I didn't make the signs because we'e having printer/WiFi problems with some new Time Warner Equipment. I did finally print out the graphic. Instead I worked on the Airslide Hopper. This was supposed to be a simple job to fill the time between major projects.
All was going well until...
I glued on the side panels, end panels and some bottom trim. The I scored and glued on the very thin wood top roof sheet. This conforms to the slight (8°
slope. It also extends out about 3/4" on each end. Did I say it was thin...? I also started to manufacture the brace framing on the end starting with the upper end roof stiffeners.
This picture clearly shows the roof overhang and the thinness of the material.
I cut the reinforcements from 1/8" sq" brass tube. It's a little over-sized and robust, but I didn't want to got to the hobby shop today so I used what I had. I measured the angle of the roof peak and made a sanding fixture to put that angle onto the brass' ends. I then made another fixture to hold it in that position for soldering.
I pinned it to the soldering pad and first tried using the mini-torch. It was over kill. I then switched to the resistance unit and it worked well.
I then solder the flank pieces to the ends of this assembly.
This was just sitting there. I probably won't glue the brass into the car until it's mostly all assembled since soldering and wood don't go well together. Then while holding the car up to check the fit of this piece I proceed to loose my grip on it and drop it on the concrete floor, severely damaging the roof over hang on one end and the lower body extension.
What a freak'n mess! I don't usually do this. Or... when I do do it, I tend to get lucky and not do catastrophic damage. I simply can't glue it all together since it would look awful. I don't know where to find bass wood that thin. I could use some very thin aircraft ply and either laminate to the existing roof, or somehow remove the roof with wrecking anything else and replace it with ply. I'll get the ply tomorrow and see what works best. Like I said... it's a piece of cake compared to the substation. Yeah! Right!
