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Scale Model Exhibition 2020 Review

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Although storm Dennis did its best to disrupt proceedings the annual Scale Model Exhibition organised by the SVAS went ahead on Sunday 16th February. A few exhibitors and traders were unfortunately not able to make it due to the weather conditions but there was still plenty to see!

  • Judges Rob Millinship and Rory Cook
  • The 1:1 scale Bristol Fighter was disqualified from the competitions!
  • A 1:700 CAM ship complete with Sea Hurricane
  • A diorama featuring Indiana Jones and his many escapades
  • Smallford Station display showcasing a project to restore a disused station near the de Havilland factory as part of the Alban Way walk

Over 40 different exhibitors and traders did make it to display at Shuttleworth and hundreds of visitors braved the storm to admire the handiwork. We were also fortunate to have the grand-daughter of Percival Chief Designer Arthur Bage visiting and she took the opportunity to display a selection of her grandfathers original drawings and scrapbooks of photographs of Percival designs.

The modelling competition was particularly close this year with judges Rob Millinship and Rory Cook commenting ‘Modelling standards continue to be very high, in some categories it has been very difficult to choose a winner. The modellers have been very careful with the fine details which make our job that much harder!’ However, the judges did manage to pick some winners and they were:

Winner 1/72nd & Smaller Scale – 1/144th P51 Mustang by Robert McDonald

  • Robert McDonald – Winner of Best Model smaller than 1/72nd

Winner 1/48th & Smaller Scale – 1/48th Supermarine Channel by Hugh Beyts

  • Hugh Beyts – Winner of Best Model smaller than 1/48th Scale

Winner larger than 1/48th – Skeletal Fokker D.VII by Mick Norris

  • Mick Norris – winner of Best model larger than 1/48th Scale

Junior Modeller – Typhoon British Legend by Joby Girling

  • Joby Girling – 2020 Junior Modeller Winner

Best in Show – the John Morris Memorial Trophy – Shogun Samurai on horseback by Bob Parker

  • Rod Johnson accepts the award for Best in Show on behalf of Bob Parker

Hopefully some of these inspire you to take part, there is an entire year to build entries for next year’s competition which will be on Sunday 21st February 2021!

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Elevator Restoration to be showcased at Dorset Steam Fair

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SVAS volunteers have recently completed the restoration of the Collection’s 1890 Clayton & Shuttleworth ‘Hayes Patent’ straw elevator.

Restoration started in 2016 and has involved a complete dismantle and rebuild, replacing wood where necessary. The front wheels of the elevator were particularly damaged and have been re-tyred to hopefully provide another hundred years of service!

The completed elevator will be displayed at this year’s Great Dorset Steam Fair over the Bank holiday weekend before returning to Old Warden as one of the ground attractions at this year’s Vintage Air Show on Sunday 1st September.

The following gallery of pictures will show some of the hard work that has gone in to getting the elevator to this point.

  • The elevator before restoration being brought in to the workshop in January 2016
  • Clayton & Shuttleworth Hayes Patent straw elevator seen in January 2016
  • The elevator carriage was dismantled and was found to be in reasonable condition
  • Later in 2016 the elevator carriage was trial fitted prior to painting
  • The rear wheels of the elevator were in good condition and required little more than cleaning and painting
  • The painting of the elevator carriage under way during the summer of 2016
  • The late Fred Harris acted as agricultural adviser to the project and regularly kept an eye on progress
  • The elevator carriage was sufficiently complete to be displayed at the 2016 Bedfordshire Steam Fair
  • The front wheels for the elevator were badly damaged and had to be sent away for re-tyring by a blacksmith, the wheels returned at the end of 2016
  • The largely complete carriage was displayed at the 2016 Engineering Open Weekend
  • Gear wheels for the elevator being painted by volunteer Archie Boyle
  • A Clayton & Shuttleworth name plate is fitted to the newly painted elevator carriage
  • Restoration of the main body of the elevator restarted once a suitable workshop had been built!
  • The main body of the elevator after restoration and the first coats of paint
  • Several late nights were needed in the recent weeks to make the deadline!
  • SVAS Secretary James Michell painting the feed hopper
  • The conveyor rollers are refitted
  • The main body is carefully wheeled out of the restoration shed towards the waiting carriage
  • The big lift starts!
  • The conveyor belt is made up of metal links joined by wooden slats, each slat has 3 tines to drag straw up the elevator
  • The elevator is assembled for the first time after restoration on 18th August 2019
  • On Monday 19th August the elevator together with other Clayton & Shuttleworth items from the Collection were loaded ready for transport to Dorset
  • Both chaff cutters and the HSCS tractor will also be on display with the elevator at the 2019 Dorset Steam Fair
  • A future project for the team? The Clayton & Shuttleworth portable is being taken to Dorset to show what the starting point is often like!