22.11.08

77 degrees with a 29 degree angle to top...




Week two and it is slow going, the various compound angles I am learning to cut are time consuming. After the initial angle cut, I figured I can cut the other angle on edge, and then come back with the cut off wheel and take the slope angle off one face... I finished the beak detail- added three sch80 pipe inserts which can be rigged from but also through with a longer round bar- adding more rigging options. I also sheathed the beak-now it is starting to have bird like character! I've had the shop to myself for a week, which I have been taking full advantage of-good times!!!

11.11.08





The main frame of the crane is being built out of 2.5 x 2.5 x .188 wall square tubing with the truss structures being 2 x 2. I started with the "beak", which turned out to have many difficult compound angles. I'll be really good at cutting them by the end of this build!




The first week of November marked the beginning of building Crane One. After numerous editions on Vellum and Google Sketch Up of the crane here is what it will look like-

This sculpture project has been growing with me for over five years now. I was inspired by watching shipyard cranes in motion in the wee hours of the night, dreaming of dancing in and around these enormous moving structures. It was magnificent. It took years to condense the concept onto paper, a full sketchbook of drawings and finally in to some form of a project proposal, followed by many miniature models in paper and in steel to work out the various designs. The entire project is comprised of three tall cranes, a pulse jet accessorized stage, a rotating cog, and several vertical fire cannons.
There was a long search for an enthusiastic and able Engineer, and there is the ongoing search for funding for a project of this magnitude.

It is a little overwhelming in its entirety(!), so, just like with all enormous tasks in life, you just start somewhere small, and hope that in time you can look back and start to see your dream vision unfold...
So I am starting with one crane. Thanks to the gracious support from my friends, family and artistic cohorts I will get a great start on material costs for the first crane.
So here it is, my first ever blog, the Tell All about the build of Crane One!