MODEL MAKERS

Evening Post, Volume CXX, Issue 109, 4 November 1935, Page 13

MODEL MAKERS

INDUSTRY AND PATIENCE

THE LONDON EXHIBITION

(From "The Post's" Representative.)

LONDON, September 21. Those very enthuiastic members of the community—the model makersare holding their annual exhibition at the Horticultural Hall, and moden engineers from all over the country are meeting to discuss their absorbing i hobbies.

Pride of place seems to belong to the group of model railway locomotives and trains. The building of these provides work for a number of professional firms who supply tools and machinery, and go as far as they dare to manufacture' parts for the amateurs to finish and assemble. There ' are models of locomotives from' a half - Inch in length (proclaimed the smallest working model in the world) to a fairly powerful machine which draws a series of passenger-laden carriages across the building. Next in popularity are the models of famous sailing ships and of mod-

em liners. In most cases these represent a prodigious amount of time and labour. One man) a shipwright, is said to have spent 2500 hours of, his leisure time "in making the beautiful model of a sailing ship which is little' more;than a foot long. Again,-a, London taxi-cab driver, who has made an excellent model of a British battleship, fashioned most of the parts with his pen-knife while waiting on a taxicab rank. >\ A young Shropshire farmer; who exhibits several miniatures •of -ships, made his models "between 6.30 and 8 ajn.—the only time I had." A farm labourer occupied his winter even-' ings for three years in making a working model of a steam lorry "with only a hurricane lamp or a candle as illuminant." Another farm labourer who exhibits a model of a motor-cycle said: —"The stable was my workshop and the corn-bin my bench. \ All materials were picked up from the farmhouse rubbish heap." ■ A middleaged cost-clerk made a fine model of a yacht 'because "it kept my 'brain active and away from depressing business matters." Among the models on exhibition is the smallest compositor's case in existence, and a paper-making machine on the same scale. There are,models of vessels made of wicker covered with hide, which were used by the Irish about' 1680. There are remarkable models of- motor-cars, with the machinery perfectly designed. In the aviation section there is a fine model of an autogiro propelled' by a small

motor engine^ " The largest ,aeroplane\^W tias a span of 9ft>9in, and weighs wither-;; $ motor-engine complete 9Hb.. «;/ An interesting feature of the exhibi-' h -m tton is the exhibits made by ,«the'"4 l <~ various clubs and societies whose _:n members follow some form of inodeK ?•■">'■>' making as a hobby/ There are overs 1 * a hundred uuch dubs in existence in ~ V\ Great Britain" and overseas. The * ' Speed Boat Association,-for Jnttanc*,- -'{•' is represented by 20 clubs in" various parts of England. -,' Members have > - made boats which , are capable .of ...• travelling at 40 miles an hour. -■ The '' - disadvantage of this sport'is ttiat it is difficult to stop the little craft if they ;, are allowed a free run.^. Speed tests •■ are, 'therefore, madefy attaching the craft to. a central post in the lakes and ponds by means of a thin wire. The boats are then forced to make a circular route and their speed is timed.