Anchors aweigh

Each day we do our best to do a variety of tasks to keep things moving along. Welding the armatures continues with three welders going full blast most of the time. The painting crew also keeps the paint flowing on three or four features. And the wring of the armatures is always in progress. We also try to do some concrete work each day. Generally this isn't started until mid-morning so we can have lunch on time while the concrete begins to set up. After lunch the carving begins and as the concrete hardens everyone peels off their other tasks to get it done before it is too late. As the concrete sculpting is finished the crew goes back to their regular work.

Today, three of the smaller pieces got their concrete skin including the anchor, a treature chest and a hollow log that will act as features on the mini golf holes.

As per usual exquisite details took each piece over the top. Tomorrow we'll do some more. Stay tuned...

-grampa dan

Second ship sets sail

The work we do to fabricate our welded steel armatures is critical to the final shape that will follow. It needs to be incredibly strong of course, to handle the weight of the concrete and to allow the piece to be moved in our shop and ultimately to the site. It then needs to stand the test of time. On larger pieces this fabrication can take days or even weeks of cutting, fitting and welding until everything is right. Once ready it is then put on wheels and moved out of the fabrication area to where it will get its coat of metal lath.

Today, the armature for pirate ship which will be in the play area was finished. It's hard to see the final shape of the small pencil rod frame but it's going to be a cool piece with wonderful flowing lines. We have some cool surprises in store that will keep it in tune with the rest of the park and even raise the fun bar ever higher.

This ship is low and long compared to the first we did for this project. It's size will allow the maximum number of kids to interact with the boat. It's lowness will keep everyone safe as possible with the highest deck less than two feet off the pool bottom. Kids are bound to climb and jump off of everything possible. The water around the ship will only be a couple of inches deep and the pool bottom will be lined with cast in place rubber.

Now the wiring crew will start in on the tricky task of fastening on the diamond lath. The ships form will then become more evident. Stay tuned...

-grampa dan

Monday magic

Monday morning, as always, the crew jumped into the work at hand and accomplished plenty. The horse and wagon got their base coats of paint. It lways amazes me how fast a piece comes together with the paint after seemingly endless hours to get it this far. It will get much more colorful from here. The rig is going to look pretty cool when it's all painted up.

We also finished the coin master for the Pieces of Eight ride. We painted it all up so the crew in Italy can see how we want it to look when they are done. They will make a mould off of this piece and then cast sixteen pieces for the sides of the barrel ride vehicles. As soon as the paint was dry it was packaged up and sent via courior to the factory in Italy.

The welding crew was working on the second pirate ship and have the armature almost wrapped up. It's going to be pretty cool when it's done.

The treehouse got it's sculpted concrete skin. The whole crew had a hand in the carving and it looks fabulous.

Tomorrow we'll turn on the lights and work even more magic. Stay tuned...

-grampa dan