By JOHN VAN KLAVEREN
THEY are members of a miniature engineering group but the scale models they produce are by no means small.
Known colloquially as the G-Men, group members are presently toiling on a scale-model Lancaster bomber with a six-foot wingspan, steam and diesel locomotives and a working model of Jack Brabham’s racing car.
The G-Men don’t have a formal meetings or committee positions and membership is by invitation only but the closely-knit group has developed its own structure that works for them.
G-Man Barry said the group of 16 members was informally divided into two groups of eight, each working on various projects.
“We’ve worked out a visiting schedule because the projects we’re working on are a little difficult to move,” Barry chuckled.
“We figured that all we want to do is pursue our hobby and not worry about administration matters. Some of us are retired and we’ve had our fill of red tape, so we just make up a loose group of like-minded people.
“We communicate with each other almost daily, either by phone or on an online group message site.
“We spend a fair amount of time solo in our workshops and if you do that all the time you can miss out on some of the social interaction between the guys.
“Without overdoing it, we just get together monthly or so, sometimes in between times.”
Barry said the G-Men enjoyed sharing knowledge, advice and resources, gaining inspiration and support from each other.
“We might all catch up a few times a year for a social get-together, hold some excursions to places of interest like the model engineering exhibitions at Monash University and Bendigo.
Barry’s pet project is the Brabham racer, stemming from his interest in Formula One racing and fuelled by meeting the great Australian world champion.
“When I was young he was the Formula One hero of the day. When I met him I told him about the model I’m doing.”
Barry admitted the hobby could be expensive, with some specialised machinery required, but said it provided immense satisfaction.
“We could be doing a lot of other things that are perhaps not as productive. It’s not the destination, it’s the journey.”
And it’s not just traditional skills and methods employed by G-Men members – Barry is experimenting with 3D printing.
“There’s a few of us interested in new technologies, such as computer controlled equipment, wax casting and rapid prototyping.
“We enjoy doing research and development because there’s a fair amount of expertise within the group; we come from a broad spectrum of activities like education, sheet metal, chemistry and engineering.”
