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Post by ErrolC on Oct 27, 2009 20:04:45 GMT 12
While I was booking my motel in Masterton, they asked if I was there for the Wine festival. I hadn't realised that Toast Marlborough (down the road at Martinborough) is on the Sunday. It's sold out of course, but I was planning on spending a couple of days wine-tasting in the area the week before anyway.
The motel claims to have free wifi, so if anyone wants to upload a few shots Sat evening, drop me a line beforehand.
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Post by Deleted on Oct 28, 2009 6:23:09 GMT 12
Hi all! Not long to go now! I'm getting very excited, especially with the second Be2 and the Albatros recently being registered. Should be a great day out! I'm driving down from Wanganui, so if anyone along the way wants to hitch a ride just let me know! PM me your cell number and we can work it out  |
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Post by kiwithrottlejockey on Oct 31, 2009 0:48:44 GMT 12
While I was booking my motel in Masterton, they asked if I was there for the Wine festival. I hadn't realised that Toast Marlborough (down the road at Martinborough) is on the Sunday. It's sold out of course, but I was planning on spending a couple of days wine-tasting in the area the week before anyway. I forgot all about Toast Martinborough when I put in for leave for the 14th November. I'm stuck with driving the “public” afternoon train from Masterton to Wellington (that is usually built up to a huge size for Toast Martinborough to cater for patrons who aren't on one of the charter trains) and heaps of obnoxious drunks boarding at Featherston, as well as all the idiot behaviour while arriving at Featherston (drunken clowns seeing how close to the edge of the platform they can get while leaning out over the tracks while the train is running along the platform to the stopping point). If I'd twigged that Toast Martinborough was on 15th November, I would have put in for leave for that date too. However, now, so many other Locomotive Engineers have put in for leave on that date to avoid driving the Toast Martinborough trains, that I'll have to work that day. Bugger! |
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Post by corsair67 on Oct 31, 2009 12:50:55 GMT 12
Choo, choo...........spew! ;D
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Post by Deleted on Oct 31, 2009 15:52:16 GMT 12
Well that certainly sucks Bruce! Craig, you keen to come over?  |
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Post by kiwithrottlejockey on Oct 31, 2009 18:10:45 GMT 12
At least I've got the 14th off.
An afternoon enjoying TVAL's toys, then having to deal with the drunks the following afternoon.
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Post by Deleted on Oct 31, 2009 22:15:49 GMT 12
Excellent Bruce, I'll see you there! Weather willing...
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Post by Brett on Nov 1, 2009 15:35:12 GMT 12
Well, at least you are up front in the the loco. Pity the poor guards who have to make their way through the train checking tickets...
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Post by kiwithrottlejockey on Nov 1, 2009 16:26:17 GMT 12
Well, at least you are up front in the the loco. Pity the poor guards who have to make their way through the train checking tickets... Actually, the people I really feel sorry for are the cleaners (private contractors' staff on the minimum wage) who have to clean up all the vomit and urine in the carriages and try to get rid of the stench and make them presentable for the regular commuters on Monday morning. There are some real pigs around after they have had way too much to drink at events such as Toast Martinborough. It's the same situation following the Wellington Cup race meeting at Trentham in January, when society's “high & mighty” — who normally think their “shit doesn't stink” — get drunk and behave considerably worse than some of the animals down Courtenay Place on a Friday night, and who those “high & mighty” people normally consider to be beneath them! |
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Post by Dave Homewood on Nov 5, 2009 9:40:56 GMT 12
Here is a rumour regarding this airshow that you can hopefully take to the bank. If all goes well I will be there, along with Kerry Carlyle (fockewulf)!!! Yay!!! So I hope to meet a few of you guys and girls down there perhaps. I'm really looking forward to it (as is Kerry) as I have never yet been to Hood Aerodrome.
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Post by Dave Homewood on Nov 5, 2009 9:48:54 GMT 12
Has there been a forum meet up arranged at all, or a muster point given so we can catch up with each other?
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Post by ErrolC on Nov 5, 2009 10:15:58 GMT 12
Zac and I have exchanged numbers, we planned to meet on the day, and swap some Omaka photos afterwards - I'm staying in Masterton Friday and Sat. I think others that have mentioned going are on the train?
I'm keen for pointers of best places view from.
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Post by kiwithrottlejockey on Nov 5, 2009 11:08:18 GMT 12
I'm woking late shift on the Friday. If anyone is catching the train over to Masterton, I'll be driving the 6:18pm and 10:25pm trains from Wellington to Masterton, so if you end up on either of those trains, come up and say hello at the locomotive before the train departs.
I am planning on being at Hood around 12 noon when the gates open or shortly afterwards on the Saturday. I've taken the day off work on that day.
On Sunday, I'm working late shift again and will be driving the 4:50pm train from Masterton to Wellington, then an early evening return service back to Masterton. However, the Sunday is Toast Martinborough day and the scheduled late afternoon train from Masterton to Wellington will be built up to a huge size and will be uplifting a massive number of drunks at Featherston (those who haven't got a ticket to travel as part of groups on the charter trains) to convey through to Wellington. There should be about three carriages set aside for the normal travelling public with those carriages being barred to the drunks who get on at Featherston, but there's never any guarantees.
For those of you who haven't attended one of these TVAL mini-airshows, you are going to be blown away. This will be the third one and I guarantee you will take home some really amazing memories.
At the first airshow a year ago, I was chatting to some old chaps from the USA who were former US Marines who had come to NZ during WWII, then headed off to do battle with the Japanese in the Solomon Islands and elsewhere. They were in their late-80s and were doing a tour around some of the places they had served during the war. They were also all aviation enthusiasts and had only heard about the Remembrance Day Mini-Airshow when they got to Wellington, so hired a minivan and headed over to Masterton. These were chaps who go to all the BIG classic airshows in the USA, yet they said the mini-airshow at Hood was quite possibly the most enjoyable air display they had ever attended. They loved being able to get right up to the aeroplanes and talk to the pilots, and they were also amazed at how close the action was. They said they had never seen so many WWI aeroplanes before and they couldn't wait to tell their mates back in the USA about this marvelous little airshow they had attended. So that gives you an idea of what you are in for.
Fingers crossed about the weather, eh?
It'll be great if you can attend too, Dave. You will be really amazed at what is at Hood. I feel very fortunate to be living only about 4km from such an amazing collection of classic aeroplanes.
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Post by Deleted on Nov 5, 2009 16:30:42 GMT 12
Superb news Dave! They have their own commentary bus - at least they did at the first show (which I attended), perhaps meeting there at some point? I was thinking meeting at a certain plane at a certain time. I plan on having a leisurely drive down from Wanganui and getting there when the gates open or even slightly before. For those attending, my number is 0273934892, feel free to txt or call me on the day to meet up I'll be in my black WAW-logo'd t-shirt and a Classic Aviation Photography cap. |
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Post by Dave Homewood on Nov 5, 2009 17:56:50 GMT 12
Zac said: "I was thinking meeting at a certain plane at a certain time."
NO
The last time we tried that (at Whenuapai) at the specially alloted time to meet they towed it away!! It was a shambles and confused many people, I think some were following it!! ;D
Is there an easily identifyable hangar or somehting that cannot move?
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Post by Deleted on Nov 5, 2009 18:16:59 GMT 12
Hahaha! That's priceless! The TVAL shows are traditionally held away from permanent buildings, in the area surrounded by the red square (picture lifted from Google Maps and highlighted by me):  I'd suggest the TVAL merchandising tent would be the place to meet? Some of us already know each other by sight, and perhaps a group of people will be easy to spot? You know, the flight simulation forum I am a member of produced T-shirts to a) promote the site and 2) allow quick identification at shows! Hint hint  At the first show they had grandstands set up, so you photogs would be best to get set up there early and have someone/something to hold your seat. I prefer to roam around the fence and watch the ground handling, starts etc |
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Post by ErrolC on Nov 5, 2009 22:22:46 GMT 12
At the first show they had grandstands set up, so you photogs would be best to get set up there early and have someone/something to hold your seat. I prefer to roam around the fence and watch the ground handling, starts etc Bruce, jump over the fence when you finish up on Friday and throw a couple of jackets over seats in the back row of the grandstand will you?! I'll shout you a beer!  |
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Post by Russell Smith on Nov 6, 2009 0:33:06 GMT 12
Would you gents be so kind as to tale LOTS of pictures and post them here? ;D
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Post by Deleted on Nov 6, 2009 6:26:07 GMT 12
I dunno about that Russ I'm sure between us there should be pics aplenty for those unfortunate to be elsewhere in the country or on the planet such as yourself! |
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Post by ErrolC on Nov 7, 2009 17:20:15 GMT 12
Via a TVAL bloke who is at Cambridge, they will be bringing out the WWI tank, as well as FLAK88.
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