Just joined

[Stuart Badger]

In response to a recent post I have decided to 'de-lurk' and introduce
myself! My name is Stuart Badger from West Sussex and I used to be a
proffesional model maker many years ago. I have always had a facination with
paddle steamers. I have recently embarked on a half inch to the foot model
of the tug 'Old Trafford' (later renamed 'Reliant').

The model is at the unplanked hull stage at the moment and I have completed
about half of the interior of the rear captain's saloon. Completed, she will
be 52 inches long and powered by twin steam engines to give independant
control of the articulated paddle wheels.

Reliant used to be the major exhibit at the National Maritine Museums
Neptune Hall - and I visited her as a teenager and took many photos some of
which I still have - luckily!

I was amazed and gratified to find this list and hope to share with your
enthusiasm for these wonderful ships.

Stuart Badger

[Paulrjordan]

Wow, Stuart..THIS is a VERY serious paddle tug model of a ship that
many of us know and who's memory we very much cherish. Your model
will be a fine tribute to her and I thank you so much for sharing
details of her. This is very exctiting and I insist you keep us fully
up to date with regular progress reports as she develops. I am very
interested in her steam engines, her entire drive/control system and
paddle construction. Do you have a way of putting photos online as
I'd very much like to open a photo file for your model.

> Reliant used to be the major exhibit at the National Maritine
> Museums Neptune Hall - and I visited her as a teenager and took
> many photos some of which I still have - luckily!

Thank goodness you did as it's almost scandalous what has happenned to
her. I really wanted to get up to Greenwich during my recent UK trip
to see what was left of her..apparently only her boiler as a walk in
exhibit?...what happenned to her hull?

> I was amazed and gratified to find this list and hope to share with
> your enthusiasm for these wonderful ships.

Enthusiasm fed by people like you and so many other Paddleducks around
the world who are keeping the memory alive through wonderful models.
This is also THE place to share construction ideas, as many of us have
found out that model Paddlewheelers represent some unique challenges
not encountered in conventional model ships. A place where beginners
can research and receive help from experienced modelers and also a
tribute to those who are valiantly attempting to resurrect real
Paddlewheelers which might otherwise disappear into the pages of
Nautical History books. It's for these reasons that eventually a
Paddleducks Website is essential and one which you will all be part
of.

I hope we will soon be welcoming another Sussex UK member to
Paddleducks. Trevor Cox of Hove, E Sussex UK is a staunch member of
the Paddlewheeler Preservation Society and currently building a 1/4"
scale model of "Worthing Belle" (Ex "Diana Vernon"). You should be
meeting him soon.

Meanwhile, Stuart, a very warm welcome from us all and we look forward
to hearing much more from you as "Reliant" progresses.

Now who ELSE is going to DE-LURK and share some "paddle tattle" with
us?

PJ

[Edward Matthews]

> I have always had a facination with paddle steamers. I have
> recently embarked on a half inch to the foot model of the tug 'Old
> Trafford' (later renamed 'Reliant').

A famous ship indeed, and as Paul said, it's one we all know well.
Some photos of the build would be nice if you can manage it,
especially since you're spending all that time fitting out the cabins
etc.

> Reliant used to be the major exhibit at the National Maritine
> Museums Neptune Hall - and I visited her as a teenager and took
> many photos some of which I still have - luckily!

Those photos would be very useful for anyone else who is researching
the vessel Stuart... Any chance of uploading some of those as well?

> I was amazed and gratified to find this list and hope to share with
> your enthusiasm for these wonderful ships.

Paddlers are unique, and a real challenge to build - As I know from
past experience with my model of the Director class tug "Forceful".

Welcome to the group, and please keep us updated with your progress.

Regards
Eddy

[Alistair Deayton]

Sadly when the NMM was re-organised a couple of years ago, they took the
remains of Reliant to pieces and they are now in store. One report I have
heard is that they don't know how to put her together again

Alistair Deayton

[Stuart Badger]

Thanks very much for the warm welcome!. I have opened an album folder
(Reliant & model) in the photos section and uploaded 9 photos of the Reliant
as she was at Greenwich. I have also uploaded four photos of the model so
far - no comments about my untidy work-bench please!!

I am planning to power the model with two Cheddar models 'Puffin' ocillating
engines - from separate boilers. This should enable the model to mimic the
manouverability of the original I hope. But that's a long way off yet - I
have to get the saloon and foredeck accommodation built before I can plank
the hull (can't get to anything otherwise). The model is being built using
the Reliant drawings by David MacGregor and 'Old Trafford' drawings from the
NMM. The major difference between Old Trafford and Reliant was that Old
Trafford had full-length, rather ugly sponsons and she carried a boat atop
one of the paddle houses.

I believe that Reliant is now in pieces in various wharehouses around
London - she was fairly radically cut about when placed in the Neptune
hall - so goodness knows how much of her, and in what state, is left.

Thanks again for the welcome and I hope the photos are of interest.

Stuart Badger