Author Topic: a new nose job  (Read 2565 times)

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blueyonder

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a new nose job
« on: March 16, 2008, 02:22:09 AM »
  playing again with wind stuff.

  i made a nose for the mill  but it dident look right.

  it was made from a ceiling fan /light.  i stripped one down to see what was inside.

  but later i stacked sum bits together and it looked like a prop nose.

   all made from metal i got gas torch and soldered it.

   now i needed sum bondo or car body filler .

   but i only had resin and talc and wanted to keep  that for new roter.

  but i did have sum drywall filler.

   so i used that it was only going to be a mock-up.

   but then i added sum water-proof glue .PVA type

    used the filler like bondo and i gote a nice new nose cone.

  but it was a odd shape .

  so another day i got thinking about a better shape nose.

   this time no metal.

  i started with polystyrene . cutting out a disc at a time .

  i used a sharp craft knife same action as a jig saw .

  first marking it out on the sheet with a compass and pencil .

  it was a old bit rubbishy scrap that was laying around.

   i made each disc smaller as it got taller.

   soon i had a pile of round discs.

    next thing was to glue them together . but with WHAT?.

    i know sumthings melt  polystyrene . so i tried white silicon sealant .

    it worked great. was the first time ive tried to glue it.

  i did leave it over-night to set.  but it worked so well.

    so then i could start to shape it. a surform tool worked well  and sum 40 grit

sandpaper.

   but now i had a problem as i couldn't sand the white silicon . it was like soft rubber.  

  i used a sharp blade and just sliced it off.

   then again i used the filler and pva wood glue. also water.

  to much wood glue and its impossible to sand down.

   as it was taking shape i cut a ply disc and stuck it on the bottom.

  then i found a round metal plate type thing.

 i screwed that to the plywood disc.

    more filler and sanding.  this was done a bit each day or evening.

   or when i had time.

   well now i could see that this shape was much better .

  then i finished the surface with water mixed with pva glue.

  letting it dry each time.

   using paint i had . it got a finish on it.

   next time i try this .i will get a motor or shaft with bearings and use it like a potters wheel.

 no power just spin it with hand.

  first coat was a gray primer and second was blue spray.

  that reacted bad so had to start again .

   but its all good fun doing a new nose job for my mill.

  as i was making it i thought i could use the nose as a plug. or a male mould.

  glass over it then make a female mould.

   but i dident want to start making noses in fibre glass.

     it was only fun.   my wife cant beleave i made this thing .

     the finish pic has got a zippo in the middle for size .

     you can see how it went with the pictures .  















« Last Edit: March 16, 2008, 02:22:09 AM by (unknown) »

MattM

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Re: a new nose job
« Reply #1 on: March 16, 2008, 08:11:09 AM »
I always liked the nose on the narwhal whale.  I figure a long pointed nose like that would help align itself to the wind so it wouldn't be any good for the larger windmills.  But for non-furling windmills the narwhal nose would be sweet looking.
« Last Edit: March 16, 2008, 08:11:09 AM by MattM »

silvereye

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Re: a new nose job
« Reply #2 on: March 18, 2008, 06:56:26 PM »
Hey the nose looks great.  You could actually hook up a vacuum cleaner to a plate under this and heat up an 1/8"piece of ABS of styrene in a frame in the oven and vacuum form a couple of noses off of this as a mold.  Alot cleaner than fiberglass, and less $$$, you could make 6-10 noses by forming for the cost of fiberglass....
« Last Edit: March 18, 2008, 06:56:26 PM by silvereye »

blueyonder

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Re: a new nose job
« Reply #3 on: March 18, 2008, 07:37:36 PM »
 

 six to ten noses.  oh where would i get all the gens to fit them to.

  never mind all the magnets.  one nose at a time sweet silvereye. dont you agree.

 
« Last Edit: March 18, 2008, 07:37:36 PM by blueyonder »

silvereye

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Re: a new nose job
« Reply #4 on: March 19, 2008, 06:07:53 AM »
surely one is enough, but making a "point" on cost.  Plus styrene and ABS wont last forever, so a spare or two while your forming is easy, fiberglass is a messy thing, and can trash the mold unless you can find some of the permeable "Armalon" release cloth ; that and if your going all the way with a vacuum bag bleeder  cure, why yank all thet stuff out if you can just vacuum form....vacuuum form info is free on the web, or can be requested.(n/c)..I have a source if interested.
« Last Edit: March 19, 2008, 06:07:53 AM by silvereye »

WindythePoo

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Re: a new nose job
« Reply #5 on: April 02, 2008, 07:40:34 PM »
Nice Work. If you make a different cone, try a round dome like shape. It is far more aero-dynamic than a cone. It will divert the air around the dome/alternator nice and tight. A cone will dirty they air as it bounces off the cone and "sprays" your blades, actualy worse than no nose cone at all. Think of they very tip of the Space Shuttle, nice and round. It may "Vee up" around the wind sheild and such, but like anything a practicle balance must be made.
« Last Edit: April 02, 2008, 07:40:34 PM by WindythePoo »

blueyonder

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Re: a new nose job
« Reply #6 on: April 08, 2008, 05:53:51 AM »
  hi windy . i think i understand what your saying.

  my mind gos back to all them war films when you saw aircraft on the carrier deck

  in action.  sum planes had a nice pointed nose .

  but now after reading what you have said . i also remember the ones with

 just a round and no taper .

   i often wondered why thay were  like that . know i understand.

    as you say .it must be more streamlined . hence the shuttle nose job.

     its just a shame the pointed nose looks more pretty.

     but would be easy to make just use a ball with sides.

     must be why balls can go far in the air when egg shaped things

   cause turbulence and move on there axis .

     so a bluto  nose is my next one.  cheers windy.  
« Last Edit: April 08, 2008, 05:53:51 AM by blueyonder »

finnsawyer

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Re: a new nose job
« Reply #7 on: April 08, 2008, 08:17:27 AM »
I found this comment very interesting as I have been advocating the rounded "nose cone" for some time.  Mainly because there is a mathematical solution for fluid flow around a sphere.  Knowing that flow, one can then redesign the blades, at least in principle.  Anyway, do have any references or links detailing the shortcomings of the pointed nose cones?  Thanks.
« Last Edit: April 08, 2008, 08:17:27 AM by finnsawyer »

blueyonder

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Re: a new nose job
« Reply #8 on: April 09, 2008, 07:29:54 AM »
  now i am in thinking mode.

    first time i saw the bulbous bow on a ship i thought it dont look right.

   but the bulbous bit is round at the point.

  and now most ships have a bulbous bow.  also nuclear subs (the big mothers)

 also have a round front.

  it sure dont look pretty .  so when i saw concord had a point at the front

  i thought it looks great.

   ok it went at mac 2.   but now its in mothballs .

     the round nose dont look pretty. but must be better.

    when the sales and design team get together thay will make it look

   pretty just because thay want to sell a product.

   the nose i have on my face ain't the prettiest . but it dos stop me from

  getting to close to the car in front.  
« Last Edit: April 09, 2008, 07:29:54 AM by blueyonder »