Tabla de contenidos para No 124 December - January 2026 en The Shed

Trev says he is no different to most home builders in that he is always trying to build on a budget. He cautions anybody looking to commission a custom: “Often they go over budget. People usually plan to do it over two years, but then find they don’t have the budget to do it in that time. You have to be realistic about how much you can do yourself. Because if you have to pay a tradesman, then it’s going to cost you. “It’s a great hobby though – cruising the swap meets looking for special parts, finding like-minded car builders and the odd bargain parts at the wrecker’s yards. “The most important tool is what is in your head. I assemble everything, panel beat and paint everything, and I…

In the last few issues, we’ve covered data transfer within a limited environment. For this instalment in the series, I intend to offer a few options to send data over longer distances. Like most things, there is no right or wrong, and depending on the distance, environment, and data, some options are more effective than others. Cost may be one factor, but given the price of hardware nowadays, reliability and user-friendliness may be more important. George Polya wrote in his 1945 book How To Solve It that there are four steps to solving a problem: 1. Understand the problem. 2. Devise a plan. 3. Carry out the plan. 4. Look back (to see if it solves the problem). Projects are no different, and it starts with understanding what you’re trying…

The first IC engines were single-cylinder stationary engines mostly powered by coal gas. Eliminating vibration is difficult in a single-cylinder engine, so these early engines invariably had a large flywheel to make them run a bit smoother. Having more than one cylinder can reduce vibrations, so a flat-twin or six-cylinder in-line engine can be almost vibration-free. Both of these have been tried in motorcycles (BMW boxer and Honda CBX), but they have some drawbacks. A popular type of motorcycle engine is the V-twin mounted longitudinally, as in the Harley-Davidson or Britten. This fits very well in a motorcycle frame and allows an uncomplicated drive to the back wheel through a chain or a belt. For a particular engine capacity, two cylinders produce more power than a single cylinder because they…

In his younger days, Mike Parker was a follower of speedway, regularly attending the races at Christchurch’s Templeton Speedway. Two classes of speedway cars are the midget and the TQ midget. The midget has a maximum wheelbase of 76 inches (1930mm), while the TQ midget has a maximum of 60 inches (1524mm). The midget typically has a much larger engine – up to 200 cubic inches (ci; 3.28 litres) – than the TQ. With the arrival of the internet, Mike was able to research vintage speedway cars from the 1960s and ’70s. Then, in 2004, he came across a classic TQ midget, built in 1976, for sale on an online auction for $3K. He bought it. This was car No. 21. No. 21 Powered by a Triumph Bonneville supercharged 650cc…

Tis the season to be jolly! Right? For most of us, fortunate enough, yes, life hasn’t thrown too many lemons at us, so it doesn’t require much effort to rustle up enough jollity to get us through the festive season. But you only have to pick up the newspaper and read how our fellow New Zealand families are doing it tough, and for them, 2025 has been anything but jolly. Hoping that the year ahead will be better than the previous one could be a bit daunting, especially if you don’t have some kind of plan to create a brighter situation for yourself. A phrase comes to mind: “keep your powder dry” – in other words, be prepared for anything. These days, don’t be complacent, stay optimistic. Sometimes we can…

When yachties Richard Turnbull and his partner Barb decided it was time to drop anchor and throw down some roots, they did not want to be too far from the water. A solid community and access to services were fundamental to their quest; so too was a place with some space for veggie gardens and a brand-new pole shed for Richard. After an extensive search of Northland, they found themselves a semi-rural oasis on the outskirts of Kerikeri. The property required a little tickle-up, but otherwise ticked all the boxes. For Richard, a former joiner and builder, a chance to kit out his purpose-built workspace and new digs was an ideal way to get his feet back on terra firma: doing what he does best – working with fine timbers.…

In 1950, Studebaker propelled car design into the rocket age with the release of its ‘Aero Nose’ Champions and Commanders models. Billed as “the next look in cars” and sold as “luxury for everyman”, these side-valve V6s not only marked the beginning of a golden era in US motoring; they also embodied a growing mid-century fascination for science fiction and space race aerodynamics. “To the man on the street, they became known as ‘bullet noses’” To the man on the street, they became known as ‘bullet noses’, and while they proved to be Studebaker’s best-selling model in 1950, those aero lines did not age so well, and by 1952, the company reverted to a more conventional front end. Fast forward a couple of decades, and to another hemisphere, and a…

