Gerry Buck's #2 was conceived for the Aeromodeller competition in 1943 and way ahead of the other entries in design, construction and performance. It morphed in to 2A after being seriously deranged when the tether cable broke on an indoor track. The car, with its Bunch Gwin motor, achieved many speed 'firsts' setting records in the process for the next four years. The plans for the car were published in 1945, but as can be seen, the chassis was not easy to form as the channel section was tapered in depth and splayed as well. Sid Smith of Electra Pioneer in Chatham produced a kit commercially for sale with all the chassis parts already formed, including the rear axle steering system. Many of these appear to have been sold as they have turned up in every state from total wrecks to so well made that one respected collector bought one thinking it was the real thing? Engine, gearbox, wheels etc were down to the builder. This one seems to have E&M items dating it to the late 40s.

                                              Thanks to Phillip Johnson for this item and photos. May 2026

Around the end of 1950, Robert Cameron up in Gatehouse of Fleet in Scotland, who was something of an authority on tuning Rowell motors for speed flying, bought a new Rapier car from Wilf Rowell. Minor problem was that it had no engine and no immediate prospect of delivery. Robert's young son saw the Rapier and said that he wanted one as well, prompting his father to build a half sized replica around an ED Bee 1cc diesel. The finished car was featured in a full page article in Model Maker in March 1951 with Cameron describing the body as made from papier mache, although it appears more like glued paper strip. The concluding paragraph from Cameron indicated that he would be making a beaten aluminium body, similar to the full sized car to replace this. Well, 76 years later and we can see that never happened, although the tail piece of the pan is formed from sheet aluminium.

                                                                                       Photos OTW April 2026

At first glance this is a pretty standard Conquest, except it is the only one we have seen rigged to run clockwise, much better for the fuel feed to the rear venturi, but also requiring a new and non standard tank. 1066 Heavy Duty front wheels but ZN semi pneumatic rears. Most example of the Conquest are coil ignition, but this one has a magneto driven off the spur gear. The ignition knock off runs across the whole width of the car with the lever on the left and the switch on the right.
                                                              Thanks to Peter T for this item and photos March 2026

Alvin 'Spike' Rhiando,  who apparently also went by a variety of other names, was a speedway rider before moving in to 500cc F3 racing after the war. After successes with a Cooper car he set about building a car of his own that was both 'advanced and innovative'. He planned to use it with engines of 500, 1,000cc and 2 litres, hence the 'Trimax' name. It was raced from 1950 onwards before being sold to the US. In 1953, NLSME club member Bill Ransom, built this replica for rail racing. The motor is a 1cc Weaver/Ransom sideport diesel, designed by Arthur Weaver and drawn up by Bill.

This was the first engine Bill had ever built, but the Colson name cast in to the crankcase reveals a bit more of the engine's history. When construction of the engine was first described in Model Maker it was entirely built from bar stock but it was indicated that if there was sufficient demand, a casting would be available for the crankcase along with other components, now known to be supplied by Colson.

The 'Trimax' railcar features in several articles and was photographed on the Rex Hays track at the Model Engineer Exhibition. Nothing further was seen of the car until it turned up, along with another chassis in 2025.

The full sized version is described in detail in Model Maker March 1951 and was returned to the UK in 2007, extensively restored and can now be seen at Vintage race meetings.            
                                  Thanks to Miles Patience for images February 2026.

Right: Bill Ransom with Trimax in 1953

Arthur devoted almost his entire modelling career to steam powered models, the famous 'IFIT' flash steam hydros, straight runners and latterly traction engines. His flash steam motors became increasingly complex with the twin fitted to some of the later 'Ifits' and this V four in his straight runner 'Guinivere'. The boat was sold at auction in 2005 with a plan for its restoration. The quad fuel, oil and water pumps that also served on 'Ifit 9' were reunited with the hydro, as included in the restoration plan was conversion to electric RC pumps. As it transpired this never took place as the boat was subsequently passed on, minus its steam plant that was to be repurposed, leaving the V four now surplus to requirements. It was therefore a great surprise when a lump wrapped in a piece of curtain material was handed over so that it could sit alongside the twin that had been salvaged many years previously. 
                                                Thanks to Phil Abbott for this item OTW photos January 2026