Model Section is Popular Feature

Northern Advocate, 26 June 1937, Page 4 (Supplement)

Model Section is Popular Feature

Display to Delight The Heart Every Boy

A jfPW years ago, the Whangarei Winter Exhibition was, in the doldrums. It was like an ailing animal, with just sufficient blood coursing through its veins to keep it in existence.

h Then oame a great revival, a determined move to I make the exhibition bigger, brighter and better. It was I realised-that a greater degree of diversity was needed | to make the event more attractive to the general public. , And so came such as the, bacon court, the ,? wireless section, and the models, now features pt an I' exhibition whieb is re&Uy worthy pf; the district it It' represents.; *' I y ’ \ .•. fe*® : Sai these' hmdvatipns served to build up this V ■ practical advertisement of our Northland, so have they ' in themseiyes; developed into bigger, brighter and bettei units, are now most valuable adjuncts ot the |l show. \; . ’ '''V

None iss H«siso.n»«4 mm than the muftis * section, wbmh shis year will simply strike-you as an emblem pf'progress. There is the necessary appeal in model : engineering Jo ensure growth of a class allotted. to. activity. Model Shfe . • & kja ■ n fascitiationv particularly the mechanically-minded. ,- v ., < i In the days when bpine' life was 'more the rule is .todays most boys had a'M^al^.v^ v JO' ; build bridges and •cranes. Times V- have changed, s o have -the fancies of the younger! jganeratibji.' Meccano sets are now" used to bulM things.. - To va‘ large degree they are stmcting realistic |model aeroafter all, aeroplanes are A h ' ' ■ i.'

the most modem- of transport Tp the juvenile who, too* is right up j, to.; date in his habits, model flying machines are the things; • ■■'■ ;& *?; •'■.d A,y\. - •The exhibition of models, however, is by no means confined to aeroplanes. It embraces many phaseSi of engineering. Indirectly it should have some benefit to the, ' industry, for it surely must arouse the- enthusiasm - and instil ideas i'iboiffco. * of a boy who has visions of engiheermg hi^ ( life’s' t 0 experiment ; and devise working models Which would engage a boy in much of his leisure .time. • ; -vs A Grbat Profession. The engineering profession bhe of in thcN wOrld'

Without it there would never have been the stupendous Golden Gate Bridge across San Francisco Bay, or the magnificent Sydney Harbour Bridge. In New Zealand, too, are structures which only the skilful brain of an expert engineer could have conceived, such as the Matatoke viaduct on the Auckland-W ellington Main 'Trunk line ; that on the Gisborne line; and the Tawa Plat deviation at Wellington.

It is quite on the cards that many noted engineers in the world today acquired the; first scraps of their knowledge from models such as will be assembled at the Whangarei Winter Exhibition. The first model show, staged here three years ago, comprised a round, tank and 30 models. Its reception was. very enthusiastic. Last year, there was, the same tank, nine feet in diameter, and. 70 models.

, ; Bigger, brighter, Better, .‘‘Bigger, brighter and better, is the Motto of the stewards of the- section,, as will be proved by what is in store for patrons to the exhibition next week. Previously, they have had a ►train running round the embankment on the edge of the tank, which, .by the way; will this year be nine feet wide and 17ft 9in. long, and an ordinary lannch pro; pallbrg:"i|a'’v( i round the tank.

buildings, and .features of the modern agriculturist’s property. These include a windmill, which will operate, and a direct model of the water-wheel built by Sir George, Grey for use by the Maoris at Pipiriki, 011 the Wanganui River, in the, 'crushing of their wheat into flour.

Last year, a stem-wheeler was 1 iii usej while this time a. model of, •the die first , sidetwheeler built for use on the Wauganpi River, will paddle itself throngh the:water. Also on exhibition as star features will be the “Yankee Flyer ” streamlined train model, a rafirplahe, which is a conception of the, future rail-car. It is driyen by an at the rear. An aeroplane, with a wingrspan of four feet, will also be an interesting exhibit. ' ' In place of the lighthouse, which has stood in the centre of the tank for the past two years, will be an island, on which a model farm is to be laid out. This, will be six fqetiby four feet, and will be complete with homestead and all

Models From Afield. Fifty-two models will be on .exhibition from Auckland, three from Te Kuiti, three from Palmerston North, while local enthusiasts. will be well represented. There will also be 30 aeroplanes, including two 7-ft. wing-span petrol-driven machines; a 6ft. sin. model of the Awatea ; and a. sft. Gin. model-of the Majestic. The magnate of the exhibition of models is Mr (S. J. Snow, president of the Whangarei Society of Model Engineers, it was he who first suggested the, inauguration of this splendid acquisition to Wfian : garei’s annual winter exhibition; it has been lie who has stimulated ■and guided the development of the ; model show; and it is he who as chief steward, will present the [wonderful exhibition of models next week.

Mr iSuow has two very capable ancl eniwuslast-ie assistant stewards in Messrs. James Taylor and -I. p. Woods who, too, are deserving of 'congratulation on their gdod worh 6n behalf of the ■society.

Mr Snow lias many to whom he owes many thanks. In particular, there is the Auckland Society of Model Engineers, who have been of wonderful assistance, especially in the way of finding entries, land Mr Arthur Franks, who has placed his van at the stewards’ disposal for the conveyance of models from Auckland. A : More Oohspichous Place.

The pronounced growth of the models section, which incidentally, this year, will compose double the entries of last, has warranted its being allotted a bigger and' more conspicuous place. Previously, it nestled in the Drill Hall, hut the next, will) occupy the area in the lean-to where in 1936 the Australian stall stood. The stewards will have 120 feet of space crammed full with exhibits. An innovation this year will be a working boiler, which will provide steam to run half-a-dozen models, of both the high and lowspeed classes. . A very fine array of model, launches is coming from Auckland, and the locomotive class has filled up well. -

A special turning class (lathe work) for journeymen and amateurs, is to be ' conducted in conjunction with the exhibition of models. It was introduced last year for the benefit of local engineers, who are not model-makers, and amateurs, but it did not receive the support which it deserved. However, a' distinct improvement is expected in this diraction at the second attempt!