Hi Achim - glad you like it
Not too much to report but things are slowing down a little as the inside of the hull gets varnished. I'm using a traditional varnish and it's taking the best part of 36-48 hours to dry to the touch even in the warm workshop. It's lovely stuff to use though
The first coat of paint also went on this morning and whilst the varnish and that has been drying attention turned to making those water tanks.
I found some 20swg brass but decided that was a bit too heavy - 22 gauge would have been much better but had none. Hidden at the bottom of the drawer of all things sheet brass however was a large piece of 15 thou shim so that was pressed into service and proved to be ideal.
I was fortunate to be able to use a friends guillotine to cut the main parts out but despite careful marking out and positioning it did cut slightly out of square.
This very useful filing aid was pulled out from under the bench and used to file the end edge square to the sides. Made originally for filing the edges of sheet metal running boards the dust gives a good clue as to it's last use ;)In use the sheet is clamped with the edge just protruding and is the filed down until the file skates across the steel bar. The main bar is 30 inches long of 4 x 1/2" BMS and the clamp bar is 2 x 1/4"
It turned out too that the little bender I made at around the same time would actually take 200mm max so it too could be used by reducing the length of the tank body slightly. Made for doing small plate work the clamp bar is held by those two 'waisted' cap heads. Obviously they were no longer going to be an option
Though clamping the clamp bar became an issue with a bit of fudging with small clamps it managed the job okay
The entire tank body was bent in one piece with a 6mm overlap. Soldering proved very easy especially having this old buddy to turn to. Totally unused it was one of 'those' bargain bought for a quid at a club sale long ago and has proved it's worth on many occasions when some good solid heat is required
With the seams of both tanks soldered the ends were formed over MDF formers.....
...then soldered in place to give two tanks holding just under a litre of water each.
The intention is to make two lifting lid caps to push fit into the rings - we'll see how that pans out.
That's the current state of play - hope those home made items are of interest to someone - though not often used that long clamp is a godsend when you need it.
Regards - Ramon