Lockdown projects

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stupar

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So who else has a lockdown project on the go or are dedicating more time to because you can?

My lockdown is an RC truck which has picked up some pace since having more free time on my hands.

As well as picking up the camera this is also helping to keep me occupied

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Funny you say that as I was going to put up a similar post.
I am currently constructing a massive ghetto blaster out of parts I have been sourcing for the last few months.

It is still in its basic build stage, making everything fit and sound good, i am making it out of 12mm ply and it weights about 40kgs so far.
The speaker cones i sourced from a friend who gave me a set of Wharfdale Valdus 400s floor standers, the am which is being changed at the moment is a class D 120wx2 output
and the head unit is a Roberts 93i stream internet radio, there is lots going in and the final finish will be vinyl wrap.

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I have just finished install one of the bass reflex port tubes from 1 of the floor standers as a centre piece, really happy with the look

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I have also finished the backs of the speaker compartments this AM, the original floor standers were a bass reflex design which would have overpowered the ghetto blaster so I have converted them to infinite baffle and installed lots of sound absorbing wadding in the cases, sounds totally awesome, very tight sound with serious base. The rear is a bit untidy at the moment as that section is ongoing as I have lots of "bells and whistles" to fit in

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Server Hamster said:
Will you be able to run it on 8 D-cells like the '80's ones?
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no no no no …..although I have looked at powering it with a bank of 12v lead acid Yuasa UPS batteries which I have had donated, I have 6x of them and I think I could create a bank of 4 in the base in the middle section, but given it will not be truly portable I am going to pass on that.
 
So, it won't fit on your shoulder ?
 
kendo1 said:
So, it won't fit on your shoulder ?
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it might if I can find some massive black dude :-)

I started drawing out the project last year, I wanted to take the original idea from the 80s and my enjoyment and experience of hip hop and other music of the times, people like NWA.
I also wanted to bring the whole concept up to date and use modern equipment and technologies, once completed it will even function as a massive Bluetooth stere speaker as well.
The Roberts 93i also includes full internet radio, playback from USB, fully controllable from the UNDOK app, the Roberts will also play seamlessly over DNLA from my twonkey Server over wireless.
 
First 10 days or so, garden work first with decking extended and a good tidy up then and man cave tidy up and little jobs.

Now, macro stuff and learn stacking.

Eventually some decorating.
 
Unfortunately being in all day doesn't necessarily give me all that much time as I look after someone.

I do have a long term little photography project and it's taking pictures including and out of windows and from the outside in too. So there's that to do when I get a spare minute and the light is right.
 
I'm still working from home but I've had the garden as my project.

So far I've extended the patio by 3 rows and started to build a basic pergola which will house our Hot tub ;).
Dug a flowerbed with a couple more to dig once ive removed the old concrete path.
Started growing some Herbs and Veg which will go in the raised bed which I have started to build.
 
Installed all the speaker wadding in the mighty Yorkshire ghetto blaster IMG-20200415-WA0007.jpegIMG-20200415-WA0005.jpegIMG-20200415-WA0003.jpeg
 
So far I have installed hand guards on my bike, and tomorrow I will install the satnav.
 
It comes in many different colours, Matt or gloss and is pretty cheap. I followed a couple of YouTube videos. A hairdryer or heat gun is a must....practiced on a few bits, messed it up a few times lol....but it gets easier.
The ghetto blaster looks great, how does it sound?
 
supergeeman said:
It comes in many different colours, Matt or gloss and is pretty cheap. I followed a couple of YouTube videos. A hairdryer or heat gun is a must....practiced on a few bits, messed it up a few times lol....but it gets easier.
The ghetto blaster looks great, how does it sound?
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it sounds really great, it is an evolving project and has been so much fun so far, it is very big and surprised how bleeding heavy it now is, it is a two man lift and more to do, the hardest part has been making the speakers work properly, in the original cabinet below they were bass ported and a very bas heavy speaker (bit bloated) I wanted to bring them in and sharpen it all up, also planned to convert them to infinite baffle (sealed cabinets) that took a few trys to get them right.5b7d54cf9acbd7121a811c43.jpg
 
As long as the wood is smooth, it will be great, rough finish and it wont stick.
 
Spare hour or so, knocked up a rough prototype but usable shot glass holder ready for unlock down

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Graham W said:
Been making all manner of jigs and things for my table saw.
Waiting for the arrival of some of the metal parts I can't make so I can start on my first "Cigar Box" bass guitar. :)
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I've restrung my guitars and dusted off an amp, distortion and looper pedals. Brace yourself neighbors! :beer:
 
I'm taking advantage of the situation by making my car look like a car again:)
I'm stuck indoors like most people, but can work on it with nobody around, so with zero additional risk of infection.
It's an off-roader, used as a farm vehicle, towing trailers, shunting around the farm and so on and it took a long time with a jetwash just to be sure that it really is silver . . .
And when I'd done that, and removed half of north Yorkshire's mud from the inside too, I found that it needed some welding at the blunt end. That's been done, now I'm working on odd bits of body scrapes and improving the electrics, because most of the odd bits and pieces such as ancillary lighting, reversing camera, two way and so on were bodges that were unreliable.

It's normally impossible to find the time to do this but I'm quite looking forward to having a car that will be as good as I can get it. It will take a while though, because I'm not sure where I'm going to be able to source the paint needed.
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Quick answer is to watch some videos on youtube...that's how I got started. You'll need a hair dryer and a craft knife, to trim it, and a plastic spreader or similar to help apply it smoothly....it doesn't take long to get the hang of....
Mr Bump said:
its painted ply so it is pretty smooth, how does it all work?
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Some progress pictures for our garden during lockdown
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As of yesterday & last night
IMG_20200417_173151.jpg
IMG_20200417_203839.jpg

The pallets will be replaced by reed screening today when it arrives. Need to extend the patio out to the right, and I have a brick BBQ to build as well.

