sixteen 12by 10s

On 02/08/2022 at 20:50, Pannier Tank said:

 

Hi Gary, my call G4NVB maybe catch you the bands, mainly FT8 at the moment.

i mainly operate portable or semi portable, on HF and usually when on holiday on Skye as MM0IUQ, i will keep my ears open 73's  

Thanks for all your kind comments, we, Cradley heath model railway club, are planning some kind of tribute, at our exhibition in October

Gary Hinson

Chair, CHMRC

On 30/07/2022 at 19:38, Pannier Tank said:

I am very sorry to hear that Frank has passed away. Frank and I not only shared Railways and Model Railways as our hobbies, we were both also Radio Amateur's. Frank was indeed a very knowledgeable character and will be sorely missed. R.I.P Frank.

 

P.S I've just read this thread https://www.facebook.com/groups/12699105116/permalink/10166429522395117/ 

 

It looks like Frank was in the process of getting back on-air, how very sad that he didn't make it. In the Amateur Radio world, Frank is now said to be SK (Silent Key). 

 

 

Yes Frank had started to get back interested in radio, as he was not in the best of health for carrying around heavy layouts, and he was going to visit my shack M0IUQ

On 27/07/2022 at 21:34, nickwood said:

I’m really saddened to hear this news. I first came across Frank when we were both members of Your Model Railway forum and he was a font of knowledge for me when building my layout Much Murkle. We occasionally corresponded on modelling matters but he probably never realised how much I owed him. 

It was Frank who inspired me through his layouts Pen y Bont and Steam on the Cambrian

It was Frank who pestered me to write to all the editors and get an article on the layout in one of the magazines.

It was Frank as manager of the Crawley Heath show who gave me my first exhibition invite for Much Murkle.

it was Frank who gave me the confidence to solder more than just wires and switches.

 

A real character and I’m sure that there will be many others who will also miss Frank’s advice and help

 

Rest in peace matey and my thoughts are with your family and friends.

 

Hi Nick

Thats quite a tribute! Coming from someone who has built such a fine layout, thanks

24 minutes ago, TheSignalEngineer said:

Looks like that (in)famous Saltley Seagull Stacker Steadman has been at work there, but for the full effect the van should be balanced upside down on the brake and the next wagon balanced on top of the pile.

(in)famous Saltley Seagull Stacker Steadman, who got the name "A bridge to far" ?

On 25/10/2021 at 22:36, TheSignalEngineer said:

The show was enjoyable and despite travelling in by Miseryrail and out via Lime Street the Covid-19 app on my phone didn't ping and I survived intact.

Well deserved. Missed you but did get a good look at the layout when Her Ladyship was operating.

I knew the area where it is meant to represent without having to read the stuff at the side. It just oozed Black Country 1960-ish to me.

thanks, came home with a big snagging list, and quite a few invites, here's how i found the one fiddle yard after Her Ladyship had been operating 

this venue is certainly a lot more spacious than the old community centre 

On 03/10/2021 at 11:11, Chris M said:

I only counted 28 plus a test track on the link.

 

I will be there next Saturday though, and looking forward to it. I'm particularly interested in the Bodmin Road layout as I built a model of this back in the 1980s and it will be interesting to see another interpretation.

Just come back from a meeting at the club, the exhibitor list is a little "fluid" which will account for the discrepancy, never the less, all space is as today full 

1 hour ago, PenrithBeacon said:

Is this the building?

 

Yes, that's the one, free parking on site, and it will be sign posted 

Presented by Cradley Heath model railway club

Note, new larger venue,

31 layout plus trade 

i must say, what an absolutely superb time was had, not only did i win the layout of the show, i won the hubcap trophy (awarded to the biggest piss taker of the scousers) thanks lads for a bostin time  

slight problem, most of the operating team ended up in Bridewell jail, luckily for the show, bail was excepted, so see you tomorrow 

first outing for my Black Country micro "Blackbrook Halt", looking forward to it 

2 hours ago, johndon said:

While in Tier 3, we spoke to the council about our 'club' (that is a loose term as we are a group of friends who rent some space for your layouts) and the council said that, as far as they were concerned, we fell under the same rules as gyms so, as long as social distancing was followed (easy enough with 6 people in a room 180' long) and that we had sanitiser and a clear cleaning regime then we were OK to carry on visiting the clubrooms.

 

We are now in Tier 4 so the clubroom is now closed for the foreseeable...

