Walt's Puffer Too T-Bucket Altered

[Codi]

You're really back into the swing Brad.  Nice job.  Tim

[Mooneyzs]

Brad... I will be patiently waiting for your next update.

[gasser59]

Thanks so much for your interest fellas. It keeps me motivated.

Here's a few pictures of the making of the steering wheel center. I have some thicker printing plate that's 0.01" thickness and it holds up to more handling than the thinner stuff I have which is 0.007" in thickness. Sorry for the lack of image quality. I had to use my phone as my camera battery was dead and I really didn't want to wait for it.

First I drew out the 3 spokes on the aluminum stock and then scribed them so I wouldn't rub off the marker by handling it. Then using  my cut-off wheel, did a rough cut just outside of the scribe marks.

http://i437.photobucket.com/albums/qq96/flyfshr/Scale Auto Builds/Walts Puffer Too/SWheel1_zps2qsrer4n.jpg

This next shot is of the piece cut out and sanded with the holes drilled in the spokes. The holes get slightly smaller as they go away from center. I used an oversized bit turned by hand to remove the burrs sand smooth out the edges of the holes. The styrene wheel in the shot(s) is what i'll use for the outer ring. I'll cut the spokes down to fit this ring, probably tomorrow.

http://i437.photobucket.com/albums/qq96/flyfshr/Scale Auto Builds/Walts Puffer Too/SWheel3_zpsqs7utnby.jpg

And finally, here's a couple shots of the finished piece after the spokes were bent forward.

For the center, I have a hole punch that I'll use to punch out an appropriate size piece of metal to help cover the straight bends in the spokes.

Thanks for following along guys. Comments welcome.

 

Edited October 15, 2015 by gasser59

[gasser59]

I have no idea why this software does this when I try to go back and make edits before I even post. I'm tired of fighting with it.

Here's the missing pictures.

[10thumbs]

Nice work Brad, that piece will look good in there.

Question:  Do you know the diameter size for the instrument wiring?

[gasser59]

The stuff I've been using is labeled Ultra Wire and is listed as the small size. It measures 0.006 in diameter. They also have an XS, medium and large size. Did you get a chance to go to the flyfishing store this past weekend?

[10thumbs]

Flyfishing store....The wife is still laughing.  I told her where I was heading Saturday morning.  She says that place has been closed for 10 years!  Maybe I should go downtown more often.

I'll check ebay since I know what size to look for.

Thanks Brad.

[gasser59]

Closed for ten years? You need to get out more. Orvis.com is where you can order this stuff and I know there's a few Orvis stores over there just maybe not to close to you.

[10thumbs]

Orvis..got it!  Found a dealer too.  OK.  Brad, which section should I look under?  What exactly is the fine thread used for?

 

EDIT:  I just sent the fellow an email, he'll get back with me on this.

Edited October 16, 2015 by 10thumbs

[gasser59]

Its used for tying flies that go on the end of your line that try to fool the fish into think they're food.

[John Pol]

Brad this the ultra wiring your talking about that you use http://www.orvis.com/p/nano-silk/2bcr  ?

[gasser59]

No. That's silk, a thread and not wire. This is the stuff.

http://www.orvis.com/p/ultra-wire/28ka

[10thumbs]

I got this from the link;.... "perfect for tying midges and nymphs of all types". 

Geez, man they get personal.

[gasser59]

Some more work done yesterday although it took me a while on the throttle return spring since they kept flying off the tweezers. This is the fourth one and I had to find it twice on the floor. I also made two brackets out of printing plate, one for the spring and one for the throttle cable.

Also was able to get the steering wheel completed. I'm really happy with it although I'm not sure about putting a center section on it to cover the three straight bends.

Interior is now just about buttoned up. Work now will focus on interior tins.

Thanks for your interest and as always, comments welcome.

[Art Laski]

Great looking wheel, Brad!

[Mooneyzs]

Brad... Holy Smokes.... You are the man.  I love the steering wheel fabrication. Totally nice work. Boy does it look great installed. Keep up the great work on this.

[Nytrozilla]

The smaller the spring, the bigger the pain. It's a law of psychics, or is it physics?

As for the steering wheel center, I'm good either way. Then again, a fuel or magneto kill switch might look nice above it. Especially since you declared the interior buttoned up.

[gasser59]

I just couldn't let it be so I found a machined 'radiator cap' that fit there perfectly. Now Walt can honk at spectators while going down the return lane.

Well, I lied. I'm not working on the tins, I've moved on to the radius arms. I've been putting them off forever it seems and have been contemplating how to do them so last night, I just jumped in. These are made from stainless steel tubing and rod ends both from RB Motion. I slid a tight-fitting wire down the center of the tubing to where the bend would be and bent them around my conical jaw pliers that's made for jewelry making from Michaels. I think I've solved the issue where the back end piece gets attached to the bend but more on that later. I haven't actually done it yet. I need to order some more nuts and bolts from Scale Hardware this morning before I go too much further on these. I did need to reduce the overall size of the batwings, big improvement.

The fun continues so stay tuned.

Edited October 21, 2015 by gasser59

[John Teresi]

Brad.......looks so good and so right......very very nice!!!!!

 

[gasser59]

Thanks brother. I'm happy with the steering wheel and how the radius arms are coming along.

[10thumbs]

Hi Brad, those radius rods kick butt!  Very nice.

You have some fine detailing going on and the sum of these efforts make for a very special build.  I enjoy your updates.

[gasser59]

Thanks a lot Michael. Much appreciated.

[Danno]

You should see this thing in person!   Unfriggin'believeable!!!!

[gasser59]

Thanks Danno. Appreciate your interest. Good to see you Saturday.

[Davewilly]

Looks Great Brad!