Instead of the rolling countrysides, railway stations and farms painstakingly put together by other enthusiasts, Mr Cockroft's layout, made especially for the Forbury Park show, featured a launching rocket, moon-like terrain, icicles and a space ship circling on a track.
Hidden behind a black curtain with signs warning of flashing lights and launching rockets, ''Out of this World'' also enabled the show's younger visitors to launch the rocket and set off the flashing lights.
''After going to a few shows ... I thought I might make something different.''
Putting together the space-themed layout took three months and a few different materials than usual, such as expanding foam to create the space-like terrain and PVC piping to create the futuristic skyscrapers, he said.
An electric car aerial enabled the rocket to be launched and Christmas lights formed the glowing icicles coming out of the ground.
Smoke poured from under the spaceship and over the terrain at a touch of the remote control.
''It's the great thing about model railways; you can make whatever you want whether it is realistic or far out,'' Mr Cockroft (39) said.
He was most proud of being able to set it up so children could interact with the display.
''At so many train shows they can't touch anything, so this they can.''
Show convener Trevor Buchanan said there were about 20 different displays by enthusiasts from as far as Invercargill and Christchurch.
The event aimed to showcase the best of model railways from the South Island as well as enabling model retailers to display their wares.
