My very first Meccano set was a pre-war Blue and Gold number 7 set. These colours had been first introduced in 1934 and heralded the inclusion of flexible plates into the Meccano system.

Most of the original parts from my sets are still around but they are very tatty after many years of childhood use. I have for sometime wanted to have a minty replacement so I could make the models I enjoyed all those years ago. When I discovered that there was an enamel spray paint that closely replicated the nineteen thirties gold I decided to re-create my old much loved set. I managed to accumulate the blue and crossed hatched plates from various Meccano dealers. I then re-sprayed the constructional parts and the tin road wheels in the original gold and red colours and now I have a complete number seven outfit better than my original ever was. The durability of the original gold finish was terrible, rather like the early nineteen sixties aluminium finish but that lasted barley a year in production. I think Meccano did not like to admit they got something wrong. Interestingly sets exported to some countries such as Australia and Canada only had the blue gold hatched parts all the other parts being in red and green as post war sets in the UK.

The first model I choose to build was the Pit Head Gear (shown at the top of the page) is from the number 5 instruction manual. Its an attractive model when completed and works well. The original instruction showed a tightly rolled 5 x 5 hole flexible plate for the smoke stack, having a number 7 set I used the two sleeve pieces instead.

My second model shown above is a simple but attractive model from the pre-war number 6 manual. I have made very few changes wishing to keep as close as possible to the original instructions. Interestingly the illustration appears to show p/n 90 used for the four lifeboats but only two are in the set. The illustration is rather badly retouched to show other parts on the far side. The cover picture of the manual shown above clearly shows just two lifeboats. A change of parts in the set after the manuals were produced perhaps? p/n 90 is not shown either on the list of parts for the model.

The model above a "Meccano classic" the Railway Breakdown Crane from the 1937 Number 5 instruction manual. This is another attractive model in blue and gold but with several faults. I found there were insufficient nuts bolts and brackets to hold the model rigidly together when following the brief instructions and  illustrations. The model is perhaps rather ambitious for the contents of the set this manifests itself in several ways, there is no counter weight or out-riggers to stop the crane toppling over when rotated to the side, nor any braking shown or explained to hold the hoist or jib luffing.

The braking is easily remedied by a few extra parts to make a simple mechanism using a compression spring, long bolt and two collars, a method shown at the back of the 1951 No.4a instruction manual.

The model was beautifully illustrated in a British wartime poster for National Savings Bonds and Defence Bonds the latter is shown on the left.

October 08 2013 last  revised November 21 2013