News

Summer 2026 Magazines now on their way

By Robin Schoolar • Published on Wednesday 14 October 2026, 5:00pm

Although later than usual, the Summer 2026 RMG Magazines are all now on their way.  Apologies for lateness, but we'd rather it was delayed than that it falls below the usual standard.

Printed magazines were posted on Friday 9th October.  Please allow ...

• a week for delivery to UK
• two weeks for delivery to Europe
• three weeks for delivery to all other countries

PDF Download links were emailed out Tuesday 13th October

This is the last magazine of the 2025-26 membership year, so members should receive their copy so long as they paid for membership in Autumn 2025.

Renewals are now due for the 2026-27 membership year, and the next three Magazines (starting Autumn 2026) will be sent ONLY to those who renew.

If you had already renewed at the time magazines were mailed, your magazine should be accompanied by a sheet of paper thanking you for renewing.

Those who have yet to renew should find a sheet of paper with their magazine detailing all the ways you can renew.  (Simplest is via the RMG website here: https://runnymedemeccanoguild.org.uk/shop/products/1)

RMG is marking its Fortieth Anniversary by giving each member a laser cut stainless steel plaque as a memento, which we hope you'll attach to a model.

• Those who attended the Anniversary Meeting in Liphook should have received plaques then.
• Plaques for other members should have been posted with this magazine.
• Members subscribed for PDF downloads will receive their plaque separately through the post.

I'd like to take this opportunity to thank all the members for attending the Fortieth Anniversary meeting and bringing so many superb models.  Apologies for any slightly chaotic moments you may have spotted, but we had a lot to fit in.

Extra thanks to everyone who kept things running smoothly, by helping with setting up and putting away tables, making tea coffee and biscuits available, and many other tasks, especially as everyone was so enthusiastic to "just get on with it", generally without needed to be asked, or needing detailed instructions.

Timetable and Agenda for AGM at Liphook 3rd October 2026

By Robin Schoolar • Published on Friday 2 October 2026, 5:30pm

Timetable

10:30 Doors open for setting up tables, covers, mains leads.
         Help with setup appreciated, but NO MODELS YET, please!
11:00 Admission for models
11.30 Welcome to members
         Voting opens for Cord Creativity Challenge and Bill Roberts Memorial Trophy
         Treasurer Robin will be encouraging membership renewals, cash or cheque for £35
         in return for which members will receive their voting slips and a special anniversary memento
14.00 Close of voting for Cord Creativity Challenge and Bill Roberts Memorial Trophy
14.30 AGM and Business Meeting (agenda below) ... followed by ...
         Contesting the Ramp of Forty-tude Challenge ... followed by ...
         Awards ... followed by ...
         Anniversary Photograph of everyone present
         Surprise extra touches to mark 40th Anniversary!
17.00 Venue should be clear and tidy with all chairs and tables put away
         with everyone out of the door so building can be locked

AGM Agenda (subject to change)

• Welcome
• Apologies for absence
• Secretary's Report
• RMGM Editor's Report
• Treasurer's Report
• Further nominations of officers
• Election of officers, existing candidates pre-nominated
  • Robin Schoolar - Treasurer & Membership Secretary
  • Craig Longhurst - Magazine Editor
  • Pete Wood - Publications Officer
  • Auditor - Richard Payn
  • No need to nominate Nick Rodgers for President, as no vote needed
• Forthcoming events ...

2026
Sat 10 Oct: MMG Meeting, Baginton, CV8 3AB
Sat 17 Oct: SELMEC Exhibition, Falconwood, Kent, DA16 2PG
Sat 24 Oct: HTMC – Club Meeting, Hildenborough, Kent, TN11 9HT
SUN 22 Nov: WLMS – Club Meeting, Greenford, UB6 9JS (Note change of date to SUNDAY)
Sat 28 Nov: HSME – Club Meeting, Henley on Thames
Sat 28 Nov: NELMC – Club Meeting, Chelmsford

2027
Sat 16 Jan: SELMEC – Club Meeting, Falconwood, Kent, DA16 2PG
Sun 7 Feb: Midhurst Modellers Exhibition, The Grange Centre, GU29 9HD
Sat 13 Feb: Runnymede Meccano Guild + Auction, GU30 7LD (Later date to avoid Midhurst weekend)
Tue-Thu 1-3 Jun: SkegEx, Embassy Theatre, Skegness, Lincolnshire, PE25 2UG
Sat-Sun 19-20 Jun: Magic of Meccano Show, Kew, TW8 0EN
Sat 3 Jul Runnymede Meccano Guild Meeting, GU30 7LD
Sat 2 Oct Runnymede Meccano Guild AGM, GU30 7LD

• Any other events which anyone would like to publicise?
• Any other business?
• Votes of thanks

Online Auction of the late Tony Homden's Meccano, coming soon

By Robin Schoolar • Published on Thursday 1 October 2026, 5:30pm

Although never an RMG member, many Guild members may have met Tony or seen his models.

