It's been a long time since Quigley left. ( One of my favorite movies). Also like watching those Murray River steamers.

Lewzz I wonder if I can pick up a roll in western Australia at a good price

I bought some odorless ABS filament from QIDI recently. Works nicely. My printer is roughly a 2x2x2 foot cube. I need space around it as it is sitting on a turntable so I easily reload the filament. Works fast with good result, especially for the price. Don't know why people put the power switches on the back of devices that are often turned on and off.

@Ronald thanks I will look him up

@ColRay

Col your best to communicate with Stephen in Admin on this through a personal message. Have a chat with him.

what not another question : For the Mods of Members in the Knowledge.
How do I transfer posting about the Bluebird launch I'm working on from this section > into the new blog I have started in the 'Builds ' section.
or can I just duplicate the images without rocking the boat Col.

@ColRay
Hi Colin, welcome from me.
We're certainly interested in your work.

Yeah Lew that's a nice bit of kit and something I can only dream of having!
I have a small, open bed-slinger type so very restricted on the materials i can use. Lack of space and the wife's ever-shortening patience with my hobbies expanding more and more into her living space, means absolutely nothing bigger than I already have....😳

@LewZ That's a nice looking printer. Col.

ABS is what I use about 95% of the time, actually now 100% as I gave up on PLA and TPU. A day ago I installed a chamber heater in my QIDI X-Smart-3, and my first print looks like a big improvement. If you print with ABS and having a lot of trouble with splitting and strength as well as looks, this might be the cure. Going to do more printing this week. In the photo of the printer the heater can seen inside the back right corner. It is a Chitu model HT and is about $US 52 on Amazon. It is a fairly easy install, but needs to be inside the enclosure. Max temperature is 70C.

ABS can be weld cemented with model cement as well as with superglue. ABS to ABS, ABS to styrene, ABS to PVC. No issue with degrading like the old traditional PLA. (There are new alternatives out there as well.)

3D printing problem , but soon fixed with Tinkercad

@jostro65 That's really nice .. I like it! Col.

Hello jostro I did try a roll of PLA+ had no end of problems so normal PLA is fine for my boat Col.

@ColRay. yeah I also stuck to pla with intention of plenty of varnish coats to help keep it dry inside. I don't have the facility to use ABS which is what a few 3d guys have suggested for the toughness.
Keep the updates coming, be interesting to watch and look forward to seeing it afloat.

As you can see I document the good bad and indifferent.
Most of my working days were spent in the darkroom as a commercial printer. Col

@jostro65 Over the years I have made many models from all types of materials .

Hello Jos Because when it comes to uncharted waters with my 3D venture and asl taking into account the quality of the prints it's churning out , keep it easy and go for Elegoo PLA yes, I realize this isn't the best choice but it's giving results . The way will finish is with spray on epoxy and may be a coat of fiber glass cloth Col.

@ColRay Hi Col, what filament are you using, and are you using the same material for the complete build?

Hi Col,
interesting to see yet another member looking at more use of 3d for the larger parts rather than for detailing.
After reading a post recently I decided to give it a go and have to say, I'm pleased with the results, although contrary to a previous statement I made on this very site, I do feel like I cheated 🫣, or at least took a big shortcut in "building" my boat. I've been working on a PT boat for over a year on and off, trying to figure out electrics and waterproofing, yet in 2 weeks I've built a fully functional, almost 4 ft, battleship, although it's yet to see a proper pond. (The files for this build were very kindly loaded onto makerworld for free by JKnittel). I'm almost afraid to take it to the local model boat club in case I offend the true craftsmen who created masterpieces from a few boards and a pot of glue!

Thanks Garry glad you like the barge. It hadn't been the wet stuff for so many years then one day last year I thought give it a spring clean and take it for a meander around the harbour, that was part one of the project the end game was add a small pinhole camera, that I will also make well that's another story, okay pin back your ears.
For the past decade I have taken part in Worldwide PinHole photography Day and the plan was take a nice harbour shot who said the best plans can always come unstuck, well mine did , after so many years sitting in the front room and not seeing the light of day I wasn't sure if the sails could handle the harbour..so the whole venture was cancelled.

Welcome Aboard Colin!!!
It's always a pleasure to meet new folks and view their work! The barge is wonderful and keep those pix coming of the Bluebird of Chelsea.
👍 😉

Hello Phil as requested a few snaps of t my latest project.
As you can see from the captions it has changed , now going just fine Col.
First five plates

Hello Ed part of Albany on the southside of the harbour in the suburb of Little Grove , yes I have a nice sailing pond just a short distance from my home Col.
Snap of a Thames barge I made over 45 -50 years ago resting on the local pond

Hi Colin, which small town, I have travelled around the area between Mandurah and Augusta twice in the past. My daughter lives in Perth.

Hi that would be great please post some photos be good to see your work
Philuk👍