Busy busy busy!
MUCH DONE! It's all about the details. I've added all sorts of things, to much to type out, just check the pics: http://www.flickr.com/photos/37745793@N03/sets/72157625057598947/
The cockpit is pretty much done. There's a few finishing touches yet. I need to straighten out all the wires and secure them with cable clamps. Paint a few brackets to match their surroundings. Add some lettering to the electrical boxes. I haven't trimmed out the door yet, waiting till I have the walls done in the airlock so I can do it all at once. And I'm sure I'll be adding little touches here and there for ever. But for the most part its done, and I've started moving in the electronics.
I'll add a few more pics when I get it all set up.
Wednesday, December 1, 2010
Wednesday, November 3, 2010
The latest
I've done some more work. The cockpit is built, now its down to detailing. I still need to do trim around the door, and a few other odd pieces, but I've started adding the winky/blinky lights in their electrical boxes and conduit.This stuff is really fun, because the bright spots of red, blue, and green make the ship feel more alive.
I'm really excited about the windows. I took large pieces of black fabric and laid them out flat on the driveway. Then I mixed up a solution of water and Rit whitener and Brightner. (It's a chemical brightener that you can add to you washing machine to make your laundry really bright.) With an old toothbrush I sprinkled the solution on the fabric. After it was dry I used a heavy duty staple gun to suspend the fabric outside the ships windows.
Then I put a Black light, out of sight, above the window so that it shines on the fabric and makes the spots of chemical glow bluish white. Instant Stars! (The stars don't show up well in the pictures, Its an old cheap camera, sorry). Now I just have to run the cords from the black lights to a switch in the cockpit, and add the plexiglass windows.
Here's the link to my Flickr page, with some new pics:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/37745793@N03/sets/72157625057598947/
I'm really excited about the windows. I took large pieces of black fabric and laid them out flat on the driveway. Then I mixed up a solution of water and Rit whitener and Brightner. (It's a chemical brightener that you can add to you washing machine to make your laundry really bright.) With an old toothbrush I sprinkled the solution on the fabric. After it was dry I used a heavy duty staple gun to suspend the fabric outside the ships windows.
Then I put a Black light, out of sight, above the window so that it shines on the fabric and makes the spots of chemical glow bluish white. Instant Stars! (The stars don't show up well in the pictures, Its an old cheap camera, sorry). Now I just have to run the cords from the black lights to a switch in the cockpit, and add the plexiglass windows.
Here's the link to my Flickr page, with some new pics:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/37745793@N03/sets/72157625057598947/
Monday, October 11, 2010
It's been a while...
But I'm back at it again. All the counter tops are painted, (2 coats, everything takes 2 coats).
I've put in shelves just below the windshields, cut, painted and installed a bunch of pieces of molding, but still a few yet to do...all the angle cuts. Installed a vinyl tile floor, cut and painted all the base board pieces, (paint still wet on those, so maybe get them in tomorrow.) Hung the cockpit pocket door. I had installed all the electrical boxes to hold winky/blinky lights, but then I decided to paint them, so had to take them out again. In the old ship, I just left them their natural gray color, but I'm going to go with the gold metallic this time.
I came up with an idea for some support strut looking pieces, so I bought a bag full of plastic plumbing fittings and some 1 1/4" pipe. I've primed and painted some of the parts silver, letting the pipe its natural black plastic for now. I need to make some bracket/mounting pieces out of 1/2" MDF, but I think its going to look cool when they're done.
Oh, I bought 2 nice office chairs. They're still in their boxes, but I plan to sci fi them up when I assemble them. I bought new casters for them, with hard rubber wheels, to replace the plastic ones. I'm hoping these will be easier on my shiny black floor.
Heres the link to my image shack photo collection: http://my.imageshack.us/v_images.php
Still lots to do, but at least for the cockpit, there is now light at the end of the tunnel. I don't think the air lock and living quarters will take near as long to do, they are much simpler in design, without all the electrical and other details that have gone into the cockpit.
I've put in shelves just below the windshields, cut, painted and installed a bunch of pieces of molding, but still a few yet to do...all the angle cuts. Installed a vinyl tile floor, cut and painted all the base board pieces, (paint still wet on those, so maybe get them in tomorrow.) Hung the cockpit pocket door. I had installed all the electrical boxes to hold winky/blinky lights, but then I decided to paint them, so had to take them out again. In the old ship, I just left them their natural gray color, but I'm going to go with the gold metallic this time.
