Model ship websites and posted messages

[Derek Warner]

Hi PD's - I know we all think our message rate is down - I discussed this with PJ years ago, but our site is no different to others ie.,

Paddleducks = 140 members = 42 messages in April 03 = 0.3 messages per member
RC Hovercraft = 472 members = 46 messages in April 03 = 0.097 messages per member
Seaways Ship Models = 1913 members = 533 messages in April 03 = 0.2786 messages per member
Shipmodlers Forum = 1171 members = 211 messages in April 03 = 0.18 messages per member
Shipmodels = 548 members = 27 messages in April 03 = 0.049 messages per member

Now I would never make an accountant [one year @ Uni doing accountancy many years ago was enough], but when I looks at the message
posting score above for April 03, PD's have won & just piped the Seaways Ship Models site - but I still would love to read many more PD
postings on a daily basis - so here is a challenge for response!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

David in Spain - any progress with that beautifully cavil planked model???
Peter in OZ - any snaps ready of your Paddler??
Mike in UK - how is your Adelaide??
Leighton in NZ - how is the SofW going?
Brett in OZ - how is ?? going

& by the way PJ - what are you up to??

best regards Derek

[P Webster]

Derek,
Have tested the Pevensey and all is well. I will post some photos as soon as I
find the power supply for my scanner that I have just reinstalled. As a side comment, the
Pevensey has saved a modeller from divorce proceedings as last weekend we were all
at the lake and this particular new member had the idea of bringing his wife over who
then started to comment how bored she was and what a waste of time this, playing with
toy boats, so I promptly handed over the transmitter for the Pevensey, told her what to
do, wanting to tell her where to go but not doing so. after about a 1/4 hour later I had to
force her to hand back control to me. She is now looking at our "TOY BOATS" with a
more open attitude and her husband is allowed out to play once a week with the rest of
us.
Peter Webster :- )

[tbgray]

Derek Good timing I was just thinking of calling Search & Rescue to locate
any PD's if any were to be found I am currently working on a 1:48 scale
model of the SSSicamous plank & frame style I have the hull 25%planked (680
dowels later) Slow going Looking for input re windows & doors (make or buy)
Have a pretty good idea on how to make them but curious as to how other PD's
did their model's Also looking for idea's re powering the little devil (gas,
electric, steam? Are they all
remote compatable?) Have a good day
Bob Gray Hope BC Can

[dragoncity]

Interesting stats, Derek,
but when you further refine those you will find only a very few individual
members actually write _anything_ about their hobby. No matter what their hobby is?
Or which group you do the stats on.

( the exception might be computer related sites as there are always horrendious problems to be solved there !)

Its the old club members newsletter syndrome -- its just too difficult to maintain the article(s), let
alone publish them.
however Paddleducks is NOT a newsletter in the true sense so members _should_ feel comfortable
to "join the conversation" - its a paddleboats chat room really.

Perhaps some members dont realise that they can formulate a message 'offline' and send via standard email,
you dont have to be omnline to the Paddleducks site to send a message !!
Just use your normal mail facility and send to : Paddleducks@yahoogroups.com

SO, how about our 'other' silent members drop the group a line ??

Cheers.
Brett

[Dallinson]

Derek.
I have just got back from nearly four weeks away visiting Italy, in a
camper van, so have only just sat down to read through the mails.
Progress? I have to hang my head in shame and report no progress recently
on the Scotia. The planking was done using steam after my complete failure
with ammonia. I used the tin that a bottle Baileys comes in, which has a
very nice snap action lid, that makes filling easy. I then fixed an
aluminium broom handle (wound with foam draught excluder to stop me burning
myself) to a socket soldered in near the top. The broom handle slopes back
to the tin. The Baileys tin is heated from underneath with a little camping
GAZ cooker. The trick I found was to keeping taking the wood out and then
popping it back in few times. It got really very pliable. It had to be
pliable to get it around the counter stern!
I currently have a 3” scale live steam traction engine occupying rather a
lot of space in my workshop. I will get back to the Scotia in due course.
Probably when I make a big mistake with the engine and get depressed with
it!!
Regarding the postings in general. I am a member of some other sites and
they also go in fits and starts, but usually the contributors are the same
10 or 15 % of the members. I don’t worry about it anymore. I enjoy writing
my twopennyworth and if nearly everyone else is happy to just read it and
not contribute, then so be it!!
All the best
Happy paddling
David