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MERG Three Counties Area Group
Buckinghamshire, Bedfordshire and Hertfordshire
About the Three Counties Area Group
Group members are drawn from the three home counties of Bedfordshire, Hertfordshire and Buckinghamshire.
Most members belong to other model railway clubs in this area, but we share a common interest in the use of technology to enhance model railway layouts.
We meet on a regular basis to exchange ideas and expertise.
How do you meet?
We meet monthly over Zoom or in person at the Hemel Hempstead Model Railway Society clubhouse:
Nash Mills Recreation Centre, Off Red Lion Lane, Hemel Hempstead HP3 9TE
http://www.hhmrs.co.uk/contact.htm
Meetings usually include some or all of the following:
- A presentation
- A session on a group project
- A practical workshop
- Requests for help
Details of upcoming meetings
| Date | Event | Description | Location | Link |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 19:30 07-May | Three Counties AG meeting | enter description here | Hemel Hempstead MRS Club Room Kings Langley | |
| 09:30 07-Jun | Three Counties AG Saturday Workshop | enter description here | Hemel Hempstead MRS Club Room Kings Langley |
We welcome new members.
How do I contact the Area Group?
Who is the leader of the group?
Area Group Leader: Christopher Langdon
Assistant Area Group Leader: Robert Thomas
Are you thinking of joining us?
if you are not already a MERG a member then
If you are already a member then you can sign up here:
Select Three Counties Area Group from the drop down list in Other Area Groups and press the Subscribe to Area Group button.
How do you meet?
Whilst restrictions are in place, we are using Zoom video calls.
Previously we met at three different locations: -
Eaton Bray Village Hall
Church Lane, Eaton Bray, Dunstable, LU6 2DJ
Guide in map
Risborough & District Model Railway Club
Meetings held at Risborough Community Centre HP27 9AX
Club website
Hemel Hempstead Model Railway Club
Meetings at the Club, Off Red Lion Road, Hemel Hempstead HP3 9TE
http://www.hhmrs.org/contact.html
Meetings include some or all of the following:
- A presentation
- A session on a group project
- A practical workshop.
And the Next Meeting?
To join our Zoom Meeting, logon to the MERG website and go to the Start Page
https://www.merg.org.uk/merg_wiki/doku.php
From there, look at My Upcoming Events and providing that you are a member of 3 Counties , you will see the link for the meeting.
| Date | Event | Description | Location | Link |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 19:30 07-May | Three Counties AG meeting | enter description here | Hemel Hempstead MRS Club Room Kings Langley |
Some Examples of our Projects
Arc Welding Effect
This was produced by one of our members. Here's his description:
“The welder is based on the circuit in MERG Pocket Money Projects Kit No 8 (PMP 8 - 'Multi-purpose flasher') using the first option to simulate a welding machine. Instead of using stripboard and a DIL plugin PIC 12F675 processor, I used an SMD PIC with all components soldered onto a tiny conversion board and covered in heat-shrink tubing giving a compact unit about 15 x 10 x 5 mm which was easily hidden within the garage. The two LEDs (bright white and red) are SMD 1208 LEDs glued back-to-back, attached to long thin wires and fitted to a model of a 1:76 welder figure from Shedring Hobbies”
Van Rides Demonstration N Gauge Layout
This compact demonstration layout is another of our members personal projects. It was inspired by the operation of the Severn Valley Railway at Highley Station during the 2018 Spring Gala.
The operation is fully automatic and is controlled by a variety of kits from the MERG Pocket Money Project range.
The layout was originally built in response to the 2mm Fine Scale Association's Diamond Jubilee Challenge: to
build a working layout with at least one turnout to the Association’s fine scale track and wheel standards within a
scenic area 60cm long by 9.42 inches wide – a combination of standards to justify 60 for the number of years of
existence and 9.42, for the number of mm of the standard track gauge.
The Great Model Railway Challenge TV Series
The group supplied expertise and manpower to mount an entry to the 'Great Model Railway Challenge' TV series under the identity of The Missenden Modellers.
Their 'Ealing Road' layout featured MERG components and has subsequently been exhibited on a number of occasions and featured in the Model Railway press (an edition of British Railway Modeller). A description of this (and other MERG related entries to the challenge) appeared in the MERG journal Vol 52 December 2018.
Where Have I Seen Ealing Road?
The group supplied expertise and manpower to mount an entry to the 'Great Model Railway Challenge' and Missenden Modellers as its identity (the Bucks County adult education centre at Great Missenden offers railway modelling courses). Their 'Ealing Road' layout featured MERG components and has subsequently been exhibited on a number of occasions and featured in the Model Railway press (an edition of British Railway Modeller). A description of this (and other MERG related entries to the challenge) appeared in the MERG journal Vol 52 December 2018.