Lots of fiddly bits

Okay, well in the last few days AUS31 has had:

• Mast stepped to check stay lengths so they can be made
• a couple more coats of undercoat and been rubbed back
• it's slider fittings for the boom (GNAV, Mainsheet blocks and outhaul) - the first of these is being bagged right now - the pic shows that I pulled my first full vacuum (I've only gotten to 95 before, so I'm getting better).

AUS32:

• All carbon is on on the inside 
• winglets/carbon chainplates are glued in 
• the gunwales have been faired to meet the dancefloor.

So things are progressing well, but with the Nationals less than a month away things are going to be tight.

Shabby Chique

First coat of undercoat is on, my doesn't white highlight any bumps and lumps that were missed during the fairing and filling!

From 40+ to 100% humidity

Wow, the first rain in Adelaide pretty much this year and the humidity has peaked, after racing around madly to get in gear from outside and dump it in the shed I thought I'd take some progress pics. Should be fitting the selftacker tomorrow (if it arrives) and then glueing the front bulkhead on, some carbon and then paint!

Vacuum worked

I haven't faired it or cleaned it up - this is straight off the seat: My first vacuum formed object - a carriage rail. Now to do another one.

My first vacuum

Okay, after a lot of preparation, I have begun my first vaccum bagging of a part that will go on the boat - a carriage runner. I have currently pulled a 90kpa vacuum and everything is ticking away in the shed (however after the crappy day at work that I had today, I'll be checking on this all through the night to make sure my day's woes don't continue).

On my first vacuuming - tacky tape is your friend! It is like plasticine for grown ups and it can seal some spots you didn't think you missed until you applied a vacuum. I got to the point where i could hear the revs of the pump and didn't need to look at the needle to see where I was at. Anyway, I hope i wake up to a nice dry rail, and not a splinters and carbon artistic impressionist piece - fingers crossed.

Work has been progressing:
Bull noses have been routered on the seat, and 3 layers of Uni on the ends and 4 over the seam have been applied. Tonight or tomorrow night I will lay up the carbon for the racciage rails (the seat is the template for these) and vac bag it all down (first time in anger use for the Vacuum pump).
Pete should have all the insides carboned by the weekend on AUS32.
I'll try and get some pics up tonight

The end of a dream

The IC has ruined me!

Ever since I was young I have thought the FD was a fantastic boat and that one day (if i found a shaved down wookie) I would race one. Well today i did, and it was boring! After sailing the IC everything else really is like kissing your sister, but if nothing else it has motivated me to spend a full day in the shed sanding tomorrow so I can have the hull ready for paint.