After a fair bit of searching, Scobie managed to find a source for adhesive ripstop (by the meter, not on 50mm tape rolls) to use for the rego letters, but this could also be handy for some DIY artwork.

North Sails
2 Vale St
St Kilda, Melbourne

Cost is $25/m for 1.8m rolls. We only need 0.5m for the rego letters so it works out pretty cheap.

Not much more to say really, I will let the photos do the talking.
http://hotairballoon.ning.com/photo/album/show?id=699743:Album:85778

Things to do before test inflation:

• Finish off turning vents (nearly done)
• Sew mouth and vent finishing tapes on
• Sew on 30 vent attachment points (10 x 3 positions for adjustability)
• Sew on the turning vent pulley attachment points
• Sew in vent line anchor point
• Cut out and sew on rego
• Pre-Shrink vent lines in the oven, then cut to size

Only little things left to do now, but it seems these are the things that take the most time!!

Nomex arrived mid-week so that is one less thing to worry about. Only think left that is integral to the sewing is the load tapes. Arnold’s don’t seem to want to talk to me over the phone or over email, so I am getting tempted to take a drive out to them. Tape will start being needed next weekend (I hope), so it might have take a drive out to Arnolds to get something out of them. If not there is a few other options, first one is go to Leffers and buy it off them. They will just buy it off Arnolds and sell it to me with a bit of $$$ added on. Hopefully I can just drive out and get some from Arnold’s, that would save lots of hassle.

The lake is getting closer, but so is the end of the sewing, so I think it’s looking good to be finished for the lake.
Whether or not it will be legal (CoA) by the lake is another matter, and possibly something outside our control, but if all we can do with it at the lake is tether, I think that is still meeting the deadline.

These blogs are getting boring without pictures I know, but give it a few more weeks and there will be lots of pictures
Oh and if your reading, leave some comments!!

Turns out a “Reservation of Rego Mark - Form0028″ needs to be submitted before you can register the aircraft, who would have thought!
Also needed is an ARN (Aviataion Reference Number) as well, so that application form needs to be filled out.

To top is all off, next week I need to send CASA verified copies of both passport and drivers license. The forms aren’t really a big deal, just repetitive.
Damn terrorists make is so hard to register an aircraft these days.

Next task is to get some load tapes.

I am starting to get some of the “other” bit’s organised here in Melbourne, such as load tapes, flying wires, carabiners and other miscellaneous bits. We have decided to go with rapid links to connect the flying wires to the load tapes, this is an expensive move but I think it’s worth it. I had a win yesterday by finding a source for those sticky temperature thingo’s, as well as the bit’s to make a tell tale flag, if anyone wants one of those sticky things let me know, I had to get a pack of 10. Only downside was they have to come from the US of A.

I updated to cost spreadsheet (on my pc, not of this site) last night to check in with how much everything has cost so far. So far I have spent a hair under $8000, sounds like a lot? Well actually more than 90% of that is faric, so apart from the fabric everything has been quite cheap, quite an ironic thing to say considering you need fabric to build a balloon, yet you have to take into account that I chose first grade fabric, and super expensive hyperlast. There is an extra ~$1300 due to hyperlast.
Also, we have what I estimate to be about $1500 in left over fabric, so if that get’s used on another balloon, the cost of this one drops by $1500.

Depending on what fee’s I end up paying to get the all CoA’d and registered,  Ithik the whole “exercise” will end up costing either a hair above or below $10,000. More than other homebuilt balloons, but still 3rd the cost of a new one

Speaking of registrations, today I sent away the forms for registration, so once that gets processed and OK’d the balloon will (hopefully) be designated VH-XUP (thanks to Adam for the suggestion). As far as names go, its a balloon, not a person, it doesn’t need a name, for now at least. If i had to, at the moment I would call it PITA.

That’s about all that’s been going on lately, I did buy a new (secondhand) car last week, so thats one step closer to a complete ballooning outfit I guess.

Yes we are *still* cutting, but come lunchtime tomorow we will have cut 100% of panels, and hopefully get a gore or two sewn up before the weekends out.

Here is some of arrow “test” panels sewn up. Colours look great in real life, these pictures don’t do them justice:

One of the top arrow points, pretty big. Again shows the colours well.

A nice straight edge goes a long way.

Pins and clamps help a whole heap.

Another close up.

Clamps, pins and a straight edge, nothing can go wrong.. heh

LOTS of markings on EVERYTHING!!!

All these rolls you see in this picture are bits for the top arrows.
Normally this type of envelope would require 14 patterns, this one is taking up around.
Not only is that a whole lots more cutting, but a whole lot more sewing, but I think it’s worth the extra effort for the design.

Anyway I have flown home (as in plane) for the long weekend to help dad work on the balloon.

Basically the points have been holding us back at the moment, we have locked down patterns now and just need to cut and sew, then we will have all the whole panels ready to start sewing panels into gores.

I will update the progress hopefully after the weekend.

Then onto sewing