Tricks that old racers get up to after retirement

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Just some of the furniture i used to make to pass the time 30+ years ago.

The “Pineapple table” in redwood——- and the dome topped seaman’s chest in mahogany, all dovetailed of course !
Did the chest because my old mate Bill Mouland ( since departed ) said it couldn’t be done ?
In actual fact——- I cut twenty, two inch strips —- worked out the chamfer on each edge and glued ‘Em up—— then glued and pinned the top to the shoulders—— simples !!!
At that time —— over 25 years ago—— I had Brazilian Mahogany coming out of my ears——- thought it would never end——- but antique dealers kept buying planks up at £500 a time and I was using it as rafters when I was renovating the mill house.

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Was a time when Gene Lanham and Ted Boyd wanted a concept of”REDBIRD” , so I set about making them one apiece.
Along the way, I came across a couple of American fire engine plates at Ford car boot sale. Gene was a firefighter most of his life so it was only natural that he had the plates.
I have a fair few pictures of me fernagling the red bird.Attachment 434069Attachment 434070

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Damn, but that really was a good looking device——-didn’t go too badly either!
Won the “CONCOURS DE ELEGANCE” everywhere it showed!

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Made inroads into the SK —— Another day and I should have the motor somewhere near.
As I said, beech is not the prettiest of timber—— so it’ll have to be painted—— after seeing the red ski boat at Tavares last weekend, I think that might be the way to go.
Dry Martini is ready for its graphics——- show you today what sort of a mess I can make of it—
I do have a pair of them on the go——-Richie version—— and Christian version——
Slowly getting there——- will post some piccies for the weekend!

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Now that’s what I call a nice rear end ?

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Finally got it done Gene——- The Christian version!

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Damned if I can remember who had which————- think Ted had the one with the tall titanium aero foil mount ———- and Gene had the smaller titanium mount——- Guy was selling aircraft parts at the car boot sale.
Was nearly the closing time and I bought all he had——— still got ninety five percent of the bits—— Reason he had all the gear ——— past its shelf life ???
How the hell can nuts, bolts, washers, bearings, titanium parts have a “shelf life”.?
I need never buy another five or six mill nut or bolt in my life !
All the parts were made in USA —— most were lightweight and coated——- bolts were in packs of a hundred ——- brand new——- but out of time——- just like me. Or not!

Oh yes—— forgot to mention —— the next version of a cigarette Hull is the longer one—— could top up as either a long Dry Martini——- or the longer still Magoon �� haven’t made up my mind yet—— you know me—— I GO WITH THE FLOW.

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Unfortunately this is what happens to old retired boat racers——— first they grow a scruffy beard——- which then goes grey——— then the little grey cells go walkabout——— trousers and fedora get swopped for a cap and multi coloured shorts——— then you go DOO LALLY ——— chase women—— And take pictures of Gooney birds ?
SQUIRT is a classic example !

Had a field day at the car boot sale——- but it all turned to worms.
Compressor I bought and spent a couple of hours on renewing the connections and pressure relief——- electrics and air leaks, turned out to be the noisiest cow of a compressor in the county.
I know—- first thing I should have done was fired it up before doing anything else.
Now her who cleans the house on a regular basis when she’s not cooking, gardening, or seeing to my every need decided, She needed another Vacuum cleaner——— the Dyson she bought brand fire new two years ago with the aim of keeping the house clean, turned out to be a waste of plastic.
We have carpet ——- thick carpet—-hardwood floors, a cat and a dog and a DYSON that was sold under false pretences.
Unless you have a compressor——- there is no way you should even contemplate investing in a DYSON, it’s a totally useless device.
My sainted mother had a HOOVER JUNIOR all her life———- it beats as it sweeps as it cleans—— it never once broke——- it was purchased before the war—- when mother copped her clogs, my sister claimed the hoover which is still running strong today———over eighty years on.
Thats when stuff was built to last——- value for money—— long before plastic was ever commercialised.
Well, I found a HOOVER at the car boot——— paid a fiver and brought it home——- went through it with a fine tooth comb, it’s ready for her majesty’s approval ( or not).
Sam asked me to make her a couple of “CORNHOLE” boards——— she got hooked on it after visiting drinking houses in florida.
Finished construction——- just have to paint them and make the bean bags and I’m home and dry.
Thats how come I didn’t get much “Concepts” work done yesterday!

Jackie,

I finally had some decent weather & finished O'Dell's Mona Lou III. Here are the pictures. I sent an e-mail, address from Luhrs, explaining that you actually made the concept & at your request I did the detailing. I have his address & plan to ship early next week.

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Originally Posted by John Schubert

Jackie,

I finally had some decent weather & finished O'Dell's Mona Lou III. Here are the pictures. I sent an e-mail, address from Luhrs, explaining that you actually made the concept & at your request I did the detailing. I have his address & plan to ship early next week.

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Many thanks John,. Like the rest of us, Odell ain’t getting any younger———the list of all time great racers is getting shorter every year———- so I’m glad he’s going to get his Mona Lou !
No doubt about it——- you finish off a concept far better than I ever could, so I shall be forever grateful for your input—— thanks again John, much appreciated

When my daughter Sam was just a kid—- she would come home from school, straight into my workshop—— pick up a broom—— replace the tools that littered the bench—- roll out the vacuum and tidy the shop up!
Today, she arrived like a tornado——- a roll of black plastic bin liners, and for two and a half hours tidied the shop back to bare metal——— the cloths that were not quite ready for the bin—- had a few good wipes in them——- the Velcro backed abrasive discs I’d only used a couple of times, all were unceremoniously binned.
The bits of aluminium that might come in handy one day——— binned !
Worktops long hidden under tools, half finished projects—— nuts and bolts—- screws and washers—- future projects suddenly became available again.
Theres a light at the end of the tunnel——- all the dross has gone from the lathe bed—— oil cups are full—— belts are tightened——- new discs and bets on the sanders ——- new blade in the bandsaw—- mini whirlwind went through the shop——- I can walk across the floor instead of stepping over it dodging debris———it has to be forty years since last cleared up my workshop——- today she did just that.
Somtimes, kids can really surprise you, today, one of mine did!

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Originally Posted by jackiewilson

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Damned if I can remember who had which————- think Ted had the one with the tall titanium aero foil mount ———- and Gene had the smaller titanium mount——-!

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This is the one that greets me every day Jackie!!

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[QUOTE=GENE LANHAM;3121027]This is the one that greets me every day Jackie!!

http://i67.tinypic.com/13zv1mo.jpg[/QUOT
But if you look at the earlier picture ——— both were mounted on aircraft wing sections——— Ok Gene ——— how much did it make?.

Jackie. It looks like we will be reactivating our plan to visit the UK and Ireland in June. It all depends on my cousin and spouse getting the ok from their docs. The news reports indicate that the BREXIT fiasco will be finalized at the end of May. Will London and surrounding areas be ok for us colonial tourists or is it likely to be jammed up by protests? We would very much like to get out to the Parham Air Museum since this is where my Dad was based during the war. It appears that driving in and around London is being discouraged so that adds more obstacles. Any info you can provide would be helpful.