Hello from Eastern Pennsylvania

[Reid Zeigler]

I'm happy that I stumbled upon this site. I've been interested in model engineering and watchmaking for about 20 years, and saw some model steam launches and paddlewheelers at the Cabin Fever Expo in York, PA last year. I'm really interested in building a beam engine some day and a paddlewheer seems like a really elegant way to put it to work. I'm still in the research stage, but it looks like I've caught the bug.  Thanks for making all of this information available. -Reid

[kiwimodeller]

Welcome to the site Reid, I am sure you will find lots that is of interest and some of it might even be about paddlers! Hopefully Tom and some of our other American members will pick up on your posting and offer advice on participating in events such as Cabin Fever. In the past there used to be a very good organisation called NASMA - North American Steam Moddelers Association I think it stood for but now that it is no longer operating this site might well be the best way of finding out what is happening on the steamboat side of things. Should you be interested in a kitset to build a beam engine have a look at the other engine kits I have listed in the Traders section, there is a beam engine in the range as well as the two shown in my postings. I had not considered that it could be an engine for a paddler but now that you have mentioned it I guess the engines in some of the U S riverboats were probably similar to the industrial versions. Regards, Ian.

[mogogear]

Welcome Reid--Cabin fever is a great place to get the "fever" for many things!!