Top of the garden is going to be geared towards wildlife. With a small pond being dug in the coming weeks.
 
Mr Bump said:
Funny you say that as I was going to put up a similar post.
I am currently constructing a massive ghetto blaster out of parts I have been sourcing for the last few months.

It is still in its basic build stage, making everything fit and sound good, i am making it out of 12mm ply and it weights about 40kgs so far.
The speaker cones i sourced from a friend who gave me a set of Wharfdale Valdus 400s floor standers, the am which is being changed at the moment is a class D 120wx2 output
and the head unit is a Roberts 93i stream internet radio, there is lots going in and the final finish will be vinyl wrap.
Click to expand...

Cool! :cool:

I did something similar many years ago.
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But so far during the lockdown I have done nothing. I have an existing project in the shape of a 1980 Mercedes W123 to restore and I had hoped I would make some progress on that, but somehow I have ended up with even less free time than normal as well as a generous pay reduction. :(
 
Marc said:
Finally, after almost 40 years of "getting around to it", I've actually started writing a book! :eek:
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Excellent:) And if you'd actually done it 40 years ago you would have had to type it (and constantly re-type it) on a typewriter and then eventually either find a publisher (who would get an editor to wreck it for you) or pay a fortune to a vanity publisher to print it for you . . .
Modern technology has made it so easy now, and you can publish and sell it very easily on Amazon, although of course they'll take most of any sales revenue.
 
Garry Edwards said:
Excellent:) And if you'd actually done it 40 years ago you would have had to type it (and constantly re-type it) on a typewriter and then eventually either find a publisher (who would get an editor to wreck it for you) or pay a fortune to a vanity publisher to print it for you . . .
Modern technology has made it so easy now, and you can publish and sell it very easily on Amazon, although of course they'll take most of any sales revenue.
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Indeed. I believe the royalties are around 35%. But I'm only doing it for me so not expecting to make any money from it.

Of course, if Hollywood come knocking for the movie rights.... ;)
 
Marc said:
Indeed. I believe the royalties are around 35%. But I'm only doing it for me so not expecting to make any money from it.

Of course, if Hollywood come knocking for the movie rights.... ;)
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I think that 35% is the headline figure, before they start charging you for all the associated bits, leaving the author with about 20% depending on the retail price charged, and of course you also have to pay their seller fees of £30 a month - but if you're only doing it for yourself, not an issue.

But if I can give you a tip . . . Write it as if you plan on having a best seller, i.e. full research, entertaining, fully edited. That way you'll end up with a much better book.
 
Garry Edwards said:
I think that 35% is the headline figure, before they start charging you for all the associated bits, leaving the author with about 20% depending on the retail price charged, and of course you also have to pay their seller fees of £30 a month - but if you're only doing it for yourself, not an issue.
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Have had a look through and the royalties are 35% for ebooks priced up to £2.98 and 70% from £2.99 to £9.99 (o ver £9.99 goes back to 35%). The only deduction that I can see is delivery costs which is 10p/MB but that only applies to the 70% bracket. Can't see anything about a £30/month seller fee, is that not a Marketplace thing?

Garry Edwards said:
But if I can give you a tip . . . Write it as if you plan on having a best seller, i.e. full research, entertaining, fully edited. That way you'll end up with a much better book.
Click to expand...

Yep. Have written 2 pages of the book so far and 20 pages worth of research. (y)
 
I briefly worked with a chap who was a published author and playwright.

He obsessed over language and rhythm. It would sometimes take him a day to write a single sentence.

ETA - I meant to also say he did little or no research. He told stories.
 
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Marc said:
Have had a look through and the royalties are 35% for ebooks priced up to £2.98 and 70% from £2.99 to £9.99 (o ver £9.99 goes back to 35%). The only deduction that I can see is delivery costs which is 10p/MB but that only applies to the 70% bracket. Can't see anything about a £30/month seller fee, is that not a Marketplace thing?



Yep. Have written 2 pages of the book so far and 20 pages worth of research. (y)
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AFAIK the £30 per month is the cost of being an Amazon seller, so if all that you sell there is your book then it will be an extra £30 but if you're already selling other things then of course there will be no extra cost.
If I drill down into my Amazon account then I should be able to find out the details of their pricing, although they don't make it easy. All that I know is that my Lighting Magic book, which I sell for £4.99 in e-book form brings in a net return of £1.04. There's more on the paperback version but that's sold at a much higher price. Delivery cost is, in my case, fairly high because there are of course a lot of photos.. In addition, the books sold on the USA Amazon website are also taxed at 30% (even though all the money goes to a registered charity that is exempt from taxes) and I have no idea where that money actually goes:(
simon ess said:
I briefly worked with a chap who was a published author and playwright.

He obsessed over language and rhythm. It would sometimes take him a day to write a single sentence.

ETA - I meant to also say he did little or no research. He told stories.
Click to expand...
My own approach is just to write, with little or no thought, then to go over it again, repeatedly adding and removing content until I'm happy with that I've covered the subject and made it readable, then I check all the technical content, then it goes off to an editor who knows nothing about the subject but who, because he doesn't understand the subject, is able to make corrections to grammar and language.

It then gets published, and then other mistakes, previously missed, surface and are corrected. But some of the books that I've read (or tried to read) seem to have taken less time to write than to read and are a total waste of whatever effort was put into them.
 
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