Road test 2

With Tom and Molly's help we managed to get the counterbalance weight back in to place beneath the front bumper. Not an easy task but no lost fingers or toes which is good.

This improved the handling and it felt less skitery in the front. 

plumbing next...

Next step...

The next pane in the panorama is filled. I wonder how many more panes there will be?

Road Test

The time has come for a road test. The rear doors and beds are secured so there is nothing to fall off.

Under the front bumper was a huge block of steel. I didn't weigh it but guessed the weight at about 100-150kg. I had taken this off when the original rear body was removed as there was no grip from the rear wheels. I think I will have to replace it as now the front end feels too light. This is no small task and i have yet to work out how I will achieve this.

Other than being a little in the front end, the test went well. Its actually very nice to drive.
the first trip away is getting closer...

Big door

A break in the wet weather meant we could get the big rear door on at last.
It is already ver. 2.01 and I think we'll have a ver. 2.02 before too long.
this has always been a problematic design area.
I really needed some extra shelter, a 'room' actually,  and achieving this has absorbed plenty of cogitation.

Although the door is now lighter than the original design, it still places a lot of stress on the hinges.

A road test is not too far away.

Bed frames

An important factor in deciding whether the entire project was feasible hinged on being able to sleep across the truck. The rear (crew) cabin is too small to sleep and my intention has always been to have bunks, one that folds away.

The water tank will go beneath the bunk with the pump and filling in the 'crew cab'.

The top bunk folds up and away. 

New Year 2012: Tin Tin and the weather

She who must be obeyed requested my attendance at a New Year's eve screening of the TinTin movie, in 3D, at the Paramount in Wellington. My first visit to this historic theatre.
The New Year festivities planned for the Wellington Harbour including fireworks has been cancelled due to bad weather. A soggy end to the year. Luckily 2012 started with brightening weather. An omen I'm sure.

I have never read the TinTin books but enjoyed the movie: a fast paced, loud romp around the world with a dog that runs like a wombat.. A little too much Steven Spielberg for me but there you have it.

Painting

I have never enjoyed painting, in fact I will do just about anything to avoid it. Luckily Ngai likes painting.

The cobweb is not meant to be symbolic of the speed of painting.