I came up with an idea for some support strut looking pieces, so I bought a bag full of plastic plumbing fittings and some 1 1/4" pipe. I've primed and painted some of the parts silver, letting the pipe its natural black plastic for now. I need to make some bracket/mounting pieces out of 1/2" MDF, but I think its going to look cool when they're done.
Oh, I bought 2 nice office chairs. They're still in their boxes, but I plan to sci fi them up when I assemble them. I bought new casters for them, with hard rubber wheels, to replace the plastic ones. I'm hoping these will be easier on my shiny black floor.
Heres the link to my image shack photo collection: http://my.imageshack.us/v_images.php
Still lots to do, but at least for the cockpit, there is now light at the end of the tunnel. I don't think the air lock and living quarters will take near as long to do, they are much simpler in design, without all the electrical and other details that have gone into the cockpit.
Sunday, August 15, 2010
After taking some time off...
I'm back at it again.
I cut and installed the last pieces of the soffet. I installed a dryer vent outlet next to the window air conditioner. (There's a piece that fits on the end of the soffet, where the computer vent duct comes out, but I want to paint that before I install it, after that I just connect the duct and its done.)
I finished all the desk tops and installed them. I built the legs for the bit in the center with a trapazoidal shape, around the old box for the "warp core" light fixture. The Sub woofer will fit underneath it, just like in the old ship. lastly, I cleaned all the tools and supplies out of the boxes that will serve as the computer and printer cabinets, and everything has been primed.
http://img839.imageshack.us/i/shipphotos035.jpg/
http://img192.imageshack.us/i/shipphotos038.jpg/
http://img269.imageshack.us/i/shipphotos037.jpg/
For the desktops I bought a metallic gold paint. I'm hoping it will work out. I want a light color to balance against the other dark colors and a silver/steel metallic just seems to bland. I'll be using a glossy black tile for the floor. And when in use, the cockpit area lighting will be kept pretty low. The conduit/piping and electrical boxes with indicator lights will look kind of industrial-ish...
In my head, it all balances out, I just hope I can execute it well.
I cut and installed the last pieces of the soffet. I installed a dryer vent outlet next to the window air conditioner. (There's a piece that fits on the end of the soffet, where the computer vent duct comes out, but I want to paint that before I install it, after that I just connect the duct and its done.)
I finished all the desk tops and installed them. I built the legs for the bit in the center with a trapazoidal shape, around the old box for the "warp core" light fixture. The Sub woofer will fit underneath it, just like in the old ship. lastly, I cleaned all the tools and supplies out of the boxes that will serve as the computer and printer cabinets, and everything has been primed.
http://img839.imageshack.us/i/shipphotos035.jpg/
http://img192.imageshack.us/i/shipphotos038.jpg/
http://img269.imageshack.us/i/shipphotos037.jpg/
For the desktops I bought a metallic gold paint. I'm hoping it will work out. I want a light color to balance against the other dark colors and a silver/steel metallic just seems to bland. I'll be using a glossy black tile for the floor. And when in use, the cockpit area lighting will be kept pretty low. The conduit/piping and electrical boxes with indicator lights will look kind of industrial-ish...
In my head, it all balances out, I just hope I can execute it well.
Friday, July 30, 2010
The latest
Much painting has been done. I'm quite pleased with the metallic colors. It took 2 coats, (over a coat of white primer), the second coat was done with a texture roller. It was like a shag terry cloth and gives a finish that looks like lightly hammered metal. The plastic was done in a steel grey. It's supposed to have a very slight purple tint, but its almost impossible to see:
http://img694.imageshack.us/i/shipphotos023.jpg/
the MDF panels are in a dark turquoise green:
http://img27.imageshack.us/i/shipphotos024.jpg/
Today I stapled black plastic poultry mesh, (chicken wire), to the backs of the truss work pieces, and installed them. I fixed the red rope lights to the undersides of the side shelves and installed them as well. I think I achieved the effect I was looking for with the red light reflecting out from under the shelf:
http://img580.imageshack.us/i/shipphotos020.jpg/
http://img801.imageshack.us/i/shipphotos018.jpg/
It's really exciting to see things coming together. I was planning to paint the shelves, and all the desk tops light grey, but I love the texture of the metallic paint, so I'm thinking now to go with that. Sweety suggested a light bronze-ish color. I think another trip to home depot is in order.
