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Editorial
the-shed.nz
ISSN 1177-0457
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OF LEGENDS
EDITORIAL TEAM
EDITOR
Greg Vincent, editor@the-shed.nz
SUBEDITOR
Karen Alexander
ho would have thought that a Athow has always been a keen learner, TECHNICAL EDITOR
W car designed and created in 1922

would still be inspiring young
achievers to replicate it more than 100
and is no stranger to making things, so he
sought the help of experts far and wide
to show him the ‘how tos’ and advise him
Jude Woodside
PROOFREADER
Sarah Beresford
DESIGN
Mark Gibson
years later. Astonishing, don’t you think? on the whys and wherefores. His results
CONTRIBUTORS
After WWI, Herbert Austin was in awe are remarkable, and we are full of praise Murray Grimwood, Jude Woodside, Mark
of the success of the USA’s Ford Motor for his achievements, especially as they Seek, Enrico Miglino, Ritchie Wilson, Nigel
Young, Geoff Lewis, Andrew Broxholme,
Company in mobilising the working have come from an almost non-existent Coen Smit, Jason Burgess, Bob Van Putten,
classes; he set about doing the same for his knowledge base. Leif Haseltine, Rob Tucker, Scott Gavin
countrymen. The Austin Seven was born, Ever since its inception – right up until
and instantly had the racing fraternity today, obviously – this legendary small
seeing what they could do with it – hot car has inspired many to create and
PUBLISHER
rodding it, in effect. recreate it. None of us will be under any Greg Vincent, greg.vincent@rustymedia.nz
Lighter bodies replaced the already light illusion that this romance between man FINANCIAL CONTROLLER
body, and were lowered for even better and motoring machine will continue 100 Karen Grimmond,
karen.grimmond@rustymedia.nz
handling. Axles were changed and the years from now with, e.g., the Tesla. That
ADVERTISING MANAGER
engines tweaked for greater performance. romance can never be replicated because Matt Smith, 021 510 701
What this all meant was that motoring the invention of the motor car was earth- matt.smith@rustymedia.nz
fans could put their own stamp on their shattering, and making it available to the PRINTING
Inkwise, 03 307 7930
Austin Seven and make it truly individual. ordinary man even more so.
DISTRIBUTION
These cars began the ritual of modifying When I was a nipper in the ’60s, we Are Direct, 09 979 3018
and racing for the ordinary British man, were taken for Sunday drives as to have
and the legend of the little Austin battler a motor car was still something special – NOTICE TO ADVERTISERS/DISCLAIMER
Rusty Media uses due care and diligence in the preparation of
was born. even though a four-door Wolseley arouses this magazine but is not responsible or liable for any mistakes,
misprints, omissions, or typographical errors. Rusty Media prints
So, how appropriate it is that, 100 years none of the adventurous feelings that an advertisements provided to the publisher but gives no warranty
DQGPDNHVQRUHSUHVHQWDWLRQWRWKHWUXWKDFFXUDF\RUVXIÀFLHQF\
later, this automotive legend inspired a Austin Seven race car can. of any description, photograph, or statement. Rusty Media accepts
no liability for any loss which may be suffered by any person who
young Kiwi sheddie to have a crack at ,GRÀQGLWKXJHO\HQFRXUDJLQJWRVHH relies either wholly or in part upon any description, photograph,
or statement contained herein. Rusty Media reserves the right to
building a replica from the golden age of young sheddies like Athow sensing that refuse any advertisement for any reason. The views expressed in this
the Seven. historical importance and continuing to magazine are not necessarily those of Rusty Media, the publisher, or
the editor. All material published, gathered, or created for The Shed
Our cover story is about this remarkable recreate the magic of the early days of magazine is copyright of Rusty Media Limited. All rights reserved in
all media. No part of this magazine may be reproduced in any form
Kiwi, Athanasius (Athow) Santamaria, motoring. without the express written permission of the publisher.
No responsibility is accepted by Rusty Media for the accuracy of the
who came across a pile of bits, had no Good onya, mate. instructions or information in The Shed magazine. The information
or instructions are provided as a general guideline only. No warranty
experience with car building, and decided, Greg Vincent expressed or implied is given regarding the results or effects of
applying the information or instructions and any person relying upon
“That’s a bit of me.” editor@the-shed.nz them does so entirely at their own risk. The articles are provided
in good faith and based, where appropriate, on the best technical
knowledge available at the time. Guards and safety protections
the-shed.nz | theshedmag | Subscribe are sometimes shown removed for clarity of illustration when a
photograph is taken. Using tools or products improperly is dangerous,
so always follow the manufacturer’s safety instructions.
2 The Shed 114 April/May 2024

