** WAR's "Black Tank" Tumbler Build **

[WAR Machine]

Small update:

So I had a little bit of time each night, so I got some wings cut out of the 6mm board and smoothed the edges on the big disc sander...

Side units:

First set of the top units:

So the plan is to just get them cut out in the 6mm board for now while I look for thicker board. May have found some but will go check it out over the weekend.
As 16mm or 18mm is just too thin, using the side sections (Edges) of the wings shape and size... Would need to look for at least 21mm as a base to start with...
And then once those are done and cut, do some sanding and shaping...

[lilboatsman]

Looking good. I have a buddy with a 3D printer that's willing to print out the afterburner in sections for me to assemble. Hopefully I don't burn his machine out before it's finished.

Thanks for the tip about getting the templates printed with a large format printer. I was planning on using a ream of 8.5x11

[WAR Machine]

Looking good. I have a buddy with a 3D printer that's willing to print out the afterburner in sections for me to assemble. Hopefully I don't burn his machine out before it's finished.

Thanks for the tip about getting the templates printed with a large format printer. I was planning on using a ream of 8.5x11

Thanks man, slow and steady...
Wow that would be great if you could, because its one heck of a mission to do it like I did... and I wish I had someone that could help me with a few parts...
But so be it, I will continue non the less...

[lilboatsman]

[/quote]
I wish I had someone that could help me with a few parts...
But so be it, I will continue non the less...
[/quote]

I'm with you there. Currently working on finding a machine shop that will actually respond to me. I will let you know if I find one that is willing to work with small operations like us.

[WAR Machine]

I wish I had someone that could help me with a few parts...
But so be it, I will continue non the less...
[/quote]

I'm with you there. Currently working on finding a machine shop that will actually respond to me. I will let you know if I find one that is willing to work with small operations like us.
[/quote]

Yeah thats always the problem, most places want to work with the big clients and easy work, very few are willing to do small jobs these days.
Just finding them is a mission...

[WAR Machine]

Update:
So I got the other 2 sets of the top wings done...

Middle set...

Back set...

And all of the templates together...

So I cut 2 of each unit as Im not sure yet what the best way is to go about these yet...
Im going later to go look at some more thick boards and then see what I can come up with.
Idea 1 - Glue or laminate 2 thicker boards together and then using the side templates, sand them accordingly... (Damn lot of work)
Idea 2 - Use One piece of thick board and cut the middle sections open and use expanding foam, then shape and build accordingly... (Lighter but still strong with a frame)
Idea 3 - Just use expanding foam or Foam sheets layered together, sand and shape like that... Then Fiberglass over it...

Well lets see what I can find later, but Im more leaning towards 2nd option with fiberglass over that, Kinda best of both world...

[WAR Machine]

Morning all.

So my weekend was not all a waste driving around looking for board, I managed to find some 21mm boards that were 1.2m x 1.1m off cuts at a fraction of the price...
Everyone else only wanted to see me a full sheet of 2.7m x 1.8m. So I took 3 boards and thought we would try them first...

So I can get one side / one set of wings in on one board so that's great...
I started cutting one piece out, but man this board is hard, so going to go get some new blades to try make the cutting a little easier...

[lilboatsman]

Looking good. I just went back and read your build log from the beginning, back in 2017. You've come a long way.

[WAR Machine]

Looking good. I just went back and read your build log from the beginning, back in 2017. You've come a long way.

Hey lilboatsman.
Thanks man, yeah started with all the prep work, and things and that wasn't all that bad, but just a little time consuming.
But thinking back I was a little hesitant to start at times as you look at all of this and you think to yourself man, this is the biggest project I will ever take on... Am I ready?
And I also remember sitting going thru my stuff thinking do I have everything I need... The tools and equipment... Checking other peoples build threads for tools and equipment, any notes on what they did or how they did it... Almost like I was postponing the start due to thinking I did not have enough equipment for this project...

And if your mindset is not right you not going to start good, and possibility of not making progress of finishing could be big...

But when you know, you know... (Well for me anyway) And then I got started...

[WAR Machine]

Hey guys, small update...

So got new blades and managed to cut one board / one set on wings so long.
The board is quite hard so have to cut slow...
And something about the board that it feels like it had a few hard pieces in it somewhere... As I would just it was fine, then all of a sudden it would hook and jump, and pull me off my lines...
But due to it being so hard there was no way I was going to try and cut it straight on the lines so I cut a few millimeters away and then later used my big sander to work it down to the lines...

Cut away from the lines...

Can still see the line on the outer edge...

And the 1 set done, cut and shaped...
So now to get the 2nd set done...