MODEL=BUILDERS’ CRAFT

Taranaki Daily News, 10 June 1931, Page 9

MODEL=BUILDERS’ CRAFT

MINIATURE OIL BORE ON VIEW AEROPLANES AND SEACRAFT. PATIENCE AND INGENUITY. What male mind is there that is not stimulated when confronted with a modern product of engineering in miniature? Youth springs eternal, and that is probably why those par to of the show where working modyls were on show yesterday always had an admiring ring of mildly curious females, and frankly interested males of all ages. Models that work always have a greater faculty for attracting interest than those that do not, and when the model is an oil-bore in miniature, which ‘ has already bored a 30fb deep hole, it cannot bo wondered at that all yesterday the businesslike grey structure was surrounded by an admiring crowd. The plant is the result of spare-time work by Mr. N; Inch, a young New Plymouth resident. It is not the first time Mr. Inch has .made oil-bores, .hut previously he has been content with small ones. This time he has embarked o-- a larger scale and the derrick, a stoutly 'built structure of wood and Meccano girders, is between four and five feet high. It is modelled on the derrick at the Omata well of Coal, Oil (N.Z.), Ltd. The plant, has a, complete set of drilling tools and a bailer and .s operated by the percussion method. Casing is used las in full-size jobs of the same nature, 'Jin galvanised iron piping being used. Although there is an electric lighting ■installation, the motive'power favoured iby Mr. Inch is steam. At present he is 'using a small generator. hich cannot be regulated as a' steam boiler plant could. The boiler previously in use met with an ’accident—it operates under 1001 b pressure and had to be inspected: 'before being exhibited. A- small leak Iwas discovered and under the heat required for brazing a tube inside collapsed. A new boiler will be procured for to-day and the youthful owner hopes to have his plant working again. Already Mr. Inch has had success 'with boring operations. The first time lie operated the drill he reached fifteen ifeet before striking hard rock, and the record depth the plant has reached is 30 feet. Although the owner tapped a water supply on that occasion he has not yet struck oil.

Closely approaching the sturdy derrick in popular- interest is the competitive class for working models. It is the seacraft section that attracts one most and there are five entries, all of different types. The winner of the class 'was a beautiful little pinnace, lines true and with all those little accessories the usual amateur forgets. It: upper decking is grained to resemble boarding and it is complete even to glistening nickelplated anchor, chain nd funnel and portholes. Green and red port nd starboard light brackets were not forgotten. Inside is a large-size boiler to provide ■steam for a sturdy turbine. Glistening in brown woodwork and white paint the “Dolphin” would make glad the heart of any boy. In the stationary model section are two attractive steam engines. One is resplendent in blue with a silvery businesslike flywheel. The other is a larger affair and is ready to work at a moment’s notice, for it has a capacious steam boiler complete with insulation, tiny pressure gauge and safety valve. 'Power is in every line.