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--- public:3counties [2020/07/09 09:42] – uppermill
+++ public:3counties [2024/02/11 10:42] (current) – [Some Examples of our Projects] jim_douglas
@@ Line 4: / Line 4: @@
 <WRAP notice round centeralign>
 ====== MERG Three Counties Area Group ======
-=====Beds, Bucks and Herts =====
+=====Buckinghamshire, Bedfordshire and Hertfordshire =====
 </WRAP>
-<WRAP box round centeralign button>
+<WRAP box round>
-\\
+<WRAP group>
-[[:public:areagroups|Area Groups]] [[:public:start|Public pages]] [[https://www.merg.org.uk/index.php|MERG Home page]] </WRAP>
+<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>
 <WRAP box round centeralign>
-{{:public:ealing_road.jpg?nolink&380|}} {{:public:ealing_road_2.jpg?nolink&400|}}
+{{:public:3cag-demo.jpg?nolink&298x196|}} {{:public:3cag-group-meet.jpg?nolink&400x196|}} {{:public:3cag-signal.jpg?nolink&318x196|}}
 </WRAP>
-===== How do I contact the Area Group =====
+===== 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>
+===== How do you meet? =====
+<WRAP box info>
+We meet monthly over Zoom or in person at the Hemel Hempstead Model Railway Society clubhouse:\\
+\\
+Nash Mills Recreation Centre, Off 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
+=== Details of upcoming meetings ===
+<ORG34>ALL|70|18|NO</ORG34>
+We welcome new members.\\
+</WRAP>
+===== How do I contact the Area Group? =====
-<WRAP help round button>
+<WRAP help button>
 \\
-[[https://www.merg.org.uk/areagroup.php?area=18|MERG Three Counties Area Group contact form]]
+Please indicate Three Counties Area Group in your message **[[https://www.merg.org.uk/contactus.php?t=1&n=18|Contact MERG ]]**
 </WRAP>
+<WRAP hide round>
 ===== Who is the leader of the group? =====
-<WRAP info round>
 \\
-Chris Langdon
+Area Group Leader: Christopher Langdon
+\\
+Assistant Area Group Leader: Robert Thomas
 </WRAP>
-===== Would like to join today? =====
-<WRAP tip round>
+===== Are you thinking of joining us? =====
-Not a member? then <WRAP button>[[https://www.merg.org.uk/membership.php|Join MERG Here]]</WRAP> and sign up to this Area Group. If you are already a member <WRAP button>[[https://merg.org.uk/membership/areagroups.php|Join the Three Counties Area Group]]</WRAP>
+<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? =====
-<WRAP info round>
 Whilst restrictions are in place, we are using Zoom video calls.
@@ Line 58: / Line 107: @@
   * A session on a group project
   * A practical workshop.
-</WRAP>
 ===== And the Next Meeting? =====
-<WRAP info round>
+To join our Zoom Meeting, logon to the MERG website and go to the Start Page
-<ORG34>ALL|40|18|NO</ORG34>
-</WRAP>
-===== Where Have I Seen Ealing Road? =====
-<WRAP info round>
-<WRAP centeralign>{{:public:ealing_road_by_knickerbocker.jpg?nolink&600|}} </WRAP>
+https://www.merg.org.uk/merg_wiki/doku.php
-The group supplied expertise and manpower to mount an entry to the 'Great Model Railway Challenge' and Missenden Modellers as its identity (the Bucks County adult education centre at Great Missenden offers railway modelling courses). 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.
+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>
-====== MERG Three Counties Area Group ======
-[[public:areagroups|Return to Area Groups News]]\\
+<WRAP hide round>
-[[:public:start|Index to other public pages]]\\
+<ORG34>ALL|40|18|NO</ORG34>
-[[https://www.merg.org.uk/index.php|MERG Home page]]\\
+</WRAP>
-==== Email ====
+===== 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>
-To send us an email, [[https://www.merg.org.uk/areagroup.php?area=18|use the MERG Area Group contact form]]\\
+<WRAP column third box>
-For MERG members, you might also like to look at our [[https://www.merg.org.uk/forum/viewforum.php?f=109|area group forum.]]
+==== 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>
-==== Secretary ====
+<WRAP column third box>
+==== The Great Model Railway Challenge TV Series ====
-Christopher Langdon M336 \\ Kevin Blake M3207
+{{: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.\\
-==== Meetings ====
+\\
+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>
-**All physical meetings are cancelled until the end of the Coronavirus19 lockdown.**\\
+<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 plan to use Zoom Tele-meetings which will be used in their place **\\
-**This is the programme for the first half of 2020.**\\
-**15th April Zoom Tele-meeting 7.30 pm	Getting started with Zoom, and anything you would like to show or discuss.**\\
-**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. **\\
-**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 **\\
-All Zoom meetings start at 7.30 pm and finish around 9.00 pm.
-==== Meeting locations ====
-Eaton Bray Village Hall\\
- Church Lane, Eaton Bray, Dunstable, LU6 2DJ\\
-[[http://www.eatonbray.com/eatonbray/map.asp|Guide in map]]\\ \\
-Risborough & District Model Railway Club\\
-Meetings held at Risborough Community Centre HP27 9AX\\
-[[http://www.rdmrc.org.uk/|Club website]]\\
 \\
-Hemel Hempstead Model Railway Club\\
+We also have kits to show, leaflets and copies of the MERG journal to show visitors.
-Meetings at the Club, Off Red Lion Road, Hemel Hempstead HP3 9TE\\
+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.\\
-[[http://www.hhmrs.org/contact.html]]\\
 \\
+Download the electronics block diagram here: ]{{ :public:3cag-demolayoutblkdiag.pdf |}}
-==== Links ====
+</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]]