Getting ready for local night parade

this is a spot to post pics of your favorite mutt cause you know we all like to look at them.

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m3a1
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Getting ready for local night parade

Unread post by m3a1 » November 21st, 2016, 9:38 pm

The truck is running reliably and nearly ready for the night parade. As you know, I like my truck a bit...uh...dog-eared but I did brighten up the stars just a bit by masking them off and applying paint with a sponge because I didn't want it to look too much like new paint. They should stand out better at night.

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Our "float" is going to be, Snoopy WWI Flying Ace. Remember my commentary about getting free steel from the motorcycle dealerships? Well, here is that steel in action. Ultra lightweight and stiff...with no flex. The stuff rings like a bell when you tap it with a knuckle. Total expense - $-ZERO-$

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Vertical support now has struts not shown in this picture so it is extremely strong.

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Snoopy's dog house will be covered in corrugated plastic sign-board material.

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Last edited by m3a1 on November 30th, 2016, 11:50 am, edited 1 time in total.

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Re: Getting ready for local night parade

Unread post by m3a1 » November 22nd, 2016, 7:43 am

For those of you who are wondering, the trailer behind my truck used to be a "Lift, Aerial Stores". The center section, which contained the hydraulic lift (imagine a giant floor jack) was removed and the two ends welded together. It's best qualities are that it is low, heavy, very stable and rolls easily on dirt, gravel or pavement.

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Re: Getting ready for local night parade

Unread post by rickf » November 22nd, 2016, 11:40 am

Man, I would love to have that trailer for storing my slide in pick up camper on! I could move it anywhere in the yard with the lawn tractor.

I want to see Snoopy's dog house when completed!
1964 M151A1
1984 M1008
1967 M416
04/1952 M100
12/1952 M100- Departed
AN/TSQ-114A Trailblazer- Gone

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Re: Getting ready for local night parade

Unread post by m3a1 » November 22nd, 2016, 4:14 pm

I was pretty sure you'd like that, Rick. I might also add that the drawbar extends for about another 3' of drawbar length. When I originally got it, it came with a huge aircraft drop tank!

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Re: Getting ready for local night parade

Unread post by m3a1 » November 30th, 2016, 11:03 am

It has turned out that this job has been a huge effort. Along the way, I had a birthday. What do you get for the guy who has two of everything? Well, you get him a pin for his hat....

(Loyal Order of the Horse's Ass - First Class)
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And a case of Mexican Coke from Home Depot! This case will keep me going through this project.
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Re: Getting ready for local night parade

Unread post by m3a1 » November 30th, 2016, 11:05 am

Bringing Snoopy and Woodstock up to the correct scale... This is a time consuming process.

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Re: Getting ready for local night parade

Unread post by m3a1 » November 30th, 2016, 11:18 am

Cutting and fitting the plastic sign-board panels to the frame which was primed and painted on all the mounting surfaces in order to provide a suitable surface for the mounting tape. I did all the cutting with an old box cutter with a new blade, including the curves. The panels are extremely easy to cut. Since the subframe is metal, if there was a little overhang it was only necessary to zip it off with the box cutter, using the frame as a guide. Panels are attached to the frame with 3M double-sided foam tape.

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Ready for paint. Corners are joined with plastic packing tape, closing all the gaps and providing one more level of attachment to the frame. I used Rustoleum Ultra since they so proudly claimed their paint would adhere to plastic and it does adhere very well.

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Re: Getting ready for local night parade

Unread post by m3a1 » November 30th, 2016, 11:21 am

Turning my attention to other parts of the parade float while paint is drying elsewhere..

Added a lightweight platform to the little trailer. When all this is over, all this stuff gets cut off and the trailer can become something else.
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Re: Getting ready for local night parade

Unread post by m3a1 » November 30th, 2016, 11:24 am

Almost dry.

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Re: Getting ready for local night parade

Unread post by m3a1 » November 30th, 2016, 11:27 am

Finally, we get some sense of what we're building. It's HUGE and I'm already wondering what the heck I'm going to do with this thing AFTER the parade!

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Re: Getting ready for local night parade

Unread post by m3a1 » November 30th, 2016, 11:32 am

Masking tape. Lots and lots of masking tape.
Having the party tent up (we throw a Christmas Party in conjunction with the night parade) allows me to work into the night and believe me, I have quite a few nights in on this project already.

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Once the base color coat goes on, any Rustoleum will adhere...such as this barbecue black.

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Re: Getting ready for local night parade

Unread post by m3a1 » November 30th, 2016, 11:38 am

Time to add color to the characters with spray paint and paint in the lines. Yes, all the black lines are hand-painted! I paint till I can no longer keep a good edge and then take a good, long break. Patience required!

Woodstock!
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Snoopy!
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Re: Getting ready for local night parade

Unread post by m3a1 » November 30th, 2016, 11:40 am

Back to creating the parade float. These speakers fit so well! and that's only by accident because that platform is just an old bed frame and the speakers just happened to be the perfect size to fit. Unfortunately, the speakers are a higher range so there's no bass. Grrrr! Time to go to plan B....and maybe plan C.

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Re: Getting ready for local night parade

Unread post by m3a1 » November 30th, 2016, 11:43 am

As with any project like this, once in a while you have to hold your breath, throw it together and see how what you've created is coming along. This isn't finished but I'm very happy with the results...so far. Still much to do!

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Re: Getting ready for local night parade

Unread post by rickf » November 30th, 2016, 11:45 am

I love it, Tell me you are going to paint the bullet holes in the doghouse too?
1964 M151A1
1984 M1008
1967 M416
04/1952 M100
12/1952 M100- Departed
AN/TSQ-114A Trailblazer- Gone

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