User Tools

Site Tools


public:3counties

Differences

This shows you the differences between two versions of the page.

Link to this comparison view

Both sides previous revisionPrevious revision
Next revision
Previous revision
public:3counties [2020/06/28 08:53] – [Meetings] trevor_pocockpublic:3counties [2024/02/11 10:42] (current) – [Some Examples of our Projects] jim_douglas
Line 1: Line 1:
 +~~NOCACHE~~
 +~~NOTOC~~
 +
 +<WRAP notice round centeralign>
 ====== MERG Three Counties Area Group ====== ====== MERG Three Counties Area Group ======
 +=====Buckinghamshire, Bedfordshire and Hertfordshire =====
 +</WRAP>
  
 +<WRAP box round>
 +<WRAP group>
 +<WRAP column quarter>
 +[[https://www.merg.org.uk/index.php|MERG Home page]]                     
 +</WRAP>
 +<WRAP column quarter>
 +[[https://www.merg.org.uk/content/areagroups|Area Groups]]
 +</WRAP>
 +<WRAP column quarter>
 +[[https://www.merg.org.uk/content/knowledgebase|More on our Knowledgebase]]
 +</WRAP>
 +<WRAP column quarter>
 +[[areagroups:3counties|Group Members Page]]                         
 +</WRAP>
 +</WRAP>
 +</WRAP>
  
-[[public:areagroups|Return to Area Groups News]]\\  +<WRAP box round centeralign> 
-[[:public:start|Index to other public pages]]\\  +{{:public:3cag-demo.jpg?nolink&298x196|}} {{:public:3cag-group-meet.jpg?nolink&400x196|}} {{:public:3cag-signal.jpg?nolink&318x196|}} 
-[[https://www.merg.org.uk/index.php|MERG Home page]]\\  +</WRAP>
-==== Email ====+
  
 +===== About the Three Counties Area Group =====
 +<WRAP info>
 +Group members are drawn from the three home counties of Bedfordshire, Hertfordshire and Buckinghamshire.\\
 +Most members belong to other model railway clubs in this area, but we share a common interest in the use of technology to enhance model railway layouts.\\
 +We meet on a regular basis to exchange ideas and expertise. 
 +</WRAP>
  
-To send us an email, [[https://www.merg.org.uk/areagroup.php?area=18|use the MERG Area Group contact form]]\\  +===== How do you meet? ===== 
-For MERG membersyou might also like to look at our [[https://www.merg.org.uk/forum/viewforum.php?f=109|area group forum.]]+<WRAP box info> 
 +We meet monthly over Zoom or in person at the Hemel Hempstead Model Railway Society clubhouse:\\ 
 +\\ 
 +Nash Mills Recreation CentreOff Red Lion Lane, Hemel Hempstead HP3 9TE\\ 
 +[[http://www.hhmrs.co.uk/contact.htm]]\\  
 +\\ 
 +Meetings usually include some or all of the following: 
 +  * A presentation   
 +  * A session on a group project   
 +  * A practical workshop 
 +  * Requests for help
  
-==== Secretary ====+=== Details of upcoming meetings === 
  
-Christopher Langdon M336 \\ Kevin Blake M3207+<ORG34>ALL|70|18|NO</ORG34>
  
-==== Meetings ====+We welcome new members.\\ 
 +</WRAP>
  
  
-**All physical meetings are cancelled until the end of the Coronavirus19 lockdown.**\\ 
  
-**We plan to use Zoom Tele-meetings which will be used in their place **\\ +===== How do I contact the Area Group? ===== 
-**This is the programme for the first half of 2020.**\\+  
 +<WRAP help button> 
 +\\ 
 +Please indicate Three Counties Area Group in your message **[[https://www.merg.org.uk/contactus.php?t=1&n=18|Contact MERG ]]** 
 +</WRAP>
  
-**15th April Zoom Tele-meeting 7.30 pm Getting started with Zoom, and anything you would like to show or discuss.**\\ +<WRAP hide round>  
-**20th May  Zoom Tele-meeting 7.30 pm Discussion and trouble shooting. Please have something you have built and would like to show the group and/or something that you cannot get to work. **\\ +===== Who is the leader of the group? =====
-**17th June Zoom Tele-meeting 7.30 pm Everything you want to know about CAN-MIO with guest speaker Pete Brownlow (tbc)**\\+
  
-**Further meeting dates (assume Zoom until advised otherwise) 8th July,12th August,9th September,14th October,11th November, 9th December **\\+\\ 
 +Area Group Leader: Christopher Langdon 
 +\\ 
 +Assistant Area Group Leader: Robert Thomas 
 +</WRAP>
  
-  
-All Zoom meetings start at 7.30 pm and finish around 9.00 pm. 
  
 +===== Are you thinking of joining us? =====
 +
 +<WRAP tip>
 +if you are not already a MERG a member then 
 +<WRAP button>[[https://www.merg.org.uk/membership.php|Join MERG Here]]</WRAP> 
 +If you are already a member then you can sign up here: 
 +<WRAP button>[[https://merg.org.uk/membership/areagroups.php|Join the Three Counties Area Group]]</WRAP>
 +Select **Three Counties Area Group** from the drop down list in **Other Area Groups** and press the **Subscribe to Area Group** button.
 +</WRAP>    
 +
 +<WRAP hide round> 
 +===== How do you meet? =====
 +
 +Whilst restrictions are in place, we are using Zoom video calls. 
 +
 +Previously we met at three different locations: -
  
-==== Meeting locations ==== 
 Eaton Bray Village Hall\\  Eaton Bray Village Hall\\ 
  Church Lane, Eaton Bray, Dunstable, LU6 2DJ\\   Church Lane, Eaton Bray, Dunstable, LU6 2DJ\\ 
Line 46: Line 103:
 \\ \\
  