All active Model Engineering and Live Steaming Incorporated Societies in New Zealand are members of MEANZ – the Model Engineering Association of New Zealand, which was formed in 1995 to act as an intermediary between the 32 model engineering clubs and government agencies. Its aims are to set guidelines and national standards relating to model engineering activities and to represent and further the interests of the member clubs on a national basis. Biannual conference Every two years, MEANZ holds a national conference. Early next year, this will be in Christchurch at the Halswell model railway run by The Canterbury Society of Model and Experimental Engineers (CSMEE), established in 1933, and will be called ‘Canmod 2026’. The CSMEE has taken over the running of the conference at fairly short notice, so…

Keeping you and your paint cool is important, so try to avoid painting in direct sunlight. Overcast conditions are best, but if a cloudless day stretches out ahead of you, a good plan of attack is to start early, ahead of the sun, and work your way around the building, keeping ahead of the sun as you go. Take a break during the hottest part of the day, for the sake of your finish as well as your health, or use that period to prep, for example sanding or priming surfaces. Use shade protection where you can. A gazebo or large sun umbrella will help keep you and your Resene products cool, while allowing you to continue painting even in the heat of the day. Keep in mind that if…

MORE SUSPENSION RESTORATION, RIMS AND SPOKES, PETROL TANK, AND THE TIME HAS ARRIVED TO ATTEMPT TO START THE ENGINE Part 7 “As usual, this seems to be a game of Snakes and Ladders, but with way too many snakes” I’ve continued rebuilding my old motorbike, which I had stored away – mainly in pieces – for about 50 years. If you have read my previous articles, you will know that the bike is a bitzer. Parts vary from Matchless 350 items to those from an AJS 500, and the years between 1947 and at least 1956. But I call it a ‘1952 AJS, model 18S’. I’ve rebuilt the bike so far using mostly rebuilt and repainted/bogged parts, and electroplated some using my nickelplating methods. My budget is very limited, and…

There’s a special kind of magic in reviving an old pinball machine. Each one tells a story – sometimes of decades spent flashing and clattering in a busy arcade, sometimes of years forgotten in a dusty garage. No two are ever quite the same, and that’s part of the fun. Every restoration begins with the same truth: a game must be judged on its own merits. Machines that have been cared for, cleaned, and maintained can spring back to life with surprising ease. But even a ‘dead’ game can hide treasures beneath the grime – a diamond in the rough, waiting to be reborn. Since pinball first lit up the Western world in the 1930s, countless models have come and gone. Many now sit silent, their lights long dark, waiting…

As the engines fire up and the chrome begins to gleam, there’s a familiar buzz rolling back into Kumeu this summer. The Kumeu Hot Rod Show 2026, running 16th, 17th & 18th January, is set to return bigger, bolder, and brighter than ever — a celebration of horsepower, craftsmanship, and community spirit that has long stood as a highlight on every car enthusiast’s calendar. For decades, this iconic event has drawn gearheads from across New Zealand and beyond — uniting classic car lovers, builders, and families for a weekend of nostalgia, innovation, and good old-fashioned Kiwi camaraderie. From roaring V8s to meticulously restored cruisers, the Kumeu Showgrounds will once again become a living gallery of automotive art, shining a light on the passion and dedication that fuel this vibrant scene.…

A sign, ‘Ebony Carver,’ points the way through verdant Niuean rainforest to the shed where master carver Jack Feleti crafts exquisite ebony pendants, bracelets, ornamental hair combs, 21st birthday keys, decorative weapons, and other treasures. Jack has been carving ebony since he was a boy living in Hapuku village with his grandfather Feleti (Frederick) Jackson. “He always had a knife and carved, so I just started off, just naturally. I used to have a workshop hidden in the bush. Nobody knew what I did,” Jack says. Aged 25, he started selling some of the carvings. Later on, Jack’s wife Vivien joined him in his business, selling his carvings commercially. The villages own the forest The natural environment of Huvalu Forest, partially owned by Liku and Hakupu villages, is where Jack…

I spent a week in Niue at my own expense, staying at the Scenic Matavai Resort. There are many other types of accommodation available on Niue; however, the resort was very comfortable, the staff very pleasant and professional, and the food and cocktails delicious. An orientation trip offered by Niue Orientation Tours (NOT) around parts of the island proved an excellent introduction, peppered with the banter of former New Zealand school principal Keith Vial and the local knowledge of NOT guides. Snorkelling – at Limu Pools, Matapa Chasm, and Avatele Beach (one of the few with rough coral instead of sand) and in deeper water with a tour guide from Niue Blue – was literally out of this world, floating above vibrantly coloured coral and tropical fish in their natural…

