Model X 2010 Report
Model X was held in the Henderson Aquatic Centre as it has been for many years now. This year the Auckland Meccano guild put on a great show with over 100 models representative of all eras of Meccano modelling.
Special thanks go to those members and their partners who came in on the Friday evening and stayed late to set up the display tables. John Denton, David Wall, Richard Sealey, Les Megget and Peter Hancock. Peter Hancock also organised the event and acted as the go between for all the pre- event negotiations.
I believe that we achieved a great layout this year, even with a corner taken by Toyworld who mounted a massed Meccano display which would have been most opportune for them. In fact a number of our members were thought to be selling the Meccano on their display.
John Denton again takes the prize for the largest number of models and it could be said that John is the backbone of the show. He made all the tiered stands, the special crowd control restraints and stayed for the whole 3 days. John wore period costume, 1920's style with his bowler hat, waistcoat and bowtie he really looked the part. Some staff from a children's Television channel asked to interview someone about Meccano and we all volunteered John. I hope we can get a copy of the interview, it appeared that John did an excellent job portraying the hobby.
John's models included: the walking elephant ( 40 set model ), Crazy inventors steam boat, which was appreciated by all who saw it, the Konkoly horse and chariot model, fascinating to watch, His triple Red Arrows display, strider from the movie “Avatar” ( very up to date is John ) A beautiful Traction Engine in black and silver which ran faultlessly throughout the show.
A motorcycle and sidecar in green, a 4x4 ute of Johns design based on the 4x4 chassis, an oscillating steam engine, Emmets railway, Truck and Trailer unit with a steam powered bulldozer on the back.
An army scout car, Concorde with the modified tail shown in CQ. A WWII jeep of John's own design, 2 model trains, a Renault F1 racing car, the orange remote control car, a black 4x4 remote, the blue bird racer, two examples of cycling men, one based around a clock with a tilting base ( CQ model ) and another cycling around an aerial circle. Lastly John had examples of 3 1920's models, a tower crane, a early aeroplane and a windmill. John in costume by these models gave the illusion that we really were back in the 1920's, well done John. There are likely other of John's models that I have not mentioned but he really epitomises the hobby.
Special thanks go to those members and their partners who came in on the Friday evening and stayed late to set up the display tables. John Denton, David Wall, Richard Sealey, Les Megget and Peter Hancock. Peter Hancock also organised the event and acted as the go between for all the pre- event negotiations.
I believe that we achieved a great layout this year, even with a corner taken by Toyworld who mounted a massed Meccano display which would have been most opportune for them. In fact a number of our members were thought to be selling the Meccano on their display.
John Denton again takes the prize for the largest number of models and it could be said that John is the backbone of the show. He made all the tiered stands, the special crowd control restraints and stayed for the whole 3 days. John wore period costume, 1920's style with his bowler hat, waistcoat and bowtie he really looked the part. Some staff from a children's Television channel asked to interview someone about Meccano and we all volunteered John. I hope we can get a copy of the interview, it appeared that John did an excellent job portraying the hobby.
John's models included: the walking elephant ( 40 set model ), Crazy inventors steam boat, which was appreciated by all who saw it, the Konkoly horse and chariot model, fascinating to watch, His triple Red Arrows display, strider from the movie “Avatar” ( very up to date is John ) A beautiful Traction Engine in black and silver which ran faultlessly throughout the show.
A motorcycle and sidecar in green, a 4x4 ute of Johns design based on the 4x4 chassis, an oscillating steam engine, Emmets railway, Truck and Trailer unit with a steam powered bulldozer on the back.
An army scout car, Concorde with the modified tail shown in CQ. A WWII jeep of John's own design, 2 model trains, a Renault F1 racing car, the orange remote control car, a black 4x4 remote, the blue bird racer, two examples of cycling men, one based around a clock with a tilting base ( CQ model ) and another cycling around an aerial circle. Lastly John had examples of 3 1920's models, a tower crane, a early aeroplane and a windmill. John in costume by these models gave the illusion that we really were back in the 1920's, well done John. There are likely other of John's models that I have not mentioned but he really epitomises the hobby.
Richard Sealey and John Denton in period costume discuss the models on display.
John Denton with a selection of his early nickel models on display
Selections of more of John Denton's models can be seen above.
