Hi everyone. My name's Ray Spanner, 74 & retired after 30 - odd years in Computer hardware R & D.

Main interest since boyhood has been model aircraft, of which I have successfully built many, but never mastered the art of flying them. When reactions began to slow, I turned to my next love & acquired a useful collection of woodworking machinery. After many years & projects in this field, my first (and thus far only)  arrived. We get on famously, and as he gets bigger my modelling fervour has reignited. I look forward with delight to teaming up with him & spending quality time at the boating lake. Boats are a natural, since I used to sail a lot, but arthritis scuppered that as well. Now I find another boyhood enthusiasm reemerging, one fired up by the mighty locomotives I used to watch with my brother many years ago.
What a great idea, live-steam in a marine environment. Why paddlers? I don't know really, could be that the sight of 'Waverley' docking at Swanage pier has something to do with it, but who cares anyway.

Putting money where mouth is, I've acquired a mini-lathe & started collecting a few tools. Not least of those, lathe tutorial DVDs & a couple of books.

I'm in need of help already, so will be asking forum members for advice and comment.

So here I am, greatly looking forward to engaging with Paddle ducks.

'first (and thus far only) grandson' that was supposed to be. I blame the spell checker!

I'll get it right eventually - GREAT-grandson!

OK then--welcome to you ALL