Welding up a bunch of steel frames was the first order of the day. A sculpted bowling alley arch was then tilted upright and bolted to each side of the frame. Four of the forty arches are now sculpted. Removable wheels will make it easy to roll them around the shop as they get their coats of paint. The finished prototype arch was bolted to one of the frames. It's numbers were then fastened on, completing this one. The first completed arch will be kept handy as a reference and guide for the balance of the project. We also positioned two of the arches side by side for the first time. It is going to look so good when all fifty-two lanes of the bowling alley are complete!
Three arches get their mud
After many days of cutting both metal and plywood pieces, seemingly endless welding, grinding, bolting on plywood and stapling mesh into place it was time to do what we do best. It was time to trowel a little fibreglass reinforced concrete onto the armatures and then sculpt it into bricks, rocks and aged plaster. Three arches were done today. Tomorrow we'll build some shipping stands and then bolt these into place for painting after the concrete has cured. That will make room in the shop for the next batch of arches and beams to follow.
Wall to wall pieces
The shop is full, wall to wall, with bowling alley arches in various stages of completion. There are three arches ready for the sculpting phase which is to start first thing tomorrow morning.
