I have always been jealous of my sister's Christmas tree - she's got a train that runs around it. Very cool. The closest I've got to it was a double-header today: Railex '07 model railway exhibition, and the Wellington Christmas Parade (I know, it's a sad excuse for a Christmas tree train....)
Railex was good. Better than I expected, even. Small daughter was fascinated by all of the trains zooming around, and hubby and I were fascinated by the intricacies of the layouts. Modelling has taken a step into a digital age, which apparently makes setting up the systems much easier - there is a doodacky in the engines that talks to a handset (okay, so technicalities aren't my strongpoint!) and the track itself is not electrified anymore. What it does mean is more intricate layouts and less soldering and wiring, which the exhibitors assured me was all good. Some of the sets were really amazing: Hutt Valley Model Railway Club have a huge club project on that is a multi-layered desert set about 25m2 or more.... very cool. Gauge sizes ranged from huge to minute: small daughter liked the bigger ones because they were easy to see; I like the little ones. Cleverest layout: tiny trains (finger-length carriages, sorry can't remember the gauge size) including circuit and shunting yard, set up on an old railway sleeper.
Christmas Parade: quite good. Lots of sunshine, several good bands (including the Air Force Band and Wellington Pipe Band) and the usual assortment of floats. Best float probably the "Storybook" - a castle emerging from a book with a fair princess trapped at the top. Brilliantly executed, but not a terribly original idea! Best costume definitely the pack of cards from the Alice in Wonderland set - the cards had blue and white teatowels sewn as the back of the cards, and they looked like Elizabethan courtiers in ruffs and hose. Very cool. Small daughter entranced, but was so excited she wouldn't sleep after.....
Pachyderm
No comments:
Post a Comment