On Thursday 15th March we held our annual Constructors’ Exhibition preceded by a short auction. It was a really great meeting, with one of the best attendances for a very long time.
The meeting commenced with an auction of 15 lots from the shack of late CARA member Ian M0ITF. Our Chairman Tony G3YYH did a super job as auctioneer extracting bids with much skill and humour. Every lot was sold, some at higher than expected hammer prices. Ian’s family were well pleased with result.
The Constructors’ Exhibition was fairly well supported but with fewer exhibits than in recent years. Nevertheless there was much of interest to look at. The Morse Keys made from clothes pegs by Jon M0JMM attracted much attention and really should have won a prize had there been a suitable category! Two pieces of home-brew from the early 1970s, built by Ken G3XSJ, also attracted much attention – as being examples of construction techniques from yesteryear. The “741” op amp constructed from discrete components by Simon G4SGI was considered an excellent teaching aid. The Tuna Tin transmitter for 40m fascinated many.
The well deserved winner of the Bill Brown G5BK Cup for “Best in Show” went to Colin G3VTS for his home-constructed 5-band cobweb type antenna – exhibited as photos rather than the real object! The Pat Moore memorial Cup for “Innovative Construction” and the Roger Kendall G0UPU Memorial Cup for “Best Software or Computer Related Project” were not awarded as there were no suitable qualifying exhibits. The judges were Peter G4ENA and Ken G3LVP to whom go many thanks.
Here’s a full list of exhibits, in no particular order:
HF2V shorting strap for 30m operation – Tony G3SNN.
Selection of Morse Keys made from clothes pegs – Jon M0JMM.
KRC-5 80m direct conversion receiver – Derek G3NKS.
5-band cobweb antenna – Colin G3VTS.
Audio modules for 6cm wide-band FM transceiver – Stewart G0LGS.
160m valve transmitter 1971 – Ken G3XSJ.
PW Clubman receiver 1970 – Ken G3XSJ.
Tuna Tin 300mW transmitter for 40m – Walt G3NYY.
Discrete “741” op amp from a Mad Scientist kit – Simon G4SGI.
On display but not in the formal Exhibition:
An unfinished 4-band 45W transceiver – Colin G3TA.
Many thanks to everyone who helped to make it such an enjoyable meeting, and particularly to auctioneer Tony G3YYH, and to Peter G3YJE, Alan M0NRO and Smurf M0URF for manning the kitchen.