My man cave build - UK edition

[Sooner or later]

What a project. You are da man

[daepp]

Yes, what a joy it's been to follow your progress. And might I add, that little stone work with the date is a might fine touch!

[Captain Ahab Jr]

911 Rod, trying to get it weather tight before Christmas, me going back to work has slowed things up a bit so not sure we'll do it

Sooner of later, thanks if I'm da man then Mrs Ahab is da lady

daepp, thanks, nearly went with a fresh cut stone but found the stone in my pile which I had the date hand carved into it. Once the new build has weather in to match the old house, I'm hoping people will take a double take when they spot it

This weeks progress achieved one milestone, the gable wall is finished, one side down, two more sides to go



Date stone now in place, I debated with myself about using the pinky coloured stones that are dotted about the courses as the colour is not quite in keeping with the other brown shades

These stone are iron stone as per the rest of the build but somewhere during their life they were exposed to fire which turns the stone pink. Glad I did as their colour tells a story, like the rest of the building should hopefully do when finished.



My involvement this week was minimal, only had an hour on a few late evenings, so under the cover of darkness and like a little church mouse I very quietly drilled and fitted the metal wall straps that fix the front timber wall plate for the joists to the inner block work wall.

This weekend I broke out out with the power tools and trimmed up the front joists, trial fitted the fascia boards and trial fitted the upper window oak lintels.



Everything is now ready for our builder to hopefully finish off the front wall this week.

[astrochex]

Each day gets you closer, right?

By the way, your profile refers to landspeed exploits. What was that project if I may ask?

[Sooner or later]

Originally Posted by astrochex

By the way, your profile refers to landspeed exploits. What was that project if I may ask?

Good question. No need to ask about "extreme diy"

[Captain Ahab Jr]

Originally Posted by astrochex

Each day gets you closer, right?

By the way, your profile refers to landspeed exploits. What was that project if I may ask?

yep, every stone placed is one I don't need to cut again

A couple of projects,

McLaren F1 production road car, 240 mph in 1998
https://cars.mclaren.com/featured-articles/mclaren-f1-record-breaker.html

and Honda F1 at Bonneville, 247 mph in 2006, still kick myself for not speaking up as I could have helped out at the salt flats
https://www.formula1.com/en/latest/article.the-long-read-chasing-400km-h-in-the-worlds-fastest-f1-car.4KJFHbfjaU8GgqUEgsKQeU.html

[Captain Ahab Jr]

Originally Posted by Sooner or later

Good question. No need to ask about "extreme diy"

well spotted, have it listed as one of my interests on my resume but no one has ever asked me about it

[Seahawk]

Enough!

Take a look at this Mr. Captain and see if you can figure out what parts my company made:



Kidding, of course. I do love this build. The Date Stone, in particular, is an example of the cool.

Never disappointing. Best.

[Captain Ahab Jr]

Originally Posted by Seahawk

Enough!

Take a look at this Mr. Captain and see if you can figure out what parts my company made:



Kidding, of course. I do love this build. The Date Stone, in particular, is an example of the cool.

Never disappointing. Best.

Thanks Paul, this photo is an example of cool

Going to make some wild guesses here as I don't know that much about your company

I spent 18 months doing competitor design analysis from detailed track spy photos while working a previous F1 employer so got a reasonable eye for detail but a Helo is something I know nothing about so here goes,

as you do composites I'm going to say no to the metal parts which appear to be many, looks like quite a hot area around the exhaust outlets so too hot for anything other than very specialised composite materials??

as for composite parts my immediate guess as it's in the centre of the pic is the electrical enclosure , under the rotor (looks like a cable routed through the slot), doesn't look weather proof but more an enclosure to protect electrical boxes/assemblies for dust/debris blasting from the rotors??

or the antenna's/sensors ?? to the right of the above enclosure, these look composite, if they had copper wires co-laminated in they would need to be made from fibreglass

or the small enclosure to the very right of the pic

or if I was to really stick my neck out here the rotor pitch control rods ??, these would be very trick made with hollow carbon tubes with co-laminated/bonded metallic threaded end fittings for the fitment of the adjustable spherical rod ends, remind me of larger version of a F1 front steering track rod

how did I do Paul?? even if I'm wrong anything manufactured that makes it on to a military helo is a cool project

[Captain Ahab Jr]

forgot to to say looks like a UH60 Blackhawk

[Seahawk]

Originally Posted by Captain Ahab Jr

forgot to to say looks like a UH60 Blackhawk

You did great, as usual. We did the composite design for the sensor cover with the line leading into it.