January 2026 ‘Dynamite Dave’ Alexander is a self-taught doer with an eye for detail, unquestionable discipline, and a passion for motorsports. Dave has always lived his life at full tilt – but this time he’s heading for 300mph in a 7m long rocket called a ‘Lakester’. February 2026 The Leeston shed of Paul French is home to a workshop, various cars, hot rods, and an extensive collection of advertising signs. The advertising signs relate to a broad range of products, from biscuits to bicycles and from ice cream to colas and oil companies. It also doubles as a home. It may be sheddie heaven. March 2026 Chris Elliott is a Jack of all trades with the heart of an Italian. When it comes to two wheels, Chris has Do been…

“The traditional rule for home-building a hot rod is not buying stuff off the shelf. I bought a lot of bombs in the early days and saved up all the parts. The custom car side of it came out of that. I still use what I can pick up from the wrecking yards, cheap. A lot of stuff gets biffed, ’cos it doesn’t work out so well. Some stuff you have to get off the shelf; an efficient system like an MSD ignition, after-market brake boosters, or things like that. There are many Studebaker parts that you can still buy new. “Body panel stuff is hard to find now, so I do a lot of fabricating on-site. For interior door cards, I use a Palight substrate material; signwriters use it.”…

T&Cs: The winners will be published in The Shed magazine issue 126, the April/May 2026 edition, and will also be notified by email. This competition is open to New Zealand subscribers only. A SHED MAGAZINE SUBSCRIPTION MAKES THE PERFECT CHRISTMAS GIFT – IT LASTS A WHOLE YEAR! SUBSCRIBE TODAY ONE YEAR $89 SAVE 18%! SIX MONTHS $47 SAVE 13% TO SUBSCRIBE VISIT MAGSTORE.NZ OR CALL 0800 727 574 The Shed magazine subscription terms and conditions: • Prizes/Gifts are as stated, not redeemable for cash, and the publisher’s decision is final. No correspondence will be entered into. • Prizes/Gifts are administered by the participating magazine publisher. If the subscription purchaser is a gifter, prizes/gifts will be sent to the subscription recipient unless requested otherwise by the gifter. • Prizes/Gifts are available to…

The bright yellow, immaculately finished biplane trundles across the sward, carving a triple trail in the dew-heavy grass. It turns onto the tarmac strip, the engine revs up flawlessly, and the de Havilland Tiger Moth NZ-751 accelerates briefly down the Ardmore aerodrome runway on its way to take to the sky for the first time in several decades. The cliché is unavoidable: this is, indeed, a historic moment. There is no anxiety. Every nut, bolt, and wire has been inspected and tested for compliance with minute specifications, a repetitive and expensive process that has continued throughout its construction. In spite of the obligatory plate identifying it as an ‘Experimental Aircraft’, this is all engineering and science. No one doubts this bird will fly, and indeed it does, lifting off smoothly…

There’s something pretty special taking shape down in Drury – and it’s set to raise the bar for how Kiwis get the gear they need to get the job done. NZ Safety Blackwoods is building a brand-new, purpose-built 18,000m² distribution centre, fitted out with the latest in smart automation and robotics – the kind of tech you’d expect in world-class logistics hubs. But it’s not just about the technology. It’s about making work safer, faster, and more reliable for everyone who depends on quality gear that’s there when they need it. Once complete, the new Drury site will bring together three existing distribution centres into one high-performance hub – improving speed, accuracy, and supply certainty for customers across the country. And right out front, a brand-new trade centre will open…

Niue is also known as ‘the Rock of Polynesia’ – one of the world’s largest coral atolls. Niue formed when an underwater volcanic peak grew as a coral reef that was lifted above the ocean’s surface by tectonic activity and changes in sea level. Its true name, Jack says, is ‘Nukututaha’, meaning ‘island standing alone’, which distinguishes it among other Pacific nations made up of many islands. “That’s the name it should be all the time – Niue Nukututaha. ‘Niue’ is a name that recognises the arrival of the coconut,” Jack says. An ancestral story tells of two brothers who were charged to bring “the fruit of life” back from Samoa. “The chief asked, ‘What did you bring back?’ And they said ‘Ko e nui e’ – ‘Behold the coconut!’”…

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Across 2. See 5 5/2. Humiliation on losing a defective type of 25 (7-3) 8. See 18 9. See 28 13. What’s charged for transport? (8,7) 16. Stern princess leaves the local area (6) 17/38. Cave, Matthewson and DeSantis put together a type of 25 (6-4) 18/8. LP comes with a free kite (7,5) 21. Fleming’s Doctor joins team backing chap with a bright idea (6) 23. Extra mounted a potential romantic partner (6) 25. Club where Terry is disheartened to get a container of juice (7) 26. A 37’s overturned by us, you can count on it (6) 28/9. Some returning fleets net rockfish with metal 7ed to become 4 (6,5) 29. A golfer many treated as Arthur’s enchanting sister (6,2,3) 31/33. Sketch bar where you’ll find runners (3,5)…