Has anyone used a bespoke photo etching services or laser cutting, for manufacturing paddle wheels. I have embarked on a new project a Director Class paddle tug. I am looking into this to see if it is cost effective, there is a deffinate time saving element plus all the parts required would be  uniform. A deffinate plus when it comes to assembly. Also in the same vain is/has anyone used 3D printing for the manufacture of small parts such as deck fittings? with the cost of a printer in the 2-500 pound range it may be a viable option. It dosent have just be small parts the limiting factor being the size of the printing area and the type of plastic used (some are soluble) I woulld be gratefull for anyones thoughts on this.

www.floataboat.com.au already sell laser cut paddle wheel kits for the Director class tugs. Not shown on the website but email them for details.

Thanks for that I will

Hello from Aberdeen, Scotland, I am also building a Director but am planning to use a set of paddlewheels from the Graupner Glasgow, they are about 1 cm larger in diameter but when I did a traced overlay I reckon they will fit with only a minor modification of the paddle boxes and only moving the main shaft up by about 5mm which should put the bottom of the paddles about a centimetre above the keel base. I am using the plastic hull from model boats and hope to start cutting the internal frames this winter (that is if I can stop repairing crashed model gliders which is my main hobby)
Regards,
Norrie