{"id":1687,"date":"2015-09-14T12:54:16","date_gmt":"2015-09-14T12:54:16","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/emrig.co.za\/?p=1687"},"modified":"2015-09-14T12:54:16","modified_gmt":"2015-09-14T12:54:16","slug":"club-visit-to-helgard-meyers-fine-sar-layout","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/emrig.co.za\/?p=1687","title":{"rendered":"Club Visit To Helgard Meyer’s Fine SAR Layout"},"content":{"rendered":"

The EMRIG members set out on Sunday the 30th of August 2015 to visit Helgard Meyer\u2019s HO scale SAR layout. As is normal, one is uncertain as to what to expect. We have seen a good number of layouts recently, all different and simply amazing.\u00a0 Surely those could not be beaten. Well this one arguably did just that. This is one layout visit you attend where you just wish you had brought a dictaphone!<\/p>\n

The layout is relatively small being about 3m X 4m, with wonderful scenery. However, what set this layout apart from the rest was the history. Helgard undoubtedly enjoys and loves his local history, much of which he seems to have been intricately involved with. Helgard has commissioned a number of people to help him build his dream, who will be discussed later; however, he had the most amazing vision which these helpers were to follow. He wanted 4 independent scenes based on real history he was associated with.<\/p>\n

ngg_shortcode_0_placeholderThe first scene was the Swartkop air force base, together with the SAAF Memorial and the Airforce military band. He started explaining every scene around the air force base, even down to a crashed spitfire which was apparently the last spitfire flying in South Africa at the time. The plane crashed on the approach to Swartkop\u2019s after the engine failed (fortunately the pilot survived!). The scene has a model spitfire in pieces against the boundary wall together with ambulances and emergency personnel rushing to the scene. Also, a Netcare 911 helicopter, appropriately decaled, is approaching with the rotors spinning. To compliment all this, there is a sound recording playback of sirens and complimentary audio to suit the scene.<\/p>\n

Then there is the South African Air Force Memorial with an outside parade. To match this was also an accompanying audio of a military band playing. Helgard pulled out the \u201crecord\u201d of the audio clip, telling everyone which one it was as well as its history.<\/p>\n

Then it was over to the planes themselves. Helgard went into great detail about almost every plane in the scene. The South African Airforce is the second oldest air force in the world and the layout includes aeroplanes from the early 1920\u2019s. Some of the EMRIG members associated with the planes and scenes and brought back fond memories. Again, to compliment the scene were sounds of fighter aircraft \u201cscreaming\u201d through the air.<\/p>\n

ngg_shortcode_1_placeholderScene 2 was then the \u201cPretoria Station\u201d. This was not just about the trains, but also the trams and busses at that time. Helgard made extensive use of framed photos hanging on his walls to explain his scenes. The showcase however was the Pretoria station building. This was meticulously built by Albert Borgstein from the original architect\u2019s plans! If one looks at the photo and compares it to the real building, it is incredibly accurate. The cars, busses and trams were all period models.<\/p>\n

Then it was over to Helgard\u2019s younger years with Queenstown station being modelled. In the photos there is a photo of two houses which when you look at them make you know they are railway houses. The whole scene resembled one of the train towns of the old South Africa.<\/p>\n

ngg_shortcode_2_placeholderLastly, the 4th scene was of a farm his family had since the 1800\u2019s in the Eastern Cape, between Tarkastad and Sterkstroom (close to Queenstown). The farmhouse was built by Deiderick van Rensburg and included chickens, children playing, period cars and more. At that time, there was even a true narrow gauge line in the Eastern Cape. So, true to form, there is a narrow gauge loop with a dedicated NGG16 Beyer Garratt to run on this track with a mixed train from the 50\u2019s and 60\u2019s.<\/p>\n

Then there were the actors, the trains. All again, were based on prototypical trains, one such being the \u201cWhite Train\u201d. Helgard went into great detail explaining the history of this train and more specifically the Royal Visit in 1947.<\/p>\n

ngg_shortcode_3_placeholderDuring 1947 King George VI, as “King of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and the British dominions beyond the seas,” accompanied by Queen Elizabeth and the Princesses Elizabeth and Margaret, visited the British territories in Southern Africa, beginning in South Africa in February of that year.[Ref: – Wikipedia].<\/p>\n

However, for Helgard, the very first \u201cvivid\u201d memory of the \u201cWhite Train\u201d was when it was used to transport the remains of the then Prime Minister of South Africa \u201cAdv Johannes Gerhardus Strijdom\u201d, who died in 1958. After a memorial service in Cape Town his body was transported to Pretoria on the White train which stopped at most stations, where a small orchestra moved out of the train and played the national anthem while onlookers sang and paid their last respects! His “coffin” was draped in the national flag and he was finally buried in Pretoria. Just imagine what Helgard witnessed!<\/p>\n

Obviously other trains included the old and new Blue trains, the metro sets as well as an Iron ore hauler together with mid train and rear train helpers. Diesel loco\u2019s, electric locos and steam. The whole layout and environment were rich in history, ably told by Helgard.<\/p>\n

ngg_shortcode_4_placeholderThere were finally the display cases and shelves of Planes, Trains and Automobiles. As soon as someone saw or commented on a specific model, Helgard would give a run down on its history. Not once did anyone show signs of disinterest or boredom. If anything, the EMRIG\u2019ers were enthralled and just kept on wanting more.<\/p>\n

There was a lot of animation on the layout with a helicopter and rotating rotors mentioned above, children on a see-saw moving up and down, chickens pecking at the ground for their food, a cow who\u2019s head was moving from side to side, Eagles flying in a ravine with their nest on a ledge, to a car, crashed over the railing with the skid marks and all.<\/p>\n

Helgard mentioned many times the folk that made all this happen, in particular Diederick and Colin who were the main contributors.<\/p>\n

As mentioned, Albert Borgstein built the Pretoria station. All the steam engines were built by Eric Bekker from Mosselbay. Lourens Sturgeon built the 4E, 9E, 14E, 15E electrical locomotives. Chris van der Walt from the Aviation shop did the painting of most of the aeroplanes, also the Paul Kruger locos, the Gautrain, the trams and buses and many other items. Diederick van Rensburg built the lay-out over a 6 month period including all the landscaping as well as the farmhouse. Colin did all the electrical engineering and both John Burkhardt and Colin fitted the sound chips. Lastly, Jean Dulez’s book provided the inspiration to turn the layout into both a \u201chistoric and nostalgic\u201d layout!<\/p>\n

This article will just never do the visit justice. Hopefully one day in the future, Helgard will allow the club back for another visit. If that happens, don\u2019t think about it, jump at the opportunity! You will not regret it.<\/p>\n

Many more photos below.<\/p>\n

Till next time.<\/p>\n

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