The longest-running event of its kind in North America is taking place at the Wylie-Mitchell building this weekend.
The Estevan Model Engineer Show features four clubs, 46 exhibitors and a total of 214 engines on display. People come from several Canadian provinces and U.S. states will be in attendance.
The show is open from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Oct. 13 and 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Oct. 14.
Event organizer Kelly Tytlandsvik said there has been a very good turnout.
“There is an excellent variety of machinery, all hand-built,” said Tytlandsvik. “There are miniature steam engines, shop equipment, gas engines, trains, trucks, well drilling (units) and motorcycles. The radio control (vehicle) guys are … moving some dirt.”
Exhibitors always bring some new items for the public to see. Don Holloway of Kipling, for example, designed and created wooden patterns and casted and machined parts to build a small red engine.
“That’s totally built from scratch, from the drawings on the paper right up to the engine being built,” said Tytlandsvik.
Clifford Roemmich, who hails from just outside of Rapid City, S.D., has a Lance Bulldog tractor, of which there are only six in the world.
One exhibitor brought a 3D printer to show how technology is helping to change the world of model engineering.
Tytlandsvik said the show is a great opportunity for the exhibitors to socialize, and for the public to see the hard work of the exhibitors.
“We get people who just come walking through, maybe for the first time to have a look, and don’t realize that these guys made this at home in their shops,” said Tytlandsvik.
Next week’s edition of the Mercury will have more on this story.
