We designed and built our new trade show booth just after the new year in preparation for the International Association of Amusement Parks and Attractions EXPO to be held in mid-November. Since then the show booth has waited patiently under a tarp. This week we pulled the tarp, made a few adjustments and additions and then gave everything a good shine and clean. Today, we put the tarp back on in readiness for the big truck soon to arrive. Then we loaded it with our trusty forklift and sent the booth down the long road to Florida. In exactly four weeks we'll head to the airport ourselves to go to Orlando. We are excited about the prospect of showing what we do to more than thirty thousand show attendees. We'll be in booth 2159. See you in Orlando!
No such thing as too strong.
My dad often gives me a hard time about over building our creations. He was a carpenter and knew how to build strong but in his mind I've taken what he has taught me to the extreme. But I learned well from him. He built projects out of wood on concrete foundations. Those projects remain decades later. In our case our projects are designed to be transported before they are permanently fastened in place. Most often the public interacts with our projects as well. Experience has taught me that there is no such thing as too strong and we simply can't risk a failure.
On my latest little project it might just be possible that I have gotten just a teeny bit carried away. The stand for the Merry Dragon sign has a 3" x 3" steel tubing core. I wanted to make the project bottom heavy so it has no chance of toppling over if someone accidentally bumps into it. The bracket pieces are all cut from 1/4" steel plate and fully welded along their edges. To provide a little more weight on the lower end I decided to cut the bottom plate from half inch steel. After I welded it up and did a little grinding I wanted to move it to the floor. But there was no possible way I could lift it by myself. It might be too heavy even with a couple of crew helping. I might have to use the forklift on this one. But then again I will be able to sleep soundly knowing no one will tip it over. :)
Trinidad progress
Until my next visit to Trinidad we watch from afar. I get regular updates and am in frequent communication via email, video conference and phone. It is exciting to see the structures going vertical in a big way. The main building's upper slab had just been poured on my last visit. Now the concrete tower portion is being built, We will soon build a giant climbing wall around it. The forms are in place for the second level with two more stages to go. The rockwork will tower past that height. A staircase inside will allow the bravest guests to climb to the top, hook into a harness and then jump fifty-two feet to the bottom. They will free fall about two thirds of the way down before being slowed by the high tech rigging.
