Gerard Dean, a resident of Melbourne, brought the one-fifth scale model all the way from Australia. He worked tirelessly on maintaining the tank during the exhibition, showcasing his craftsmanship and dedication.
The tank, equipped with a 150cc V12 petrol engine and an 8-speed gearbox, was controlled by a homemade 16-channel remote. Mr. Dean, who built everything from scratch, shared that he intentionally made his tank unreliable to reflect the challenges faced by the real tanks in action during World War 2.
The original Tiger 141 tank, part of the Arbteilung 504 Heavy Panzer Division, saw combat on the Eastern Front in 1943. Mr. Dean began constructing his model tank in 2003, combining his electrical expertise and love for model building. It took him six years to complete the tank, which first hit the road in 2009.
After touring the world with his creation, visiting various countries and showcasing it at military museums and army bases, Mr. Dean was impressed by the facilities at the Otago Model Engineering Society’s clubrooms in Dunedin. He praised the club’s resources and expressed admiration for their well-equipped space.
Event organizer Gary Douglas mentioned the club’s upcoming 90th anniversary and highlighted the diverse exhibitors at the exhibition. Participants from distant places like the Chatham Islands and Brisbane contributed their models, reflecting the widespread interest in model engineering.
With 80 members, the club welcomes newcomers interested in honing their model engineering skills. The exhibition was a success, drawing a large crowd and celebrating the craftsmanship and passion of model enthusiasts.