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Contents
ON THE COVER
6
7KHPDJQLÀFHQW6HYHQ
Research and planning key in fabricator’s
quest to make his scratch-built Ulster
28 40 48 64
From the archives The best hut ever! Electronics project My shed
Make an acoustic Building a playhouse need not The new Arduino Living in the dream
guitar – part 1 be costly UNO R4 – part 2
78 102 104 106

The versatile pallet The Shed shrink Safety in the shed Pest control
Making something out of Time: the precious gift that Understanding the dangers of Make your own possum trap
nothing at all we so often forget to value tinnitus

54 The Kiwi-designed Paper Tiger
3URYLQJKRPHEXLOWFDQVWLOOWDNHOLQHKRQRXUV
A use for leftover

84
Sino:bit
88 forged cranks
Building three unique motorbikes
7KHÀUVWFHUWLÀHGRSHQVRXUFH
hardware from China
EVERY ISSUE
2 Editorial
22 News
24 Letters to the editor
38 Subscribe to The Shed
123 Bookcase – essential

sheddie reading
124 Back issues of The Shed
126 Find your local Menzshed
128 Back o’ The Shed – Jude

reckons we baby boomers
haven’t done too badly, all
things considered
112 Model-making
A creative spirit knows no boundaries 23
The Shed 114 April/May 2024 5
Historic car build
Athow keeps it as true to original

Ulster design lines as he can get
THE
MAGNIFICENT
SEVEN
Research and planning key in fabricator’s quest to make his
scratch-built Ulster as authentic as possible
By Jason Burgess
Photographs: Jason Burgess
Additional photography courtesy of Athanasius Santamaria
hen Athanasius (Athow) First attempt

W Santamaria made an
“impulse decision”, to buy a
pile of old Austin parts in 2015, he didn’t
7KH8OVWHULV$WKRZ·VÀUVWDWWHPSWDWD
complete car build. Research and planning
have been key in his quest to make the most
really have a project in mind. accurate facsimile he can. He is driven by
At the time, he was a freshly minted learning. The more detailed the process,
DOC ranger working in the Nelson the more comfortable he appears to be in
Lakes National Park, with a strong accepting new challenges.
hobby interest in making things. Athow is no stranger to creating
However, for $1500 he had landed contrivances. He has been making things
himself an original chassis, a radiator, since he was a nipper, and reckons he has
three cylinder heads, a crankcase, and always been good with his hands. He believes
10 wheels from a 1929 Austin Seven. he gets his creativity from his mother, who is
“Most of it wasn’t very good,” he an artist, and his nimbleness and attention to
admits, “somebody’s junk from their detail from both his father, who was a hobby
project. They’d picked off all the good jeweller, and his grandfather, a dentist.
stuff.” At school, it was geometry that set him off,
Athow rented a storage unit until he he says – he sees the world through shapes.
ÀJXUHGRXWZKDWWRGRZLWKLWDOO As a teenager, he was building dioramas
Fast forward a few years, and Athow and making models of NZ Railways scenery
is now working for DOC on Motutapu and rolling stock. Then he moved from train
Island in the Hauraki Gulf. In his sets to steam technology, volunteering at
downtime, he is well down the track to Glenbrook Vintage Railway and Mainline
completing an authentic reproduction Steam. His partner, Lou, is a writer and also
Austin Seven Ulster; a scratch-built, volunteers on Motutapu. The couple divide
boat-tail, two-seater sports car that, in their time between the island and a brand-
its supercharged form, was a regular new KiwiSpan shed on Hauraki Plains.
SRGLXPÀQLVKHULQWKHODWHVDQG Lou says, “If he gets noisy, I just put my
early ’30s. headphones on.”

