Thanks for the offer, but I've reverted to my librecad, which is fully functional and does file conversion as well as export and import dxf files.
It just not as easy to use without a graphics pad. Plus my old lenovo laptop isn't the quickest any more, originally on XP PRO, I upgraded the memory and the software to Windows 10.
I've got a 64bit compaq laptop on Windows 10 Pro but it has a power fault, which I can't trace.
Must try to find a laptop engineer who doesn't charge the earth to fix it.
But I'll manage for now, it keeps me occupied trying different ways of working.
Cheers Colin.

Hi Colin.
Trial versions often do not allow exports in anything other than their default extension, in the case of DraftSight that is DWG. I have the Professional version which cost £117. The standard version is around £79. The free version was withdrawn early in 2019 although my home version did not fail until November `20.
If you are stuck, just send the DWG to me and I will export in DXF and return to you.
Peter.

Hi Peter, I found it this morning and installed the trial version as there isn't a free version.
Imported the drawings I wanted to edit and had a go, not bad but harder to get my head round, then I tried to export the modified drawings as dxf but it keeps changing to dwg files. Which when loaded to the Cricut weren't sized correctly, but when sent to printer were ok.
Cheers Colin.

Hi Colin.
I just had to update my DraftSight at work and there was a 32 bit version for windows available.
Peter.

Thanks I will try it Solid Edge is about 2000Euro now, but is possibly the best CAD system available as used by Siemens and Dassault

Yep, there are limits to those old steam powered PCs Colin🤔
😎

Hi Peter, thanks but not available for my old 32bit system.
Cheers Colin.

Hi Colin.
DraftSight is a 2d design package which, in my opinion, is better than Autocad. It used to be free but last year they put an annual charge of £72. Still less than the £3,000 or so for Autocad. I have bought it and use it for all of my design work. I have just checked and the current cost is £79.
Peter.

Hi Ian.
Try Fusion 360. It is free, at the moment.
Peter.

Hi Colin
Been there I used Solid Edge but my new PC with windows 10 won't run it! Can't afford a new CAD package today.

Hi Colin,
If you can get 2mm Perspex or acrylic sheet for laser cutting (NOT the same) that's what you should use - Plastic shops usually have a bin full of offcuts - like B&Q do with MDF. Most of the specialist shops I found in UK were very helpful when you explained why you only needed a small quantity - even over the phone. Perhaps they know you will recommend them to other modelers & friends.
3mm is very much more difficult to cut - needs a lot more power on the laser - and does not bend well - when you heat & bend it forms bubbles in the material - don't ask how I found out................
As a last resort you could ask SLEC to cut them for you.

"If you want I will let you know how I get on."
Please do Colin👍
Nobody's perfect or really a 'Know All'😉
Sweet dreams U 2,
Cheers, Doug 😴💤💤💤

Hey Doug, makes a change me giving you information. If you want I will let you know how I get on.
I used to have autocad on my old works laptop but it won't work on my windows 10 laptop. And a new upto date version would cost a fortune.
Good night and sleep well my friend, cheers Colin.

Sounds good Colin👍
I have a Designer CAD package and dxf files are no stranger to me.
Used the same software for COMMS system schematics and rack layouts at work.
Thanks for the info😊
Cheers, Doug 😎

Doug, so far I'm only experimenting out of necessity, the Cricut software is very limited, but if you have a half decent cad package then that makes it very user friendly.
It can cut to a very accurate tolerance about 0.3mm. Checked with vernier.
Firstly you need to draw your cad drawing and save the dxf files, then you upload to the cricut design space software, put your drawing onto the canvas and position it for best cutting. Then click the make button, the software asks what material you are using, it then tells you to press the go button on the machine.
If all is OK then within a few minutes you will have your items.
This is still very new to me, and as I only have a basic drawing package I am limited, so I will be looking for a new drawing package as soon as I can.

Must admit I've been looking at the Cricut Maker Colin.
I'll probably bite the bullet just after I've realised that that was what I needed to do the job I've b*****d up😠☹️
I believe that there's a version that you can also fit an optional Laser cutter?
Cheers, Doug 😎

Marky, it cuts using various interchangeable blades.
And draws using interchangeable pens.
It can also engrave with its own special blade/nib thing.
It can draw, cut, emboss, deboss and engrave with an amazing amount of different materials up to 2.4mm thick.? But haven't tried that thickness, I've managed to do 1.6mm ply.
The blades are quite expensive to start with but thats because initially they are in the blade holder, from then on its just the blades which aren't too bad.
Look in your local Hobbycraft store, the machine is about £375. Ask if they have a demo machine that they can show you working. Our local shop had a demo day last November, thats when my wife got hers.
Hope this helps, cheers Colin.

