When it comes to Murray Vince’s model of the Swedish ferry Stockholms Strom 2, it’s difficult to know.
"It’s a double-ended ferry — a push-me, pull-you set up.
"I didn’t have a plan, so it was all done by looking at photos."
Mr Vince has made 16 model boats, many based on Swedish vessels.
Why?
"Because I’m part Swede and I like to be different.
"Everybody else builds American or British, so I build something completely different.
"It’s the Swede in me coming out."
Stockholms Strom 2 scale model is made of kauri and plywood, with a fibreglass coating, and had so far taken about 18 months to build.
He had hoped it would be completed in time for the Otago Model Engineering Society (OMES) Festival Week exhibition— and to the naked eye, it looks completed — but the electronics still have to be installed so it can be operated by remote control.
This year, he would have to be satisfied with having it on display in "dry dock", rather than sailing around the OMES pond with other model boats.
The model is one of more than 200 planes, trains, cars and boats that will be on display at the OMES facility in John Wilson Ocean Dr, from tomorrow until February 12.
Exhibition co-ordinator John Nelson said the society was established in 1936 for people to enjoy model engineering.
Since 1954, the society had run festival weeks to display its variety of steam, diesel and electric locomotives, model boats, traction engines, model trains and tethered cars.
"There will be plenty of excitement and noise."