Gary Higgins brought along 4 Harley Davidson
motorcycles made from Steel Tec. This sold initially in the USA but has
ceased to trade. The parts are interchangeable with Meccano and the
special plastic sections make the bikes more realistic, the wheels are a
little small for the models though, Gary is looking at replacing them
with 2 inch Meccano wheels and tyres.
A Sopwith Camel, Fokker DR1 Red Baron ( from his own design model plan available in NZFMM magazine ), a 1930's steam truck based on an L set manual model, King Ghidorah, recently bought via Hong Kong, the model went together well and performed well for all 3 days of the show. Many people stood mesmerised by the three heads bobbing up and down.
A Trimotor aircraft and Hurricane of his own design, a Grumman jet ( model plan available in NZFMM Magazine ) a Harrier jump jet based on the kitset put out for M&S in the UK.
Gary had brought his Nautilus model ( 20000 leagues under the sea ) and giant squid which amused the public, a deep sea submersible based on a Master Connection set and Konkoly's optical illusion machine.
A Sopwith Camel, Fokker DR1 Red Baron ( from his own design model plan available in NZFMM magazine ), a 1930's steam truck based on an L set manual model, King Ghidorah, recently bought via Hong Kong, the model went together well and performed well for all 3 days of the show. Many people stood mesmerised by the three heads bobbing up and down.
A Trimotor aircraft and Hurricane of his own design, a Grumman jet ( model plan available in NZFMM Magazine ) a Harrier jump jet based on the kitset put out for M&S in the UK.
Gary had brought his Nautilus model ( 20000 leagues under the sea ) and giant squid which amused the public, a deep sea submersible based on a Master Connection set and Konkoly's optical illusion machine.
Les Megget had his giant Liebherr mobile crane at the entrance to the display. The boom of the crane extended almost to the ceiling of the hall and it was a magnet to all who saw it. When Les was running it he was surrounded by lots of people. Les also had made up a tipping truck in red and green and a clever moving grasshopper from a Bernard Perrier design.
Richard Sealey brought his aerial trapeze
display, a motorised tricycle from a modern set, his display of Meccano
gearing systems which attracted a lot of attention and a selection of Meccano aero constructors.
Three set 0 aircraft green and white seaplane, blue and white and two red and yellow aircraft, a recent one showing the sunburst pattern used in French sets. Richard also had a nice example of an early no 1 aero constructor set with the non- cambered silver wings.
Three set 0 aircraft green and white seaplane, blue and white and two red and yellow aircraft, a recent one showing the sunburst pattern used in French sets. Richard also had a nice example of an early no 1 aero constructor set with the non- cambered silver wings.
Peter Hancock as well as being the main
organiser for the display also brought a Saturn rocket and stand, a
display windmill in yellow, a twin enginned helicopter in yellow a huge
plastic ferris wheel which acted as the backdrop for the display and a
number of other smaller models.
Graeme and Kegan Wrightson had a airport
fire tender, an 0 gauge train in Meccano including a small mobile crane,
and four small cranes – a block setting crane in red and green from a
1960's no 3 set, a dockside crane in red green from a 1960's no 3 set, a
swivel crane in blue and silver from one of the modern motion control
sets and a small 0 set crane in red green.
Henry Porter came by and dropped off a model
of an early automobile using plastic bicycle wheels with rubber tyres
taken from a Chinese cycling man kit. The axles were exactly the right
diameter for Meccano.
Mike Stuart brought his example of the Climbing Penguins construction in red and silver.
David Wall brought along a small vertical steam engine copied from an apprentice model he saw overseas, a red truck utility of his own design but based on the 4x4 remote control chassis and a motor chassis layout as per the supermodel guides.
The display was probably the most successful
one and most colourful I have seen and we owe a big vote of thanks to
all those who gave up their time to participate.
It was interesting to note that we had 3 Konkoly models together at one time by three different modellers:
The horse and chariot – John Denton
The 24 hour clock – William Irwin
the optical illusion machine – Gary Higgins.
It was interesting to note that we had 3 Konkoly models together at one time by three different modellers:
The horse and chariot – John Denton
The 24 hour clock – William Irwin
the optical illusion machine – Gary Higgins.
Top right picture: Gary Higgins with his nautilus display.
Bottom left picture: Mike Stuart and David Wall.
Bottom right picture: Cora and John Denton.