Cross checking his details with Ulster builders in the UK
What is it about vintage? Ian was assembling an Austin Special

Great design is what inspires Athow, of his own when he suggested to Athow “I have
and, for him, early racing cars capture that he might like to try a sought-after asked Stuart
the singularity of their creators. Ulster, because he already had the
“There is a handmade feel to them; bones.
everything
they all have their quirks. In the ’20s from bolt types
at Brooklands motor circuit in the UK, Go north, young man and sizes, to
there was such an array of hand-built When Athow quit his job at DOC in the
racing cars, individually made cars that South Island, he needed space to work measurements
had the signature of the maker. I think
that was what drew me in. There were
on his Ulster project full time. He got his
grandfather’s blessing to move into the
between rivets”
so many variations, really wacky shapes family bach at Whitianga, then moved
– long tails, short tails, exhausts out everything from St Arnaud to Whitianga
of the side. Some of them are comical, – “with a support convoy of some great More valuable advice
but all of them were really interesting. friends and my mum”. Ian Williams introduced Athow to
Today, everybody’s car looks the same.” Athow stayed in the bach for two another Englishman, Stuart Ulph,
Athow credits three men equally as years, doing extensive R&D, drafting by email. At the time, Stuart was
inspiration and as mentors: engineer plans, and corresponding with three converting his original car from high
Ian Williams, the late Joss Campbell, owners of original Austin Seven Ulsters compression to super-charged. The two
to whom Athow served an “informal in England. corresponded for four years.
panel-beating apprenticeship”, and artist One of them had found an original “When I contacted him, his car was in
and sculptor Richard McWhannell, chassis, engine, and gearbox, and bits,” says Athow. “I have asked Stuart
ZKRFRPPLVVLRQHG$WKRZWRÀQLVKWKH commissioned the body to be built. He everything from bolt types and sizes,
bodywork on a Lotus Mark 6 that Joss took pictures of the whole build process, to measurements between rivets, right
had begun 20 years earlier. DQGWKHQJHQHURXVO\WUDQVIHUUHGDÀOHRI GRZQWRKRZKLJKLVWKDWÁDQJH"+H
Athow regards these men as, “A 500 images to Athow with a plethora of has measured it all. I’d write it in and
powerhouse trio for building vintage notes and photos of original cars. draw a diagram and then send it to him
cars and getting stuff done.” “That helped a lot,” Athow says. for corrections.”

Athow initially began toying with his
’29 chassis but ended up working from a
1930 frame, which is correct for an Ulster.
“Ian has a hoard of stuff. He can’t bear
to see things thrown away or mangled,
so he has kept amazing things. When
I needed a chassis for this, I asked him
and he said, ‘I might have one.’ He looked
under his house and he had three! Two
were a bit butchered but he sold me this
one.”
$WKRZPDGHWKHÁRRURXWRIVWHHO
before tackling an aluminium body.
“I contacted Joss and he said to bring
it all up to his garage. ‘I have cancer,’
he said, ‘but we won’t let that get in the
way of anything. I’ll teach you what you A 20-year-old
Athanasius with
need to know. I won’t do anything, but I’ll a pile of parts
guide you.’ outside his
“That is what he did. He made me do it Christchurch
storage unit. This
all, while he patiently watched me make is what he started
the mistakes, then told me where I was the project with
going wrong. We had a fantastic bond,
until the day he died. That process gave
5LFKDUGWKHFRQÀGHQFHLQPHWRWDNHRQ
the Lotus.”
Richard McWhannell’s Lotus Mk 6 replica. Richard says,

