New Member in Devon

[AlexS]

Hi folks! I'm Alex from South Devon, kicking off my adventures in the world of miniature steam with a 5" 'Gemma' chassis I have been given by a generous colleague- there's certainly a long road ahead, but I'm looking forward to using the loco as a way to develop engineering skills, and this forum looks quite useful to a complete beginner like myself.

I'll most likely start a thread for 'Gemma' once I have some good progress to show, but before I do, if anyone could tell me how to post photos it would be greatly appreciated.

[coniston]

Hi Alex, welcome tot he forum, yes there's plenty of experienced model engineers here and some have or are building Gemma so hopefully you'll get all the help you need.

For posting photos see the post at the top of the general section, all should be explained. You'll need to store your photos on one of the hosting sites but there are a couple of free ones that work ok, I'm using Imjur which seems to do the job.

Chris

[Neale]

As a fellow South Devon model engineer, welcome to the forum! I live near Totnes and am a member of the Newton Abbot club; there are also clubs in Plymouth and Exeter so you will have a choice of tracks to run your loco once built. Happy to make contact directly if you would like to meet up some time.

[AlexS]

Jan 12, 2022 23:07:24 GMT coniston said:

Hi Alex, welcome tot he forum, yes there's plenty of experienced model engineers here and some have or are building Gemma so hopefully you'll get all the help you need.

For posting photos see the post at the top of the general section, all should be explained. You'll need to store your photos on one of the hosting sites but there are a couple of free ones that work ok, I'm using Imjur which seems to do the job.

Chris

Hello Chris,



Thanks for the advice regarding photos, good to hear there's a few other Gemma's on here- will have to take a look!

Alex

[AlexS]

Jan 13, 2022 8:42:31 GMT Neale said:

As a fellow South Devon model engineer, welcome to the forum! I live near Totnes and am a member of the Newton Abbot club; there are also clubs in Plymouth and Exeter so you will have a choice of tracks to run your loco once built. Happy to make contact directly if you would like to meet up some time.

Thanks! I live near Newton Abbot so will likely become a member soon- I'd heard of the Plymouth club but not any in Exeter, whereabouts is that?

[Neale]

Alex - if you look at the Federation of Model Engineering Societies' web site, they have a page that lets you find societies by clicking on a map. See here. That gives you contact details, or search for the society's own web site.

We are not allowed public running on our Newton Abbot track as the site does not really have the access or the parking needed, especially as we are no longer walking distance from the town itself (the track site has moved a couple of times since it was first built). However, we are very happy to receive visitors by arrangement and once we start running again (closed for the winter at the moment!) you would be very welcome to come and have a look round. I know a few of the Exeter members but I can't tell you much about their track as I have not been there since they started building it.

If you want to contact me offline I would be happy invite you over for a coffee and a chat and the obligatory guided tour of the workshop. No visitor here is allowed to escape without that...

[gwrfan]

Jan 13, 2022 21:12:38 GMT AlexS said:

Jan 13, 2022 8:42:31 GMT Neale said:

As a fellow South Devon model engineer, welcome to the forum! I live near Totnes and am a member of the Newton Abbot club; there are also clubs in Plymouth and Exeter so you will have a choice of tracks to run your loco once built. Happy to make contact directly if you would like to meet up some time.

Thanks! I live near Newton Abbot so will likely become a member soon- I'd heard of the Plymouth club but not any in Exeter, whereabouts is that?

Hi Alex,

The Exeter and District Model Engineering Society are based at St Katherine's Priory, Pinhoe, Exeter (Near to Morrisons). They are currently busy building a ground level 5 inch and 7.25 inch track. You will find their details on Facebook. Any probs, just send me a Message on here.

Geoff

[dscott]

Hi Alex,
Here is ours getting a bit dusty after all these years.
Yes she ran round the Newly Opened Plymouth track... A struggle but just made it.
I built her straight out of the magazine with a leaning towards The East Cornwall Mineral Line which once ran near my Parents home in Albaston. The Gunnislake line uses some of the old trackbed. They had 2 of them.

You can just about lift her and is a nice size for an afternoon potter round the track.
Described as a Big 3 1/2" model fully wound up and at full pressure managed 3 adults.
The valve sizes had to be altered I remember they are tiny.

Good luck with yours.
David and Lily Reading and sometimes Plymouth.

[dscott]

The oil pump is hidden within the front left sandbox which is a tight fit over its base.
Drive is from the arm on the crosshead. A slot reduces the throw it is a Jim Ewins version vertical plunger running off an eccentric and light spring.
Aluminum tank and sheeted over smokebox.

David and Lily.

[AlexS]

Jan 13, 2022 21:25:18 GMT Neale said:

Alex - if you look at the Federation of Model Engineering Societies' web site, they have a page that lets you find societies by clicking on a map. See here. That gives you contact details, or search for the society's own web site.

We are not allowed public running on our Newton Abbot track as the site does not really have the access or the parking needed, especially as we are no longer walking distance from the town itself (the track site has moved a couple of times since it was first built). However, we are very happy to receive visitors by arrangement and once we start running again (closed for the winter at the moment!) you would be very welcome to come and have a look round. I know a few of the Exeter members but I can't tell you much about their track as I have not been there since they started building it.

If you want to contact me offline I would be happy invite you over for a coffee and a chat and the obligatory guided tour of the workshop. No visitor here is allowed to escape without that...

Sorry it's taken me a while to reply, been busy with work- thanks for the offer, I'll bear it in mind once I'm a bit further along with the loco!

[AlexS]

Jan 13, 2022 21:39:56 GMT gwrfan said:

Jan 13, 2022 21:12:38 GMT AlexS said:

Thanks! I live near Newton Abbot so will likely become a member soon- I'd heard of the Plymouth club but not any in Exeter, whereabouts is that?

Hi Alex,

The Exeter and District Model Engineering Society are based at St Katherine's Priory, Pinhoe, Exeter (Near to Morrisons). They are currently busy building a ground level 5 inch and 7.25 inch track. You will find their details on Facebook. Any probs, just send me a Message on here.

Geoff

Thanks, will have a look on Facebook for them

[AlexS]

Jan 14, 2022 0:41:00 GMT dscott said:

Hi Alex,
Here is ours getting a bit dusty after all these years.
Yes she ran round the Newly Opened Plymouth track... A struggle but just made it.
I built her straight out of the magazine with a leaning towards The East Cornwall Mineral Line which once ran near my Parents home in Albaston. The Gunnislake line uses some of the old trackbed. They had 2 of them.

You can just about lift her and is a nice size for an afternoon potter round the track.
Described as a Big 3 1/2" model fully wound up and at full pressure managed 3 adults.
The valve sizes had to be altered I remember they are tiny.

Good luck with yours.
David and Lily Reading and sometimes Plymouth.

Looks really nice in that livery! Didn't know the ECMR had a couple of Neilsons, will have to do a bit of research.

[Shawki Shlemon]

Welcome to the forum , I build Gemma many years ago , It has more guts than it looks for its size , I was happy with the castings and plans . See it here

www.youtube.com/watch?v=kzZd_Vag9lw