Tricks that old racers get up to after retirement

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One be of the two boxes I found for shipping the Tavares trophies in. With September in sight I figured it was time to get the rear in gear and get the stuff outa here!
Will auction off one of the pieces to help pay the transport costs.
Slept in a little longer than usual this morning, not to worry, keep watching this space, not a lot to do here except dream and annoy my friends with these posts 'cos ------WE GOT ALL THE TIME IN THE WOILD ? Good name for a ---------

Looked like the leopards town meeting went well, seen a fair few of the "oldies" featured on several of the s and f sites !
Finally got that big ole fireball in the sky shining down on me, getting a tad pissed off at sitting on my backside reading all day!
Need some of you out there in the colonies to look out for some travel insurance for an 83 year old white male who needs just a couple of weeks cover to visit Florida in November, been called for shopping duties, back later. "

Never did get back To you yesterday, shopping trip turned out to be a marathon. Then I got called in as Barbie Master. Had to figure out how to make a grill out of a blacksmiths sculpture, simply called on my long time forgotten Boy Scout skills and Voila------
the legend rolls on------sausages and burgers------kilos of shrimp reminded me of the first OMC shrimp bake I ever went to in Havasu------now that was something they did get right!
Was Pruett who introduced me to Charlie and Anne Strang, got invited to the Shrimpbake and made friends with the likes of ,Jimbo, Sanders,Posey, Schubert, Hill, May, Nordskog, Kennedy, Briggs and many more.
I digress. As usual, get carried away with memories----precious things memories, have to take care going down that particular road, very easy to get lost, delayed, gladdened and saddened, memories are like the proverbial box of chocolates, ---- you never know what you can pull out next.
Last day of the time in Ibiza, better make the most of it.
Leaving on a jet plane------GNFASDCT .?

We're on the midnight plane to Gatwick, hasn't quite got the same ring to it as Midnight train to Georgia, don'tcha think ?
Time here almost done, Jilly just needed some time with her eldest boy Ivan and his family, had to make sure we got his sister and her baby out here and back again safely.

just heard the most -depressing news----key West is scheduled to run the same time as Tavares.! What sort of a dingleberry organised that cockeyed arrangement, wasn't that a really bright thing to do ?
Thats really buggered up the Off golf tournament.
Craig will be down at the keys with team GIECO so that's my partner down the tube.
Daughter Sam and spouse Clive (current trophy holders) can't make it either, don't look like we got enough meat for a sandwich ?
Billy could prefer Key West, Bakos is doubtful, no Billy, no Timmy, no Sog or Preacher man. Fickle old world ain't it------SOMEDAYS YOU EAT BEAR.
BEST LAID PLANS OF MICE AND MEN (Stienbeck ).

Just found out that "best laid plans of mice and men" is from a Robert Burns poem, Steinbeck used it as the title for his great novel.
You get a better class of information on this site!

Is it me , or has the world gone mad? Was a time when you you went to the airport, travelled short haul in the daytime--------long haul was overnight------ airports closed over night, no landings allowed between eleven at night and six in the morning when the first flights out started !
Ibiza airport was like a cattle market at midnight, finally got through customs controls at Gatwick around 3 am. Hundreds of folk with a minimum of customs officers meant long delays, but there were still aircraft following ours in. Bloody crazy world we live in!
Anyway, I'm back home, some sort of order has been restored, the world tilted off'n its axis for a while. Did manage a couple of hours sleep, let's see what the day chucks at us.

There has been a terrible accident at the Shoreham Air Show this afternoon .
A 1950/s Hawker Hunter attempting a loop ploughed into the very busy A27 Dual Carriageway, wiped out and set on fire several cars killing seven people. Pilot is in critical condition.
Road will be closed at least two days.

Hamilton got his act together again, 6th straight pole, all he has to do is learn how to get off the line in a hurry. Spa is the best track for overtaking so he should be ok.

