Awards and Achievements
- Member of Southport Model Engineering Club since 1991 and then again from 2001 to present day
- Member of Wigan And District Model Engineering Society from 1994 to 2001
- First invitation as a public speaker was a talk about Bens Gauge One 4F in 2005, with demonstration of it in steam. This was Bens first “loco” at aged 21
- Young Engineer of the Year 2008
- In 2008 when Ben was aged 23, he was presented with The David Birkett Award for his contribution to model railways after mastering techniques needed to build model trains. The article from the Lancashire Evening Post goes on to say “A young Lancashire model railway enthusiast has been rewarded for his outstanding contribution in the field.”
- Maisie was completed in 2007, which won best 3 1/2” at IMLEC 2010, then the Curly Bowl in 2014
- Won IMLEC driving Rod Ainsworth’s 5″ Britannia in 2011
- Competed in IMLEC 11 times since 2005
- Guest Judge at the SMEC hosted Curly Bowl 2019
IMLEC – the story so far…
- 2005 22nd with a 5” Manor
- 2007 15th with Bens 3 1/2” Maisie
- 2008 2nd with Franks B1
- 2009 17th with Bens 3 1/2”Maisie
- 2010 10th and best 3 1/2” with Bens Maisie
- 2011 1st with Rod Ainsworth’s 5″ Britannia
- 2012 2nd with Rod Ainsworth’s 5″ Britannia
- 2013 13th with Franks B1
- 2015 7th with Neil Skellon’s 5″ 9F BR Standard
- 2016 2nd with Barrie Purslow’s 5″ Duchess
- 2017 DNF with Bens 5″ Netta
Bens Projects – more details at the projects page soon
- 2005 Gauge One 4F 14 months
- 2007 3 1/2” Maisie 18 months
- 2014 5” Pansy “rebuild” 6 months
- 2014 5” Simplex 6 months
- 2015 3 1/2” Bantam Cock repairs 2 weeks
- 2015 Gauge One Midland 0-4-4 tank 15 months
- 2018 5” Netta, 5 years
