November- December 1999
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Tuesday 23rd November 1999
Sent check off for the plans of the UH-12R today. Cost $26. Checked out garage. I think we can make enough room in there without having to park the cars outside. We have introduced the idea to the other members of our family and so far we have had a good, positive response. It seems that hovercraft are not as well known in the USA as they were in the UK and the whole concept took a little explaining! More when the plans arrive...
Thursday 2nd December 1999
The plans arrived today. 3 sheets of plans and a booklet, giving a lot more, often contradictory advice! At first sight it was hard to see how the craft could be built from the plans, but as time passed, things began to clear.
Sunday 5th December 1999
Bought some wood today. Just 8 ft lengths of 1 x 4 and 1 x 6. Cost $25. (Total so far $51)
and some power tools to cut it with!
Tuesday 7th December 1999
More wood today. Some of the pieces the plan says should be cut from 1 x 4 need 1 x 6 if you dont fancy sticking small corners on. It seems that buying a few more 1 x 6 saves a lot of time when making the ribs of the craft. Started to plan out the shapes onto the wood ready for cutting. Made a sawhorse today. $10 (Total so far $61)
Wednesday 8th December 1999
More marking of patterns onto wood. Preferred method is to overlay the blueprint, and poke small holes through lines with sharp pin. Joining the dots on the wood surface gives a very quick and accurate outline. Finished the second sawhorse.
Saturday 11th December 1999
More 1 x 6 to finish ribs, a sheet of 1/4 ply, some glue (Elmers waterproof exterior carpenters) and a box of 2" screws to hold the ribs together. $31 (Total so far $92) Ribs nearly half cut out now.
Sunday 12th December 1999
Finished cutting, screwing and glueing the ribs together!!! Standing them roughly in place makes the hovercraft almost a 3d reality!
Monday 13th December 1999
Finished adding reinforcing corners to all the ribs, made from 1/4" ply, glued and nailed into place with bronze marine nails.
Tuesday 14th December 1999
Bought 3 lengths of 1" x 4" x 14' for the stringers. Spent the evening cutting them into strips. One snapped at a knot, so another length is needed later.
Wednesday 15th December 1999
Ordered a new Tecumseh 10hp lift engine from grainger.com. $180 inc. shipping!!!!
Friday 17th December 1999
Bought some 2x4 $8. Made a jig for setting the ribs square.
Saturday 18th December 1999
Cut some stringers to fit. Bought two more 1 x 4 x 14. $14.
Sunday 19th December 1999
Fitted several of the stringers having moved the entire project to the garage. Much colder but at least I can get it out when it is done!
Tuesday 21st December 1999
Temperatures dropped here to maybe 10F during the evenings. This has a mild discouraging effect on hovercraft construction....
Maybe tommorow I will brave the cold and finish the stringers!
Wednesday 22nd December 1999
Granger.com called to say they had messed up the file and lost my credit card details. Sounds like the engine may be difficult to get.
Christmas 1999
Finished most of the frame. Engine is a no go.
