The basic patterns were done tonight.
When I say basic, I mean the patters for the whole 15 panels in a gore, what isn’t cut is the patterns for the arrow tips or the parachute.
Hopefully we can get all the fabric cut by the end of the week, then that gives me 24 days to sew it up.
I am still not sure whether that is a long time or not. I mean, thinking about actually sewing makes me think if I worked all (say, 10 hours roughly) day I should be able to get at least 3 gores done. Keep in mind I have never sewn anything like this before so have no idea of how long it takes, but even if I hit my target of 3 gores a day, thats 7 days for sewing the gores. Then for sewing the vertical gores, that in my mind seems easier as there is less stopping and starting, so I am guessing I could get 4 vertical seams done a day.
If I reach these randomly thought out targets, that is about 12 days for sewing, so who knows I might get it test inflated before the 20th. Actually, I have just decided thats my goal, a test inflation before the 20th. I don’t care if its not got a COA or registered before I leave, as long as its a single (rigged) bag of fabric which inflates. The stuff after that is all minor in comparison to the sewing I think.
Heres a picture of the finished basic patterns, the bottom (nomex) panel is on the top.
January 21st, 2008 at 1:56 pm
nice work mate. Once you get going it should take you about 3 to 4 hours a gore, if the machine works perfectly and your skills are good enough.
I think that you should be OK for the 20th provided it all goes OK. Let me know abut the date, I’d love to be there when you test inflated it.
January 21st, 2008 at 1:56 pm
scrub that, just remembered I am going to be in South America until the 11th march. Oh well.
January 21st, 2008 at 2:11 pm
You just want to see the look on my face when I go “Sh*t its inside out!”
January 22nd, 2008 at 11:21 am
I have been there so i wouldn’t laugh……… not too hard anyway
January 22nd, 2008 at 9:08 pm
gday angus
looks as though the balloon building is going well
hope you meet your tight deadlines !
i am really busy workwise and have not had the spare
few days to come up to sort out the laptop but now that
you are on a tight timeline it is probably a good thing
that i have not . maybe when you come to melb we can look at it ? if you do not get the balloon finished
you are welcome to bring it all down and continue building in my shed if you wish - that way it would be
closer to you and i have more than ample space for test
inflations - there are also plenty of tools and gadgets
and shortly a spare bottom end for test purposes
by the way - what are you doing for a bottom end ?
regards - ronald
January 23rd, 2008 at 10:59 pm
Thanks for the offer Ronald. We will see how things go, but as far as looking at your laptop setup when im in Melb sure, just let me get settles first then we can sort out a date