87 in red and green Meccano,Skegness became the home to an annual meeting of Meccano enthusiasts.(Richard says this is either the Bismark or Tirpitz )

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Meccano model at Stoneleigh Town & Country 26-08-85 in pristine blue & gold.

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Mike Brammer's spectacular 1=24 th scale freelance dockyard crane stood 8 feet tall at maximum jib height,the model had to be placed on the floor to let everyone see the detail inside.

Movements on the crane are as follows-heavy hoist,light hoist,luffing,slewing and travel,all cordage was woven on Mike's fantastic Meccano braiding machine which he designed himself.

The light-duty hoist was rigged as Toplis level luffing gear which achieved a high degree of level of operation through most of the jib luffing angle.

One 12 volt motor drove every movement of the crane with no difficulty,a real masterpiece of a model.

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Very attractive Traction engine at Skegness 20-06-87.The model exhibits a vey solid feel about it and crammed with Meccano parts,note the Meccano roulette wheel in the foreground,a very clever piece of modelling.

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Picturesque model of 'Nellie' a freelance fantasy 2-4-2 tank locomotive based on the creations of the famous Emmett cartoonist,two motions one driving the coupled wheels and the other for a rocking motion are mounted just clear of the track.

Model built by John Bridger.

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Another view of the charming Little Nellie locomotive.

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Simple but delightful Meccano locomotive utilises twelve and a half inch strips in its construction.
 
wow barry!!! that is aboslutly brilliant, meccano was not quite the same when i was a young'en but it was still great, i had a whole box full of bits from models i had made, taken apart and chucken this big box. i would just use it like lego and make what ever i wanted.

that battleship is sooo impressive!!! any other pictures of it???
 
The battleship is the Bismarck or Tirpitz, can't see the differrences from the angle.

All stunning models Barry. Thanks for the pictures.
 
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***Sorry RJW,taken on precious film before the days of our dear digital camera masterpieces,do you know I used to go around the shops buying up outdated film to cut down the costs,what with processing etc it was so expensive,that is the only view that I have and she has now been dismantled such a great shame.

Yes Meccano is a great system for experimental modellers.

wow barry!!! that is aboslutly brilliant, meccano was not quite the same when i was a young'en but it was still great, i had a whole box full of bits from models i had made, taken apart and chucken this big box. i would just use it like lego and make what ever i wanted.that battleship is sooo impressive!!! any other pictures of it???
 
The Bismarck and the Tirpitz were almost identical in size and certainly not identifiable from such a model.

The only visible differrences from the outside when built were the addition of some anti aircraft guns on the Tirpitz and the midships boats were replaced with a set of torpedo tubes.

When the Tirpitz was moved to Norway even more anti aircraft guns were added and the range finders were updated to a circular type, unlike the ones fitted to the model.

As I said it is not possible from the angle of the photo to distinguish between the two, depending on at what period we consider. The antenna looking structures connected to the bridge were actually not on either vessel.
 
The mystery continues.



Although the area where the "ariels" might have been is not shown all the pictures with this bow shape had no sign of "ariel" pods, look at the bow. I found many pictures of the Bizmark with this bow shape and a few with what looks like the Tirpitz bow (I'm guessing misidentification)



Tirpitz with sleek bow and what i'm guessing are ariel pods.

In the meccano picture the ariel pods and bow shape are clear.

Hey Bunk....I hopes you got a pipe!!!!:nahnah:

I have changed my avatar and i'm keeping it until Bunk does some research to clear this mess up!!!!!!!
 
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I just love pictures that spark off historical notes such as these and healthy raport,great old black and white pictures as well Tigertc,I would not mind reproducing this model myself one day in Meccano,the builder has certainly made a good job of this one.
 
I tried to find more pictures of the mecanno one on the web to get some close up detail that might give away its true identity, but they are non existant. Such a shame that all that work has no record of existance apart from your photo Barry. Or is there some secret place where all these models end up?
 
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Built some years ago now Tigertc,probably long since dismantled to build more lovely models.
 
Both vessels were built basically identical as regards main structure. The bow you refer to is the "Atlantic Bow". The Bismarck was built with a straight stem which was changed for the Atlantic Bow before she was commissioned. Tirpitz was built with the Atlantic Bow from the start.

The slight build differences manifested themselves as a slightly heavier displacement, Tirpitz being 42,900 and Bismark being 41,700 tons, and a slightly deeper draught, 10.61 mtrs as opposed to 9.3 for the Bismarck.

The pods you are guessing at are in actual fact main armament range finders. Both vessels were originally fitted with the same FuMo gun directors, which are the matress like lattice structures you can see on the model but these were upgraded on the Tirpitz when she went to Norway.

The biggest giveaways are the extra anti aircraft guns and the torpedo tubes on the Tirpitz which you cannot see on the model. The most obvious extra gun being placed on top of "Bruno" turret. The only other differrence being the colour of the funnel top. Who can tell me which vessel had which colour?

It is not possible to tell from the one picture which ship is being modelled but as the Bismarck was the most famous or notorious of the two and memories of the Hood would still have been much more in peoples minds when the model was made I would very much expect the model to be of the Bismarck.

I have a few hundred black and white pictures of the Bismarck which I will sort out one or two later but non of them can actually help to identify the model I'm afraid.
 
maybe the model is just of a battleship...as its named...??

it is quite posible the constructor of this model just wanted to make u model of a battleship, not any specific one!
 
Listen dumkopf, I vill say ziss only zee vonce, it is zee Tirpitz or zee glorious Bismarck!

(After all this it's probably the bloody Prinz Eugen!)

Any takers for the funnel top colour?
 
going back to the meccano thing, i recently displayed at a model show in cholsey in oxfrodshire- i was invited to bring along LEGO creations (cholsey just round the corner from RAF Benson)

they put me in a room directly opposite the oxfordshire group of meccano builders, and they were sayings that meccano is now owned by a japaneese firm !!!!- is that correct ???- anyway we all had a good afternoon dishing out banter on the benefits of mecanno over LEGO and visa versa !

they had some awesome models on display,
 
Dont think so. Bismark sailed on her first (And last ) sortie with Prinz Eugen. Tirpitz i think sailed with Gniensue bad spelling and Sharnorstbefore splitting up .i could be wrong.
 
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