Spring 2026 Newsletter
Spring 2026 Newsletter
Issue 198
This was one of our informal quarterly meetings where our members showed off their latest Meccano creations.
At around 2:00pm we had a short committee meeting, followed by the Model Tour in which members were invited to give a short talk about their models — in particular their entries for the Secretary’s Challenge!
Report written by Chris Warrell
After the success of the Meccano Mornings at the Museum of Croydon in October 2025, we were invited back for the February 2026 half term.
We were there for the two Saturday mornings, with Brian Leach, Santiago Plicio and me attending. This time we were located on the ground floor so more likely to be seen by the public.
The first Saturday was very quiet, but interest from the public was a lot better than on the last one with probably a third or more of the 39 visitors actively building models. One or two parents had a go as well (see photo). It was good to see the local mayor this time. There’s no news of any further sessions, however.
A model built by one of the Make It With Meccano workshop participants
Report written by Brian Leach
Megacon Live is an annual sci-fi, fantasy and cosplay convention that takes place at the Excel exhibition centre in London’s docklands.
Our stand, at one end of the hall with plenty of space around us
I took my car nearly full of models, Make It With Meccano sets and tablecloths plus Tim Surtell as passenger. There was no space for Chris Warrell who went by public transport.
After wondering where to park we found we were outside the correct entrance and everything went smoothly with about 70 minutes to set up. We had four tables arranged in a square for models and four for the Make It With Meccano workshop.
A collection of Star Wars robots, including the steampunk R2-D2 in the foreground
The convention was mainly science fiction, fantasy, anime and cosplay. Old Meccano was perhaps out of place! However, some of the public showed interest and many were dressed up as characters from sci-fi etc. (cosplay). On the whole I had no idea who they were meant to be!
Some of Tim Surtell’s models
Tim’s buzz-wire game The Lightning Leap was as popular as ever. Convention-related models such as Daleks, Mechagodzilla, Meccanosaurus and Meccasaur were popular. All the models were appreciated.
Edward Scissorhands plays The Lightning Leap
Being cosplay, I went around on Saturday in my inflatable Mechagodzilla costume, and on Sunday as Godzilla with someone who had the same costume!
Brian Leach dressed as Godzilla (left)
Opening hours to the public were 9:00am – 6:00pm on Saturday, and 10:00am – 5:00pm on Sunday, which was very tiring. It didn’t take us long to clear everything away (we left the tables and chairs where they were) and we managed to carry everything to the car in one go. Chris went back by train and bus, and I dropped Tim off at Eltham station at 6:20pm for a bus back to Beckenham.
We’ve been invited back for 2027, and all were happy with that. Clubs in Telford & Ironbridge and the North West have been contacted to attend other Megacons in their areas later in the year.
Written by Chris Warrell
In our 50th year, here are some more old photos from the third decade from the club archive.
Stan Bedford’s monorail model
This model of the Listowel and Ballybunion Railway monorail was displayed by Stan Bedford at our 12th annual exhibition on 31st March 1990.
My daughter, Emma (aged 4), stands up to a walking robot built by visitor Roger Marriott at the 1990 exhibition
Buses by Paul Mowforth and Adrian Ashford
These two buses were at our 20th anniversary meeting on 13th July 1996. On the left is a TF coach by Paul Mowforth, based on a model by Adrian Ashford. On the right is Adrian’s own model of a TD type London Transport bus.
Our Chairman, Geoff Davison, cuts the cake at our 20th anniversary meeting. The cake had been provided by the wife of John Cowdery
A general view of the Christ Church hall, Shooters Hill, at our exhibition on 7th October 1995
In our Winter 2025 newsletter we revisited the 1970s and 1980s — you can also see our SELMEC Snapshots series: 1970s | 1980s | 1990s | 2000s | 2010s