Took the pool cover off and found we had this pukey green liquid that looked like it was straight of a Bella Lugosi horror movie. Didn't sod about, switched the pump over to SUMP and WASTE and emptied the bloody thing-----can't be arsed to sod about with" Shock" treatments----------.bet it was shocked when it went straight down the drain ! It'll be all up to muster by Tuesday morning, might need to put the heater on for a while, but kids are resilient little bits, they'll be in there like long dogs.

Grass needs cutting again, maybe tomorrow----depends on how I feel. May watch the race at Spa.

Thought I might get a full day at home in the garden and the shop but I have been told by her who shall be obeyed at all times that we have been invited out for drinks at 1:30 and then for tea with relatives!
Should get to see the start of the G/P at least-------just when you think things are getting back to normal, blasted social calendar kicks in.
Im a busy boy these days, done the places to go bit, now it's time to get the things to do DONE.

Turns out the Hawker Hunter jet crashed into a Daimler wedding car -----happiest day into the worst day-----terrible tragedy. Police are still searching for more bodies! Will try to keep you informed. Shoreham airport is a half hours drive from my house, it's where I learned to fly helicopters.

Lewis had a better getaway, not perfect, just good enough to get to the front,nurse the vehicle all the way home and stack up the points. Job done, that's what he's paid for. Expect Ferrari will be waving a can't refuse contract any time soon. Keep your nose clean and stay off the sauce, it would help if he was Catholic then it would be a done deal already.

Pool looks better than it's ever done, polished the liner to perfection, Karchered out every damn stain , turned up the heating, floated a couple of chlorine blocks and a touch of algae killer, dash of pool sparkle and I'm favourite grandpa for the next two weeks before the little buggers go back to furthering their education.

Had a gentle two hours in the shop this morning doing a pair of miniature Mercs, I'm getting a whole lot better at small gear cases, not quite as agricultural as I was in the beginning. Have decided from now on I will only do metal motors----power head, cavitation plate and gear case.
Have to find a way of casting props, no way can I afford fifty dollars a pair for half tidy wheels.

Update on the air crash, two lads from Worthing 19 and 20 both played football for the town were victims Along with their gym instructor. Eleven people are now feared dead and the police say the death toll may rise. There are horrendous pictures of the crash with a fifty foot wall of fire obliterating the dual carriageway. I cannot post these pictures, they are just too horrific. Sorry.

weather was again bloody awful, forecast for the next week is "Orrible"------ moral of this tale is, if your looking to top up your tan ------don't come to sunny England 'cos it ain't.

True to form it's chucking it down---looks set for the next week or so! Stay away from England for the next week or two.
Be in the shop early today, must get the items parcelled up for Tavares and away safely.
Cant lie here all day, get back to you soon!

Jackie
First year i was in the uk was 4 months hot and blue sky everyday
Bbq every weekend never had to cancel.
I wondered why they complain.
Next year was grey for 12 months.

I was at biggin hill one year
Only pilot i talked to was the guy flying the bell airacobra as i had never seen one.
He made a mushroom cloud just a across the runway so many watched it fall out of the sky.
Horrible.

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Originally Posted by powerabout

I was at biggin hill one year
Only pilot i talked to was the guy flying the bell airacobra as i had never seen one.
He made a mushroom cloud just a across the runway so many watched it fall out of the sky.
Horrible.

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Theres an air of melancholy over the south of England today , folk are only just beginning to realise the enormity of the accident. Road still closed in spite of the fact it is the main coastal trunk road?

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Originally Posted by powerabout

Jackie
First year i was in the uk was 4 months hot and blue sky everyday
Bbq every weekend never had to cancel.
I wondered why they complain.
Next year was grey for 12 months.

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Had to be 1976 the last time we had any more than a five day summer

This damned mini wing is taking a lot longer than I first thought, decided to do an authentic tie bar with Rose joints that actually work so you can alter the angle of dangle, might even put mini pipes on it .
Finished one gear case, trouble is, it's so good it makes the power head look poxy! So I will have to smarten the whole thing up!
No piccies till I'm good and ready and fairly chuffed with the result, then I have bragging rights.