He passed away earlier this year and his estate, including significant quantities of Meccano, is to be sold via online auction ending on Thursday 8th October

https://www.easyliveauction.com/catalogue/5eaf20ecf274606674870bd71ee3a1bb/0af8d24542e81eb9357e7ef448a6646f/an-auction-of-the-varied-collections-of-tony-homden-160-set/

Only about eighty of the 600-odd lots contain Meccano, but the website makes it easy to search for lots with "Meccano" in the description.

The auction shows how wide ranging Tony's interests were, and this was reflected in the huge number of models across a wide variety iof subjects built by Tony over his long Meccano career.

Anyone interested in Tony's Meccano Aircraft Constructor lots, might care to bear in mind that he used to take great pride in his ability to make almost indistinguishable reproductions of pretty much every part needed for those sets!

If you might be interested in bidding in person, best check arrangements by phoning the auctioneers (01945 583398) who are in Wisbech, Cambridgeshire 

Stop Press Ahead of Liphook Meeting

By Robin Schoolar • Published on Wednesday 30 September 2026, 4:55pm

RMG hopes that as many members as possible will be there to help celebrate the Guild's Fortieth Anniversary meeting in Liphook 11am to 5pm this Saturday ... and that many of you will bring entries so we have an exciting contest for the two Prize Challenges.  There's still time to get building!

For Challenge rules, see here https://rmguild.org.uk/news (scroll down to item dated 24th August)

We still need a couple of volunteers to share writing the Model Report between them.  The important aspect is to provide the words, as Editor Craig is happy to combine words with photos taken by others.  Given this is our special Anniversary meeting, the committee have so much do already that none of them can fit in the model report as well.  So in absence of volunteers, there won't be a model report in the next magazine, whose page count will probably be reduced accordingly - not a desirable start to the Guild's fifth(!) decade.

To my (ie Robin's) acute embarrassment, someone has already been in touch, volunteering to report on half the models, but I cannot now remember who it was, or find their message, so even if you've already offered, please get in touch again.

Part of the wording about the Heath Robinson Museum's support for the Cord Creativity Challenge was unclear, with one paragraph being revised as follows ...

The Museum hopes Entrants will consider loaning their Entries for a temporary display there, in return for which the Museum will offer free entry to the Builder.  Better still would be to co-ordinate this to stage an Event Day at the Museum with Entrants attending en masse to show off their models.

 We hope that nobody will dismantle their Challenge Entry as a result of this change!

Although the "Summer" Magazines won't be available in time for the meeting, we hope to collect and mail them out during the following week.

The Summer magazine is the last members will receive as part of the old (2025-26) membership year.  So please renew at the meeting (or soon after), otherwise you'll miss out on the Autumn magazine.

• At the meeting I'm happy to accept £35 cash, or cheque payable to "Runnymede Meccano Guild".
• RMG is not yet able to take card payments, but you can pay by online electronic transfer direct to the Guild's bank account, whose details can be requested by replying to this message.
• Renewal can be via RMG website (https://rmguild.org.uk/shop/products/1), although that costs £1 extra to partially offset extra transaction fees.

Looking forward to a memorable, well attended meeting this Saturday

Apologies for lateness of "Summer 2026" RMG magazine

By Robin Schoolar • Published on Thursday 17 September 2026, 4:55pm

RMG apologises to members that we are later than usual sending out the "Summer 2026" Magazine

This is a consequence of work pressures on Editor Craig, so he hasn’t had so much time and energy to spend on RMG Magazine.

It also hasn't helped that Craig has had to take on writing a larger proportion of the magazine than usual.

So please take the hint that if lots more members could send in material for the Autumn magazine, this will not only make for more varied reading, but also improve the chances of that issue arriving around the usual time.

It's great to have material which is print ready, but even if an article still needs a degree of polishing, please send it anyway, as we are happy to take care of whatever adjustments are needed.