“Athow wire-edged the guards, created a scuttle, chopped
the nose cone into several pieces and reformed it over
the buck. Essentially, in 18 months he made it wonderful,
which was more than had happened in 20years”
Below: A collection of original parts: a fuel tank; cylinder blocks and assorted mechanical parts; a wingnut screw to adjust the windscreen

pipe straddling two sawhorses. He made
a wooden buck to shape the aluminium.
“Like a glove to a hand. I shape the
aluminium and bring it up to the form
to check and adjust. It’s a guide, really, a
series of vertical stations/cross-sections
RIWKHSURÀOH
“I didn’t know how to weld when I
started this project, so I taught myself
gas welding for sheet steel. That is all
I needed for the bodywork, brackets,
Athow at work
and forming the skin. I now have a TIG
welder.”
Plans to folds nibbler, and some good old Gilbos, then
The Ulster body is shaped from 5005 ÀQLVKZLWKDÀOH
aluminium, which is a little harder than “I don’t have a folder; I will get one, “I didn’t
industry standard 3003. but sometimes they can limit you to size
Athow lays up his draft drawings – and dimensions. I was taught to do it by know how to
angles, curve lines, step-ups – on sheets hand. Clamp the work using angle iron, weld when I
of ply. He says he will eventually convert then tap a piece of wood to ‘bruise’ the
them to CAD. fold line into it.”
started this
“I trace the drawings onto baking Athow says this is easy for straight project”
paper, transfer them onto sheet steel, folds.
cut it out with combinations of shears, a The tunnel was bent over a piece of
One of Richard McWhanell’s poster

designs for the Roycroft Trophy
Design sketches with measurements

from the scratch-build project of UK
Ulster owner, Stewart Ulph

A 1920 Douglas from a family friend
that Athow has given a new lease of
life with the help of a Thames-based
motorcycle collector. “I like riding
this but I prefer building cars”
The main floor pan being
“Athow admits
folded showing the hand
techniques used
to being a bit
pedantic”
Exact measurements
Athow admits to being a bit pedantic in
achieving the exact measurements of
the original Ulsters, and always cross-
references his source information with
original photographs. He has even tried
to keep details like the spacing and the
ÀQLVKRIWKHULYHWVWKHVDPHDVWKH\
originally were.
“You can get a reproduction car from
England but it won’t have the detail.
I want to get mine as close as I can. I
can control this; the bit I can’t control
is the mechanics. I am not a machinist
so I can’t just go and make the parts I
want. If that was my trade it would be a
fantastic thing to do, but you need a lot
of money, a lot of gear, and the training
behind you.”

He knows the cast-iron block will need
machining, the bores re-honing, the
valves reseating, and the face machining.
“I’ll clean and prep the parts and take
a roadie to see Ian. He is great at building
fast Austin Seven motors, and is happy
to provide guidance on machining and
engine assembly.”
Engine differences
While the bodywork is a faithful
replica, Athow’s Ulster will have a few
differences in the way it is powered.
An original 1930 Austin crank case
The engine looks like an original Ulster,
but internally it will feature a larger
crankshaft, an improved oil pump, and a Keeping it real
redesigned cylinder head to achieve extra To date, the radiator, back axle case, and “To date, the
SRZHU$OOPRGLÀFDWLRQVDUHDXWKHQWLFWR steering column are the only parts Athow
the period. The gearbox will remain the has used from the original donor car. radiator, back
same, but have Ulsters ratio gears. The original Austin Seven steering axle case, and
“I have a brand-new diff and axle half- column had well-worn factory paint
shafts. They still make the ratio the same. and he says he will leave it as is, as it is steering column
The original lubricating systems of the un- an authentic part – as are the horn, the are the only
supercharged Sevens were ‘spit-and-hope’ advance/retard mechanism, and the
jets that squirted oil at the crankshaft as ÁRRUPRXQWHGOXEULFDWLRQLQVSHFWLRQ
parts Athow has
it turned, lubricating the rods and the hatch cover. The bonnet hinges still have used from the
pistons. The Ulsters are high revving, and
were raced. That splash-fed system didn’t
their patent numbers on them (1914).
“Joss gave me these hinges,” Athow
original donor
cut the mustard. I have got brand-new says. “He had a treasure trove of lovely car”
parts to pressure feed the crank.” jewels like this.”
Athow is rebuilding this rusted

out 1927 Triumph Motorcycle
fuel tank complete with oil
baffle for a Thames motorcycle
collector’s restoration
Athow pours through a book of

design roughs as rendered from
Stewart Ulph’s exhaustive note-
taking and measurements

