I recieved my Construction Guide and I have decided on an NSD and I have commenced purchasing stuff already.
Week 1
I have decided to make the dome first as this seems to be the hardest thing to start with. I never make it easy on myself. So I have commenced making the formerplatform and rig.
I made one (right) but I wasnt happy about the movement of the former due to the hole I made through my former. VERY BAD IDEA! Oh well if it had worked it would have been cool. oh well. So I cut another former and placed two peices of MDF on either side and then I took the slot part of a normal latch and attached it to the former. This I thought cant lose…
Oh yes it can…
Now the rod I used was on the thin side and seemed to be able to sway. OK if it was only slight but it moved up to 5mm. again VERY BAD!!!! so off to the hardware store again.
I bought a half inch rod, two 1/2 inch long lugs and big washers, some araldite (super strong metal on metal glue), a Dynabolt (for its metal sleeve), some metal ribbon and a couple of nuts.
I attached the sleeve of the dynabolt to the former with some of the ribbon and a couple of screws on each side (ofcourse then taking it all apart to trim the former of the excess from the thicker rod and rig. Then put it all back together.
note: the mark on the sleeve is the centre line that had to line up with the mark on the former template (paper the former is resting on).
I then glued one of the washers down to the board and then glued one of the lugs to the washer.
This should allow me to screw the rod up into the table and if I need to remove it from underneath later without harming the mould.
Now I am ready to cut my polystyrene. As you can see I have already started. Some people say you can cut this stuff with a craft knife, others say surrated but I am using a normal electric carving knife and it seems to be working well.
Anyways off to bed and I will try to keep the pics and info flowing. It is my hope that this diary will help me keep track of stuff and help other Aussie builders with my findings.
