Canterbury Society of Model and Experimental Engineers

Canterbury Society of Model and Experimental Engineers

Locos | Road Vehicles | Ships/Boats/Yachts | Miscellaneous Models
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The CSMEE is celebrating it's 75th anniversary in November this year.  To see details of activities and dates click here

In September 2008 the Nelson Society of Modellers Inc will be celebrating their 50th Anniversary and in January 2010 they host the New Zealand Model Engineering Convention.  For further details of both events click here

 

The CSMEE operates in the Halswell Domain for day time activities.  General meetings and committee meetings are still held at the Andrews Crescent site
 


Aerial view of Halswell site - click for map to get there
Halswell Domain
Click on photo above for a street map to the site

Pond at Andrews Crescent - click for map to get there
Andrews Crescent
Click on photo above for a street map to the site

 

Site plan of Halswell Domain development
 

Club members are running locos, traction engines, sailing model boats, at our site

in the Halswell Domain on Sunday afternoons (1pm - 4pm) throughout the year - subject to weather

Follow the signs at the main entrance to the domain - off Halswell Road

$1.00 and $2.00 train rides - multi-trip concession tickets available (no expiry date)

Meetings are still held in the club rooms at Andrews Crescent

Venue available for birthday/company parties during the summer months
(see Club Contacts page for enquiries/contact information)

Club brochure - (May 2007) - click to view and/or print

Page 1 - Page 2

 

A bit of history about the CSMEE

Our Society's membership, which stands at around 160, is drawn from all walks of life with a large cross section of interests and skills. We cater for many activities including the building and running of model steam, electric and I.C locomotives, radio controlled boats, traction engines, stationary steam and internal combustion engines. Interests also include the building of workshop equipment and machine tools.

The Society was formed by a small group of enthusiasts in 1933.  Mr. L.E Walcot-Wood was the first president. The first premises was a small garage in Whiteleigh Avenue used as a workshop, this was vacated some months later because of the expense and unreliability of the gas engine used to drive the machinery. Our next ’home’ was a double garage in Manning Street, Riccarton. Membership at this time was 38 members. The next move, in 1947, was to our site in Andrews Crescent, Spreydon. There, members built the first clubrooms and the first multi gauge railway track. Some time later the pond was formed. In 1979 the members rebuilt the clubrooms in permanent materials and re-designed and rebuilt the railway track, which is now 1127 feet long.  For a photographic view of some of the changes that have taken place over the years click here

Great improvements were made to the pond with a new boat shed. Other work completed includes a loco shed, steaming bay and station. All these projects being undertaken by members who have donated many hours to make our complex one of the finest in New Zealand.

Members generally run their models on the 1st and 3rd Sundays of the month (subject to the weather during winter months) and the public are welcome to visit the club facilities on these days. However we cannot guarantee that there will be much activity, it is a club day and attendance is not compulsory. If the trains are running you are welcome to a ride. Hours are 1.00 pm to 4.00 pm. The club has two exhibitions each year one on the last weekend of February, the other in November during Christchurch Show Weekend. There is a small charge for admission to the exhibitions and an even smaller charge for rides. Trains and the road vehicles will be running for persons to ride on and there will be a variety of boats on the pond. There will also be a static display of models and other machinery in the clubrooms. Barbequed sausages, cold drinks (non-alcoholic) and other nibbles are for sale on the grounds during the Exhibition weekends.

The club facilities are also available for hire, and are frequently used for birthday and Xmas parties by members of the public and Company Social and Sports Clubs. A charge is made on these occasions. Also a number of schools in the Canterbury area visit to the club annually with their class groups. Many of them have had a class project prior to the visit requiring the children to build a model boat or yacht to race on the pond during the visit.

A copy of the club Constitution can be viewed by clicking here

Various meetings are held in the clubrooms during the month, at 7.30 pm on a Tuesday evenings.

  • First Tuesday of month: General meeting for all members. Usually includes a guest speaker.
  • Second Tuesday of month: Boating section informal ’chat night’
  • Third Tuesday of month: Steam section informal ’chat night’ (Currently discussing the Club re-location  - ground level track, raised track, new pond and buildings etc)
  • Forth Tuesday of month: Committee meeting.

All financial members are to welcome to attend any/all of the meetings.

The October General Meeting is dubbed the 'Award Night'  where members can enter their models in a number of various categories to compete for awards.

Award For Winner - 2007
 
Harrison Cup Best boat model John Begg
Powell Shield Best workshop equipment Peter King
President Cup Best small model not awarded
Moody Cup Best model overall George Johnson
Edsall Award Best 1st model Phil Ingle
Kevin Walsh Cup Best Road Vehicle George Johnson
Curry Cup Best workmanship in any model George Johnson
Mini 'Americas Cup' Annual yacht race for 'Image' class yachts No race this year
The 'bent coupling'
award
In recognition of something the recipient wished would remain 'his/her little secret' No recipient - we are obviously getting better at hiding our mistakes!
Canterbury Railways Trophy

Best 7¼" loco or rolling stock

Noel Etwell

Page last updated:  

19 July 2008
 


Copyright ©2008 Canterbury Society of Model and Experimental Engineers