Hello,  
I just joined Paddleducks and need to introduce myself.  My interest in  paddle steamers has lasted about forty years so far, and it looks like it will last a bit longer.  I made a meager living for several years as a modelmaker, scupltor and jewerly maker before counting the books in the library and seeing where my interests were concentrated - in ships.  So I went back to grad school for maritime history and archaeology.  Since then I have had the pleasure of commissioning a few models for museums I worked for from great modelmakers, but only built a few small static models of steamers, mostly American Civil War blockade runners for myself.  For the past twenty years I have worked in maritime preservation and history, and in the process got to visit and write about several interesting steamboats and steamships.  For examples of some you can read short histories and descriptions written as parts of National Historic Landmark nominations of Delta Queen, Belle of Louisville, Donald B, Lone Star, W.P. Snyder, Jr, and others at:

http://www.cr.nps.gov/maritime/ships/lists/name_1.htm

Glad to find a group of folks with similar interests, interesting questions and answers, and great model pictures.

Welcome Kevin...that's a fascinating bio and  particularly your interest in Civil War Blockade Runners which represent such an  interesting and colourful relationship between the Confederates and  shipbuilders and cotton producers of Great Britain's West coast.
 
Please send some photos of your blockade runners (paddlers or  otherwise) and in fact of your other models too.  We have quite a few  members who are interested in American Civil War ships and have asked for  the best source of plans.  My own favourite blockade runner is "Bansee", a  Liverpool ship.
 
Again ...a warm welcome aboard, it's a pleasure to have  you with us.
 
PJ
Victoria, British Columbia,  Canada  

Welcome aboard! I'm sure the crew will be able to quennch your thirsts when it comes to model boats and paddlers alike!

Ahoy Paddleducks!, 
I have just rejoined the list after several years and am happy to see so many American Civil War blockade runners mentioned and built.  I look forward to digging out what I have missed from the archives. 
Kevin Foster