I keep looking at these fantastic model RC boats, the detail is stupendous, how can I possibly emulate boats like that ?
one of my grandkids put it into context with " yes grandad, but they're PLASTIC"!

Rained most of the day, was so bad Murphy came and sat on the stool I sometimes use if I get a tedious and tidily fiddly job on the bench----she stayed there all day.

A27 trunk road will remain closed until Thursday, they are still looking for more missing persons.
At the time of the crash, all traffic was at a standstill due to the fact the lights were red, carnage could have been much worse.
Air traffic investigators are at the scene and all Hawker Hunters have been grounded. There is talk of banning air shows for all time.
Pilot is still critical, speculation he could have blacked out!

Surprised there has not been a single comment on the thread.

surprised he was allowed to do a loop over a public road?

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Originally Posted by powerabout

surprised he was allowed to do a loop over a public road?

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Im not the one capable of answering that comment pilgrim, Understand Charlie Wolfe has been doing aerobatics for quite a number of years, maybe he would have a quiet word with you!

took a long time to drop off to sleep last night for thinking how good I can make this mini wing. I made one a couple of weeks ago which turned out ok, nothing outstanding, but would like to make this one special where I get Roger and Rich doing a bit of knicker wetting. One of those got to have things that only come up once in a lifetime.
I will post a "Progress piccie" later in the day, just to tickle the taste buds, whet the appetite so to say.

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Itzy bitzy teeny weeny mini wingy thingeys are a right royal pain in the arse to construct. They take twice as long to make as a family size model!
Drilled and tapped the power head to take 5mm studs, turned the pipes out of 6mm alloy rod, drilled and tapped to take the 5mm studs and voila we have a wayward wing with full orchestral pipes ( STACKERS), nearly so anyway, still had two pipes to make at CC7 o'clock. Tomorrow is another day?
A couple of work in progress piccies as promised, just to show how tiny the latest model is, the motors look like a pair of Zippo lighters at the moment.

On the Shoreham air disaster, A27 Trunk road will be closed until next week. Other stunt pilots have condemned the loop as foolish! It's normally carried out at 500' --- this was done at 100' and with full fuel tanks.
Local businesses need the revenue from these air shows, towns will feel the pinch should they ban all air shows.
Bloody miserable sort of day, chucked it down , did fill the pool faster. You need a wet suit before you dip your tootsies, even the brave boys don't last more than five minutes!

Should finish the miniatures tomorrow----got a few ideas buzzing inside my bonce that I need to explore.

Jackie, idea for your miniatures ... add a small eye on the top, thread a gold or silver chain through it and the lads can wear them around their neck - or give them to their wives/ girlfriends as necklaces!

Or.... if they are a bit too large for that, add a fitting on the back that makes them into belt buckles...I'll be your agent. You do all the work... :thumbsup:

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Originally Posted by Watermark

Jackie, idea for your miniatures ... add a small eye on the top, thread a gold or silver chain through it and the lads can wear them around their neck - or give them to their wives/ girlfriends as necklaces!

Or.... if they are a bit too large for that, add a fitting on the back that makes them into belt buckles...I'll be your agent. You do all the work... :thumbsup:

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They're a little on the large side for personal adornment Mark, no way on gods earth could I make them any smaller. I fiddle farted about for a couple of weeks to make to make a couple of mini wings and motors, MICRO Wings are way beyond my limited capabilities.
Hoping to get your Molinari posted in the next week or so, if I get it to Mark in Stuart I'll worry about getting it to Tavares later.
Mounting these are a bit worrying, I used a turned block of Acacia and velcroed the boat on top. May try for a different mount on the last one.

Had a cooking with gas"morning , finished the mini wing and the stacks, mounted it on a wide acacia block I turned up specially for the job, green baize on its bum, looking quite the dogs cojones, should get it already and finished by close of play!

Chucked it down all morning, we now have yellow flood alerts all over the hog market'.

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Originally Posted by jackiewilson

Hoping to get your Molinari posted in the next week or so, if I get it to Mark in Stuart I'll worry about getting it to Tavares later.
Mounting these are a bit worrying, I used a turned block of Acacia and velcroed the boat on top. May try for a different mount on the last one.

