Month: December 2018

My fan/ducting system has run pretty well in the trials but I concluded that it was a bit loud and moved more air than necessary.  The solution?…a potentiometer (yep, that’s a word).  This little guy gives me the option of adjusting the speed (volume) of the fans.  It’s not much on looks but gets the job done.

So my borderline ADD has me on yet another tangent.  The other day as I was buying 1/8″ birch panelling at the lumberyard, I decided to pick up a couple extra pieces to address a long-standing issue I’ve had with the forward cabin.  Specifically, I have never been satisfied with the original work I had done panelling Sparta’s rounded, forward-leaning nose. For those of you that have ever attempted a Spartan remodel, you will know how difficult it is to cut a single piece of birch to fit those tortured, albeit voluptuous, curves.  So I had cut three different pieces to fit, figuring I could trim-out the seams.  Bad idea and this compromise has been nagging at me ever since.  Pictured below you will see my original work.  Look closely and you’ll notice the sections.

From my dissatisfaction arose an inspiration: Why not pull the three sections and use them as a template to cut a single piece of birch?  

The second inspiration came and I realised I could use this freshly cut piece as a template for the other side – its mirror image.

So I am now feeling good about the result, despite the fact that I had to redo old work.  Sometimes I strive for perfection.

So with my doubts put to rest I can now go back to cabinet-making.