Frank Roberts (22 January 1882–26 June 1963)[1][2] was a New Zealand pioneer in building model railways.
Roberts spent his early career working for New Zealand Railways Department (NZR) as a cleaner, fireman and driver before becoming a partner in an electrical firm with his brother Jack.
[2] In 1903 Roberts built his first model which was of the WA class steam locomotive using a scale of 1:19.
In 1926 Roberts joined the Auckland Model Engineering Society and began building his first garden railway.
[3] His meticulously accurate working models of examples of the locomotives and rolling stock found on New Zealand railways became a local attraction.