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The Weekend Sun
Miniature models a hobby to go on show From building his first cereal packet kitset at age five, Tauranga’s Grant Lassing still loves creating his dreams in miniature almost fifty years on. “It’s just something special about recreating a piece of history, it gives me a great deal of satisfaction,” says Grant, who chuckles remembering using a whole bottle of glue in making his first kitset. This weekend some of his creations will be on display at the Tauranga Hobby Show alongside work by others
in Bay of Plenty Plastic Modellers Group. Planes, cars, militaria or science fiction creations – all modellers have their own passion. After trying his hand at a range of subjects Grant specialised in World War 2 aircraft. Throughout the years he has built at least 360 models and with 600 kitsets on shelves. “We call it loft insulation” – and there is plenty more to come. “The reality is I’ll probably never make some of them, but they are not losing their value because there is a strong demand for collecting models.” Grant describes himself as an average modeller, saying his replica aircraft are a poor cousin
BOP Plastic Modellers Club members Grant Lassing, Steve Timson and Gregg Shaw with their models. Photo by Tracy Hardy.
All in a flutter over rare sighting Two Tauranga residents are in a flutter over a rare encounter with an Australian migrant butterfly.
“I said ‘Guess what I’ve got in my garden?’ and he said ‘Blue moons, because I’ve got them in my garden too’.” Murray says the butterfly’s name refers to its white circular patches on the A male blue noon butterfly landed in upper wing – and because it is usually Murray Smith’s garden at his Plateau only seen “once in a blue moon”. Heights home on Good Friday and “I’ve been in Tauranga 25 years returned around midday on Saturday and I’ve never seen them here before. with a female partner. That’s why I was pretty excited about “The first day I saw it I didn’t actually finding them.” recognise it,” says Murray, who videoed Paddy found a pair in his Mount Maunthe butterflies and after some research ganui garden and in the sand dunes on phoned his friend Paddy Latham who The blue moon butterfly. April 19. lives on Grenada St. “They’re migrants from Australia so when you find one it’s quite an interesting find. I’ve lived in the Bay since 1957 and it took me until 2003 to find one [in Papamoa].” According to Paddy, a flutter of blue moon butterflies arrived in 1958 and again about 1960. “They occasionally come over in waves…. usually late summer and autumn are the times to expect them. “Tauranga seems to be one of their favourite places when they come here.” To view Murray’s video of the male butterfly, visit youtu.be/a2TFXQ6ejNs There have also been sightings of the Blue Moon butterfly at Te Puna Quarry Park, with five males spotted in the butterfly Murray Smith and Paddy Latham. Photo by Tracy Hardy. garden last week. By Zoe Hunter
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when compared to top modellers like member Steve Timson, who pours countless hours and effort into getting all the details perfect. “He takes months to finish each one and that shows in his detail. He gets every tiny little detail right, and has won awards for his models.” The group wants more model-making enthusiasts with the aim of becoming
a branch of the International Plastic Modellers’ Society. For details email lassing@hotmail.co.nz Along with the modellers, other groups taking part at the hobby show at Memorial Hall (Saturday and Sunday 10am-4pm) include military figure collectors, amateur radio enthusiasts, war game players and the Tauranga Model By Hamish Carter Railway Club.