NAGNAG

 A really good meeting again this month, with a decision taken for the Naggers to help with LMJ in the shape of getting the fiddle yard up and running. This means the good folk of NMRS will have to get the design briefs finished so as the Naggers have something to work off. It also means that there are opportunities to learn how to lay P4 track and how to put together 20 odd points for the fiddle yard.

 Mike Edmunds brought Cwm Du with him to update us with progress and the busy lad has being laying track and making points from the Exactoscale range. Mike talked about the signalling employed on this line and brought along some illustrations to show what he had in mind for the layout. He also showed that he had a problem with gauge widening on some of the already laid track - fortunately there are some really skilled people in this department and were able to put Mike and the track work to rights...showing how an area group should work!

 Mike showing what he has in mind .

 At long last I've managed to finish the build and paint job for Mike for a pair of coaches that he wanted built for his own layout. They don't look too bad if you don't look too closely.

 Pretty fair!

 Steffan Lewis jumped to my aid as I'd bought a lining pen to do my coaches that I'd built. I'm useless at lining sheets either from Presfix or Fox transfers - waterslide. So, Mr Lewis took the pen in hand and managed - after a considerable battle - to get 2 straight edges drawing from the pen. My main problem was having seen Ian Rathbone doing it and read the book I was inspired to have a go. Got hold of Haff - his lining pen of choice - and found that they don't make the pen that Ian currently uses any more. So, I bought an Ecobra, still an expensive piece of kit £35. But could not get satisfactory lines with it...untill now. Thank you so much Steffan for the hard work that you put in to get it going.

 Nearly there...

 Mr Lewis's good work had not finished there for the evening either, he had sold one of his Standard class 4 beauties to my good friend Dave Hagger, which has been numbered and finished - not that I'm envious of course!!

  Fabulous!!

 Always finish on a high! It's also good to hear that Bernie has had his eye operation and this has been a complete success, we wish Bernie a speedy recovery and look forward to seeing him at the next meeting on 30/12. This will be a social evening with the lads from NMRS with food and drinks provided and the 7mm test track will be up to run some really wonderfull engines on.

 That's it for this month, more fun next month.

 After last months DCC feast, it was back to some more fundamental matters this month. With Newport MRS's layout Belle Vue 'gorn to meet its' maker' the group really does need a focus. So, with that in mind I floated the idea that we may want to build a transportable P4 test track. To be stored where we are but to be able to be used and taken by any of the NAGNAG members for whatever reason. I have to say the Jury is still out on this as I wasn't totally convinced that this had everyone on board. A considered decsion will be made at our next meeting.

 It was a great to see back with us Rob Foot and Steffan Lewis, both of whom have been missing over the last few meetings. Rob brought with him some wonderful photos that he'd had printed off for his home layout and they were superb - he was supposed to send me the files so that all could admire them on the web, so far he's forgotten!

 Steffan - not to be out done - brought 2 Standard class 4 tender engines, which just happen to be looking for a home. Beautifully crafted and fully detailed, a rare treat to own a Steffan Lewis original!

 As I said looking for a new home at only £200 each. If he'd accepted plastic I'd have had both, they are very, very good! And will be finished in the livery and numbering of your choice.

 Mike Edmunds, whilst waiting for me to finish his coaches, has been extremely busy and not just on the Cwm Du front. Mike has built himself a fully functioning interlocking signal frame for his OO layout. But even so, it really is worth showing off as a beautifully crafted piece of mini engineering.

  Mention was also made of NMRS next layout 'Little Mill junction', so Dave Hagger laid out the one to one plans in the hall. Where there calls of 'you're all mad?' No, where there calls of 'it can't be done?' No...more like a couple of sighs of 'this is big, bl***dy big...need any help', 'when can we start', sort of comments, which was very surprising and delightful to hear.

 Bernie Baker brought his 'red box' and this was the first time that I've been up close and personal with one of these units from Mr Russan. I had to put the hornblocks into my tender chassis  for the Std class 5 tender, usually a good 30 mins to line everything up and another 10 mins to gingerly solder them in , not so with the jig 10 mins and all done . No fuss, no drama, brilliant! So my thanks to Bernie for breaking my credit cards heart as I'm going to have to have one...as soon as Corus sort out my bonus! And my thanks to Tony W and Mike for bringing their red boxes as well!

 My thanks to all those who renewed their associate status with NMRS - didn't even need to be prompted, thank you, makes a treasurers job much easier not to have to chase!

 There we are another month gone and a really useful evening had by all .

 Thats' it for this month, more fun next month.

 It was a great pleasure this month to welcome members of the Glevum group to our monthly meeting. I hope that everyone found something to take away and inspire them to greater heights. 

