Steve B. ( B9-0102 )

 

04/18/2009

Here we have the wooden mold I made with the aluminum plate marked out ready for cutting forming to the correct curve for it to fit on the B9's shoulders.

 

 

After heating the aluminum plate using the gas ring on our cooker, I placed the plate in the mold and pressed down.
The aluminum was very pliable and took little effort to form. I left it in the mold to cool and then did the same for the other torso plate.

 

 

With the hooks themselves, I heating them the same way and using a vice and pliers bent them to the required angle.
After they had cooled I cut them to the required size and angle, and drilled and tapped the ends so the could be screwed to the plates.

 

 

Here are the finished torso hooks. I've used a filler called 'Chenical Metal' around the area where the hooks meet the plate to simulate a welding seam and it has worked out very well.
As I want to be as authentic as possible, I've also gone for the six screw fixing as shown in the photos on the club site. I will post a photo of them fixed to the torso shortly.

 

 

 

08/28/2006

This is a picture of me doing an impression from the episode 'Wreck of the Robot' minus a few parts.  Seriously though, this is a picture of the parts I've so far accumulated towards my B9 project.  The treads I built myself, the torso, donut, bubble and brain I bought from the club.  The claws and aluminium wrists I purchased from a fellow English member and builder, Paul F. who upgraded his.

 

03/04/2005

Here are my MDF treadsections in their raw state.  You may notice two sets of axle holes in the upper part of the treads.  I redrilled the upper holes as Craig's recommendation for a more accurate positioning of the upper set of wheels.  Now all I need to do is fill in the old holes I originally drilled.  I used plastic drain pipe cut into four pieces for the toe sections.  The diameter was a shade smaller, so I softened the plastic in boiling water and carefully flattened them slightly to achieve the correct curvature before gluing them in place.  All I need to do now is feather in all the joins and gaps with filler.

 

Here they are filled and sanded.  The soil sampler door is in postion.  I plan to cover the front and backs of the treads with sheet styrene.  This is because I want to add the little detail of the arcs to the top of each wheel housing, and also I hope it will cover any cracks in the joins should they develope over time.  My next stage will be fitting the knee plates and also I'm going to attempt at making my own fibreglass knee bellows.