This year’s Annual Modelling Competition took place today at Badlesmere as we sheltered from the ravages of Storm Boelo. Despite a number of people being away there was still a good number of entries in both the Locomotive and Freight categories although rather less in the coaching stock and scenic categories. The diorama category which members had asked to be introduced last year must have exhausted itself then as there were no entries at all this year. All the entries were set out as usual for consideration and in due course with no money changing hands the votes were cast and counted before the Secretary announced the results. In the Locomotive category, excitement was at fever pitch as it was announced that John M and Tim had tied for first place, John with his magnificent scratch-built Beyer Peacock 0-6-0 tender engine Ragleth Hill and Tim with his very fine GER J68 0-6-0T.
As is our custom the prize for winning is to explain how you built your entry. John explained that his loco was mainly constructed from bits and bobs and from parts from Laurie Griffin (now sadly retired). The loco is hand painted to a very high standard with some old Humbrol paint that John said seems to give a much better finish than newer Humbrol paint.
Tim’s J68 is a Connoisseur kit and Jim McGeowan had been very helpful in answering any queries and offering advice. Tim said that when painting and lining the loco he had had difficulty in finding photographs of it in its very complicated livery but was ultimately very pleased with it.
In the coaching stock category David G’s BR Class 101 DMU was the only entry but was nevertheless a worthy winner. David explained that it was an Easy build Kit but that this name was a misnomer as the kit came with some very strange instructions as well as holes in the floor in the wrong places.
In the hotly contested freight category Graham’s loco depot tender truck saw off all comers. This was another Connoisseur kit, the prototypes of which were often built or converted in engine sheds and ended up roving all over the LNER. As could be seen Graham had added a lot of extra detail to the kit and as with Tim’s J68 there were very few photographs of the prototype to go on. Page 4 of 6 Page 5 of 6 The scenic category was won by Geoff’s East Kent Matador breakdown lorry which he had scratch built from plasticard. Geoff remembers seeing one of these road vehicles in Wincheap in Canterbury when he was a boy. As usual David Ho reprised his role as chaiwallah until we all braved the storm and hurried off home. Chris
