Terry N

I have had the economy version ($199)of the Carbatec 16 inch scroll saw for about 5 years.It is a good,reliable little unit and does everything I want for ship modelling.It can use pinless blades by using either Hegener or Ryobi pinless blade adaptors.The Ryobi ones cost about $8.50 at Bunnings. My question would be: What are you really getting for the extra $800?.

Grsjax, Thanks,your answer makes a lot of sense and would seem to solve the problem. Terry N

This is a good and serious question. I am starting a build of HM Sloop Mediator 1745 from the 1/48 plans produced by Jeff Staudt available on the Modelshipbuilder website. These are a great set of plans,accurate and detailed.But there is absolutely no sign of a windlass or any method of hauling up the anchor. I cannot believe that Jeff,who has been so thorough, would miss something as fundamental as the windlass. So,I check the Chapelle plan in the "Search for speed under sail" book.Again,absolutely no sign of a windlass or any method of hauling in the anchor.Now the sloop Mediator is roughly the same size and displacement as an 1815 cutter,so would carry roughly the same size anchor. So what is going on?.Did Chapelle merely assume that everyone ,including Blind Freddie's Dog ,would know that you have to have a windlass to raise the anchor,and therefore did not bother including it in his plan?.Or were these ships manned by superhuman matelots who could haul an anchor up by unlevered brute strength?.Or was some method of using blocks and tackles used to haul in these anchor cables.?. I eagerly await input from minds greater than mine Terry N

Pat,I apologize for seeming to hijack the thread,I did not intend to do so.The Samarang reference was new to me.Thanks. Incidentally Float A Boat in Melbourne has a plan of the Enterprise.Try floataboat.com . Terry N

Now that this topic has been opened, I would like to add my two bob's worth. Amongst the ships that are important in AUST/NZ history, the Atholl Class frigates (later classified corvettes) are significant.However there is very little information about them and plans seem difficult to obtain.I have checked the usual sources. The Atholl Class was a class of 6th rate 28 gun frigates built after the Napoleonic wars from 1820-1828.14 were built,of which 7 served on the Australian station as warships and survey ships. Those were HMS Rattlesnake,North Star,Rainbow,Alligator,Termegant (later Herald),Success,and Crocodile. They played a significant part in Australian and New Zealand history.Amongst their accomplishments were: Charting of the Swan river - HMS Success- Capt. James Stirling. Survey of Port Phillip Bay - HMS Rattlesnake - Capt .William Hobson Survey of the north Queensland coast and Papua New Guinea -HMS Rattlesnake - Capt Owen Stanley Establishment of the Port Essington Colony - HMS Rattlesnake - Capt Owen Stanley Survey of the NSW Northern Rivers and Moreton Bay - HMS Rainbow -Capt James Rous Transport of troops to the first Moari war - HMS North Star and HMS Crocodile. It seems to be very difficult to get plans for this class of ship.My interest is in building a model of HMS Rainbow, as a Men's Shed project for display in our excellent Maritime Museum in Ballina NSW. Can anybody be of assistance? Regards, Terry N

Steve, Future or Pledge in Australia is an acryllic floor wax made by Johnson and Johnson.It is readily available in supermarkets in Oz.It has a high gloss finish when buffed and is hard wearing.It is mainly used on timber and linoleum floors. Plastic modellers swear by it for applying a gloss finish prior to applying decals; and also use it as a mask for separating different layers of paint so that they do not interract.It is also used for a gloss finish on model aircraft canopies.It is applied neat or diluted with Windex for airbrushing. I have read of it being used as a glue for small parts, but have no experience of doing this. I hope this helps, Terry N