Hi from Australia

[bundyrap]

Hi Everyone

My name is Richard Brown and I live in Bundaberg, Queensland Australia. I arrived at this site after becoming disillusioned with the march (flood!) towards ARF planes in the RC flying world. After 30 years of building and designing planes I found that I was virtually the only one in our flying club still interested in building anything so time for change.

I must admit to knowing very little about paddle wheelers until I found this site but have been intrigued by their grandeur, size, lack of noise and smell and the history of them in Australia.

So where to start. The plans by Float a Boat very much appeal but given they are not full detailed construction plans and guessing there is a similar learning curve with paddle boat construction as there is with large RC warbirds, perhaps this is not the best starting point. A full construction plan like the Dixie Belle on this site would be ideal but with more modern construction techniques. Carving a hull from 10mm pine laminations and railings from lined paper isn't really what I'm after. Do such plans exist??

Kits are another option. The Creole Queen is a possibility but I've built a Dumas Barrel Back and know about their wood quality. The Mantua Mississippi is very appealing but I can't find any sort of reviews written about it. Apparently there aren't very good instructions with it but the kit itself is of very good quality.

Can anyone suggest a suitable starting point? I'm after something big, electric, suitable for RC and challenging without being impossible.

Thanks
Richard

[Red_Hamish]

Welcome Richard, yet another disillusioned flyer, boats are wonderful way to let the creative juices flow and are equally appealing as to how to "get it right". Have a look at the plans section on here to see if something catches your fancy, admittedly mainly UK or European style PS bu still worth considering. If you also want have a look at http://www.taubmansonline.com/ and see their magnificent selection of plans.

cheers

Jim

[Peter Webster]

Hi Richard,
                Good to see another Aussie joining the ranks, the others will soon have to watch out  with our numbers increasing as they are. You will have to download Skype so we can chat.
I fully understand your feeling about arf aircraft as the same started to happen in free flight out here and so after 40 years in the hobby I decided it was time for a change. As for the Float A Boat plans he does have others in the range that will be more instructional although they won't be paddlers, he specializes mainly in yachts. A good magazine to get is Marine Modeller International from Traplett publications, for any other help use the forum as everyone is of helpin their own fields we are all usually ex aircraft modellers, train modellers or some sort of modelling experience that can be of help. Once again welcome aboard
Peter Webster