Category:Meccano Aerodrome

1934: Meccano Aerodrome, closeup [image info]

1934: Meccano Aerodrome, wide-view [image info]

1933: The "Fancy" version of the larger Hanger, with sliding doors and lettering [image info]

1936:' Aeroplane Hangar No.2 [image info]

1934: Outdoor Fun with Mecano Aeroplanes [image info]

Meccano Aeroplane Constructor Aerodrome.

Although Meccano Ltd. produced a range of three metal aircraft hangars for their Meccano Aeroplane Constructor outfits, they chose not to expand the range of aerodrome buildings, instead publishing an article in Meccano Magazine showing how full aerodrome could be built up using the Hangars, and supplementing them with other buildings made of cardboard.

1935: Aerodrome edge graphic

"Outdoor Fun with Meccano Aeroplanes"

How to Arrange a Model Aerodrome

DURING the summer months Meccano enthusiasts naturally like to spend as much time as possible out of doors, and indoor model-building activities are mostly confined to wet days. In previous articles in the "M.M." we have shown how a vast amount of pleasure can be obtained by laying out a Hornby railway in the garden for a few hours on really dry days, and this article will show how owners of Meccano Aeroplane Outfits can have a really good time out of doors with a miniature aerodrome layout.

The size of the aerodrome will depend on the space available and on the number of machines to be accommodated. The Meccano Aeroplane Hangars are splendid for housing the machines, and additional hangars can be easily made of cardboard or wood. The accompanying illustrations show a central control building made of stiff white cardboard to represent concrete. The upper illustration shows a complete aerodrome, which in this case consists of Aeroplane Hangars Nos. 1, 01 and 02. The control building is built in sections, which are fixed together on the base by means of Seccotine. The door and windows may be cut out or painted as preferred.

For laying out the fields, Hornby Hedges and Fencing are particularly useful. The Hedges are supplied in lengths fitted to wooden stands, and the Fencing is flanged and perforated. To prevent the Fencing from falling over, small wooden pegs may be used to fix it to the ground. Extra realism may be given by "planting" a few Meccano Trees here and there, care being taken not to place them in positions where they would be likely to be dangerous to aircraft.

Many small details and refinements may be added to the aerodrome, and the owner of a Meccano Outfit will find his parts very useful for building various accessories. For instance, the standard carrying the wind stocking on the left of the upper illustration is made from Meccano parts, the stocking itself consisting of a piece of paper round the rims of a l and a 1" Pulley fixed on an Axle Rod. If preferred the stocking might be made of calico or similar material, so that it actually indicates the direction of the wind.

No aerodrome would be complete without its ground staff, and excellent figures for this purpose are included in the Hornby series of Dinky Toys. The figures included in the Set No. 1, Station Staff, and No. 4, Engineering Staff, add a life-like touch to the layout, as is shown in the illustrations; and the Passengers in Set No. 3, and the Hotel Porters in Set No. 5, are also very effective. The lower illustration shows an active scene after the landing of a large air liner. Passengers are making their way to the control building, while the porters dispose of the luggage, and other members of the ground staff attend to the machine and discuss the flight.

The making and operating of an aerodrome of this type is full of fascinating interest, but in addition it provides material for splendid photographs. The examples shown on this page give an idea of the great possibilities of this form of model photography. Perhaps the most realistic effects are obtained by placing the camera at ground level, so that the photograph is taken more or less from what might be imagined to be the point of view of one of the miniature figures. On the other hand, by placing the camera high up, effects may be secured suggesting that the photographs have been taken from an aeroplane flying over the landing ground.

It will be noticed that the realism of the photographs on this page is greatly increased by the inclusion of machines "in flight." Such effects are produced by suspending a machine by lengths of Aero Cord, or white cotton, from a clothes prop or long pole extending across the layout, and resting on the backs of two chairs, one at each side. The prop must be placed at such a height that it is not included in the photograph. It is necessary to prevent the model from swinging, and this is done by means of lengths of white cotton tied near each wing tip, and at the tail, and attached to small pegs driven into the ground. Such cotton fastenings also make it possible to bank the aeroplane and set it at any angle to the ground as required. If dull lighting necessitates a time exposure, great care must be taken to prevent the aeroplanes from swinging.

— , -, , Meccano Magazine, , July 1934

Meccano Aeroplane Hangars

1933:

• Meccano Aeroplane Hangar

This splendid hangar, with its realistic double sliding doors, has been specially designed to house model aeroplanes. It will accommodate six machines built with the No.0 Meccano Aeroplane Constructor Outfit, or two built with either Mo.1 or No.2 outfits.

29" × 22" × 10¼"

Price 25/

1935 information:

"These splendid hangars, with double doors, have been specially designed to house model aeroplanes."

• No.01 Aeroplane Hangar

Will accommodate one model made with the No.00, No.0 or No.01P Outfits. Hinged double doors.

Length 11½ in. Depth 10¼ in. Height 4¼ in.

Price 4/6

• No.02 Aeroplane Hangar

Will accommodate two models made with the No.00, No.0 or No.01P Outfits. Hinged double doors.

Length 21½ in. Depth 11 in. Height 6¼ in.

Price 5/11

• No. 01P Aeroplane Hangar Outfit

This novel Outfit consists of the complete range of No.0 Aeroplane Outfit parts packed in a No.01 Aeroplane Hangar instead of in a carton.

Price 8/9