We still have hopes of the magazine perhaps being printed in time to hand it out to members attending Liphook on 3rd October, with the remainder being mailed out soon after.

If we don't have them ready in time for Liphook, all copies will, as usual, be mailed out as soon as the print run is ready.

Apologies    Robin & Craig

Prizes now Offered for each 40th Anniversary Challenge

By RMG Challenge Committee • Published on Thursday 3 September 2026, 2:30pm

RMG is delighted to announce that a Prize will now be awarded to the Winner of each of the Guild's 40th Anniversary Challenges, thanks to generosity and ingenious thinking on the part of two loyal RMG members.

We hope the prizes will encourage even more of our members to repay the generosity and confidence of our donors, by taking up screwdrivers and building Challenge Entries for RMG's 40th Anniversary Meeting at our usual Liphook venue on Saturday 3rd October.

The competition rules remain unchanged, and can be found by scrolling down a little on this page: https://runnymedemeccanoguild.org.uk/news

Prize for the winner of the RMG Cord Creativity Challenge is a copy of the book Heath Robinson's Helpful Solutions by Simon Heneage.  This book has been generously donated by the wonderful Heath Robinson Museum, located in Pinner.  Huge thanks to RMG member Mike Gleen for recognising the common ground with Heath Robinson's renowned contraptions, overly complicated and usually heavily dependent on knotted string.

The Museum hopes Entrants will consider loaning their Entries for a temporary display there, in return for which the Museum will offer free entry to the builder.  Better still would be to co-ordinate this to stage an Event Day at the Museum with Entrants attending en masse to show off their models.

Prize for the RMG Ramp of Forty-tude Challenge is a Meccano Clock Kit 1, in new condition, except that it is no longer shrink wrapped.  Given that the winner will be decided against the clock, this seems a fitting prize (even if it will probably be more convenient on the day to use the stopwatch feature of a smartphone).

This prize is generously donated by a longstanding UK member of RMG who is more distant than most and wishes to remain anonymous.

Announcing RMG's 40th Anniversary Challenges

By RMG Challenge Committee • Published on Monday 24 August 2026, 4:55pm

Our next meeting, on Saturday 3rd October at Liphook, will mark Runnymede Meccano Guild's 40th Anniversary.

To make this more of an occasion, we will be contesting two completely distinct Challenges.

Although the Challenges are primarily for fun, the winner of each Challenge will receive a covetable Prize, generously donated by RMG members.

As the formal rules, below, are somewhat wordy (we're fine with cheating so long as it stays within the rules!), let's start with an introductory outline of the two Challenges.

Strings Attached: the RMG Cord Creativity Challenge

This Challenge takes inspiration from part 40 being the Hank of Cord.

We are inviting members to devise a Meccano construction highlighting the humble Hank of Cord to most inspired effect.

Given that judging must be entirely subjective, the winner will be decided by votes cast by members attending the meeting.

The Prize for winning this Challenge is a copy of the book Heath Robinson's Helpful Solutions by Simon Heneage.  This book has been generously donated by the wonderful Heath Robinson Museum, located in Pinner.  Our thanks to RMG member Mike Gleen for recognising the common ground with Heath Robinson's renowned contraptions, overly complicated and usually heavily dependent on knotted string.

The Museum hopes Entrants will consider loaning their Entries for a temporary display there, in return for which the Museum will offer free entry to the builder.  Better still would be to co-ordinate this to stage an Event Day at the Museum with Entrants attending en masse to show off their models.

The RMG Ramp of Forty-tude Challenge

This Challenge invites members to build something in Meccano to reach a distance of 40 inches up a 40 degree ramp in the shortest possible time.

To improve grip, the surface of the Challenge course will be covered in baize cloth.

The Prize for winning this challenge is a Meccano Clock Kit 1, in new condition, except that it is no longer shrink wrapped.  Given that the winner will be decided against the clock, this seems a fitting prize (even if it will probably be more convenient on the day to use the stopwatch feature of a smartphone).

This prize is generously donated by a longstanding UK member of RMG who is more distant than most and wishes to remain anonymous

Helpful Hints about the Ramp Challenge

In case anyone hasn't already realised, 40 degrees is pretty steep, but that's what makes it a Challenge, although the course's covering of baize cloth should provide extra grip.

Once the course has been set up, it will be available for experimentation until 15 minutes before the Challenge start time, providing opportunity for Entries to be trialled and refined.