Colin,does the crafting machine cut using a laser?
Cheers Marky👍

Well folks I was hoping to have new laser cut windows and frames by now, but I have been let down by the dreaded virus, factory closed just after they said they could do them for me.
So thanks to my wife's crafting machine which draws on and cuts out various materials including thin ply, plasticard, card, paper, cloth, leather and hopefully thin acrylic sheet.
It can cut items that fit on a 2ft by 1ft rectangular baseboard.
Using a free cad software package called librecad, I managed to import the dxf files that Redpmg did for me I was then abe to transfer the drawings to the machine software and so far have managed to cut out card blanks which I tried in the boat window apertures and after minor changes cut some more .
Mk3 set all fit, so tomorrow I will have a look through my acrylic sheets to see if I have a bit to try cutting.
Then I will try doing the same with the frames.
By the way, the machine is a Cricut Maker, and you download the dedicated software ,design space.
I know that it was only designed for light crafting but it is coping well with 1.6mm ply without any problems.
Will update again tomorrow if I can find any acrylic sheet.
Cheers Colin.
PS. The chair is my old office chair that the good lady has reupholstered for me.

Smart move Nerys
But best deal ever has to have been Classic Car insurance on my 69 MG Midget with an agreed valuation - all yours for 120 per year - included rescue to home anywhere on the UK & EU - not limited to any time period either..... Really cheap as there was no Road Tax - was used as an everyday runabout and tourer......... Bitterly regret selling it in 2009

Good move Nerys money saved is money earned .
Rick

Smart move young lady.
Cheers Colin.

Well, if insurance companies aren't downright dishonest they have some pretty sharkish ways.
Our car insurance is due. £325 from the existing insurer £60 up on last year. Went on line. Similar insurance but with 90days continental instead of 60 for £178. Bear in mind that I at 87 am named as a driver. What do you think we did?

Cheers, Nerys

Hi Nerys,
I have always maintained that insurance is a legalised form of theft
Have a good one
Ian

No doubt of that Nerys ..............as bad as each other............

Who were the bigger crooks, the people who stole your goods or those who stole your insurance money? Not much in it in my opinion.

Cheers, Nerys

Very strange that you mention Hollard !!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Living in SA isn't for the faint hearted.
Heres some pictures of the break in

Hi Red
Went through the ombudsman with photos and affidavits but Ho***rd were sneaky a tiny print clause said that receipts were required for any item stolen. I have a Bcom degree in Law and my mentor tried but to no avail.
Then Hollard gave me a debit card but only for certain stores was a bummer
Guess who changed insurers very quickly!!!😀😀

You pay out for insurance until you go to claim .Then it's did you read the fine print.Oh were sorry that item is not covered you forgot to dot the I.
Rick

That's a real nasty Ian - did you consult a lawyer - because all you needed was one and a few testimonials from other people who saw the lathe in your workshop - that plus the police report of the damaged wall should have done the trick - plus the value of the lathe is easily found via the net. Insurance companies here tend not to like lawyers much .
A few times I had a similar problem with claims - at the mention of handing it over to my lawyer usually did the trick - and as I came from a tribe of them no problem to do so (Father , Uncle & Brother All). Only one Insurer (car) held out but literally surrendered on the courthouse steps.........
One here IGI claimed they paid with no hassle - but actually hassled and did not pay . They went under but unfortunately the people who ran it took over a smaller company and now its one of the large ones again.

My workshop is now equipped with an instant armed response alarm separate from the house alarm as the workshop is 36 square metres and is freestanding. My problem was the insurance wouldn't payout due to me not having receipt! After 30 Years?

Ians' lathe would have been a big loss and hard to replace, and I know what you mean Colin about feeling comfortable, ( wondering "will they be back for the new ones"? - quite often happens) ☹️ Tools are a mans personal items and we become very attached to them (women don't usually understand😁) and if they are stolen it can be quite depressing. I moved to Fiji for 2 years and bought a lot of new tools to take with me. After about 6 months there, while at my wifes' sisters place for dinner, my house was burgled (got through the louvre windows and crow-barred the security grilles out of the inside concrete wall).

They stole most of my new tools (electronic jig saw, 2 drills etc) my wifes' new sewing machine, new stereo cassette, new 8mm video camera (unfortunately with a video cassette of my sons' early years and family stuff) and would have stolen my camera, but it was not in the bag with the lenses, and was in a box on a shelf above so they missed it.

