geoff

Gidday from the Land Downunder Tom.
Good looking paddle wheeler. You will find plenty of support and encouragement here. 
All the best with your build.
Mark.
 

Welcome! Nice model! I like the walking beam engine vessels.

Welcome to MSW Tom fantastic pictures! All the best, Geoff

Hi all.  I'm a new guy here.
 
I was getting pretty good at wooden ship models back in my late 20s and early 30s, but the demands of my career intervened and I had to give it up for lack of spare time.  I'll bet there are a number of you out there with a similar profile.  In my mid-40s my new wife presented me with a fine Bluejacket model of The Portland paddle wheel steamer.  I loved the model, but if anything I was even busier then so I tucked the thing away for some future opportunity.
 
I retired in 1998 and after a move to a warmer location (NC vs MI) I somehow got sidetracked into woodworking in 2003 (a completely new field for me) and over the next 15 years got pretty good at designing and building custom furniture.  I didn't get rich, but had a lot of fun and paid for some very nice power tools several times over.
 
Early last year (2017), at the age of 74, I decided I'd had enough of furniture making.  Material costs were through the roof, and so were machine prices and upkeep costs.  I just let the shop languish.  One day in March of this year I made some rudimentary efforts to clean it up (it's depressing how much sawdust can collect in every nook and cranny in15 years) and while doing that I ran across a dusty old box on a high shelf and -- SHAZAM -- The Portland came back into my life.  It was begging me to try modeling again, and summoning up some of my long-forgotten skills from earlier days I managed to finish the thing after 6 months.  It looks pretty nice, but a really good ship builder would probably laugh at my efforts.  I can do much better. and I will. 
 
I was lucky enough to find a guy who wanted to buy a complete woodworking shop, and now half of my garage is referred to as "The Shipyard".  On September 1st I began work on the Mantua Sergal model of the Cutty Sark, and am firmly hooked on the hobby once again.  I plan to start posting build progress reports in the forum area soon. 
 
My main interests are clipper ships and whaling ships.  Several of my old New England forefathers captained whaling ships. 
 
I really enjoy reading through the posts from others, even the really old ones.  I'll enjoy hearing from you and sharing your stories for however many years I've been allocated. 

Thank you Mark.  Excited to get started.  Seems like there is a good supportive group here. Appreciate your welcome to the site.  

Gidday from the Land Downunder Bill.
You will find plenty of support here. Loads of advice as well. Just don't be afraid to ask. Remember there are no stupid questions just infuriating ones.
All the best with your build.
Mark.

Have to say I’m thrilled to find this site.  Nearing my retirement and I want to get back to modeling. Have some previous experience with ship modeling and I’m considering Model Shipways Longboat for my first project. Hope to eventually build the B Latham. I hope to be active on this site and so far I’m very impressed with the builders logs and the free exchange of tips and advice.  Thanks for the welcome 

Welcome to MSW Adrie,all the best, Geoff

And greetings from the other half of the low countries
 
Jan

Greetings from Belgium

Gidday from the Land Downunder Adrie.
I've never done a card model but I am in awe of some of the stunning results I have seen here. You will no doubt find plenty of advice and encouragement here.
Good luck with your builds.
Mark.

Come to think of it, we did have a Shipaholic topic once.   Got kind of overrun as we're all shipaholics.
 
Ah, found it... sort of died out about a year ago.. 
 

Welcome aboard. And by the way if you made it here I think the fact that you are an addict is taken for granted.

Hello, Adrie. We have a few enthusiastic card modelers in our ranks, including me. What will be your first project?

Welcome..... and don't forget the bandaids! LoL

Hi Adrie. Welcome to MSW.

The slightly balding man gets up from his chair and looks around at the group surrounding him.
 
"Uhhhh, hello. My name is Adrie."
 
He stares at his hands then clears his throat.
 
"I am Adrie," he says again, this time a bit louder. " I am Adrie and I can't do wood."
 
Uhh, oops, seems to have gotten my desktop buttons mixed up. Thought I was linked to the ModelShipBuilders Anonymous.
 
But it's true. I can't do wood.
 
After yet another failure I felt it was time for a change. Out with the wood, in with the card.
 
Card I can do. Card I can do quite well.
 
So it's card for me from now on.
 
And a little bit of plastic on the side. We all like to play dirty, once in a while, no?
 
So .... here's me, I'm Adrie and I'll be doing card in here.
 
That is ..... once my card kits arrive, that is. And the glue, and the knives, and the awls, and .... oh yeah, and the SD card. Very important, that. No card, no snapshots to show and we all like our snapshots, don't we? Nudge-nudge, wink, wink.
 
Pleased to meet you all!
 
Adrie.
 
 

welcome to MSW Pete, All the best, Geoff

welcome to MSW Pete, All the best, Geoff

Welcome to the club pete  -  a few simple rules   -   1)  make sure to bring popcorn (lots to feed the hungry mob)    2)  ask as many qustions about your build/s      3) post lots  of pics  (we love pics)
 
But most of all   - have fun.
 
OC.
 
 

Gidday Pete.
Give this mob a go. I'm unsure of postage to your area.     
 
Frontline Hobbies, Hunter Street Newcastle. N.S.W.
 
Let me know how you go.
Good luck with your builds.
Mark.

Gidday Pete.
I agree wholeheartedly re postage costs. I am regularly quoted more for postage than the price of the item. I can only suggest an Internet search or contacting local hobby stores. If I can find anything to assist I'll get in touch.
All the best.
Mark

Welcome aboard, Pete.
What a nice haul of models and painting equipment to get your new hobby kick started! Sounds like you hit the marriage lottery with your new wife. Hope you and she spend many happy decades of life and love together.
Looking forward to seeing your work. Hope you post your build threads. Will be happy to add anything I can to help you along the way, even if it's just positive encouragement. 
Cheers!
CDW

Thanks Jeff
 
@ Mark I am on the Sunshine Coast in Queensland.  From what I have found so far most suppliers in Oz Are in Vic or NSW.  With Aussie Post prices, sending for items from down South means I have to sell a kidney or 2.
Pete