Monday, February 7, 2011

Model tug

This is my tug boat that I built 40 years ago, It is older than my youngest son. I will let the photos talk, The real tug was sailed from South Shields to Australia as a top sail schooner, the propeller was removed for the trip. It also towed the last sailing ship into Sydney harbor. It was sunk twice during its life once under Sydney harbor bridge and was lifted 3 years later with the death of a diver ,she was the first tug to work in Pt Kembla and worked in Newcastle as well. The last time she was sunk was trying to help a ship in Port Kembla harbor and was cut up on the spot. I dived in the sight and found a copper fitting very eroded by time and cast the bell for the model from the remains.So here are the photos.

 This photo shows the forty year old electric motor which incredibly still works

 The skipper was one Jimmy Robinson who I meet and was the skipper when she went down the second time I was nine at the time and my dad took me to see the boat upside down in the water . Jimmy liked the model/Note the bell..
 The figure of the skipper was carved out of wood and was unbelievably like Jimmy the skipper.
 Life boat made from paper
 These are the tow hooks the closes one has the release handle broken off.
 The real tug was a riveted hull
 Many years of dust and the last photo shows the knortz nozzle which on the on the model and the real tug made both more maneuverable. The bollard pull rose from three tons to nine tons on the original.

Saturday, February 5, 2011

phuck

I heard on the Today Show this morning, PM Julia Gillard proudly state that, “The Government has provided $17m to the disaster fund in Queensland with more to come over due course.” Well done Julia. Now explain to this little black duck who at this point is one angry bastard how all of this works:
THE TOP 8 RECIPIENTS OF THE AUSTRALIAN GOVERNMENT'S AID DOLLARS IN 2010-2011
 
Indonesia -                        $ 458.7 million
Papua New Guinea -                   $ 457.2 million
Solomon Islands -             $ 225.7 million
Afghanistan -                              $ 123.1 million
Vietnam -                         $ 119.8 million
Philippines -                     $ 118.1 million
East Timor -                      $ 102.7 million
Cambodia -                       $  64.2 million
 
TOTAL = $ 1,669 million -to be given away in 52 weeks
 
..but wait, there’s more...  !!!!!!!
 
• Australia provides approximately 150,000 tonnes of food aid every year—about $65 million—to
Bangladesh,   Indonesia,   Sri Lanka,   Sudan   and    Chad.
 
• In 2010-2011 the Australian Government plans to spend almost $4.4 billion on development assistance to under developed countries.
 
SO….. Ask your local Member how come 2011 Queensland flood victims get “$17 million so far”?
 
When insurers, such as Allianz and CGU, provide cover for storm damage but EXCLUDE
FLOOD  from their home and contents policies.
 
SUGGEST, we EXCLUDE them from our Shopping Lists …  ????
 
         And now Gillard will give nearly $500 million for Indonesia’s Islamic schools which are largely moderate in outlook but there have been pockets of radicalism that have produced terrorists in Indonesia, most notably the cleric Abu Bakar Bashir’s school in Ngruki, central Java, where some of the Bali bombers studied
 
STOP THE OVERSEAS AID NOW AND DIVERT THOSE FUNDS TO
QUEENSLAND.
 
WHEN QUEENSLAND HAS BEEN REBUILT AND BACK ON ITS FEET,
THEN WE CAN HELP TO BUILD MORE ISLAMIC SCHOOLS
OVERSEAS. AND HERE’S AN IDEA:
MAYBE WE CAN ALSO TEACH ABU BAKIR’S DICIPLES TO SING:-
 
"KOOKABURRA SITS ON THE OLD GUM TREE",
"GUMBAYAH",
"WALTZING MATILDA"
AND
"I STILL CALL AUSTRALIA HOME"!!

Friday, February 4, 2011

drug sub

 My nephew on my wife's side lost everything in the floods in Queensland and they moved out. They crossed flooded creeks and highways to get here. Being independent Oliver and his wife four children all under seven and his mother in law who was injured in a car accident all staying in a tent. They ended up in Nowra and were being charged $140/ night in a caravan park..... phucken thieves. They have been offered the drug sub to stay in. So It will be some time before it gets to the water. So like me you will have to wait some time longer. These things happen and its good to be able to help. Its Oliver birthday tomorrow..

pedal cars

I see where people making pedal cars bend the crank from solid. Now if you get two sets of  bicycle cranks and set them up on a single piece of solid rod and grind where the cotter pins go, then the pedal can be set up. Drilling out the threads and sliding threw a suitable rod and weld this in place putting in the pedal tread before welding. when the whole thing is together cut the main axil to make the crankshaft,Just like a car crankshaft but not as heavy. The big ends are where the pedal treads go. There can be three main bearings but I think two would be enough. This should run true to a couple of thou. I will make one and show pictures as time permits. If you have trouble post a comment and I will get back to you.

Thursday, February 3, 2011

radio control boat rescue

Any one have any ideas on rescuing people with radio control boats? Please post a comment. Cheers