If you want to practice at home, a rough and ready way to set up a ramp which will probably be about 40 degrees is to lay a length of wood touching the treads of a convenient flight of stairs.  UK building regulations say a staircase cannot be steeper than 42 degrees, and in practice most domestic stairs are close to this, to make best use of space.

A more accurate way to set up your own trial ramp at almost exactly 40 degrees is to construct a triangle from strips, joined as necessary to be 10, 12 and 15 holes long.

If the 12 hole strip is placed on a level surface, the 15 hole strip will be very close to a 40 degree ramp.

Note that the 10 hole strip will not be exactly vertical (but only a couple of degrees off).

The triangle can be scaled to larger sizes, so long as you remember that what matters is the distance between the end holes of the strips, which for the above triangle are 4-1/2" 5-1/2" and 7" respectively.

So larger triangles should be 19, 23, 29 holes / 28, 34, 43 holes / 37, 45, 57 holes and so on.

One convenient way to give your own trial ramp a fabric surface might be to put a length of wood (maybe a piece of shelving or even a tea tray) inside a pillow case ... but maybe first ask your household authority to pick out one that is no longer fit for front line service.

Strings Attached: the RMG Cord Creativity Challenge - Formal Rules

The inspiration for this Challenge is that Meccano part 40 is the Hank of Cord.

Members are invited to devise a model highlighting Meccano's humble Hank of Cord to most inspired effect.

• Entries may be models of any subject, real or imaginary.
• Entries should be constructed entirely from Meccano parts (or exact reproductions) from any eras.  In addition, paint saver washers and batteries are also permitted.
• Challenge is open to all members who have paid the subscription for 2026-27 membership year (there will be ample opportunity to renew at the meeting BEFORE the Challenge starts).
• Judging will be by secret ballot of members who have paid subscription for 2026-27 membership year.  Votes should be cast for the model which appeals to the voter for most inspired use of Cord.
• Members of the RMG Committee ARE entitled to enter this Challenge (given judging is by all members' votes, there seems no reason to exclude the Committee).
• Maximum of two Entries from a single builder.
• Entries should be accompanied by a description sheet showing the Entry's name (dafter the better), but NOT the builder's name.
• Don’t take it too seriously.
• Queries to clarify these rules should be submitted to Robin Schoolar / robin.schoolar@rmguild.org.uk
• The Challenge Committee reserves the right to circulate changes to these rules as needed, primarily to reflect clarifications.

The RMG Ramp of Forty-tude Challenge - Formal Rules

This Challenge is for members to build something in Meccano to reach a distance of 40 inches up a 40 degree ramp in the shortest possible time.

• The ramp has a uniform gradient of 40 degrees above horizontal, preceded by a level starting area, 40 inches long.
• The transition between start area and ramp is eased by a Strip Plate (ie 2-1/2" wide) transversely across the course.
• The whole course from start area to finish line will be covered with baize cloth to improve grip.
• The start line is where the ramp starts to transition from the level starting area base.
• To start, Entries must be placed in the starting area, with the whole Entry behind the start line.
• The finish line is 40 inches from the start line, measured along the slope of the ramp.
• An Entry completes the course when any part of the Entry passes the finish line, winner determined by fastest to pass the line.
• Entries which do not cross the line within 3 minutes, will be ranked by distance up the ramp after that time.  (This is to keep overall time taken by Challenge reasonable.)
• There should be no manual intervention once an Entry has been set in motion, EXCEPT that for Entries which are steerable, AND whose steering is operated by pushing a tiller sideways, brief manual adjustments to steering ARE permitted, up to a maximum of three times.  In event of any other manual intervention, the Challenge Committee will decide whether to disqualify or allow with a time penalty.
• Entries to be constructed entirely from Meccano parts (or exact reproductions) from any eras.  In addition, paint saver washers and batteries are also permitted.
• The only source of power must be EITHER a single Meccano No1 Clockwork Motor OR a single Meccano Electric Motor of any type, so long as motor is NOT in a Radio Control chassis, and so long as motor's power supply does NOT exceed 7 volts.  (This is to allow for certain brands of disposable battery which, when fresh, slightly exceed 1.5V.)
• Electric power may be either carried on the Entry or supplied via trailing leads.
• For avoidance of doubt: any weight in any form which on balance is lower at the finish than the start will result in disqualifiaction because gravity does contravene the "only source of power" rule.
• Entries may not exceed ten inches wide.
• An Entry is not permitted to separate into disconnected sections, and Cord, Chain, Spring Cord etc do NOT suffice to connect separate sections (ie no shooting a grapnel over the finish line.)
• Challenge is open to members who have paid the subscription for 2026-27 membership year (there will be ample opportunity to renew at the meeting BEFORE the Challenge starts.)
• Members of RMG Challenge Committee (Robin Schoolar, Pete Wood & Craig Longhurst) are NOT permitted to enter (due to their close involvement in devising these rules.)
• Maximum of two Entries from a single builder.
• Entries must have an appropriate name, dafter the better.
• Don’t take it too seriously.
• Queries to clarify these rules should be submitted to Robin Schoolar / robin.schoolar@rmguild.org.uk
• The Challenge Committee reserve the right to circulate changes to these rules as needed, primarily to reflect clarifications.

