I can't help noticing that any time I visit a lake (usually at Bluewater or Southend) there are always yachts, barges (thames and/or 'spritsail') tugs and fast electric, but, other than at the old PSPS model rallies I've only once seen a model paddler, a Chieftain, on the water. I've never even seen a Glasgow despite it being available as a kit....
I wonder is that because they have competitions and races for the other four types of model and I got to thinking, could some type of event be created specially for paddlesteamers.... :roll:
Maybe something like, a couple of landing stages erected at opposite sides of the lake, the model starts from one, sails across the lake and 'calls' at the other. (when the sponson is in contact with the landing stage over its whole length, take it as read that ropes have been secured, gangways lowered, passengers transferred and the ship cast off again) a signal is given by a 'line judge' (whistle? flag raised?) and the steamer sets off back to its start point but on its return, to moor in a space say one-and-a-half times its hull length. A couple of scalextric or model railway passengers on bases with a track-pin in the bottom (to provide some instability) could be placed on the deck to ensure ships don't just ram into the pier (the passengers fall over incurring a time penalty) and the whole event is timed.......
....it's just a thought though, I think if I joined the Southend or the Grays Thurrock model boat club, I'd have the only paddler :x
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