A sort of interlude
While the world attempts to rip itself apart, life in the Manor continues peacefully apace.
I may have mentioned my new little hobby? I confess that the memory continues to play tricks and one feature is that I can’t remember what I have scribbled in the past. In fact I will probably forget what this is about before I finish scribbling.
So, before I forget, my new “thing” is to make stuff out of plywood. I have previously constructed a little marble-run which is great fun [little steel balls shooting around troughs and spirals before arriving at the start where they wait their turn to start the journey again]. I also have a little telescope which is not only attractive but it actually works [it came with a set of lenses so it’s not all ply].
My latest project is a bugger. It contains well over a couple of hundred parts which all have to be assemble in sequence. The project requires endless patience and attention to the minutest detail in the instructions. It also pays to have strong nimble fingers, as all the parts have to be pressed together using a fair amount of force. There isn’t glue in any of the models and it all relies on incredibly precise size of each piece.
What is it? Well, I’ll leave it up to you to decide. If it works, it should be quite spectacular, but that “if” is a big one. Any one piece that is slightly out of position could cause it to fail but it will still look impressive.
I still have quite a way to go and the next bit is possibly the hardest. I like to do a bit at a time and only when I feel like it. I have no idea when it will be finished.
As Herself says – it at least keeps me out of trouble?
Looks like a clock. I have been (slowly) working on the steam locomotive model for a while now. Some of the parts are very tricky to connect, and there is always the concern that forcing it will snap a vital part.
Looks like a clock to me too.
Is there a prize if we guess correctly?
Do I detect a fellow traveler in the strange world of plywood? Where do you get yours, Gunker [if you don’t mind me asking]?
Maybe a model of the solar system
A clock is nearer the answer. Its full name is a Sky Watcher Tourbillon Table Clock. The mainspring and the digital display are contained in the main body while all the gearing and escape mechanism is contained in a sphere at the top which rotates in just about every direction.
An orrery?
Looks horribly complicated, I have a much simpler ply model dragon that flaps it’s wings, a Christmas present from dear daughter who thinks old blokes in their 70s should stick to simple non-physically stressful activities. It’s still in the box waiting for enthusiasm.
I really am not sure what happens when it runs apart from the fact that everything seem to rotate in three dimensions. Yes, it is complicated but if the detailed instructions are followed very carefully then all you really need is patience. It is quite fascinating watching a few sheets of plywood gradually grow into something that actually does something. I have a fascination with clocks which is why I chose to try that one.
Is your the Windstorm Dragon? Heh!
Oddly enough yes, I do have a Windstorm one, although the one I had in mind was another simpler one by Tinberkits (I think)
Do not trust it.
When the countdown display reaches 00:00 who knows what disaster will strike.
The World will have reached peak stupidity. Etc.