Best of luck, and May The Fortieth Be With You as you enjoy Rising to the Challenges.

Auction of Meccano from the late Mike Rhoades

By Robin Schoolar • Published on Wednesday 15 July 2026, 3:00pm

Some time has passed since well known Meccano dealer Mike Rhoades died.

Mike's Meccano is now being auctioned by Gilbert Baitson Auctioneers in Hull.

Details of all their upcoming auctions can be found here: https://bid.gilbert-baitson.co.uk/auctions

Apologies that by the time this is published, the first auction will be over (it comprised hundreds of lots, but almost all were routine parts in inconveniently large quantities).

The second auction, with bidding closing on 23rd July, currently comprises just 11 lots, this time all relatively collectable items.  The auction house may decide to extend this second auction with further lots and/or schedule additional auctions with more Mike Rhoades items.

Bidding online is possible, but the auction house requires bidders to register first, which involves using a credit card to pay a returnable (they say!) deposit of £50 by credit card.  Don't leave registration until the last moment, as I gather it doesn't always go smoothly so may involve phoning them to get past the digital gremlins.

Details of the first auction of Mike Rhoades items (along with many other finished auctions) can be found here: https://bid.gilbert-baitson.co.uk/past-auctions

Spring 2026 magazines are now in the post

By Robin Schoolar • Published on Sunday 19 April 2026, 11:59pm

It is my pleasure to announce that I have just finished mailing out copies of the Spring 2026 magazine to all paid up members.  Editor Craig and printer Vikki have once more excelled themselves, and it contains is packed with articles from many RMG members, so we all hope you enjoy reading it.  Once your copy opf the magazine arrives, we are always interested to hear what you think of it - just reply to this email.

UK magazines should, generally arrive within a week, whereas overseas often take up to three weeks.  If you believe you are a paid up member, and your magazine still hasn't arrived within that timescale , please let me know (eg by replying to this email).  Please provide your full postal address as an important cross check when I'm trying to put things right.

Those with "Electronic Membership" should already have received an email containing a link to download their copy of the magazine as a PDF file.

Emails via RMG website, such as this one, are NOT restricted to fully paid up members - these emails are sent to everyone who has subscribed via the website for News.

Any non-members reading this are missing out on a fantastic trove of Meccano tips, news and views and if only you paid the (very modest) subscription, both the Autumn 2025 and Spring 2026 magazines will be posted to you, plus in a few months time, the Summer 2026 magazine, the last covered by the current membership year.

Details of rates and how to subscribe or renew can be found here:
https://runnymedemeccanoguild.org.uk/shop/sections/membership/products/runnymede-meccano-guild-annual-membership 

If you're unsure whether or not you are fully paid up for the fresh 2025-26 membership year, simply check with me by replying to this email.

Keep making the most of your Meccano

Regards    Robin Schoolar

(Treasurer and Membership Secretary, Runnymede Meccano Guild)

Final Preview Pictures of Items for Auction this Saturday

By Robin Schoolar • Published on Thursday 5 February 2026, 4:24pm

Below are the last two pictures of Auction Lots which have been provided in advance.

Although it's now too late to send more pictures, lots can still be accepted on the day (Sat 7th Feb) between 11am and 1pm.

Looking forward to seeing a good turn out of members at Liphook, and non-members welcome as well.

For details of the auction, refer to emails previously sent with the full rules, or you can find them here ... https://runnymedemeccanoguild.org.uk/news

Set 9 (blue/yellow/zinc) in wooden box with many extra parts

Vertical Steam Engine built by the late Mike Dennis