| Arteis02 | 24 Feb 2018 2:53 p.m. PST |
When we think of gunboats for colonial wargaming, we normally picture a chunky paddle-steamer chugging up the Nile, or a little steam launch chuffing down the Congo. However, few people know that gunboats were also used in New Zealand during the colonial period. I've just completed a model of the 'Avon', an armoured paddle steamer that plied the Waikato and Waipa Rivers during the colonial New Zealand Wars. Shes's converted from an el cheapo Chinese plastic toy! More pictures and background info here: link
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| Ivan DBA | 24 Feb 2018 3:01 p.m. PST |
Looks great! The link is not working though, just goes to a wordpress log in. |
| Arteis02 | 24 Feb 2018 3:04 p.m. PST |
Whoops – the link is now fixed. link Thanks for the heads-up. |
79thPA  | 24 Feb 2018 3:24 p.m. PST |
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| Zeelow | 24 Feb 2018 3:30 p.m. PST |
 !!
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| jurgenation | 24 Feb 2018 4:02 p.m. PST |
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| Cacique Caribe | 24 Feb 2018 4:18 p.m. PST |
Wow, maybe it could work for 15mm also. link Dan |
| Arteis02 | 24 Feb 2018 4:48 p.m. PST |
Absolutely, Dan. Obviously it would then portray a bigger boat. The original toy is 1/150 scale, so it all depends on the size of the superstructure you build on top of the hull. |
| Frederick | 24 Feb 2018 7:22 p.m. PST |
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| Ragbones | 24 Feb 2018 8:32 p.m. PST |
That's fantastic! Wonderful job. |
| Shagnasty | 24 Feb 2018 8:47 p.m. PST |
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| Basha Felika | 25 Feb 2018 2:16 a.m. PST |
That's a great conversion – what did you make the bow armour from? I expect a sudden surge in orders for the original boat – I know I'm tempted. |
| Fatuus Natural | 25 Feb 2018 4:53 a.m. PST |
Fascinating. Thank you, Arteis. I was born on the banks of the Waikato, and swam in it as a child. I never thought I'd see it featured on TMP. The river looks just as brown and turgid in your images as I remember it, and I'm sure I can see the roof of my cousins' house just peeping over the trees!. |
| JimSelzer | 25 Feb 2018 7:40 p.m. PST |
where can you get the base model from? |
| Arteis02 | 25 Feb 2018 8:48 p.m. PST |
I got it from Ali Express, Jim. Follow the two previous articles about it on my blog for more details and pics of the base model: link and: link |
| Arteis02 | 25 Feb 2018 8:50 p.m. PST |
Fatuous, believe it or not the brown river in my photos is just the top rail of my garden fence, where I took the photos! No modelling required at all! |
| Arteis02 | 25 Feb 2018 8:51 p.m. PST |
Basha. To make the armour I used off-cuts from plastic building kits by Plastcraft Games. |
| Big Martin Back | 26 Feb 2018 2:43 a.m. PST |
Great job. I wonder if I could make anything that great. |
| Cheriton | 27 Feb 2018 1:28 p.m. PST |
Areis2: Great conversion and inspiration! Prompted me to do some searching myself. The following article may be known among TMPers already, but… I found a PDF "Build Your Own Paddle Steamer" by Marcus L Rowland. Extremely informative and Mr Rowland intended it a being free to the public. It can be found online at PDF link and Marcus, many kudos to him, made the caveat: This file has been supplied as a FREE download; if
you are asked to pay for it please let me know!
forgottenfutures.com ~ link A Seach "DIY Strong Bow Paddle Wheel Plastic scale [ca 1/150] model" will bring up Ateis' own purchase source [Ali Express] and some others, including the rather versatile "Memphis Belle" by Lindbergh Models (plastic) of many years back. Unfortunately it also returns some kits for building one's own rubber dinghy powered by foot pedals. Oh well…. 
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| M C MonkeyDew | 28 Feb 2018 3:49 p.m. PST |
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looks at a multi-period building.
