NORTH WEST MECCANO GUILD
Clicking on many of the pictures enlarges them and provides extra information. The models are usually attributed to the builder.
The Guild is always interested in preventing good Meccano going to waste. If you
have any Meccano to re-
Click “Exhibitions” for a calendar of our events. Or “Event Details” for information about individual ones.
Click “North West” for information about Meccano on display and Meccano related locations in the North West of England.
News, Early 2026
Annual General Meeting 7th. March.
About 23 members attended the meeting. A large number of interesting models were displayed. Most are shown below. Unfortunately, a few were missed or the photograph did not come out well enough.
Stuart Field’s model of the Barton Swing Aqueduct
The Tugboat designed to go under it. It is based on one that goes under the full sized one.
Andy. Robinson’s version of Supermodel no. 3 -
A new member, Andy Powell, has started work on a Giant Walking dragline excavator. This is as far as he has got.
Les. Nightingale Jr’s model of small steam engine based on one seen at a SMG meeting.
Brian Elvidge’s models.
Army Multikit Load Carrier and Rocket Launcher.
Also, a 1930’s Tar Tanker Lorry and a similar Breakdown Truck.
The lady is hard at work turning the synchronous motor that operates the clock. The builder is not known.
Ashley Simmond’s Trix Tip Lorry from the Trix Complete Engineering Manual from the 1950s. He has filled in the sides with extra parts. He has also competed the tipping mechanism which uses a “rack strip” made by putting bolts in an ordinary flat strip.
Tony Rigby’s Dockside Crane.
Tony Rigby’s WW2 Half Track Troop Carrier.
Ian Turner’s Army Tank in Multikit Green
Two members bought Jeeps towing an Anti-
This one is Ian Turner’s.
Chassis, Buider unknown
Ian Petman’s Wilson Epicyclic Gearbox
Often used on British Buses.
Tony Evanson’s Light Railway featuring Gromit and Feathers McGraw
Ian Petman’s Helicopter
Meccano Junior Models built during the meeting.
Ted. Harris has been experimenting with Generators.
One is driven by a clockwork motor and the other by an AC motor. The flat magnets on the larger one have poles on the sides not the ends.
There is also another small model.
Thread Twisting and Knopping Machine.
This interesting machine was brought by Collin Reid (a guest).
It twists pairs of threads and can also make small beads of thread at intervals along the twisted thread. It was published as a “Model of the Month” in the September 1956 edition of the Meccano Magazine. It incorporates a number of ingenious mechanisms.
Ellenroad Steam Museum 17th April 2026
The guild was invited to exhibit at the museum on the day of its first reopening following problems with the main engine house. This has serious structural problems and is closed for the foreseeable future. The Boiler House, partly used as a café and display area, is now open. Time has not been wasted. The large Corliss engine, which had been rusting away in the Car Park has now been partly reassembled and brightly painted. It looks very impressive. About 7 members were able to exhibit and photographs of most appear below.
On the left are Les. Nightingale Jr.’s Models. There are 2 Single Cylinder Steam Engines of different sizes. He has managed a realistist 6 spoke flywheel on the larger one. The “Truck Cab” is a Pérrièr model.
One the right are Dick Watson’s models -
On the left are Stuart Field’s model of the Barton Swing Aquaduct with a tug to go under it and a narrow boat to go over it.
Veronica ran a Plastic Meccano Workshop. Above are some of the models made.
“Flying Bridge” by Abigail aged 5 (the army needs some of these) and a Train by Isaac aged 5.
To the right are a Swing by Frankie aged 3 and an “Engine”, perhaps inspired by the full size Beam Engine in the room, by Eli. aged 4.
Clwyd Vintage and Veteran Show at Oswestry.
Three members and one former member exhibited at this popular event. A goob number
of models were constructed at the Hands-
Pictures of most of the models are shown below.
John Dalton’s Models. Above are a Trench Digging Excavator, a Clock operated by a synchronous motor constucted using Electrokit parts and 193os Aeroplane Constructor Kit model.
To the right is hand operated Wind Turbine Model.
Below a Big Wheel and some small hand operated models.
Neville Bond brought his Hullett Unloader. These machines were used to unload bulk
carrying ships operating on the Great Lakes in North America. A link to a You-
He also brought his model of the Eiffel Tower. This first appeared in the 1920 No.6 Manual using the newly introduced “Architrave”. A later version was used to advertise the coloured Meccano parts introduced in 1928. Neville was able to obtain sufficient of the “Pea Green” Braced Girders used on the model shown in advertising material.
The Plastic Meccano Model Workshop was busy on Sunday.On the right is a display of most on the models. Click on the pictures for more details on the others.
