Brian.
I have been on this forum for some time, but not as long as I have been scroll/fret sawing, that started when I was just seven or eight, my uncle who was a cabinet maker gave me a hand fretsaw set for my birthday, my sister who is the artistic one would draw animal and Disney characters on to ply wood for me to cut out, that was many, many moons ago.
Yes, your photos are something special both the wild life and your macro work. I am still a member of the DPS, and visit the forum from time to time, plus the Pentax forum. I started with film photography approximately 1970, and did my own processing etc. However I have never really cracked the digital photo thing, never did achieve uploading images to the DPS forum, despite great help from yourself and John Abbott. It’s the same with this forum, no go with uploading photos, but I do keep a photographic record of my work. Computer skills near to zero and with this new Windows 8.1, its below zero. :?
Back to the subject of scroll saws, if you can stretch your budget to a Hegner, new or used you would not be disappointed, I will now be called a Hegner snob, but I have been called a lot worse. Regarding Parkside tools from Lidl, I think some are good, but others a bit iffy, I have a Parkside sliding mitre saw, orbital sander, and angle grinder all good (hobby use), but a belt sander stripped its gears after just a little work. :evil:
You said about designing some patterns, but if you want any free patterns to use or as ideas, Steve Good’s scroll saw workshop, web site is worth a visit, hundreds of free patterns covering many subjects.
http://www.stevedgood.com/web/catalog
Take care.
Chris R.