Special part. Getting parts certified to fly on military aircraft, UH-60 indeed, puts Sisyphus to shame.

I was just having fun. I have the utmost respect for your, and Mrs., efforts. It is a pleasure to watch it all.

Best.

[Captain Ahab Jr]

Originally Posted by Seahawk

You did great, as usual. We did the composite design for the sensor cover with the line leading into it.

Special part. Getting parts certified to fly on military aircraft, UH-60 indeed, puts Sisyphus to shame.

I was just having fun. I have the utmost respect for your, and Mrs., efforts. It is a pleasure to watch it all.

Best.

Ace! Very cool project to be involved in

If you ever need an impartial sound board to bounce off design or manufacturing ideas with you know where to find me, would be my pleasure to help you

[daepp]

Originally Posted by Seahawk

Enough!

Take a look at this Mr. Captain and see if you can figure out what parts my company made:



Kidding, of course. I do love this build. The Date Stone, in particular, is an example of the cool.

Never disappointing. Best.

In no uncertain terms, that's just badass.

Me, I'd have to post a photo of some concrete. Sigh...

[VincentVega]

No kidding. I work in IT, nothing is tangible and most is really not that interesting to anyone. Love this thread, such a cool project.

[LJ851]

Any updates ?

[tevake]

I think a bunch of us are wishing that the roof will get finished and the inside all dry by New Years, or at least before winter comes on too hard.

All the best Captn. In finding time away from your new job to keep the momentum going on your home project.

Cheers Richard

[Captain Ahab Jr]

here you go LJ851

thanks Richard, keep wishing everyone, the roof is getting there, didn't have any time during the evenings so most progress was thanks to our builder and a bit from myself and Mrs Ahab

Yesterday our builder and I finished all the roof joists above the garage, it was cold and raining, called it quits by lunchtime as I couldn't feel my fingers, face or head, I had a full thickness ice cream head

This side of the roof is the trickier side as the roof will run flush into the old roof and the new building rear wall is not square on to the old building

Will also have 3 roof lights (see hole for the garage roof light) and a dormer window. Rear half of the inside is very wet



Our builder was busy during the week fitting a breathable, waterproof membrane and battens for the tiles. I spent today screwing down all the roof joists and nailing 9 rows of battens, only 4 or 5 more to go and it's done

This side of the roof is the easy side, there will be a small step down from the old roof to the new roof as the new front wall is stepped back from the original front wall



The front half of the building is nearly dry

[recycled sixtie]

Hey Capt A your house has become huge and very impressive. Well done to you and your wife and builder for all the hard work. Just for comparison here is a pic of our modest house and cars from the early 1960's.

We were located on the Reading road just outside of Wallingford, Berkshire. After my dad died in 1966 my mother sold the house for 5000 pounds. Now it is worth 1,000,000 pounds. Unbelievable increase in property values that are commutable to London.

Keep up the good work!

[Captain Ahab Jr]

Thanks recycled sixtie, great photo, house prices here are very expensive, the UK is a crowded island so you either pay up or make the most of what you have

Firstly hope everyone had a Merry Christmas and thanks for the kind words of support and encouragement as we've worked on our build

While I was at work the week before Christmas our builder and Mrs Ahab worked on the roof joists on the house end of the rear roof, not quite there yet but thanks to their hard work I've only got a few joists left to fit

I managed a few days over the Christmas break and nearly finished the roof membrane and battens over the garage end, just got a few left to do at the top. Also fitted one roof light, got another 2 left to do.



I also finished doing the battens on the front side, length of the battens used can nearly be measured in km's and miles



The inside space is starting to close in on it's self but with the high ceiling it still feels roomy





I'll spend a couple more days on the roof before it's back to work for me. With the limited time I have free I've mentally set myself the target of having the roof all finished by the end of Jan.

The tiling is a quiet neighbour friendly activity which I can do under flood light in the evening

Until my next update I wish everyone a Happy New Year and an ace 2019!

[Seahawk]

Best, Mr. and Mrs, Ahab.

What I thought you were after in the beginning of this thread and where you have gone is 180 degrees out.

The way it should be.

Again, best to you and yours in the coming year. Outstanding stuff, a complete pleasure to follow along.