Shiny!
Inching along on the scooter project. As I get closer to the finish line I seem to be encountering more and more fussy details that make it seem like it is taking forever. None the less it is these little details that I believe are going to make or break the project. The biggest step forward this week was the resolution of the side rails and floor panel. Not a huge step in itself, but it finally unified the front and rear end so that I am dealing with one shape instead of two.
Sunday, November 18, 2007
The transition between the floor panel and the front end now begs attention, but this problem is minor compared to fitting the rails and floor in the first place. For anyone wondering, the rails were fashioned from street lamp posts.
The dash board has come a long way too. I have finally settled on the placement and design of the meters. There may be some turn signal indicators mounted in the flat panels on either side too, we’ll see.
I had to throw this image in to prove a point. People always ask how I figure out these projects. The answer: I do it wrong first. This was the initial attempt. It took about a day and a half, looked wrong and wound up in the scrap bin. But it got me to where I could come up with a design that worked, so I suppose it was time well spent.
I have managed to mount the original fuel and temp gauges inside the antique meter housings. Some custom scales will have to be printed somehow, and the gauges calibrated. The speedometer, as mentioned earlier will be a pair of nixie tubes (only one shown).
This nixie tube design is dependent on the wisdom of Rich Humphrey, shown here connecting the battery with his teeth. What could possibly go wrong?
For those wondering why he had to use his teeth, well, his hands were full and I couldn’t help him and embarrass him with this photo at the same time could I?
I also found the patience to attack the license plate enclosure. A boring detail that I’m actually kind of pleased with. I thought I would add this image just to show off my fancy home made welding clamp. This thing has proven to be totally indispensable for TIG welding curved pieces of aluminum together.
That’s it for now. More electrical work planned this week and hopefully a test flight soon.
