While I am deeply envious of your workshop and your fabrication skills I am most jealous of your 'eye'. Your yachts all look fantastic. Can't wait to see how these new ones go!
Thank you Mr. Clark for the nice compliment, waited to reply when I had something else to share.Finished frame and applied the boat shrink wrap. Fairly happy with result. Thought I was on to something new, but son's friend stopped by last evening and knew exactly what I was doing because they use same concept on energy efficient vehicle at tech school. Would like to thank Sabydent also for donating a 2.9m sail to the cause, really appreciate that. Thank you.
Needs a fabric seat, but weight now is 55 lbs.
looking good! The covering looks like solafilm, a thin iron-on/heatshrink plastic coating used to cover model aircraft Nice and light
Yes its the heavy duty stuff, not sure of the mil, local marina sold me a 6'x50' piece for 15 dollars, have enough to do quite a few more. Different mils available online, saw a spec of 250 lb per sq. ft. Tried to sew at first because I like the look, but if I made one mistake or the machine hiccupped there wasn't a satisfactory way to correct. Used a soldering iron with a small steel wheel to run the seams.
Very cool oldMXer !!! Love it. Any chance of covering those rear spoked wheels with that plastic stuff ? I would hate to get the main sheet caught up in those.
Stunning to say the least. I think you have raised the bar and I am sure we all look forward to a video of it in action.
WOW!!!!!!!!!!
could you put up some more details of the material and some photos of the technique you used. one of our builders here is looking at a skin on frame body at the moment
Here's a link with decent info.http://www.bigshrink.com/Boat-Shrink-Wrap_c_7.html Googled boat shrink in Australia and your marinas do have it. Material will melt to itself, found that using a backer material (wood,metal) to absorb some heat gave a more controlled melt, heat an inch or two at time and press together. Steel wheel was 1/4in wide, future will go 1/2in, maybe larger iron. Seemed and fitted much like sewing, around openings triple layered and in future will allow for an inch of shrinkage for this size of covering. Once in place use a heat gun to shrink. Preshrink photo and tools.
There is tape available, didn't use any, does not shrink, but would probably make it easier to install if used in hidden areas, good to fix holes. I'm sure there is better techniques out there, but that's part of the learning curve. Don't know how much abuse it can take, all I can do is try.
shrink wrap the bacon !!!! reminds me of fabric aircraft restoration.. I used to help a friend refurbish fabric airplanes... Pitts, cubs... it seems like it could work well here too.
we would stitch around the ribs and then we pute dope on it and seal it and shrink it..paint , light and durable
OK! OM,
I think I have a name for you.. The side profile imeadiatly reminded me of a German WW2 Air Craft that didn't get a lot of Ais Play but did do quite some damage when it Did.. "The Flying Flea" That should be a suitable name.......Don't you think???
Ron
the original flying flea was a set of plans sold to homebuilders, sales pitch was something like "if you can hammer in a nail- you can build this plane"
not surprised it didnt take off too well (unintentional pun)
I think the one Ron is refering to was the messerschmidtt 163 rocket powered jobbie. (comet?)
stephen
Yep! Dats de one..
Evidently they had a problem with the fuel tanks splitting open on landing and the Hydrogen Peroxide and Hydrosene fuels would spill out and often destroyed the pilots face. I do not know if this is true but I did read somewhere years ago about it and it was said that there were faceless pilots living in Germany.
Ron
Its been named "F#ckers Done". Finished seat tonite. Used a nice mesh. Wheelbase is 61" long, 54" wide adjustable +/- 3". Forecast tomorrow looks good, hopefully get out and test a little.
What a NEAT rig!!!!
That tyvek sail is a work of art, not to mention the artistry with the flowing curves below it.
Oresome!!!!! With 5 stars........
Received 2.9m sail today. In very good shape, like the colors, will look good on a yacht. Thank you again Sabydent. Hope to test my theories soon. Snow shovel for scale reference.
You might have to get another frame of reference for the Aussies. "Snow shovel? WTF is a snow shovel?"
Yeah! Saby.. Suuuwwwweeettt! Cheeky Sod. We do get a little snow on Ben Lomond and around Miena and I think they get a little on Buller and Kosciusko.
Ron
; I forgot to mention Mt Wellington-------But----------- It is forgetable