A GREAT BIG HELLO TO ALL OF YOU FOLKS!!!!

[STEAMER62]

I would first like to thank you for accepting me as a forum member to this group and promise to help or offer in any way I can when the opportunity presents itself.

My home is Manitowoc, Wisconsin which is located in the United States.  I am 45 years of age and I make my living as a Journeyman Toolmaker/Machinist.  I have always loved building models of all sorts and have an seemingly keen interest in those subjects off the beaten path.  I am presently a member of a local R/C airplane club of which my interests are in pre and WW1 aircraft.  Low and slow you might say.  I also belong to a somewhat local scale model boating club of which my interests are primarily R/C tugboats, workboats.  I enjoy all era's and types of these vessels with a great desire to expand into the paddlewheel variety.  The paddlewheel variety putting me in the not-so-popular crowd here in the States, at least in my area.

I currently belong to the E-Zone forums and frequent the Scale Boating threads site.  In fact, I currently have a build thread going on a small harbor tug.
I also, just recently, joined the Model Tug Forums which I have enjoyed obtaining a wealth of information.
My first Paddlewheel project is going to be on the sport scale side.  Through the aid of  E-Zone, I was able to obtain the construction article and plans for the TIPSTAFF paddle tug designed by Glynn Guest which was published in a UK magazine Model Boats.  Like I mentioned earlier it is a simpler design, however, I feel it is a good way to break into this style of model and learn the ropes a bit.  Besides the fact it is a TUG!!!!!!

As I said, I will be more than happy to give helpful information  when the opportunity arises and I do look forward to getting to know some of you folks.  I have a lot to learn about these unique vessels and I feel this is the place I can get the direction I need.  I believe that is the advantage of these forums and the main reason I love to help and give when I can.

Thank for listening;

Greg Knipp
   

[Eddy Matthews]

Welcome to Paddleducks greg, good to have you with us!

One of our forum administrators, red_hamish (Jim Beattie), started a model of Tipstaff - Sadly it still isn't finished, but we can forgive him for that as a house move and a new job got in the way of things! 

Glyn Guest designs are generally pretty good for simple models, so you've made a good choice to get into paddlers and learn their little "quirks" 

We're a friendly bunch, and I hope you enjoy your stay with us.

Regards
Eddy

[Dinosaursoupman]

Welcome Greg,

I'm personally looking forward to hearing about your build as well as any info you might have on the vessels of the Great Lakes.

Though not a paddler, my current project is the whaleback Charles W. Wetmore, built on the opposite side of your state.

Be proud of your "not-so-popular" status. It's the out-of-the-box thinking that we, as paddlers, all share and that adds to the great diversity in the modeling community. Though we here in the U.S. don't share the same appreciation for our maritime heritage as our friends across the pond do, we can still enjoy and learn from the experiences shared on this forum.

Again welcome, Randy

[STEAMER62]

Thank you so much for the very warm welcomes!!!!   
I am really excited about this site and any  information or guidance you folks can provide!!!!

It is funny you should mention Red-Hamish as he is the gentleman I initially contacted about interest in the TIPSTAFF after seeing a picture of his partially completed version on the Model Tug Forum.  In fact, so much so, he was in the process of trying to find the plans and article to send to me, but had trouble locating it due to a previous move.  In the mean time I had put out a search through E-Zone and got very lucky to have received what I was after.

I do promise to do a build thread on the TIPSTAFF, however, I don't suspect I will be starting much before the winter months.  As I mentioned in my initial post I have a harbor tug project about 90% complete and would like to really put the push on to finish her first.

Best regards;

Greg Knipp