 

John

 

interesting, i had the same thoughts, but my committee decided to go on the safe side 

you will find it difficult to get a straight answer, as the advise is confusing and contradictory. From what I found out, you have to create a “covid safe environment”. Basically, you have to arrange the venue for social distancing, and provide lots of reminders in the form of notices, we also had a cleaning list that was completed on opening the club rooms, things like cleaning door handles . I say all this in a past sense, we went from tier 1 to 3 and then last week 4, hope this helps

6 hours ago, Chamby said:

 

Sorry, but you are incorrect here: This is one of the few things that the government guidelines ARE clear about... “avoid social contact with anyone outside the group [of six] you are with, even if you see other people you know”.   So we are now expected to stick to our groups of up to six maximum, and not intermingle with other groups.

 

Intermingling between groups represents a line that should definitely not be crossed. 

 

 

i am not going to argue, or quote on the subject anymore, until i find somebody with authority that can say yes or no, and the outcome is safe for those involved, its not in my nature to argue on a subject that i know little about. Lets just put faith in the boffins to sort out this mess 

12 hours ago, darren chpamn said:

We have been using leisure as our guidelines,  however with the maximum  of six per group  it makes meetings hard plus the added 2m  or 1m rule

I know that we all say yes we can get into groups of six  but staying in them groups  is hard, all it needs is a shiny new loco that someones just brought or even made and we are all of it like a rash to see it run or making a cupper  as we dont want to seem to be rude to a fellow member now that its law we a clubs can be fined for breaking this law  we are all struggling  due to loss on income from shows and other means but can you afford the fine because we can keep to our groups 

Daz

 

This is where the rules are confusing, as ever!, my interpretation of them is this. If you can keep people 2m apart, then the 6 in a group rule doesn't come into play. think of it like this, pubs and restaurants have multiple tables, and as long as they can keep them apart, or put up a physical barrier, then they can entertain as many groups of 6 upto the capacity of the venue. I'm still mystified by it myself, just trying to find if there is an advisory body that you can run your case past 

we had a committee meeting earlier, and decided to go down the route of been "a covid safe environment" this means we have to have a risk assessment,  covid policy, and also enforce social distancing at all times, basically, we see the rule (and they are bloody confusing to say the least) that if the national social distancing rules are followed, you can do what you want. we are going to address this by dividing the club room into 2m squares, and only one person will occupy a square at a time, face coverings will be compulsory, this is to limit contaminating surfaces. 

It looks like this problem will be around for some time, so we need to find safe ways to get on with life, i will let you know how we get on 

the second paragraph is worth a look at 

If partaking in permitted activities users of COVID-19 secure community facilities should limit their social interactions with anyone they do not live with. Whilst activities may have 6 or more people participating (where it is safe to do so and capacity permits) it is important for all parties to maintain socially distant, 2 metres or 1 metre with actions taken to reduce the risk of transmission (where 2 metres is not viable) between households. For example, use of face coverings and encouraging good hand hygiene on entering premises and throughout visit."

1 hour ago, Pete the Elaner said:

 

This was mentioned on a club conference call last week.

 

For several reasons, we did not feel ready to return to a normal or regulated club night. We use shared premises, which I accept makes a difference.

The new restrictions next week make absolutely no difference to us in the short term. We have insufficient information to consider anything further off, so will review our situation frequently.

we moved out of a community center in February, where we had a small room, not more than a storage room, and if we where still there we would not be able to open at all. We now have a spacious room and can't use it to its full potential ! 

My interpretation is, keep 2metres apart or 1 metre with face coverings, and have a covid policy, and you are ok, an my club (Cradley heath) have done that from when we reopened, last month, we do have one thing on our side, space  

here's the relevant information, as confusing as ever

"From 14 September, whether indoors or outdoors people from different households must not meet in groups of more than 6. This limit does not apply to meetings of a single household group or support bubble which is more than 6 people. Community facilities following COVID-19 secure guidelines can host more than 6 people in total, but no one should visit or socialise in a group of greater than 6. Further information on social contact rules, social distancing and the exemptions that exist can be found on the guidance on meeting with others safely. These rules will not apply to workplaces or education settings, alongside other exemptions. See more details on what has changed.

If partaking in permitted activities users of COVID-19 secure community facilities should limit their social interactions with anyone they do not live with. Whilst activities may have 6 or more people participating (where it is safe to do so and capacity permits) it is important for all parties to maintain socially distant, 2 metres or 1 metre with actions taken to reduce the risk of transmission (where 2 metres is not viable) between households. For example, use of face coverings and encouraging good hand hygiene on entering premises and throughout visit."

the first paragraph advises no more than 6 and the second contradicts it, 

6 minutes ago, snitchthebudgie said:

I think we need a careful read of the conditions, fully out on Monday.  It may be, according to a friend, that organised covid-safe meetings will be OK.  It's casual social get togethers that are the main target.  (No MRC raves?)

That is my interpretation of the ruling, if there is organized distancing control then you are ok, ....no raves  best cancel the strippers then 

I have posted elsewhere on this topic, but what are other clubs opinions on reopening, after the changes on the 14th of this month ?