I saw a craft thing on TV the other day and in retrospect thought it might be
a thing to try.
She took lace (in this case big, heavy stuff) and applied it to a PVC pipe,
after "filling" it with a white goo and gilding it, it looked like carving!
Hmmm if I could just find fine lace to match the paddle boxes.......
It's just an idea, so don't shoot

Dave, In the climatic wonderland. (near (but not TOO near) San Diego)

Dave!! What a titillating idea!!! I, ummm, did give thought to going
through my wife's dresser but decided I'll stick with John's
miniature carving tools instead....incidentally a decision which took
slightly less than 3 seconds ! ))))))

PJ

She painted the lace with gesso and after it dried she gilded it... looked
like it was carved. I'm gonna try some for the decorations on my fireboat!

Dave, In the climatic wonderland. (near (but not TOO near) San Diego)

Dave:

I retract my earlier facetiousness with profound apologies. My wife
(an ex antique dealer) has informed me the process you're talking
about has been used since the 18th century for producing extremely
fine work on porcelain. She says using gesso slurry could work very
well if you can find the lace with a suitable pattern. I even went
downstairs and looked at some decorative pressed paper doylies which
could work too as a base.

Another option I tried today rather than carving wood, was "carving"
hard plaster with fine metal objects and it works rather well. I
used a compass point and the plaster "shaves" off very easily with
any metal instrument. When (if) I can get a decent result for a
paddlebox deoration I will take a rubber moulding of the carving (s)
and make polyester mouldings for durability on the model.

Please let us know how you get on with the decoration on your
fireboat.

PJ

Dave, I think any idea that circumvents hiring miniature carvers to create paddle box carvings is fine, esp as the little guys only work at night while we're asleep. Round paper lace doilies would probobly work for this type of ornimentation, depending on the pattern. Most of the eastern US sidewheelers used machine sawed cutouts highlighted with applied carvings, gold leaf and paint. A book of the Bard Brthers' steamboat protraits show light blue, red, gold, umber and green, sometimes with black shading.

Depending on the scale, another possability is to use the frets from folding fans - they come in plastic and wood, have cutout orniment and are tapered.

Of course our entering the "bead and craft" section of a local hobby supply will only embolden wives and sweethearts to wander among the lathes and planing mills. So be it.

Jim