Made a start on my petal extensions ..

[Vipersan]

Now I'm back in panic mode ..
This time just used Latex on the mould ..
let it dry for a full day ..and this evening set about the second panel ...this time with chopped fibre glass re-enforced backing and edging..
Just got it complete and was about to carry it outside to let the fumes dissipate for a few hours ..when ..bang ..an almighty thunderclap ..and the heavens opened ..
Improvised a bivouac for 90 % of the mould by tipping the entire contents of a recycle bid in the middle of the back yard ..
just bottles and plastic ..so should be relatively easy to clean up tomorrow ..
Plastic sheet over the bit of mould sticking out ...but inaccessible ..so I can't keep an eye on it..
My worry ..
that this time using latex only ...it may prove tricker to remove the wing from the mould..particularly as it will be less flexible due to the chopped strand..
Doh!!
we shall see ..
rgds
VS

 

[Vipersan]

..Sod the Wax ....Latex is the key ...
A giant condom for your fabrication...
Only 2 hours after manufacture ...the wing was easily removed from the mould ..
..and I suspect ..thats another key element ...get it out before it totally hardens..
Cue for a smutty pun ....anyone ..???
Nice ..I'm off for a bath now ..
Hospital tomorrow ...but I shall sleep well knowing ..I have ..I think ..the answer..
Yes the mould requires extensive cleaning after each cast ..but well worth it..
Here are a couple of quick pics of the mould post extraction ..and the newly formed ..wing number 2 ..
..and its stronger and holds its shape much better than wing 1 ..
So maybe I'll redo that one ..
We shall see ..
rgds
VS

 

[sonnetpete]

...get it out before it totally hardens..

Isn't that the Irish method?

Cue for a smutty pun ....anyone ..???

Only too happy to oblige......

 

[Vipersan]

Ok ..2 panels cast and rough edges removed ..so I had to offer them up to Christina ..to check they meet at the radial seems..
Oh joy ..they do ..
and are almost exactly 1 width arc segment each petal..
So taped into place briefly with duct tape ..and quick photos taked before the tape gave up ..
The problem I feared all along is very evident ..
The boiler flue outlet which may well foul Christinas westard movement at 55 and 58 West ...
A solution will have to be found which involves either shortening the plastic flue cap by about an inch ..
or taking a small bite out of the relevant wing when completed..
But ..here are the pics so you can judge for yourselves.
rgds
VS

 

[Lazarus]

I think you've presented the overall design concept not to best advantage: Perhaps you intended to say that you'd incorporated winterisation measure; vis-a-vis on-demand background heating through an environmentally neutral convected heat recirculation technique?

 

[Vipersan]

I think you've presented the overall design concept not to best advantage: Perhaps you intended to say that you'd incorporated winterisation measure; vis-a-vis on-demand background heating through an environmentally neutral convected heat recirculation technique?

...
LOL ... ...now why didn't I think of that ..
Cheers Gordon
VS

 

[aceb]

A solution will have to be found which involves either shortening the plastic flue cap by about an inch ..
or taking a small bite out of the relevant wing when completed..

Do you really expect any of us to believe you'll sacrifice part of the dish for an inconvenient gas flue? Just go and get the hacksaw and be done with it :-righton

 

[Topper]

Well it certainly is looking the business there VS.....I would recommend moving the house wall back a couple of inches as the wall is probably easier to move than the dish mount assemblyHumping

 

[Vipersan]

Took a break from casting wings ..
..will resume on Sunday ..weather permitting .
There seemed little point until I had at least mounted one to see how it actually fit ..
Fairly snug I think ..and can pack a little to alter each wings tilt ..
So since it was bright and dry when I got home from work ..I set about cutting the first tripod slot ..drilling and mounting 1 wing..
You'll notice I've chosen to straddle each petal joint 2/3 :1/3 ...as this seemed logical..
Here are the pics ..including a very rare pic of me offering up the second wing ..
My neighbour grabbed my camera and snapped me in action ...
I don't like being on photo's ..but you might as well see it ..
;)
rgds
VS

 

[sonnetpete]

..including a very rare pic of me offering up the second wing ..

I don't know VS......there's a photo of a young bloke with an earring.......surprised you let him near your dish O-Ha

 

[Vipersan]

I don't know VS......there's a photo of a young bloke with an earring.......surprised you let him near your dish O-Ha

..thanks for that compliment Pete ...but sadly the outer shell belies the truth ..
..and I suspect the hanging skin under my chin gives the game away ..
..and yes ..in fact ..2 earings ..1 diamond stud ...and a gold sleeper on t'other side.
..what you get for being a 54 year old with a mental age of 24.

rgds
VS

 

[mouse3]

Well done,extension looks like factory made...when are ready for testing ?

 

[Channel Hopper]

..thanks for that compliment Pete ...but sadly the outer shell belies the truth ..

then it must be a ripe pus filled zit, how much proof of youth does one need ?

 

[BM300]

Great work, hope it produces the desired result.

I wish I were there to give you a hand.
Reminds me of when I was installing the external panels on a 14 feet paraclipe to convert it to a 16 feet dish.

An important point to look out for is having the surface of the extentions level with dish, otherwise you will end up with a multi facal dish.

Looking forward to your final hard work reward.
Good luck

 

[Vipersan]

Great work, hope it produces the desired result.

An important point to look out for is having the surface of the extentions level with dish, otherwise you will end up with a multi facal dish.

Good luck

Totally agree BM ...though this is less crucial because it will for thr the most part be used in C band..
From what I've read ..this allows a tollerance of 9mm max ..believe it or not ..
Not that I want the final result to be a cm out ..but I might be glad of this small ammount of room for manoeuvre
rgds
VS

 

[sonnetpete]

otherwise you will end up with a multi facal dish.

Well, it'll be better than a multi fecal dish.....though I can think of one large dish that has that reputation....

 

[Vipersan]

...3 down ..3 to go...
The highest wing on the right is fresh from the mould this morning ..and still tacky ..
I now prefer to bolt these straight to Christina as the final curing stage is better done in situe..
Still needs edge tidying on this wing ...but not until its finally cured.
rgds
VS

 

[BM300]

Well, it'll be better than a multi fecal dish.....though I can think of one large dish that has that reputation....

Nice one sonnetpete,

It should have been Multi-focus dish.

That is what happens when you type fast without rechecking what you have typed.

 

[Channel Hopper]

...3 down ..3 to go...
The highest wing on the right is fresh from the mould this morning ..and still tacky ..
I now prefer to bolt these straight to Christina as the final curing stage is better done in situe..
Still needs edge tidying on this wing ...but not until its finally cured.
rgds
VS

You do know the UK is expecting some three days of heavy rain, from tomorrow.

 

[Vipersan]

...1 more to cast m8's...
2 missing from the circumferance ...but one curing in the sun ..freshly cast about 8 am this morning ..
Here are the pics..