Greetings from Alberts Workshop. Read on for an update of progress on 'Cats Paws'.
With the keel fin nicely shaped and firmly glued to the keel it's time to design and build the keel weight. We've come this far without a proven design plan so why change now.? It's a one off......lets start and go on a journey....
A bulb keel, that's what I want. Think it will look the business. Made in the old skool way....by hand without the aid of AI or C.A.D. Out comes the 'rack of't eye', and a bit of old sandpaper for a finishing rub down. So, before your very eyes a wood off-cut firmly clamped in the lathe will be transformed into a casting pattern. (Hopefully).
Next task make a mould from it.....pour in some old fashioned lead and hey presto!!!! Done. (Not quite that quick, there's more too it than that.
So, as I said, wood firmly clamped in the lathe, face well away from the expected firing line (should it decide to break free and fire it's self across the workshop) after a bit of cutting the final shape started to appear. A shape looking more and more like a Flash Gordon 1950s rocket. I like it.....a lot!
Finally smoothed with the old sandpaper it was time to mix a batch of Plaster of Paris and cast some moulds. I wrapped the mould in cling film to aid release rather than try a wax and polish.
3 moulds were cast to a half way depth. I needed the finished lead weights to be in halves so I can clamp 2 of them to some sort of plate attached to the keel fin. (the third was a spare....)
These were set aside for drying which has to be a thorough job or there may be a risk of explosion when the hot lead meets the damp mould. Wooweee!
Next job will be metal casting. You've got to agree the excitement is building as I venture deeper and deeper into the unknown. Stay tuned and join me next time when there's bound to be smoke...fire....molten metals...and hopefully no exploding plaster!
Alb over and out.
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