 I have to thank our speaker for the evening Mr Steve Neill, who spoke on the basics of DCC..and a little bit more as well. Steve, thank you for all the hard work that you put into such a superb presentation. For those who'd like a copy of the presentation, please email me and I'll send a copy of the powerpoint presentation that Steve gave.Of course being held at Newport it didn't all go as planned, as Steve was accompanied by some over enthusiastic guitarists in the room next door. The presentation was scored at 10/10, but the perseverance score was off the charts!

 To try and summarise what Steve said over the one and half hours (he called this a 20 minute talk) would be pointless as I am bound to miss something crucial out. So, if you'd like to find out more please join us next month, Steve will still be available for questioning. If you've started a new project, or are having problems starting a new project then this month will be an opportunity to air your problems amongst the collective brains available.

 Steve in full flow.

 There were a fair number of our usuals missing, Rob - at the Welsh National Opera - you've really got to get your priorities right, Hubert - in Spain, enjoying the sun, Steffan - busy with work commitments and Mike - sheltering from the cold in Cornwall.

 I owe Bernie an apology, as I asked him to bring whatever he's been busy with to show off. But the time slipped by and we never got a chance to have a gander at the latest Baker offerings! Sorry Bernie.

As you can see, standing room only for some!

Simply superb!

 My thanks to Tony Comber for marshalling his men so well, it took us over a year to get there but well worth the effort! Thank you Tony. And of course my thanks to Newport MRS for allowing us to host this monthly meeting.

 That's it for this month, more fun next month...October 28.

Whilst not strictly a NAGNAG meeting I thought I'd write up and show some of the photos from the group outing to Mick Wakefield's layout 'Grantham' in Newbury. My thanks to Mr Rod Hall for organising the visit and of course my thanks to Mick for allowing us to come and see his wonderful layout.

Nine Naggers moved out in convoy on a stealth mission only to be nearly foiled at the first hurdle - traffic backed up on the M4 from Magor on towards the Severn Bridge. Car crash? Motor bike accident? No, just your everyday mad dog loose on the motorway...the omens for this trip were not good! Fortunately that was where the the misfortune stopped and an hour and a half later we pulled into Mick's house.

Mick greeted us at the door and introduced us to none other than Mr Chris Pendlenton. Chris had brought with him his beautiful Deltic and had his legendary engine 'Hal o' the Wynd'. What a privilege, I'll bet there are not many that have seen this engine in the flesh, or been lucky enough to see it really open its' throttle and show some real class!

 Chris also showed some of his ideas on secondary springing on his collection of coaches, which were really superb and the running was equal to their looks. We also had a good look at the way in which Chris had coupled them together. This was one of the most novel, simple and effective methods of joining a train together that I have ever seen. 

 Members had been invited to bring some of their stock to run on this layout, an offer I took up with an 8F, Std class 4 MT tank and a Britannia. Dave Hagger brought his DMU and Hymek. Rob Foot took the bit in his teeth and let loose his Hymek and some very nice stock. Micks' layout is a scale mile around the walls, with 4 track mainline. It also has the ability to run DC engines and DCC chipped engines. I think its fair to say we did ourselves proud with the running of the machines. Chris then took the helm and loosed Kingfisher (A4) with 9 on the back, we timed the mile and she was pulling a scale 156 mph!! Awsome! Some of the Naggers were by now regretting their decision not to bring anything with them...silly billies!

  This is only a small view of probably a quarter of the layout in Mick's modelling room.

 I am, no, we are all very grateful to Mick for allowing us the use of his layout and for the tea and sandwiches that he so generously provided. It was a fabulous evening with all sorts of topics covered, a lot of learning was taken away with us and a lot more to try. A huge thank you to Chris Pendlenton, who not only drove some of the engines, but also answered a barrage of questions with patience and good humour, thank you Chris.

 Another visit has been mooted in the summer months...hopefully that's an appointment you will all want to keep!

 Mr Mick Wakefield to whom we are all greatly indebted for so much fun!

 Next NAGNAG meeting 28 January 2009, see you then.

Thanks to everyone that attended, it was great to re-establish old friendships and begin some new ones as well. I hope that you all took something away with you that will want to make you come back and contribute to this group...as it blunders its way around the fascinating world that is P4 modelling. 

Special thanks to Steffan and Bill, who both should have been preparing for Railex, but both gave up their limited time to attend and contribute fully. 

 I believe that what we all attended was the beginning of something special, something that will prove to be personally fulfilling and FUN! So, when this group rivals the heady heights of CLAG, you will be able to say.............

"I know, because I was there!" 

Thanks for your support, I look forward to spending many more happy hours with you.

 From left to right:

Back row: Tony B, Steffan, Bill, Tony T, Alistair, Bernie, Scott, Mike and Ray.

Front row: Mike G, Dave, Nick, Tony W and Rod.