Welcome new member

[Fred Bultman]

Hi Paul:

My name is Fred Bultman. I live in Michigan and am a static modeler,
primarily paper and plastic models. I am also interested in Great lakes
paddlewheelers.

Thanks

Fred

[Paulrjordan]

Hi Fred..great to hear from and thank you for the intro. This is why
it's important to get everyone's perspective on modeling
paddlewheelers. Fred brings three new fascinating aspects to the
group which I'd like to explore further in my effort to cover EVERY
discipline of Paddlewheel modeling.

1) PAPER MODEL PADDLEWHEELERS. Since getting Fred's post, I have
looked at a number of sites dealing with paper models and this is a
whole art form in itself, incorporating origami and miniature modeling
on a level that produces exquisite results. I'd add a whole section
on this and I would appreciate ANY info you can pass along, kit
availability, sources, Websites and pictures of any finished models.

2) STYRENE (Plastic) models. Again, I'd like to get a list of all
plastic models that have been or ARE currently available for
paddlewheelers along with some pictures of finished ones. We know
that Airfix once produced a kit of "GREAT EASTERN" because our own
"Texas" David (davesmiller@y...) has mentioned it in previous posts,
and I remember it as a kid which makes it over 40 years old. (bought
the first Airfix kit ever issued, a 1/72 Gloster Gladiator) We know
that a "ROBERT E. LEE" kit has been around for probably 30 years or
more , originally issued by Revell, then Pyro and now "Ideal". I'm
sure there has to be other styrene kits on the market, so if anyone
has heard of them or, better still, built them, please email the list.

3) GREAT LAKES PADDLERS
I used to live in Toronto and was employed in the Yacht Marina
business. I remember seeing pictures of some pretty impressive
passenger ships which plied the Great Lakes but I know very little
about this subject and would like to learn more. Again, we need
information on research resources, ship lists, pictures, museum models
etc. I believe most of the Great Lakes Paddlers were Sidewheelers,
but I'd also be keen to know if there had been Sternwheelers too!

I'd like to open file categories on all these three subjects.

A word about FILES. Yahoo!Groups provides a 20 Mbyte file sharing
server for each group. We have used barely a quarter of this resource
so there's plenty of room left. This is where text and image files
can be uploaded for the entire group to view and provide excellent
information exchange and reference. The folder subjects also provide
the basis for our future Website. As you may know, there is currently
NO WEBSITE devoted exclusively to Paddlwheeler Modeling. Joe's site at
http://www.dragg.net/jbrown was the closest I could find after an
exhaustive search of the Internet. (Anyone correct me me if I'm
wrong!) There is also a Paddleducks bookmark section (to post links to
Websites) and a database available.

Please visit them at
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Paddleducks/files/
They are a valuable and interesting resource which relies on input
from all Paddleducks members.

So, Fred, we look to you for inspiration and edification in these
three new areas and eagerly await any information you can share with
us.

Regards

PJ

[Christian]

Hello all,

Here is a link to a great paper and card model info site. A fellow ship
modeler forwarded it to me:

http://www.cardfaq.org/faq/

It looks like there's no question unanswered.
As to paper paddle wheelers: I bought the Great Eastern from Schreiber in
1/200 scale. It costs about 64 Deutschmarks. That equals roughly US$ 30.
I don't know the prices of mail order dealers though. They may vary.
I do not build the model. I use it as reference material. It has some errors
like funnels with round cross sections whereas the GE had compressed
funnels. Also there's planking around the paddle box. That is not correct.
In any case this is a very impressive model and the errors can be easily
corrected. The paddle wheels are great. Here's the link to a German paper
model site that has the Great Eastern and some other very nice paddle
wheelers including the "Clairmont" and a Mississippi steamboat.

http://www.mb-v.de/versand/schreiber/index.html

If the link doesn't get you to directly the ships, please click on the left
side: Schiffe: Oldies (ships: oldies) and there you are.

Paper models have their own flair and I always love to see them when well
done. I have seen paper models superdetailed with photo etched brass
railings: great!

I sincerely hope this could be of help

Cheers, Christian

[Paulrjordan]

Great site, Christian...I've posted it under a bookmark folder called
CARD PADDLE WHEELER MODELS >

Keep sending new info on this intriguing aspect of paddleboat models.

Thank you.

PJ