a new dumas paddler

[ky paddlewheeler]

looks like dumas is just about to releast a new paddler,looks good to me.

http://www2.towerhobbies.com/cgi-bin/wti0001p?&I=LXPCA4&P=0

[Walter Snowdon]

Now, I am not into stern wheelers (rafts with a watermill stuck on...no,no, I didnt meenit), but that is one good looking boat.  A bit tender for our windswept northern waters perhaps, but I could go for that one!. As yet, no indication of size but it looks good.  Regards, Walter.

[thewharfonline]

You know it looks very Australian...two ways!

1. A Midget Captain Sturt with the twin funnells
2. A normal sternwheeler if you removed the two funnels at the front and instead placed it over the top deck cabins. I wouldn't mind getting myself that model and decking it out all australiana!

[towboatjoe]

Hate to burst your bubble, but the Capt. Sturt was built about 100 miles from me in Cincinnati, Ohio. It was shipped to Australia and assembled there.

[ky paddlewheeler]

well I found out on a other forum its 38'' long, 1/20 scale.

[thewharfonline]

I know she was built in America. Many of the paddlers especially the early ones including Decoy and Cadell were built in other parts of the world and shipped to Australia. Clearly the boat is meant to be an American, I just thought it looked like some of our aussie sternwheelers with it's not so fancy (eg not Mississippi fancy) boxy construction. Sturt had the twin funnels (one of only a few Murray boats) and that's why firstly it reminded me of her, then with a funnel tweak it could look quite Australian...Original Pride of The Murray for instance.

My bubble's not burst...Captain Sturt never really 'floated my boat' anyway. However she played a vital part in lock and weir construction along with boats such as Renmark and Industry...now she's just rotting away.

I wonder if you could tweak the model to side wheel....

[towboatjoe]

Tweak the model to a side wheel! Now that's an idea. I heard the storys about the Sturt and others with steel hulls didn't last long in the rivers over there. With a little modification the model could easily pass for an Aussie.

[mjt60a]

....I wonder if you could tweak the model to side wheel....

Just had a look at the model, I think you could! Can't make out detail of the wheel from the angle the picture's taken but if it has four 'frames' it should be possible to build two side wheels from the parts, leave off the supports for the sternwheel and fit one rudder on the centre,...then you'd just have to build the boxes (easy if using square ones) and wider main deck...and rearrange the superstructure parts to suit...

[thewharfonline]

ha ha! It would work and look very aussie!

I might need to get myself one of those models...next question how would I attain one here in Aus if I'm not allowed to internet shop?

[ky paddlewheeler]

well tower hobbies let me use c.o.d in the US but I dont think thell let you.....

[vett]

Mine should be here tomorrow.

[Eddy Matthews]

Mine should be here tomorrow.

I'd be interested in hearing what you think of the kit when it arrives Vett... Maybe a few photos to show "what's in the box"?

[vett]

Eddie I will do. My son and daughter are over there in London I wish they could bring me some of those nice kits that are over there.

[vett]

Got the kit today and took some quick pictures, the hull was cracked so an email went to dumas. lots of wood, die cut plastic and fittings. I really didn't get into it yet just wanted to take some pictures for those interested. I will start building tonight or in the morning and keep you posted. pictures at
http://www.rcgroups.com/forums/showthread.php?t=619230

[Edited by Eddy Matthews]

The photos are here now

[Eddy Matthews]

I have to admit I wasn't expecting to see so many styrene parts, not Dumas's normal style at all.... But it looks pretty good.

The cracked hull is annoying, but it's nothing that cannot be repaired very easily.... Maybe you should just ask them for a substantial discount and work with what you have?