The Magic of Meccano Show 2016
Report written by Adrian Ashford for our Summer 2016 Newsletter
Saturday 23 April 2016 – Sunday 24 April 2016
London Museum of Water and Steam
Brentford
Watch our video of the show
This year’s show at Kew was held on 23rd and 24th April at what is now called the Museum of Water and Steam, since its reopening last year.
This was, in fact, the second Meccano show since the museum’s refurbishment, and was, as in the past, well populated with Meccano modellers and their models from various clubs — pretty well all the usual suspects in fact! I didn’t make a note of individuals and their models, but there was the usual very diverse range, covering an equally diverse range of subjects.
Looking over the main hall
SELMEC was, as usual, well represented; it was good to see our former Chairman, Frank Paine, with his wonderful display of Meccano sets and other ephemera.
Colin Bull’s model of the Laxey Wheel
Frank Paine’s Meccano display
It is a pity the whole of the basement area is no longer available for model displays, though the use of the former refreshment area offsets this to some extent. I went as a visitor on the Saturday and the show seemed well attended by the general public.
Plastic Meccano dragline by Matt Goodman
Thanks are due to Jim MacCulloch for organising the event once again, although he was unable to be there over the weekend. In addition to the Meccano models, visitors were able to savour the sights and sounds of the various engines being steamed at different times. It’s wonderful to see the massive engines actually working — they certainly provide plenty of inspiration for Meccano models!
Forestry tractor by Willy Dewulf
[Editor’s note: Jim reported that the attendance was 476 over the whole weekend, which the museum was very happy with.]