The 2023 Autumn we will run our modelling weekend slightly later than is usual, but all else remains the same with modelling from Friday evening until Sunday afternoon. We will offer a range of courses that will run in different rooms around Missenden Abbey, with each course having at least one specialist tutor in the subject in hand. Attendees choose a particular course for the weekend but are encouraged to wonder around and view what is on offer in the other rooms. Courses are practical in nature, designed to allow you to progress in your chosen field with the aid of experienced tutors, demonstrations and the other like minded modellers around you. The courses on offer this Autumn are
4mm and Smaller Locomotive & Kit Construction
Tony Gee and Jerry Clifford once again team up to tutor this ever popular course. Predominantly the course deals with locomotive and rolling stock building using etched or white metal cast kits.
The room caters for modellers of all scale up to and including 4mm to the foot, with typically a mix of gauges of stock being produced.
7mm And Larger Locomotive & Kit Construction
Kevin Wilson will once again tutor the larger scale locomotive & kit construction course.
A room of 7mm and larger scale modellers building locomotives and rolling stock items from etched or cast metal kits.
Karl Crowther will return to once again lead the semaphore signalling course.
This ‘hands on’ course is aimed both at modellers with previous experience of model signal construction as well as those wishing to start out on the road to constructing working semaphore signals. All levels of ability will be welcome, from those wishing to start with the basics through to more advanced subjects such as bracket and ground signals.
Radio Control For Model Railways
A new course for 2023 led by a new tutor to the Missenden Weekends, Giles Favell.
Giles will be focusing on the techniques he has used to produce scale radio controlled road vehicles in both 7mm and 4mm scale. The course will guide you through building a chassis and how to add the drive and radio control.
Christopher Langdon will be running an electronics course aimed at those modellers with little or any knowledge or experience of electronics. This is a weekend of theory and practical work which will provide a foundation for using modern electronics to enhance the realistic working of your model railway.
The course focuses on building some of the MERG CBUS layout control bus boards, these kits will be available for purchase from the tutor.
Building and layering scale track work with Norman Solomon.
Norman will cover all the aspects of building your own scale track work, focusing in points and crossing. He will also demonstrate his techniques for ballasting and laying track.
Norman has been teaching this course for many years, however this will be his last appearance at one of our weekends before emigrating.
Chris Hopper will once again be taking the weathering course. Chris will cover a variety of methods for achieving realistic weathered effects on your models, using both air brushing and non-air brushing techniques.
A limited number of air brushing stations will be available for those that do not have their own.
As usual at the Autumn weekend we will offer both residential and non-residential places, with modellers arriving on the Friday evening in time for dinner and to setup for a weekend of practical modelling. Modellers can start work after dinner on the Friday, and the modelling continues until Sunday afternoon, interspersed with tea/coffee, breakfast, lunch and dinner. Not to mention a number of demos and talks given by tutors and other attendees. There is also plenty of opportunity to visit other modelling rooms to see what different groups are doing. There is a licensed bar and of course the bedrooms for those who have opted to stay at the Abbey.
