U.F.O. in progress
A while back I picked up a heavy duty aluminum floor polisher and thought, “This would make a bitchin’ U.F.O”. I may not have actually thought the word “Bitchin’”, but it feels like the correct term now. This piece is still a good way from being finished but it is at a point that I think is worth sharing.
Monday, October 13, 2008
The pilot of this vessel was the motor casing on an electric jackhammer. A pair of glass taxidermy eyes (Albino Antelope to be precise) provide a little personality.
The idea actually began with a slightly larger floor polisher than the one I ended up using. While the details of the original one were more appealing, the opening in the top did not match the glass lamp dome I had picked out for the cockpit. It was also ridiculously heavy by comparison, and I feared that it would be too thick for my welder.
This image shows some of the preparation of the parts. I used propellor castings from boat motors for the wings (yes I realize most U.F.O’s don’t have wings). I wanted them to spin, but not so fast as to remove fingers so I used electric screwdriver motors. Mounting them required turning aluminum bushings on the lathe and took far longer than it should have.
You can also see the fittings for the eyes being made. They will be back lit with red LED’s (see below).
Below are some preparations for the underside. Since the piece will be “flying” I wanted it to glow underneath. I had to use a piece of cable to make a sort of compass for the plasma cutter in order to get a decent looking circular hole for the flange.
Parts welded up, prior to sanding.
I have an old “medical” stool that sways its victim back and forth for some reason that is unknown to me. I replaced its motor with a slower one, and to my delight found that it fits inside an old record player cabinet. This will eventually be the stand for the piece.
