The first room in Tawhiti Museum made me stop to rummage in my bag for my cameras, as I knew I, based on what I saw in this room alone, that I'd be taking a lot of photos*. The room had an interesting mix of well-done full-scale models, like this chap:
and this coal miner:
and miniature models, like this scene, set in the 1930s, of the Egmont Collieries train in front of the the buildings of Tangarakau township.
Also included were model bush scenes, including discarded train parts,
a sawmill,
and a scene of men loading the coal from the train into a waiting ship.
One of the things I loved most about these scenes was the realism of the New Zealand bush in them. (*In fact, I stopped so often to take a photo that I ran out of time to visit a whole section of displays...)
Hi Tina: Thanks for asking: the township diorama is 1/32 scale. I don't remember the scales of the other bush dioramas (and alas was too excited to note it down).
shannonc60: Thank you! I agree and am feeling the need for a return trip (possibly over several days) to see the bits I missed and properly read all the information on the exhibits. There's so much I want to learn (which means that the owner has done a great job!)
What scale are the miniature models?
ReplyDeleteLoving these NZ posts Anna-Maria. And what a great discovery this museum is!
ReplyDeleteHi Tina: Thanks for asking: the township diorama is 1/32 scale. I don't remember the scales of the other bush dioramas (and alas was too excited to note it down).
ReplyDeleteshannonc60: Thank you! I agree and am feeling the need for a return trip (possibly over several days) to see the bits I missed and properly read all the information on the exhibits. There's so much I want to learn (which means that the owner has done a great job!)