Volvo FH 6X4 Update New chassis and suspension

Last week was a bit slow, but have some progress this week. The new set of drawing are progressing well, I have decided to show as much detail as possible. I have found that Beech is very nice wood to work with. Other than the dowels and bamboo skewers the wood is all Beech.

Volvo FH 6X4 Rear Suspension

Here is the start of the new rear suspension for the Volvo 6X4, I was not happy with the previous version and have opted for far more detail. So far the chassis profile  the leaf springs and stabilisers.

Volvo FH 6X4 Build

Some photo's of the Volvo FH truck that I am building, there is a lot of detail in these trucks, which with some thought can be reproduced quite nicely.

The drawings printed, cut out and taped together

Fifth wheel is in the wrong place

the drawings

Trebuchet

A working model of a Trebuchet, it shoots a marble 4 to 5 meters with ease, I bet a bit of tweaking and the range could be improved. I have a video link for a trebuchet build project that took place in Scotland, very interesting it shows the power of theses relatively simple machines.

You Tube Link Here

Download Here

A New project

I have been wanting to build an excavator model for my Grandson for quite some time, here is the start an idea becoming drawings.

Links to Downloadable PDF'S in Plans and Drawings

The following Plans now have downloadable PDF Links

• Bluenose
• HMS Revenge
• HMS Enterprise
• HMS Royal Caroline
• Period Ship Detail
• USS Constitution
• Prins Willem
• Vassa
• HMS Leopard
• La Licorne (Unicorn)
• HMAV Bounty
• HMS Resolution
• HMS Kingfisher
• HMS Serapis
• Royal Louis
• Frigate Raleigh
• Revenue Cutter Alert
• Le Phenix
• Schooner Benjamin W Latham
• Santisima Trinidad

More Books Added

18th Century Shipbuilding

Handbook of 19th Century Naval Warfare

Advanced Ship Modelling

Historic Ship Models

Planking Model Ships

More Books added to"Downloadable Books"

Detail and Scale USS Enterprise

Anatomy Of The Ship The Battleship Fuso

Anatomy Of The Ship The Battleship Yamato

Anatomy Of The Ship The Aircraft Carrier Victorious

Rigging Period Fore and aft Craft

William Rex Model of a 17th Century Warship

Bonhomme Richard Vs Serapis Flamborough Head 1779

Tides of History Ocean Science and Her Majesty's Navy

A Good Source of Hull Planking from Plywood

Below is a good way to make up your own hull planking material from plywood usually available from most hardware stores. Plywood is a good source of thin timber depending on the type of ply one chooses to use, some plywood is made up of very thin layers of veneer others are thicker.
The inner veneer layers are usualy thicker and good for first layer planking, this veneer is also a bit rough.

The first step is to choose the type of veneer you need, this is also dependant on the type of plywood available. Hardwood timber plywood is usually only available from more specialised timber merchants. Another source of good plywood is from older furniture ie wardroabs etc (I have removed the backing plywood from a number of old cabinets and replaced with masonite for my supply of plywood)

Step two is to soak the ply in water to delaminate the layers, depending on the glue used in the manufacturing process this can take a while. Avoid letting the plywood dry out before delaminating this must be done when the ply is still wet. Once delaminated lay the veneer out on old newspaper and alow to dry.

Step three is to cut the delaminated veneer into the required sizes to be cut into strips (the lenth of the strips required) and to coat the back of the veneer with white wood glue. The glue coating on the back makes the strip cutting process much easier and allows for straight cuts. Allow the glue to dry overnight.

Step four is to cut the veneer into strips of the correct width.

Step five is to apply  the cut strips to the hull of the ship as required.

I see plywood as a ship and not just a board, if you have old furniture in your garage have a look at the backing and in some cases the chipboard veneer, this is usually very thin but can be used. You may have what you need right under your nose.

New Years Eve And more strange Orange Lights in the sky

Last night the 31st Dec 2012 between 2030 and 2200, we spotted no less that nine of the orange lights (Orbs) in the sky. They appeared one at a time travelling mainly North to South or South to North, on two occasions one passed over the house no noise and below the cloud base as it was again overcast. Below are pics of what we saw.
Click on images to see full size image, in the first pick you can see the neighbors house and an outline of a tree.
All the pics were taken with the camera on a tripod, the movement is not camera shake but rather the object moving. We are also not the only people seeing these lights in South Africa, have a look at the site below. I wish someone could explain this phenomenon.

UFO SA Web site

Below is an entry posted on ufosa.co.za  by Edwarrd in Pretoria of a sighting last night.

Who saw the 3 orange lights just after 12 pm last night while watching the fireworks for 2013 in Pretoria. they moved very fast from north to south. The 1st one pass and then immediatedly thereafter the 2nd and then followed by the 3rd. not the same colour as last sigting but same size as previous moving opposite direction as last time… everyone that were in Pretoria last night watching the fireworks must have seen it!!!

EdwarrdJanuary 1, 2013