I'm very happy with how things are progressing.
http://img694.imageshack.us/i/shipphotos023.jpg/
the MDF panels are in a dark turquoise green:
http://img27.imageshack.us/i/shipphotos024.jpg/
Today I stapled black plastic poultry mesh, (chicken wire), to the backs of the truss work pieces, and installed them. I fixed the red rope lights to the undersides of the side shelves and installed them as well. I think I achieved the effect I was looking for with the red light reflecting out from under the shelf:
http://img580.imageshack.us/i/shipphotos020.jpg/
http://img801.imageshack.us/i/shipphotos018.jpg/
It's really exciting to see things coming together. I was planning to paint the shelves, and all the desk tops light grey, but I love the texture of the metallic paint, so I'm thinking now to go with that. Sweety suggested a light bronze-ish color. I think another trip to home depot is in order.
I'm very happy with how things are progressing.
Monday, July 26, 2010
Much done since last post...
As the title says...
The ship and the closet now have an outside wall and doors:
http://img814.imageshack.us/i/shipphotos012.jpg/
The electrician has started the ship part of our big upgrade the house electrical wiring job:
http://img299.imageshack.us/i/shipphotos013.jpg/
The cockpit ceiling is up, (Pic before last piece went in, but it IS done now):
http://img837.imageshack.us/i/shipphotos015.jpg/
But better then all that, My neighbor, across the street has a workshop with a computer controlled milling machine. He volunteered to make some parts for me, the first of which are 2, sort of truss looking, pieces that go under the counter tops on either side of the cockpit. I'll be installing red rope lights behind these, and hoping for a really cool effect.
http://img835.imageshack.us/i/shipphotos006.jpg/
http://img697.imageshack.us/i/shipphotos011.jpg/
High temperatures make it difficult to work outside through much of the day. And since I do all the cutting and otherwise dusty/dirty work out in the driveway, It means I can only work comfortably in the early morning and evening. Still, the work is progressing slowly but steadily, which suits me fine.
The ship and the closet now have an outside wall and doors:
http://img814.imageshack.us/i/shipphotos012.jpg/
The electrician has started the ship part of our big upgrade the house electrical wiring job:
http://img299.imageshack.us/i/shipphotos013.jpg/
The cockpit ceiling is up, (Pic before last piece went in, but it IS done now):
http://img837.imageshack.us/i/shipphotos015.jpg/
But better then all that, My neighbor, across the street has a workshop with a computer controlled milling machine. He volunteered to make some parts for me, the first of which are 2, sort of truss looking, pieces that go under the counter tops on either side of the cockpit. I'll be installing red rope lights behind these, and hoping for a really cool effect.
http://img835.imageshack.us/i/shipphotos006.jpg/
http://img697.imageshack.us/i/shipphotos011.jpg/
High temperatures make it difficult to work outside through much of the day. And since I do all the cutting and otherwise dusty/dirty work out in the driveway, It means I can only work comfortably in the early morning and evening. Still, the work is progressing slowly but steadily, which suits me fine.
Tuesday, July 13, 2010
After a few days off...
A day at the water park, that was fun. A day at the hospital getting my Sweety's infected toe looked after, that was NOT fun. Another delay with the electrician. He'll be here Thursday, (hopefully). A few other assorted distractions.
But now I'm back at it.
Working inside today, because its like 95 degrees outside.
But now I'm back at it.
Working inside today, because its like 95 degrees outside.
Thursday, July 8, 2010
Back to work!
Had to make a trip to Home Depot for a couple of nice straight 2x4s. In the initial order that was delivered, I included a few more 2x4s then I needed, since I knew a few would be warped. But the last few were just too crooked to suit me. I needed these to frame in the second pocket door.
Today I finished the framing for both walls of the airlock. It's looking good even though its not how I envisioned it. I had planned for both pocket doors to slide into the wall toward the North, (The far wall in the pic), but because of a piece of furnace duct work, I had to reverse the door on the left. The frame wouldn't have cleared the duct. So, both doors slide to the left as you leave the airlock. The important thing is that the 2 doorways are exactly opposite each other.
In the pic you can see the metal storage cabinet that was in the 1st ship's airlock. It's another case of having to build the room around the stuff it will contain. Also There is an absolute rats nest of wire and cables hanging from the ceiling. These are phone wires, cat 5s, and Internet/TV cables. once the construction is almost done, before I start working on the ceiling, I plan to straighten these up.
http://img188.imageshack.us/i/shipphotos005.jpg/
I can't hang the doors until I sheet the walls, and I can't do that until the electrical is done. But, no worries, there are plenty of other things to work on.