They did find the the spare battery for the camera though. They went through my briefcase and everything else but missed my main hand tool toolbox in the laundry, which was under some clothes, which was a relief. Around 6 Fijian police officers turned up (after some persuasion on my part) and had a look round with a dog, but couldn't find any prints etc, as according to the detective, the thieves apparently wore socks on their hands (quite common). Police were quite good but could not do a lot. I lost about $2,500 worth of property in the end and had to cruise the pawn shops for replacement tools, as they were too expensive to buy new there. Hope you've got your boat collection well secured Colin!

I'm all for Sharia law for thieves😊
JB

My father would say.They will steal your eyes and then come back for the socket.
The other is.Locks are only for honest people.
Rick

Ian, that's awful, I would be devastated if my modelling machines disappeared, because the replacements never seem to have that familiar feeling.
We lost all our power tools during the rebuilding of our home in 2000, insurance replaced everything with new kit but it took me about 5 years to feel comfortable with it.
Cheers Colin.

They tried a few times with the Fake Electric Box - but the heavy duty steel 3/8 plate doors with reinforced edges held them out - plus two Abus padlocks, an inner security multi lever lock with upper & lower inner bolts on each door going into steel pipe embedded in steel reinforced concrete.............

They succeeded long after the club folded I believe - must have been quite hard work to get in even without the two Abus locks - should imagine they were a bit disappointed to find nothing inside except a few bits of paper...............

They broke through a wall in my and lifted my MyfordML7 Lathe a couple of years ago. We were sitting in the lounge and didn't hear a thing

A local used car dealer had similar issues, so installed a very expensive alarm and camera system. Three days later the burglars came back and swiped the security system and nothing else.
So now he takes all the valuable stuff out of the vehicles and leaves them unlocked, and not had any problems since.
Cheers Colin.

HI Ian, sounds like a situation my neighbour from SA was telling me about a few years back. He belonged to a boat club (full size boats) in his local area and they had a huge problem with theft from the club. They ended up spending a lot of money on security doors etc, but they had only been in place a short time when the 5 finger discount lads smashed a big hole through the concrete block back wall of the clubhouse when the bars stopped them! I think the club gave up in the end.
JB

Hi Red,
Gauteng Boat Club same place and set up obviously. The members have rebuilt the harbour and it looks good. Theft remains a major problem.

Hi Ian,
same place as it was it seems - wonder if our large fake Electric Box is still there ? - harbour & pole fence are probably long gone . The Electric Box was used to keep our F/Glass Duckboat type rescue boat - sign came from one of the members who worked for the Jobg Council Electricity Dept. Also used for resting models on between sailing. One of the members had a 1923 Rolls Silver Ghost which he would leave on compression stroke . After a sailing session to start he simply moved the magneto lever and the Rolls usually started instantly. Bob was the Curator of the War Museum but loved steamboats had 3 Saito engined model boats and a full size 19ft Steam Stuart Turner powered launch used on the Vaal. Many happy memories there.

Certainly would be a great drawcard. Those trucks are impressive.

What a wonderful show location.Being able to view the trucks and watch the boats.Hobbies working together to show their work to the public.
Rick

Thanks for the interest.
We are very fortunate to have a great place share the total area with:
Centurion Society of Model Engineers and Centurion R/C Truckers 1:14 Scale
We all meet on the same day
The photos I posted are of the boat club.
Here's some of the truckers whose track is between the carpark and the boat club.
The Model Engineers steam track runs around and across the dams and is nearly 2k's long
So we have a great drawcard!😀😀

Hi Rick
First thing is to reset the rudder and propshaft to correct alignment, strip old paint and repaint plus planking the deck and cockpit adding the screen, nav lights (proper ones) searchlight fairleads, cleats , fenders, deckrails, anchor and a rear dive platform plus some sort of instrument panel, seats etc. I will possibly try and find some colour similar to the blue!

I'm envious the area looks great for running boats.When ready will you be painting the same color .
Rick

Hi Red
The Johannesburg Model Boat Club at Emmarentia is now re opened as Gauteng Model Boat Club. ( Next to the Scouts Place).
Centurion is a great set up though

Hi Ian - been at Centurion long ago - we were invited as members of the Johannesburg Model Boat Club - the yachtsmen were all pulling their boats from the water when we set sail - my little 12" Lindberg Tug and friend Neville with his 6 ft Branksome Steam Launch.
Amounted to hurricane conditions for my tug - but no problems . Branksome simply continued as normal .............
Not been back since

Hi Colin,
Thanks! The location is great and we are in Spring, Sunday's temperature was 30 Degrees C.
We don't run any competitive sailing just guys bumming around with boats. No High Speed or IC engines

Nice looking sailing location. And your boat seems to sit nicely on the water.
Cheers Colin.