NZ120 History II

well, I said I'd write this, so may as well start now.


I'm not quite sure who made the first NZ120 models. I've seen pictures of an Ab Paul Berntsen built in the 1970's, with a couple of wagons and a guardsvan (pictures can be seen in the interview with Paul in the NZ model railway rag not sure when). The Ab was entirely scratchbuilt. The next models that I am aware of were John Rappards model of the Dunedin to Port Chalmers railway from 1872, that was displayed at the 1988 convention in Auckland (but was built allot earlier). This was a nicely built little layout, 8' by 12'. Josephine and Rose were built on Ibetren 0-4-0 chassis, and the rest of the stock was built on peco chassis. This layout also survives in Timaru ( well, at least bits of it).

View of Port Chalmers. wires are from the module stacked on top of it

I've also heard that Colin Mcharg made available some of his loco zinc etches in 1:120 scale

At this point there were 2 groups actively modeling in the scale in Christchurch and Dunedin. however while the Dunedin group went for the modular approach with scratchbuilt models on commercial chassis, Chch opted for a set layout with modified commercial models, which they still had the cheek to call NZ120. The Chch layout stayed pretty much the same size, while the Dunedin layout grew to the monstrosity that I well remember. it was at this point i got involved with the Dunedin group. As i was a poor student, I scratchbuilt most of my wagons, and built a model of the railway station. To make extra money I would make models for the other guys in the group. this included assembling the first kits that I was aware of. someone in the club had done all the work to photoetch a dx and De, and we managed to get some done for us as well. I think there were 2 de's ( of which I assembled 1 on a minitrix H16-44 mech for a friend) and 6-8 Dx's ( of which I brought 2, and then built another 2) I also started casting models in resin, including za and Zp sides and ends, which i would then make up into complete wagons and sell. I also had a crack at making locomotive kits. This was a Df ( and i think the master for that is still in Darryls collection), which I made in 2 batches of 10, and these sold for the princely sum of $40. this made me enough money to go to conventions in Chch and still have money on the way home. I have no idea where these early models wound up.

that's about it for the early stuff. sorry there's no juicy bits/ falling out etc.