Otago Model Engineering Society life member Des "Rabbit'' Burrow said he built several of his model locomotives when he was working at Hillside Workshops as a coppersmith.
"I used to make them from bits of scrap lying around.''
A favourite model locomotive was a black New Zealand Railways steam locomotive, one of the first made at the Dunedin workshops.
Yesterday, he stoked the firebox with coal to take people for rides.
The most difficult part of building a locomotive was getting the boiler and the motion gear right, he said.
Society life member Gary Douglas (75), of Dunedin, joined the society when he was 17.
The society had opened its hall to public in John Wilson Ocean Dr, St Kilda every year since festival week started in 1954.
Every year, the number of models on display had grown, he said.
Yesterday, more than 500 models including aircraft, locomotives, boats and tether cars were on show.
"There's just about any moving object you could think of.''
On a concrete track outside, tethered cars reached speeds of 160kmh.
On a pond nearby, warships, dredges and yachts took advantage of calm sailing conditions.
Society member Gordon Duell, of Dunedin, said the society started in 1936 and the festival week event was the main fundraiser for the year.
