Hello from Melbourne, Australia. Another Aussie Paddler!

[Murray Teese]

Hello all,

My name is Murray Teese and my interest in model boating is drifting towards building the Australian paddle steamer P.S. Tanjil. The Tanjil was built in 1885 in Sale and ran a regular service from Bairnsdale to Mossiface near Bruthen on the Tambo river until about 1926. She was the last paddle steamer to sail the Gippsland Lakes. Each Christmas I holiday at Lakes Entrance and carry out research on the local boats. In Jan 2010, to my astonishment, I found a copy of plans for the Tanjil. The Gippsland Lakes steamers are not as well know as the Murray River boats, but I note that Roderick B Smith has already created a post about Gippsland Lakes Shipping and mentions the Tanjil.

I already know Peter Webster who sails at Cairnlea in Melbourne's West. I sometimes sail at his lake with mates from Broadmeadows Model Boat Group (http://home.vicnet.net.au/~bmbg/). He has several electric paddlers and I see he is starting to dabble with steam. I must catch up with him to find out whether he has saved up enough loot to buy a decent steam engine. I'm sure I will meet other like minded people via Paddleducks.

Anyway I must finish a small fast electric speed boat and a marblehead yacht restoration before I tackle the Tanjil. By that time I should be more knowledgeable on paddlers and in a far better position to build a good model. You are all welcome to visit my personal website (http://members.iinet.net.au/~mteese@ozemail.com.au/Index.html) to view details of my rescue vessel "Argy Bargy", speed boat "Boss Drover", yacht "Renegade" and eventually I hope P.S. Tanjil. I even have on-board videos taken from Argy Bargy show casing our sailing days.

Regards

Murray

[Stuart Badger]

Hi Murray and welcome to the forum!

Thanks for the Biog - I am amazed at the number of paddler enthusiasts 'down under' we have a thriving group of them here.

Let us know how you get on and if you need any advice or help we're here for you!

all the best

stuart

[derekwarner_decoy]

Hi PD's ...& welcome Murray from the OZ contingent ..... ....but admitting to knowing our Peter Webster is no real recommendation at all  ....

Interestingly you mention PS  Tanjil...... & I had noted the posting from Roderick...but as she does not feature in our OZ bible..."Ships of the Inland Rivers" ......by Ronald Parsons I dismissed her....

Best wishes with your build & please keep us posted with progress & .jpgs ......& as Stuart says.......any questions...just post & one of the world wide PD members will most happily assist  ......Derek

[Roderick Smith]

Likewise, welcome Murray.
I have got to Cairnlea only once: I was driving to a Yarraville meeting, and continued; normally I go by train.
Already I have learned something: I never knew that Lake Northcorp existed, until your post.  On some second Sunday of the month, I will get there, but not April, May, June or July (committed already).  I don't even get to Surrey Lake regularly, and it is only 3 km from home, with club operation every Sunday.

There were two PS Tanjil vessels: which one is your choice?

Regards,
Roderick B Smith
Rail News Victoria Editor

[Murray Teese]

Thanks to everyone for the warm welcome.

Roderick,
The plans I have are for Tanjil II at the very end of her life, so I will build this version. I have pictures showing Tanjil II's configuration before the enclosed wheel house was added and the awning over the rear deck made more or less permanent. The plans (4 large sheets drawn by "AP" at 1/24 scale) are dated 1967, some 40 years after Tanjil was decommissioned. I have not established how or why they came into existence and I won't be chasing hard to find out. Needless to say I was ecstatic to have such a detailed version of the plans. They even show how many pot places were on the stove in the galley! It shows the twin cylinder steam engine very low in the hull at about 45 degrees with the crank ends at paddle wheel shaft level. I am unsure whether the cranks were directly connected to the paddle wheel shafts or whether a gear/chain reduction was used. The latter is not show on the plans. Anyway I will be redrawing them in SolidEdge 2D free CAD software to nut out all the details and make sure everything measures up.

Regards
Murray