The Poet Creek Express - Foamie Hybrid

[KCStudly]

Thanks Steve (linuxmanxxx) for the encouragement.

Going back a way, when I tried out the scaffolding on the saw horses it felt a bit high. I had to bend over quite a bit and still couldn’t really reach past halfway on the wall (flat) anyway, so I decided I needed to build in legs. They aren’t much less than 1 inch shorter in this pic, but I left plenty to cut off of the legs (below the diagonal bracing) so I can get it just right by trial and error.


Okay, here’s the back of Karl’s shop, kind of the “before” picture with exposed insulation and fluorescent T8 light fixtures.



The borrowed scissor lift with extending platform (to the right) that allows you to reach out over immovable objects.


The “after” picture of the front of the shop, with ship lap 1x10’s. We are not professional carpenters, so we kind of got the lines around the shipping hatch a little crude, but with the light fixtures converted to LED’s and added fixtures it is a huge improvement.



Gratuitous camp fire shot from the after party at my nephew Michael and Mallory’s wedding down in NJ.

[Ned B]

:popcorn:

Calling KC... you Ok over yonder??

[KCStudly]

I have no good excuses. The weather is starting to cool off, so I should be anxious to be slathering epoxy filler, but instead I have gotten out of the habit of making the pilgrimage to the shop.

I am trying to turn that mental switch back on and hope to get going again after the holiday weekend (have to watch the extended coverage of 'The Big Go'... Indy baby... pop, pop).

[Philip]

I am trying to turn that mental switch back on and hope to get going again after the holiday weekend

Yea I am going threw the same thing right now. Its hard to get motivated in warm weather.

I haven't been to the Nats in a couple of decades. Don't have any friends running anymore.

[Ned B]

Just checking that you're ok! Ennui happens, believe me, I know how you feel


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[jonb8]

Right On your on the home stretch, I'm getting ready to build another one since the weather is gonna force me in the shop for the winter....

[KCStudly]

Thanks for the encouragement.

[GPW]

It’s difficult maintaining momentum on any long term project . It’s like that with the paintings that I work on that take months and months to do . We never work full time , but pick away a little at a time. It does all add up eventually . Hang in there , you’re so close anyway .

[linuxmanxxx]

Just remember, "if you build it, you will camp"

Sent from my Nexus 6P using Tapatalk

[capnTelescope]

Sometimes it helps to just step back for a while and let things simmer in the back of your mind. You'll get back into the project with fresh ideas and new approaches. Hang in there.

[Atomic77]

Once you get back in the shop and start getting that vision you'll get excited about it again. Just remember why you started it in the first place; set a few tangible goals, and away you go. Follow the dream Brotherman.

Sent from my SM-N950U using Tapatalk

[KCStudly]

Thank you so much, both of you, for your kind understanding and support.

To be honest, Atomic, your reality is something that has shook me to my core. I need to follow your example and work through my "life issues" better. I consider us to be kindred spirits. My complications pale by comparison. Deep respect.

Brad, you are also an inspiration in how to get 'er done and get out there. I need to follow your example more closely. "Shoot the engineers."

Thank you both for being my friends.

[Atomic77]

Thank you so much, both of you, for your kind understanding and support.

To be honest, Atomic, your reality is something that has shook me to my core. I need to follow your example and work through my "life issues" better. I consider us to be kindred spirits. My complications pale by comparison. Deep respect.

Brad, you are also an inspiration in how to get 'er done and get out there. I need to follow your example more closely. "Shoot the engineers."

Thank you both for being my friends.

With you all the way...

Sent from my SM-N950U using Tapatalk

[capnTelescope]

"Shoot the engineers."

I are an injunear. (Sniffle) Maybe just flog 'em. We're used to that.

Other than that, you're welcome. Carry on. Onward and upward. Etc.

[KCStudly]

Onward and upward indeed!

We did really great at the 2017 Extreme Chunkin event.

We had rebuilt part and beefed up the rest of our hydraulic winding frame that sticks out of the front of the bundle frame. This allowed more of "The Juice" from our hydraulic ram to be transmitted into winding the rope bundles even tighter. For our first shot on Saturday we shot 1229 ft using an 8.6 lb LaEstrella. This was just 3 ft short of our prior best shot of 1232 ft.

After the bundles settled from the first shot we juiced them up again, maxing out the hydraulics. Using an 8.1 lb LaEstrella with a modest tail wind we shot a whopping 1507 ft. This was a real shot in the arm far outdistancing our prior best and totally blowing away the 1/4 mile milestone. This got us into 2nd place in the combined adult catapult/torsion division. Being the only adult torsion machine on the field, and having only 20 adult machines, including trebuchets... which are gravity powered... and air cannons, they lumped us in with the catapults... which are spring powered (usually stretched garage door tension springs, rubber surgical tubing or rubber cord stock.

Anyway, whenever we outdo ourselves we are able to claim a new unofficial world record for a ballista. If you know of another ballista that can throw an 8 to 10 lb object 1507 ft, bring it on!

After our second shot on Saturday we juiced it up again to sit overnight. The bundles like the dampness from the overnight dew (or rain if we are lucky) because it helps the rope swell and takes a little friction out.

On Sunday, judging by the flags waving in the pits, the tail wind seemed to have increased, so we were really hopeful to do even better. Unfortunately we "only" got 1489 ft. We were still pretty chuffed at that since it proved that the improvements were pretty consistent. The safety crew/surveyors let us know that they were really pulling for us, but were seeing all of the shots that weren't perfectly straight get pulled even further off line by the side winds that were running above the big berm that we have to throw over.

Still, our 1507 shot held up for second place and we got a nice trophy!

Mr B pulling back for a shot