Chairman's Chatter is compiled quarterly by our Chairman John Shaw. John summarizes the latest developments in the club covering general news, exhibition reports, developments in the clubs layouts, and any other notices. To view a Chairman's Chatter simply click the relevant link, or scroll down for the latest edition.
The current year, and previous year, chairmans chatter's are available by foillowing these links.
Previous years Chairmans Chatter are available in the archive.
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Jan 2022
Chairman’s Chatter
A Happy New Year to you ALL. Let us hope that this new year runs a bit smoother than the last. I am pleased to say the heating changes have been made and as I write this, we await the fan and ventilation duct from room 1 to room 2 to help pass on warm air in the winter and ventilate in the summer.
I am hoping as many of you as possible will make the Annual Dinner which was missed last year. It is an opportunity to relax and to meet each other with other halves. No awards this year so you will be pleased to know my words at the end will be few!
00 Gauge Matters
Club board D0 has had its trackwork changed to three sidings to improve shunting capabilities when running at the club, and now awaits the scenic treatment. Further enhancements are being worked on across the layout, including third rail cabling, wharf wall improvement and a general spruce up ready for Ally Pally.
Operationally, work is ongoing behind the scenes to improve the sequence interface, moving away from PowerPoint to a programme that allows us to show the DCC codes on the screens for each move, thus removing the need for the "tags" on the control panel. This will change the method of work slightly for Drivers and the Signaller, which will be briefed out when ready.
Wagons in the Yard are now colour coded (on the operator side only) to help identify which wagons are to be shunted within the Yard, and which can run in/out on trip workings from the mainline.
A new Perspex screen has been erected at the front of the layout to protect scenics items and prevent leaning elbows!
(Chairman’s note – assuming AP goes ahead, there are only about 7 working Wednesdays to the show!)
EM gauge matters
The layout was uncovered after the lockdowns and testing now to check all is well.
0 Gauge matters
Our meeting to discuss the future of the 7mm layouts was held as planned. Minutes of the meeting were sent to the 7mm group. In summary we are going to maintain and amend Abbotstone to keep it available to exhibit. T
he main task here is to find a way of lightening the baseboards and the enigma box. The latter is heavy because all the baseboard wiring is stored in it for transport. We aim to carry the bulk of the wires separately and need to fit new plugs and sockets at the enigma end.
A baseboard is already having holes drilled in it to see what loss of weight we can achieve. initial indications are 0.8-1 kg (2-2¼lbs) per board .
After we have achieved this phase 1, we shall look at ways to allow running by DCC on all the 7mm layouts. Peter Catchpole is erecting the first additional lighting unit over the station end.
Other Business.
Exhibitions and the ability for us to exhibit once again is a huge step forward. However, as seen with the Eastleigh show, we need to be flexible with arrangements. I shall check in advance of Ally Pally in time to cancel our hotel bookings if necessary. Events there are still being held at this time.
Please note the planned “Basic Life Support and use of AED” meeting booked for February 2nd. This is given by Bruce, and we are grateful to him for giving his time for us all to learn and refresh our basic lifesaving skills.
One or two still have not paid their subs for the current year, please do so asap. Shirts will be ordered shortly and again if exhibiting at Ally Pally, please order yours now as they will take time to order and receive. Badges have been supplied, so if not paid (£3) please do so
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