Helicar Blog

Helicar Day 1 - Man in a kids world
Helicar Day 2 - 8 Blades top it
Helicar Day 3 - On 2 wheels
Helicar Day 4 - A dove to far
Helicar Day 5 - Sitting on 3 wheels
Helicar Day 6 - The cut of the car
Helicar Day 7 - The colouring in
Helicar Day 8 - The result
Helicar Day 9 - Into school

Sitting on 3 wheels - 9th December 2010

Click any image to enlarge!

The lad is in the shop with me today. The more exciting things are on todays agenda.

We start by turning the car upside down and screwing the wheel assemblies on. The lad holds the wheels in place while I get inside and screw them through the base. This is the first time the lad has seen the body and is excited to finally be able to sit inside. I wheel him up and down the workshop a few times and it all seems to be holding up well. I am out of breath so its now my turn. I squeeze my 15 stone lump into the helicar, just. Oi i heard that! The boy then pushes me up and down the shop.

While the boy plays with some saw dust (thankfully he can't yet spell clean me yet), I run up some ply to make the seat. This just sits on some 2x2 and screwed from under the car. I also have the lad try turning the top blades from inside the car. He manages it just but needs to use two hands to get it going. I had planned on using some cogs to make it easier and smooth but times seriously running out.

I get out the circle jig for the band saw to make the steering wheel. 2 pieces of ply 10" wide laminated. I use a 1/2" round over cutter in the router to enhance the look of the wheel. Once again I had planned to make the steering wheel turn the cars wheel, again dropped due to time.

The steering wheel just spins on some threaded bar. I drill into the end of some 2x2 and bore a hole to retain a nut. Some washers and a locking nut enable the wheel to spin smoothly. The 2x2 then screwed to the body and held up with some more 2x2.

Continue to day 6.......