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FYI, my number on the Sprint Moli was 11... not sure if you are adding numbers to the boats or not. What was yours when you had it? I'd like to have your number on one side, and mine on the other.

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Just to to give you some idea of how tiny this pesky little wing is!
Positively the last wing ever, the bitch has fought me every inch of the way.
Just got final dismantle to clean it all up and rectify mistakes.
If I never see another one it'll still be too soon, patience finally died. Wings---RIP.

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Originally Posted by Watermark

FYI, my number on the Sprint Moli was 11... not sure if you are adding numbers to the boats or not. What was yours when you had it? I'd like to have your number on one side, and mine on the other.

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See what hat I can do about a number11 Mark------you ain't never gonna believe this, the COSWORTH number was-------111.

Having a boys day OUT tomorrow , just me and Fish, my brother in law, married to sister Ange.
Going to Tangmere museum in the morning! It's a WW2 fighter station, probably post a few pics of some of the exhibits.
we may go to Brooklands if we get the time, bound to be a "liquid lunch" thrown in for good measure-------Fish is always great company------need a few lighter moments------didn't help when my son in laws dad died this morning!
A lot of "Departation" going on around here lately, all too close for comfort! Need a break!

It's Thursday and it's not raining, makes for a change.
Rent day, as my sainted mother used to say------having a different day, workshop doors stay closed. Pleasure drome doors about to open!

Jackie....For all the trouble it's caused you, the "little Wing" is a work of art....!!!

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Originally Posted by T2x

Jackie....For all the trouble it's caused you, the "little Wing" is a work of art....!!!

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Why thank you Rich, her who shall be obeyed at all times has allowed it to live on the coffee table in the conservatory, it kinda grows on you the more you see it. Without a doubt, the best pair of motors I ever did.

Took Fish to Tangmere Aircraft Museum, he had the time of his life, post some piccies tomorrow.
Went to the "Gribble" at Oving for lunch, took one look at the menu and did a runner, there was only a bar menu, while we quaffed a pint apiece we watched food coming out of the kitchen--------that's when we left!
Ran down into Chichester and had a great meal at "THE BLUE DRAGON"------- as much as you could eat for under $10 each, will definitely go back again.
Decided to run up to Midhurst to see my old friend Basil Stephens who I hadn't seen for a couple of years! Knocked on the door intending to give him a huge hug, nice lady told me he died four years ago ???
Told you there was a lot of "Departation" going on, that old hooded bastard with the scythe around his shoulders is on the prowl-----Beware my friends, keep an ever watchful eye!

Had a really relaxing day, then came down to earth with a bang hearing about the demise of yet another friend. You ever had that "Last man standing" feeling .

Did go to the car boot sale yesterday, managed to to pick up enough brass rod to last me a lifetime, along with a batch of three quarter inch half round brass rods which will make hundreds of name plates(should the need ever arise). An old spokeshave ( I now have ten of them), an almost new unused 12' steel rule by chesterman, a box of polished stones, a bunch of stainless plate, some alloy for mounting pieces and I had change out of $50. Not a bad start to the day.

Air Accident Investigators have taken the remains of the crashed Hunter to their headquarters in Farnborough, Police have cleared most of the burnt out cars, new Tarmac is being replaced, final tally is eleven dead, a county in shock. A27 should be open next week.

All things being equal, I should get a full uninterrupted day in the shop, have a completely open mind, have not got a clue which road I'm going down, all I can tell you is, I'm on the move again.

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Thats Fish, my brother in law, posing on the front lawn of Tangmere Aircraft Museum

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Thats Fish, my brother in law, posing on the front lawn of Tangmere Aircraft Museum

Wrote a long soliloquy on the trials and tribulations of constructing a mini wing, some of my thoughts were quite positive with definite descriptions so to speak.S and F in its wisdom somehow obliterated my gleanings and I can't be arsed to remember what I wrote .
Lets see what the weekend throws at us besides torrential rain.
There are times when I wish I was a mucky duck?

