the Golden Patina
With the head now done it’s time to add a patina!
I posted more pictures here
When I have more time I’ll post about how we did the patina.
before (I hated to change it!)
During
After. Wow!
a head teaser
Jon was up until 6AM. Yes 6AM after we started work at 9:30AM. We’re exhausted. Racing the snail (!) to the finish line. Here’s a teaser of the head.
- moon over snail
Slowly moving along
The final week days are upon us and things are looking so good. Lauren says we now just have to get it done regardless of how. Time for me to let go of all the details and just let this amazing crew do what they have done so well these past months. I can’t imagine how I’m going to repay you all!
Snail Ale (yes we even have home brew thanks to Keith and Merrilee!)
KSNL (K Snail radio at 95.1 again thanks to Keith and Merrilee!)
The late night crew. We had over 12 people Sat. and got so much done!
Over 50 panels in all and only 7 more to do! I’ll bet Hino has them all on by the time we wake up on Monday.
Lauren with the hardwood dash utilizing actual simulated virtual wireless technology from the Oil Punk era (note gauge at top).
To Do:
Fire Effects, Head lights, Straps for head, 7 panels, trim on top panels, Patina the entire shell in coppery bronze, paint, install wiring harness, install floor, install seats, reassemble fenders after paint, hubcaps, sound system, light effects, under body lights, curtains, have a beer, load.
Yes, we need help.
Golden Mean gets a shell
It’s a wonderful thing to work on a project that amazes the builders. Every time I walk back with a new part to add I have to stop in fascination at what we have done. The sum of small details adds life to cold steel.
The Golden Mean is looking Great!
Trying out the lighting on the inside of the shell
The Shell Grows Day by Day
We had to add a split rear VW Window!
The snails body emerges
Lauren lays out the wiring
Snail Update AKA “The Golden Mean”
The work is progressing well and we are very excited to finish the project. Every day I’m amazed at the crews workaholic frenzy to get this beautiful machine done. Equal parts art, hot rod, BM, craft, and technology; this project has wowed everyone who has seen it so far and we’re not even done!
more about the Golden Mean
Jon, Pavel, Kyrsten, and Lauren.
Kyrsten installing the fire wall.
Finished spiral with the start of the skin.
It lives!
Wow. Update.
Holly and Laura prepped endless numbers of panels to make the shell.
Kyrsten patterned more panels and polished rivet after rivet.
Nathan and Alex both worked on the top palaquin platform.
And Jon and Lauren finally finished installing the airbags and got the mechanical systems all worked out.
So we went for a ride!
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- Nathan, Lauren, Laura, and Kyrsten
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- Laura prepping the shell panels
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- Polishing rivets
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- The first time out of the shop!
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- Keith hanging off the back
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- West O.
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- Wow, it looks like such a hot rod
Snail Update
We have put so many hours in now. we noticed the rear end is getting closer to the ground and now we have had to add air bags. here are some pictures from last night of where we are now.
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- rear seat, shell looks good
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- We added a top platform, and you can see the start of the head
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- Late and tired!
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- seats are in
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- Pedals are done
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- Lauren checcking the new mounts she made
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- New air bags
slowly slowly a spiral
So, we’re getting the “growth rings” to take shape. Every piece hand fitted at some wonky angle then welded to a piece of round stock. The numbered tape makes it look like we actually have some sort of plan.
In the pictures are Kyrsten’s father Jerry who helped us Sunday. Of course we had help from the usual suspects Thursday and Friday night (thanks to Christopher, Tansy, Lauren, Alex, and the 4 blacksmiths who stopped by). And we also have a picture of Keith who is working on an electric pumpkin carriage and his daughter Ann who is helping him! Monster garage never had father daughter day…
A spiral update
Over at Bioephemera Blog, there are a wonderful set of photographs of an abandoned gasworks park in Seattle. One really inspired the snail shell we are building! Spirals and rivets, together at last.
Speaking of which, Hino at Jon’s shop forged the beautiful teeny-weeny tip of our spiral and it is all clamped up ready to be welded into the side.
Snail work on Monday night
We worked until late on Monday night, and we got quite a bit done. The 2 main supports that will form the sides of the shell are on as well as a sample of the growth rings along the front. Isn’t it a sexy shape? Lauren got he engine purring. Tansy, Alex, and Kyrsten wrapped the spiral for the side. It turned out really nice! The last picture is the crew: Alex, Lauren, Christopher, Tansy, Kyrsten, and Jon. FYI, Kyrsten is not a midget. All those other people are over 6 feet tall…
