Well done guys!

[Eddy Matthews]

I'm the first to appreciate that modelling paddlers is only ever going to be a minority interest - Even though we keep trying to promote it to those that think a prop is the only way to power a model!  So we're never going to have thousands of users....

But this month has been the busiest ever on the Paddleducks website, with over 105,000 page views on the forum, and well in excess of 600 messages posted. That's more than 20 messages a day, which may not seem a huge amount to some of you, but when you consider our average is around 400 messages per month, it's a HUGE increase!

Add to that, that the majority of messages are on topic and helpful in one way or another, and it's even better! So many forums seem to degenerate into a general "chat" forums! A bit of general "banter" is fine, after all we all like a bit of a laugh from time to time, but when that becomes 90% of the content, it's time to give up IMHO.

So my sincere thanks to everyone - It makes all the hard work seem worthwhile!

Regards
Eddy

P.S. Can we beat those figures next month? Lets hope so....

[scotfriend]

Hi Eddy,

as you said with "Well done guys" one question came to me, is this forum an male only or do we have also some female paddleducks?

Hans

[Eddy Matthews]

We do have a few female members Hans, but they don't want to talk to the likes of us.... 

Eddy

[Bernd]

Congrats Eddy 

I've come from a forum that started out small and has grown to over 1600 memebers. Bog's was a former member of that forum. It started small and was quite family like to begin. But now it has gone the way you mentioned in your message. I hope this forum will never get to that point as the one I came from has.

Regards,
Bernd

[derekwarner_decoy]

Hi PD's....& yes Bernd.....our PD focus is pretty simple

1) we keep the eye on paddle wheel communications
2) we also allow latitude in nautical comment
3) our moderators will not tolerate swearing or expletives [which could or would] denegrate a WEB site with in days]
4) PD's is a family of members & will remain so ...... ... or

So as such we retain the members  ......Sandy Campbell from ACS & John Moore....[with Bandit & Vinnie] & Alistar ...& many more that I have not mentioned.....

In reflection.......I think we [as PD members] are the lucky ones...........Derek

[bogstandard]

I remember my very first tentative steps on PD's, and I wondered whether my skills would be acceptable on here. I am lucky in that I also have a very long history of model boat making as well.

I was welcomed and duly dropped into a nice little niche slot. It wasn't long before I was into 'Aussie baiting' and bashing Derek and his lifestyle like there was no tomorrow. All good fun.

Where else could my family pets have become world famous?

It goes to show, that a good site always relies on acceptability, good humour and diversity, where everyone is treated equally, beginner or old hand, plus of course the willingness to share experiences.

This is the only site I have ever belonged to where I have never seen a full blown argument or tempers lost. That is a sure sign of a good bunch of members, with good moderation and rules.

Well done Eddy, and of course the great member base.

John

[sandystrone]

Eddy

I bet James Watt never thought he would be in a minority interest when he invented the steam engine and Henry Bell put it to work.

As a famous sporting team north of the border would say - we ARE the people!
                                                                                                             Sandy

[Tug--Kenny]

It is THE club to be in.   

I agree with all that's been said. I only popped in because I was thinking of building a Paddle steamer, and now look at me. Can't keep away.

You hit the nail on head, Eddy, when you started this. Well done to you and all your supporters for such a relaxing club, full of information and help. I try to help, but alas, not wise enough to contribute much of value. Mind you, if anyone wants a tune played on the old Organ, then I'm your man.   

Cheers all

ken

[Eddy Matthews]

There you go again Ken, belittling yourself...... You may not have known much about paddlers when you joined, but your build of the Waverley will serve as extremely useful information for others for many years to come!

So as for not being able to contribute much, I'm afraid I'm going to have to disagree with you totally!

I only wish more people would do a detailed account of their builds on the forum - We can all learn from each other, as we all have different ways of doing things. Remember the old adage "Your never too old to learn".

Regards
Eddy

[kiwimodeller]

Eddy, while it is good to remember that we are never too old to learn, my problem seems to be that I am forgetting to remember to remember!

[pipsteam66]

hi,i think more and more people are turning there attention to paddlers,i have a paddle tug and took it to my club at killingworth,everyone remarked how gracefull it moved on the water and what a pleasing sound the paddles made in the water,i am now building a paddle steamer 63" long but better still another 3 members have started to build one,its infectious aint it,regards phil.