Austin Seven
“The Austin Seven Special sets the
pace that thrills.” That was how a
1930s newsreel reported on the
dynamic racing Ulsters.
However, as an everyday runner, the

diminutive Austin Seven was first
designed to, “Put the man in the
street on the road for £100”; a small,
low-cost British answer to the Model
T, offering more comfort than its main
competition, the motorcycle and
sidecar. Some say it was the car that
saved Austin from folding.
With a 3ft 4in track and a 6ft 3in

wheelbase, ‘the baby Austin’ was
designed in about six weeks in 1921
The non-nonsense racing dash
by an 18-year-old draughtsman,
Stanley Edge, and Sir Herbert
Austin, in Austin’s billiard room. The
Athow has built the no-nonsense
Seven was released to the public a
instrument panel, using a reconditioned
speedo and oil pressure gauge from the
“Turns out he year later. As its prototype 696cc
was building up
four-cylinder engine generated 7.2
8.7KHVHDUHVSHFLÀFWR8OVWHUVEHFDXVH RAC-rated horsepower, it became
no ordinary Austin has a speedo that
a stock for Peter known as ‘the Seven’. The Seven later
evolved to a 747cc inline four-engine.
clocks 100mph.
“The rev counter goes up to 6000rpm, Jackson’s WWI Production of the Austin Seven in
Fokker Triplane
various body styles – including
and the oil pressure should run around
tourers, convertibles, saloons,
60psi. On a standard Seven, you
wouldn’t have that.” collection” coupés, and vans – lasted until 1939,
with an estimated 290,000 models
The wheels were built at Vintage built.
Rims, in Mount Lyford.
The model’s popularity and
´7KHJX\ZDVDELWUHOXFWDQWDWÀUVW Turns out he was building up a stock reputation really took off in 1923,
He did a great job. He had a stack of for Peter Jackson’s WWI Fokker Triplane when Sir Herbert appointed his
$XVWLQ6HYHQVL]HGULPV²VDPHSURÀOH² collection. Athow imported the tyres race-car driver son-in-law, Col.
without the spokes.” from England. Arthur Waite, to design a miniature
speedster. The performance and
reliability of the side-valve engine,
with its pressure-fed lubrication
system, was legendary, but it was
unsuitable for the rigours of racing. A
Roots-type supercharger was fitted
to the front of the engine, achieving
34hp, and giving Waite power to hit a
top speed of 94.44mph.
The sports model

The Austin Seven sports model
was introduced in 1930. A limited
production run lasted until late 1932.
The public had the choice between
non-supercharged and supercharged.
Its ancestry stemmed from the

1928 super sports. It was built to
TT (Tourist Trophy) Grand Prix and
Athow admits that Brooklands RAC race specs. The
he is no machinist racing cars were owned and raced
and is thankful that new by the Austin company, and were
Austin 7 engine parts are significantly souped up with Cozette
still made in the UK
Superchargers. The cars became

A 1929 Austin Dieppe
was the basis for this
Special known as Ulsters after their
success at the 1929 and 1930 TT
races held in Ulster, Ireland.
The consumer sports versions

were fitted with pressure-fed
engines, had a rev range up to
5000rpm, produced 24–33bhp,
and were capable of 80mph
(128.74kph). Sports models
were factory fitted with a hood
and full touring wings but it is
estimated that only 300 were
ever built; of those, maybe half a
dozen made it to New Zealand.
None has survived here in running
condition.
More than a few champion drivers

cut their racing teeth on Ulsters,
including Bruce McLaren, whose
first car was an Austin Seven
Ulster that he modified with help
from his father.
Colin Chapman, founder of Lotus