Found a "Metal recycling plant" in the next village (Yapton), not PC to call them SCRAP YARDS any more, maybe that's what's matter with the world today--------it can't stand the truth!
Not too long ago, when we dared to call it as it was------when the Dustbin man was just that and did not have the grand title of Waste Disposal Officer.
Remember when the time was, the local constable was called Bobby Smith, if he caught you stealing apples, he would clip you round the ear and put your name in his little black book, there was no crime in my village, we didn't even lock the doors at night.
I digress, found all the stainless and alloy that I will ever want for the next year or so at a tenth of the price I used to pay at my local tool shop.
Found some superb boat mounts, tried one out on the mini wing but I think it's a bit over the top, may have to turn it down a bit before its right!

Last weekend in August, this traditionally signalled the end of summer, but seeing as it hasn't even started yet how the hell can it be the end of?
Steve next door is doing the lamb roast today, he has a double decker spit which takes two lambs at a time. He usually invites around 100 friends and plays loud music . We have a "Wellie" throwing competition and a tug of war contest for those who need hip and knee replacements !( after)
Forecast is for light cloud, which translated means less than an inch of rain, (if we're lucky)!
May have a wander into the workshop for a couple of hours this morning, have an idea on a V6 outboard motor cobbled out of a solid billet of alli.

Attachment 326583Now that's half a lamb roast

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Mine host Steve, carving up the first lamb, served nearly a hundred hungry heads, and raised a very nice chunk of money for charity. Weather held up ok, no rain at all!
Tomorrow the first chest of wings along with Rich's roller gets shipped out, this includes Rogers big wing!
Second shipment leaves here September 10tH, if anyone wants anything sending, speak now or forever hold your peace.
John Schubert, Jeff Briggs,Mark Rathermell and John Sheldon,-------worry ye not, goods are "in transit".

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Originally Posted by jackiewilson

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Mine host Steve, carving up the first lamb, served nearly a hundred hungry heads, and raised a very nice chunk of money for charity. Weather held up ok, no rain at all!
Tomorrow the first chest of wings along with Rich's roller gets shipped out, this includes Rogers big wing!
Second shipment leaves here September 10tH, if anyone wants anything sending, speak now or forever hold your peace.
John Schubert, Jeff Briggs,Mark Rathermell and John Sheldon,-------worry ye not, goods are "in transit".

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Jackie..That looks like some feast right enough, just make sure you don't poke yer knife & fork into that lidless junction box up there on the woodwork!!
" Have tools will travel" as it used to say in Construction News.

If the health and safety officer ever went round to Steve's he would have sh-t fit at the Heath Robinson spit arrangement. It's not PC that's for sure, but then again neither was stevensons rocket!
Have to get all the wings , Molli's and golf trophies packed ready for off at noon today, so I can't hang about here in bed all day!

If the health and safety officer ever went round to Steve's he would have sh-t fit at the Heath Robinson spit arrangement. It's not PC that's for sure, but then again neither was stevensons rocket!
Have to get all the wings , Molli's and golf trophies packed ready for off at noon today, so I can't hang about here in bed all day!

I need my bumps tested------must have had a mad fit of depression, before my brain got into gear I had started on two small engines and a beautiful wing ( skinny mini) an hour into it was when I realised I had sworn never to go down that particular road, let alone get off the train at Swizzwhizz Junction!

Things were going too smoothly to last, had a nice visit from daughter Tracy [ BOO} and her daughter Casey-------well of course we had to cease operations and chat for an hour or so
Pleased with the progress but still can't understand how come I'm doing yet another midget wing. your a right royal dingleberry Wilson!
Problem is, I'm getting to be a fussy bugger------ i look at the last thing i made and am reminded of my school reports "could have done better", so i said to myself just one more then I'm done!
Give you a progress report tomorrow.
Wednesdays out, i got an old friend of mine Reed Eller coming to stay for a couple of days ------maybe take that trip to Brooklands after all.