-==== Links ====+Meetings include some or all of the following:\\ 
 +  * A presentation   
 +  * A session on a group project   
 +  * A practical workshop. 
 + 
 +===== And the Next Meeting? ===== 
 + 
 +To join our Zoom Meeting, logon to the MERG website and go to the Start Page 
 + 
 +https://www.merg.org.uk/merg_wiki/doku.php 
 + 
 +From there, look at My Upcoming Events and providing that you are a member of 3 Counties , you will see the link for the meeting. 
 +</WRAP> 
 + 
 + 
 + 
 +<WRAP hide round>  
 +<ORG34>ALL|40|18|NO</ORG34> 
 +</WRAP> 
 + 
 +===== Some Examples of our Projects ===== 
 +(Click on the thumbnails for a larger picture) 
 +<WRAP group> 
 +<WRAP column third box> 
 +==== Arc Welding Effect ==== 
 +{{ :public:3cag-welding.mp4 |}}\\ 
 +This was produced by one of our members. Here's his description:\\ 
 +\\ 
 +"The welder is based on the circuit in MERG Pocket Money Projects Kit No 8 (PMP 8 - 'Multi-purpose flasher') using the first option to simulate a welding machine. Instead of using stripboard and a DIL plugin PIC 12F675 processor, I used an SMD PIC with all components soldered onto a tiny conversion board and covered in heat-shrink tubing giving a compact unit about 15 x 10 x 5 mm which was easily hidden within the garage. The two LEDs (bright white and red) are SMD 1208 LEDs glued back-to-back, attached to long thin wires and fitted to a model of a 1:76 welder figure from Shedring Hobbies" 
 +</WRAP> 
 + 
 +<WRAP column third box> 
 +==== Van Rides Demonstration N Gauge Layout ==== 
 +{{:public:3cag-vanrides.jpg?direct|}}\\ 
 +\\ 
 +This compact demonstration layout is another of our members personal projects. It was inspired by the operation of the Severn Valley Railway at Highley Station during the 2018 Spring Gala.\\ 
 +\\ 
 +The operation is fully automatic and is controlled by a variety of kits from the MERG Pocket Money Project range.\\ 
 +\\ 
 +The layout was originally built in response to the 2mm Fine Scale Association's Diamond Jubilee Challenge: to 
 +build a working layout with at least one turnout to the Association’s fine scale track and wheel standards within a 
 +scenic area 60cm long by 9.42 inches wide – a combination of standards to justify 60 for the number of years of 
 +existence and 9.42, for the number of mm of the standard track gauge. 
 +</WRAP> 
 + 
 +<WRAP column third box> 
 +==== The Great Model Railway Challenge TV Series ==== 
 +{{:public:ealing_road_by_knickerbocker.jpg?direct|}} 
 +The group supplied expertise and manpower to mount an entry to the 'Great Model Railway Challenge' TV series under the identity of The Missenden Modellers.\\ 
 +\\ 
 +Their 'Ealing Road' layout featured MERG components and has subsequently been exhibited on a number of occasions and featured in the Model Railway press (an edition of British Railway Modeller). A description of this (and other MERG related entries to the challenge) appeared in the MERG journal Vol 52 December 2018. 
 +</WRAP> 
 +</WRAP> 
 + 
 +<WRAP group> 
 +==== MERG Kit Demonstrator Layout for Exhibitions ====  
 +<WRAP column third box> 
 +{{:public:3cag-demo2.jpg?direct|}} 
 +</WRAP> 
 +<WRAP column third box> 
 +Last year, a local model railway club asked us to provide a MERG presence at their annual exhibition. It wasn’t a great success as we did not have much to show. After that we decided to make simple demonstration layout to showcase MERG kits. We all contributed time and equipment, and put together a double decker layout with all the electronics mounted on top of the baseboards.\\ 
 +\\  
 +The upper track is made from code 75 rail and is fully ballasted. It operates as an automatic shuttle.\\  
 +\\ 
 +{{:public:3cag-merglayout.jpg?direct|}} 
 +</WRAP> 
 + 
 +<WRAP column third box> 
 +The lower track is made from Peco Setrack, code 100 mounted directly onto a cork underlay. There are two handset controllers, colour light signals, and motorised points. This is connected to a PC that is running the JMRI layout control program. JMRI provides a mimic display, control of the points, and the logic for the signals. We encourage visitors to get “hands on” with the equipment!\\ 
 +\\ 
 +We also have kits to show, leaflets and copies of the MERG journal to show visitors. 
 +The whole display is 2.4 m long. If you are an exhibition organiser and you would like it at your next show, please get in touch.\\ 
 +\\ 
 +Download the electronics block diagram here: ]{{ :public:3cag-demolayoutblkdiag.pdf |}}  
 + 
 +</WRAP> 
 +</WRAP> 
 + 
 + 
 +<WRAP box round> 
 +<WRAP group> 
 +<WRAP column quarter> 
 +[[https://www.merg.org.uk/index.php|MERG Home page]]                      
 +</WRAP> 
 +<WRAP column quarter> 
 +[[https://www.merg.org.uk/content/areagroups|Area Groups]] 
 +</WRAP> 
 +<WRAP column quarter> 
 +[[https://www.merg.org.uk/content/knowledgebase|More on our Knowledgebase]] 
 +</WRAP> 
 +<WRAP column quarter> 
 +[[areagroups:3counties|Group Members Page]]                          
 +</WRAP> 
 +</WRAP> 
 +</WRAP>
  
-[[:helpsystem:coordinators|Help page for coordinators]] 
public/3counties.1593334381.txt.gz · Last modified: 2020/06/28 08:53 by trevor_pocock

Donate Powered by PHP Valid HTML5 Valid CSS Driven by DokuWiki