Working the Dome

Today it is the birthday 201 of Argentina, holiday, cloudily, freshly, and a perfect day to continue with the Dome. After lunch and until dinner I worked non-stop cutting, drilling and sanding the Dome. I used a jigsaw, a drill, a nail file and a sand paper.

Horseshoes!!

Today I went to Customs for my ultra lightened "super diet" aluminium Horseshoes!! Thanks Guy for this run. Can't wait to finish the legs!

MDF Ankles

Today I bought 3mm MDF wood for the ankles. I draw the outlines and cut 3 layers together to obtain 9mm for each side and then I put some glue between the layers. This thickness is to fit specifications. I still have to reduce the thickness of the bottom of the ankle a little bit, but I will do it once I finish the feet.

Leia Hologram message

Trying to simulate Leia hologram using AE. The raw video was produced by Chris Lee. You can download the mp4 file from here.

Legs, first steps.

I made my first steps as a carpenter, so results might not cover the expectation of the perfectionists ;-) I used the template made of styrene to draw the outlines on the plywood and then cut it with a jigsaw (thanks Leandro for this tool!!). As I don't have a garage I set up my work space in the second room :-)






I cut 2 layers of 20mm for each leg to obtain 40mm of thickness. To get 44,45mm according to blueprints I will put styrene skins of 2mm. For the ankle I will glue a MDF layer of 10mm on each side to match blueprint's specifications.

Legs

Today I started to build the legs. I did a template out of left over styrene. Tomorrow I will start to figure out how to match the thickness of blueprints for plywoods, because I have them in 20mm.

Cylinder Ankle Experiment

OK, today I went to the main local hardware store (like Home Depot) to see if I can get a PVC cylinder to do the Cylinder Ankle. I found a PVC pipe 2mm bigger than blueprints specifications but I took it for practicing. Here is what I did in my first attempt.







I cut the PVC pipe, marked the thin lines and sanded down the edges. With a cutter and a lot of effort I removed the center. I think that the next one it will be more accurate to blueprints. And after painting it should looks well.

Sanding the Dome

Today I finished sanding the Dome and its parts. I did it watching River Plate loosing so some parts might be more sanded than others...jeje! ;-)

Plywood for legs!

Yesterday I received from Valeria & Diego (thanks!) a few cuts of Plywood remaining of the construction of their house. They are 20mm thick; later I will see how to match Blueprint's specifications.

Octagon Ports

Update: I sanded down the first Octagon Port to glue the center circles. Tomorrow I will upload it finished.




The black nail file retires, it was the first one and lasted enough!



Yesterday I'been doing the Octagon Ports, using the outer/inner skin cuts, and some styrene bought locally. I did two, I'm not happy with the first one, inner cuts are too thin. The second one is more accurate according to Blueprints :-)

Still I need to sand them and to glue all parts together, it took me almost all the weekend along with Dome sanding, but it worth it!

Sanding Rockler Bearing

Following CuriousMarc's instructions but with local tools, I sanded and polished the Rockler Bearing. It tooks some time and effort but it works!



After sanding and polishing outer ring.

Body parts

Now I have to sand and paint these parts, Side Vents, Coin returns and Pocket Vents!!! But I still need to finish the Large Data Port, I will do it when I receive my Frame.