It was another great day of work on Vala’s Pirate ship. We sculpted more of the boat and laid the first paint on the stern. The hard-to-reach parts are now fully sculpted, and the balance of the ship will be done in another couple of days. As the colour begins, the ship is going to look even better. Stay tuned for more fun…
Cover art
One of the perks of winning the best of show in the Sign of the Times annual contest is to have the project appear on the cover of the magazine. The editors of the magazine choose a great photograph that fits the format of the cover. The photo that made the cut is Tom’s tribute sign. This is a whimsical sign I really enjoyed designing and fabricating. It features CNC routing, plasma-cut steel, lots of hand sculpting and painting and some 23K gold lettering for the perfect amount of bling. Forty-two years after I first admired a winning entry in this same contest, it is our turn to hopefully inspire some others.
Canopy beginnings
Henry was delighted to hear I had purchased the gas struts to assist with the opening mechanism of his 2026 parade float plane’s canopy. With the struts in hand, we could begin fabricating the framework. We first went to the local hardware store to pick out a sturdy hinge. This involved cutting, forming and welding some tubing. As each piece was test-fitted, Henry would climb into the cockpit and test the fit. After each weld, he would climb back in again and spritz the hot area to cool it down before he test-opened the canopy pieces. By the end of today’s work session, Henry was pleased with our progress and a functional frame. Next, we’ll begin forming the flanges to mount the canopy plexiglass. Once that is done, we can get to mounting the gas struts. Henry is waiting as patiently as he can…
