BEST STEAM RALLY

I'll get this edited this week, but here's the 2023 New Zealand's biggest rally traction engines models stationary engines vintage hit and miss full size steam loco miniature railway. Amazing Autumn weather April 2023 the best show yest BY FAR Amazing energy!!!
MClEANS ISLAND CHRISTCHURCH STEAM SCENE STEAM SPECTACULAR

[@ThomasPCGuruENGINES]

**Now with some editing, for reduced nausea... turns out my model engine cam is not so great for steam & vintage shows. Will get a steadycam next time

[@simplefact4u]

Hey Thomas, is there any model engines conventions in NZ ? Would be cool to see what other enthusiasts have or made

[@ThomasPCGuruENGINES]

Hey Binnie! Most medium to large centres will have clubs running and each will do a yearly exhibition; check their website. Plus they organise in a national exhibition they travel to; it was in Christchurch in recent years.
I hear great things of the clubs; I am not retired and never been a club-joiner but I know 3-4 people who are non-engineers (but retired of the careers they did have) they have done remarkable things with help from a club; building ride-behind scale live steam successfully.
While I feel like I couldn't achieve these builds, they assure me I could; with club help.
For now I enjoy the cheap models I get; I still have kids and although money isn't a problem I am not used to dropping 10K-20K on models and gear at one go; like on a 2" to 4" scale traction engine. I keep doing this mental calculation that has served me all my life: how much will it cost compared to the hours I'd get out of it? Does it hold value? And what else could I do with that money? Despite letting my business slowly coast downward now, my wife's business is very busy, kids are young and I can't just be a playboy of leisure, yet...time of life, as always :)

[@simplefact4u]

@Thomas PCGuru ENGINES thanks for such a thorough response. I will check to see what's available locally. I'm not a mechanic or studied it by any means, but I always worked on my motorbikes and really keen to learn. Until I discovered the reasonable price Chinese models. Just like you, I am not able to pay crazy amounts on these engines while I know deep down I would struggle to enjoy . But these Chinese models, while far from perfect, give a good challenge to make it our way, see it run, and have good fun without worrying where my 10-15k is gone. I only have 6 engines overall, but I truly feel happy running each and disconnecting from the world. If you ever attending any of these gatherings let us know and I try to make it there, and get to meet you as well😊

[@ThomasPCGuruENGINES]

Nice, really nice :) You're talking my language there Binnie " I truly feel happy running each and disconnecting from the world."

[@21jlxi]

MOTAT, in Auckland, has a live steam day once a month when they run the steam loco's, and once a year they have a lot of traction engines and models turn up. They don't advertise it much but if you're interested you should get in touch with them. I can't remember when they do it, but some time in the warmer months no doubt. It's not a full steam fair as such, but it's nice to see a few traction engines working in the middle of Auckland.