Finally an update with some pictures.
I decided that my total concentrations and efforts will now be on finishing the boat to get it off the to do list. So today all my work was on boat issues. I would love to say I made some real progress, but that really wouldn't to truthful as I would like. Oh I did work on the boat projects remaining, but can't say whether I moved forward or backward. :noidea:
I started out with the transom cap. I decided that I will weld that cap up one way or the other. Well my aluminum welding ability is still light-years from anything good. But I pushed on anyway. I tried and tried welding the little slits in the angled 1/16" aluminum. But with each attempt, I seem to make the relief cuts worst instead of better. After so many real screw ups and new holes to patch (blow outs), I switched back to the Alumiweld rods I initially started with. My aluminum welding skills (or lack of) will have to wait for some other project after I know how. :facepalm:
So I finished up the second side of the transom cap and managed to not catch the entire neighborhood on fire...but it was close a few time as you will see in the pictures. I now will feather the Alumiwelds down and maybe it will look okay to install... IDK
So once the transom cap was cooling off, and things still smoldering yet, I decided to work on the gas tank again.
I stopped a while back with the tank painted base coat red. And the reason it has been sitting is because I have been trying to figure out some way to make the Johnson Logo for the sides of the tank like the original. That doesn't sound that difficult...unless those graphics are in WHITE!.
Of all the colors that ink jet and Laser Jet printers can print, WHITE isn't one of them. So I decided to get my son who has a vinyl cutter system setup, to see what he could make. Well there is the next problem. The actual original graphics have mixing instructions as to how to mix the oil and gas. But the front size is so small that his vinyl cutter can't cut that small of a font size. So I fudged a little and told him to modify the mix instructions to a large size and simplify the instructions.
So he did that and I thought I was ready. Next problem crops up. The vinyl is heat setting. BUT, I can't get it to stick to the red paint long enough to allow me to air-brush the white color. And trying to do that turned really ugly. As I pulled off the top clear coat that hold everything together, It pulls off the red paint too......... :frusty:
:doh:
So after I get to sang and repaint, (my NEW next effort), my gas tank will be RED and that's it!
I have pictures for all to see. But even with this setback, I will push anyways. Too close to not get it done now! :bounce:
The first picture is how the gas tank was supposed to look (old tank in that picture)
The follow on is what the tank looked like after removing the clear top sheet...
The aluminum transom cap pictures are the welded cap with Alumiweld rods...
Until next time...
