Topic: Greetings from a beginner in Oz (Read 3255 times)

Mosketo · « **on:** September 26, 2008, 12:56:18 pm »

Gday everyone!

I'm based in Wagga Wagga - about 5 hours drive inland of Sydney, NSW in Australia. There are 2 quite active groups in my town, one of them builds 1:72 scale boats (mainly military) and subs. They are part of a group called "Task Force 72" (www.taskforce72.org/FleetBaseWaggaWagga.htm). They have some seriously good models that spend very little time in the water. The other group (that I am a part of) makes boats for everyday sailing, we meet twice a week to enjoy our models, the are some photos of our models at www.safralou.com/boats/. My boat is the "Pax Virbiscum" sailboat which was given to me by one of the other enthusiasts. We also have a live steam society that builds steam engines, they meet monthly and take people for rides etc. Some of the guys from there also build steam powered boats which you can see on that page linked above.

So thats my story :) I'm quite new to the hobby, but like most hobbies I get into I've been reading everything I can on the subject. I have begun building a simple plywood hull for an electric boat identical to the "Moonglow" on the page linked above. As a first timer, I'm finding it a little difficult to get my head around how it's all put together, hopefully it will all click sooner or later. I have an old 540 motor and an ESC from an R/C car that will go in there, watercooled if needed. At the moment my most pressing question is: "What tools would people recommend I purchase to start a modest modelling workshop? I've only recently gotten married and moved, so I have only very basic tools so far: Drill, jigsaw, basic socket set etc.

I'm enjoying this very much sofar

ronkh · « **Reply #1 on:** September 26, 2008, 01:40:21 pm »

Welcome Mosketo,

You will find a very knowledgable and clever bunch of people on here who, no doubt, should answer your question as soon as pos. In the meantime - enjoy!

Ron.

Martin (Admin) · « **Reply #2 on:** September 26, 2008, 01:59:09 pm »

Crumbs! Mosketo wasn't joking, there really is such a place!
http://maps.live.com/default.aspx?v=2&FORM=LMLTCP&cp=-35.109866~147.370515&style=r&lvl=13&tilt=-90&dir=0&alt=-1000&phx=0&phy=0&phscl=1&where1=Wagga%20Wagga&encType=1

Tools:
Large cutting mat
small cutting mat
2 or 3 size metal handled "snap off blade" type knives.
razor saw fine tooth
Small bench vice
"Dremel" type drill / hand tool
large and small soldering iron
sheets and sheets of sand paper / Emery cloth
Several metal rulers
large and small set square
set of small pliers
Florescent bench light
etc. etc...........

Ron1 · « **Reply #3 on:** September 26, 2008, 02:47:14 pm »

Hi , I have met the lads from Wagga Wagga while I was in OZ , we were at a show in Barham, they had traveled 500 miles with there car and trailer, inside a 20 ft carrier, what a great bunch of guys, even asked did I want to sail there carrier.

1 carrier coming out of the trailer, video camera built in side comected to a PC.

2 on the water.

3 there HMAS Sydney

Weeds · « **Reply #4 on:** September 26, 2008, 05:35:17 pm »

I buy tools as the need arises which is best use of my money. I used to buy ahead of time: a set calipers, ruler, and a drill press and realize it was a mistake, three years later.

Mosketo · « **Reply #5 on:** September 27, 2008, 03:37:35 am »

Ha - yeah Martin, there are some strange names in this country. As I was told when I first came here, only the supremely energetic call it Wagga Wagga! I'll look into those tools you listed there.

That big carrier is the USS Enterprise, it's a monster (4.6 meters) but many of the smaller models are far more detailed and impressive. Actually, the (real) USS Enterprise is the longest carrier ever built, though not the biggest.

Here's some pics of some of the Task Force 72 models: