Arteis02 | 15 Apr 2021 3:42 p.m. PST |
Many many years ago, before I was into wargaming as a hobby, I visited the Tawhiti Museum. Since then, I have always wanted to return, but never got around to it, despite it being only three hours drive away. But that was fixed last weekend when I finally made my return visit. And what an amazing experience it was, especially now that I am wargamer, and even more so because I have a particular interest in the colonial New Zealand Wars. The museum is the creation of one man, ex-art teacher Nigel Ogle. He started out as a wargamer, but the model-making side quickly became his passion. What started out as a hobby and a small private collection, grew rapidly with public demand to become the focus of an impressive visual history of the South Taranaki region. The museum uses life-size exhibits and scale models to capture the past in a series of super-realistic displays. I have just posted loads of photos of these amazing dioramas on my blog. Here is a sampling of a few of the pictures, but there are plenty more on the blog here: link
Plenty more pics here: link |
14Bore | 15 Apr 2021 3:55 p.m. PST |
What a display!, I think if you could see in person 10 times you might not see every detail. |
d88mm1940 | 15 Apr 2021 3:56 p.m. PST |
Outstanding! I see in the second picture the cook is boiling rocks. Those New Zealanders were a tough lot! |
Phillius | 15 Apr 2021 4:16 p.m. PST |
I might have to go on a road trip. Thanks for that Roley. |
chicklewis | 15 Apr 2021 4:58 p.m. PST |
Wonderful models ! Really good photos, also ! |
Korvessa | 15 Apr 2021 5:24 p.m. PST |
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Chimpy | 15 Apr 2021 6:07 p.m. PST |
Thanks for posting this. I'll make a point of visiting it if I'm down that way again. |
Frederick | 15 Apr 2021 6:08 p.m. PST |
Amazing work – all the moreso as the minis are all original! |
rustymusket | 15 Apr 2021 6:26 p.m. PST |
Thanks for posting! It must be really something to see in person! |
Oberlindes Sol LIC | 15 Apr 2021 6:45 p.m. PST |
Adding it to my list of places to go in New Zealand. Thanks. |
Doug MSC | 16 Apr 2021 6:29 a.m. PST |
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IronDuke596 | 16 Apr 2021 9:33 a.m. PST |
Absolutely extraordinary dioramas! Thank you for sharing your photos and experience visiting the Tawhiti Museum. |
advocate | 16 Apr 2021 10:44 a.m. PST |
A tremendous post. It will be a while before we can visit again, but you've added another point on my itinerary. Provided I can slip it past the wife! |
Pauls Bods | 20 Apr 2021 10:46 a.m. PST |
Absolutely amazing. The cross sections of the pā's -Excellent. What did the Maoris trade to get the muskets? |
marco56 | 21 Apr 2021 9:54 a.m. PST |
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Arteis02 | 21 Apr 2021 12:31 p.m. PST |
@Paul's Bods: One of the popular trading items was bales of stripped flax, exported to Australia or Britain to be used for making the ropes for ships' rigging. The going rate was half a ton to three tons for one musket. |