Today I finished the framing for both walls of the airlock. It's looking good even though its not how I envisioned it. I had planned for both pocket doors to slide into the wall toward the North, (The far wall in the pic), but because of a piece of furnace duct work, I had to reverse the door on the left. The frame wouldn't have cleared the duct. So, both doors slide to the left as you leave the airlock. The important thing is that the 2 doorways are exactly opposite each other.
In the pic you can see the metal storage cabinet that was in the 1st ship's airlock. It's another case of having to build the room around the stuff it will contain. Also There is an absolute rats nest of wire and cables hanging from the ceiling. These are phone wires, cat 5s, and Internet/TV cables. once the construction is almost done, before I start working on the ceiling, I plan to straighten these up.
http://img188.imageshack.us/i/shipphotos005.jpg/
I can't hang the doors until I sheet the walls, and I can't do that until the electrical is done. But, no worries, there are plenty of other things to work on.
Tuesday, July 6, 2010
Day Off
A personal matter for the electrician will prevent him from starting the work on my house until next Monday. And since I'm pretty stiff and sore from all this manual labor, I'm going to take a day or 2 off.
Monday, July 5, 2010
Good Day
I got a lot done today. On the right side cockpit wall; the 3 pieces of plastic, and the rear wall assembly from the old ship. This was all necessary for the electrician to install the new lighting controls on Wednesday.
http://img805.imageshack.us/i/shipphotos003.jpg/
http://img197.imageshack.us/i/shipphotos001.jpg/
http://img69.imageshack.us/i/shipphotos002.jpg/
Since the new ship is oriented to face east, (the old one faced south), there is an area left open, between the ship and the TV room, where I'm building a storage closet. (My Sweety is thrilled about this) It will be approx 5 by 8 feet. Today I finished framing it. the electrician will be adding a light to this area on Wednesday. This has been a difficult aspect of the project as I'm having to build the closet around all the stuff that currently has no other place to be.
Also today, a trip to Home Depot to purchase paint. Some Ralph Lauren Metalics. I'm looking forward to seeing these colors on the primered plastic.
http://img805.imageshack.us/i/shipphotos003.jpg/
http://img197.imageshack.us/i/shipphotos001.jpg/
http://img69.imageshack.us/i/shipphotos002.jpg/
Since the new ship is oriented to face east, (the old one faced south), there is an area left open, between the ship and the TV room, where I'm building a storage closet. (My Sweety is thrilled about this) It will be approx 5 by 8 feet. Today I finished framing it. the electrician will be adding a light to this area on Wednesday. This has been a difficult aspect of the project as I'm having to build the closet around all the stuff that currently has no other place to be.
Also today, a trip to Home Depot to purchase paint. Some Ralph Lauren Metalics. I'm looking forward to seeing these colors on the primered plastic.
Sunday, July 4, 2010
Saturday, July 3, 2010
The work goes on
I have completed about 90% of the steel frame for the cockpit area, and begun to sheet the walls. I'm using corogated plastic, (The kind they use for light roofing), and 1/4 inch MDF. Attaching it to the frames with sheet metal screws. I've made good progress on the cockpits port side.
http://img514.imageshack.us/i/shipphotos007.jpg/
http://img267.imageshack.us/i/shipphotos014.jpg/
I feel good about the work so far. But I have much to do before the electrician comes to do the wiring on Wednesday.
http://img514.imageshack.us/i/shipphotos007.jpg/
http://img267.imageshack.us/i/shipphotos014.jpg/
I feel good about the work so far. But I have much to do before the electrician comes to do the wiring on Wednesday.
Spaceship 2
I've been working for a little over a week. I first had to tear out the old Ship. (Good bye WITCHCRAFT. You were a good ship.)
It's been a real mess. I tried to tear out the old ship carefully so as to salvage as much of the materials as possible. I was able to save about 80% of the stuff. The old sheetrock was all trashed, which is OK as I hate working with that stuff anyway. I was able to save most of the old MDF and the steel stud framing. Took about 3 days of work to get the thing destroyed, and most of the junk hauled upstairs and out. Really hot dirty work. Next time I want to build something, I must schedule it for the winter.
It's been a real mess. I tried to tear out the old ship carefully so as to salvage as much of the materials as possible. I was able to save about 80% of the stuff. The old sheetrock was all trashed, which is OK as I hate working with that stuff anyway. I was able to save most of the old MDF and the steel stud framing. Took about 3 days of work to get the thing destroyed, and most of the junk hauled upstairs and out. Really hot dirty work. Next time I want to build something, I must schedule it for the winter.
New Ship ; New Blog
Ok, so I set up this blog thingy to keep a record of the new ship's construction.
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