Alas, this is the last day of August, and here in the US we are also into the holiday weekend that normally marks the end of summer. Never mind that we'll likely have a good bit more warm weather yet.
The puddle that has been attracting various sandpipers continues to be a draw. I've photographed both Greater and Lesser Yellowlegs there; recently the puddle featured a Solitary Sandpiper. Today's attraction was a Pectoral Sandpiper.
Curiously, also present was a Least Sandpiper. I say "curiously" because if you compare the two, the similarity will be obvious. What isn't necessarily obvious is that the Least is much smaller than the Pectoral.
And, finally, the Lesser Yellowlegs was once again striking some nice poses. The Greater Yellowlegs was around, but keeping his distance today.
When we get significant rains in the area, puddles at Hammonasset Beach State Park are created that attract shorebirds. Recently I managed to photograph two such opportunists.
First up: the Solitary Sandpiper.
The other bird is the Greater Yellowlegs:
It was another milestone day. The covering was complete. We remounted the hatch, this time permanently.
The covering reveals the true form of the design; the hatch covered and in place completes that form.
Next up: Paint! (And, possibly, some decent fenders.)
A Great Blue Heron posed nicely this morning.
I also found this Semi-Palmated Plover bathing and posing.
This was a HUGE day. A major milestone was booked. The covering of the trailer is 99.5% complete.
Given Norm Brody's immediate availability for assistance, we tackled the two upper sides today. Sean made a concerted effort to prepare the rigging for the task, and we both made all possible preparations for Norman's arrival.
As promised, here is a view of the rigging used to do the lower sides, absent the waistline ledge piece.
Note that the front and back have 4-5 slats attached to an overhead boss hung from a structural construct. The middle 6-7 pieces are freely suspended from the trailer side. The point of these slats is to space the contact adhesive-covered plastic panel away from the contact-adhesive covered plywood side until such time as we were prepared for them to meet and adhere.
For the lower panel (with the intermediate ledger piece not present) we rested the panel on the aluminum side and used the slats to keep the panel away from the plywood which had contact adhesive applied. Sean started in the middle, pressing the panel against the side in order to assure the horizontal alignment, proceeding upward and outward from there, removing slats as required.
We repeated the process for the upper sides, adding a ledger on which to rest the lower edge of the panel and facilitate alignment with the existing panel while shortening the slats.
Here are views of the port side with both panels installed and trimmed.
We also covered the starboard side:
This completes the covering of the trailer, with the exception of two very small parts at the lower rear where the curve dips below the side of the aluminum trailer.
Next up: mount the hatch permanently and prep for painting.
It is starting to look like not only a trailer, but the intended shape!
Today Sean and I covered the lower sides of the trailer with Filon. Instead of using the FRP glue we used for the hatch and the front/top, we used classic contact cement. We coated the wood twice - the first coating tends to absorb into the wood, so the second coat leaves ample cement for bonding to the sheet.
Here are views of the starboard side lower sheet installed prior to trimming, then after trimming.
Note that the apparent fuzzy edge at the rear is simply the peel-off protective plastic covering. When the router trims the sheet, that protective covering tends to peel away rather than be cut.
Here is the port side sheet installed and trimmed:
And, despite my indication yesterday, I neglected once again to get a shot of the rigging used to keep the sheet away from the trailer surface so proper positioning and alignment could be achieved. We will modify that rigging slightly for the upper sheets; I will do my best to remember to photograph it then.
Our next step is to rig the upper sheet installation, then invite Norman Brody to join us again since the upper sheets are going to be more unwieldy, making the extra set of skilled hands very valuable.
Yesterday we removed all the clamping from the top/front Filon and trimmed it to the sides of the trailer. There were some areas that required follow-up regluing, and they were handled this morning.
Here is the front/top after trimming:
We also cut and installed the strips that cover the edge either side of the galley hatch. These strips were installed with contact cement, not the FRP glue used on the top/front and hatch.
Today we began preparing to install the lower side piece on the starboard side. To review, the sides are being done in two pieces since that allowed me to buy substantially less Filon. The horizontal joint will be 18" above the side of the aluminum trailer, and will highlight the common axis for the ellipses. (This is the major axis for the rear ellipse, and the minor axis for the front.)
After the trailer is painted I will install a trim piece to cover the joint.
As we have decided to use contact cement for the sides, the preparations include devising a method to keep the glued panel away from the glued side while getting the panel properly aligned with the trailer side. I will have a photo of that in the next post.
Well, you probably knew that already. Here, then, is some evidence to support your convictions.
They just keep on coming.
Black Swallowtail.
Also present was a Skipper:
My friend Norman Brody has been helping Sean and I with tasks on the teardrop that require an additional pair of skilled hands. Norman's hands are quite skilled.
Today we applied the Filon covering to the top and front of the trailer. This one piece of Filon was about 65" wide by 12' long. The previous teardrop post showed the Filon suspended above the trailer.
We spread the glue onto the trailer then lowered the Filon carefully, aligning the bottom front edge and working toward the back of the trailer.
We used angle irons to anchor the band clamps in front and back, and to secure the trailing edge where it meets the hatch. Two other boards were clamped to the leading and trailing edges of the fan curb to hold those edges down.
Here are three views of the result:
The shingles work to straighten the front edge, since the band clamps run under the angle iron; without the shingles, the front edge would be wavy.
The same technique is used at the trailing edge just above the hatch opening:
We plan to let the glue set for two days before unclamping.
Today's nature highlights include a Cooper's Hawk posing:
And, the dragonfly. His wings were glinting golden in the sun, but that effect is very difficult to reproduce in a photograph.
Yesterday we fitted the top/front piece of Filon,
mostly. Today we finalized the fitting. Meanwhile, Sean has rigged a system to suspend the Filon above the trailer. The purpose of this is to allow us to spread the glue onto the trailer and drop the Filon down onto it, using the vent fan hatch as a locator.
Given the height of the trailer, it would be very difficult to move the piece of Filon over a glued surface without dragging on it, even with several people involved. This system allows us to drop the vent hole section into place, then work forward to the front, then drop the rear.
The only final preps are to a) work out the clamping arrangement at the rear (we have it figured, just not installed) - (we're talking about band clamps from the front to the rear to hold the piece down) - and to clean the glue-side of the Filon and remove any dust from the trailer itself.
Here is a shot of the Filon suspended above the trailer, in position, via Sean's rigging:
Butterflies are everywhere, but mainly on butterfly bushes.
I just started paying attention to them; all I have to offer up, so far, are Eastern Yellow Swallowtails and Monarchs.
There will be more to come.