Cars, also started out in an old
Austin Seven that he rebuilt
as a trials car while studying
at the University of London.
He modified the engine and
suspension, and made a body
from sheet aluminium over a
wooden frame.
Richard McWhannell pictured with his Austin

7 Special crafted by Richard and accomplice,
Joss Campbell. Anthow is now working on a
Lotus Mk6 Replica for Richard’s collection

The gull-wing bonnet on
original (1914) patent
numbered Austin hinges,
courtesy of Joss Campbell
A workstation featuring a
Sheraton lathe that came to
Athow covered in dirt. “Unlike
a new lathe, this one has a bit
of feel to it.” He has stripped,
serviced and repainted it and
now, “It goes like a dream”
An Ulster shell is born

The front end takes
shape over Bob’s
flattened springs and
lowered suspension
Suspension tweaks this guy in jeans, no shirt, a great

For optimum performance, the Ulster yellow beard, wild hair. He asked,
“You’re not
chassis has a lowered suspension. ¶:KDWGR\RXZDQW"·,WROGKLPWKDW,·G
Athow initially took his springs to KHDUGKHFRXOGÁDWWHQVSULQJV+HVDLG another one
DEODFNVPLWKWREHÁDWWHQHG:KHQ ¶<RX·UHQRWDQRWKHURQHRIWKRVH$XVWLQ of those
the job was bodged, it was suggested 6HYHQJX\V"7KH\DUHDOZD\VFRPLQJ
WKDWKHYLVLW´DJX\FDOOHG%RELQ:HVW WRPH· Austin Seven
Auckland”, to get it done right. “Bob made out that he wanted to go guys?”
“Bob lived in a residential house, ÀVKLQJEXW,WKLQNKHVHFUHWO\HQMR\HG
with no street number. Out back, there GRLQJVSULQJV+HGLGLWÀUVWVKRWKH
was this big dark shed. As I got close, knew what he was doing, and for such
there was black oil in a bath; black a low price. Bob turned out to be a
everywhere. Out of the gloom came really good guy.”
The distinctive and Room enough for a fuel

aerodynamic Austin tank and the 747cc
Seven Ulster tail end straight four engine

The cardboard petrol tank mock-
up and the resulting pattern,
already drawn onto aluminium
and ready for shaping
Finishing FUXPEOHLIWKHSURFHVVGUDJVRQWRRORQJ
At the time of writing, Athow was ´,·OOSUHSLW,ZDQWLWWRORRNROG²QRW
FRQÀGHQWWKDWKHZDVDERXWWZR FDQG\GLSSHGSULPHUDQGRQHFRDWRI
PRQWKVIURPÀQLVKLQJWKHERG\ZRUN DQDFU\OLFODFTXHU*UHHQDQGSULPURVH
FRPSOHWLQJWKHWDLODQGW\LQJLWDOO \HOORZ6RPHSHRSOHXVHDWZRSDFN
together. There was still riveting HSR[\EXWWKDWFDQORRNTXLWHKHDY\7KH
QHHGHGIURQWDQGUHDUEHIRUHWKH EHDXW\RIWKHVHVRUWVRIFDUVLVWKDWWKHUH
JXDUGVUXQQLQJERDUGVDQGOLJKWV LVQRQHHGWRKLGHWKHLPSHUIHFWLRQV$OID
FRXOGEHVHWXSDQGPDGH Romeos were the pinnacle of racing cars
´,KDYHDER[IXOORIOLJKWV,ZLOOJHW LQWKHVDQGZHUHVSUD\HGZLWKRQH
WKHEHVWRQHVUHVLOYHUHGµ FRDW,ZDQWLWWREHDXWKHQWLF7KHSDLQW
,W·V$WKRZ·VDPELWLRQWRSDLQWWKH ZLOOZHDUDQGVXQOLJKWZLOOWDNHLWVWROO
8OVWHUKLPVHOIEXWKHUHFNRQVKHPLJKW EXW,·PEXLOGLQJDQROGFDUµ
The template for the tail traced onto ply
One of a collection of original lights The advance and retard control, which allows for
that Athow plans to get re-silvered adjustments to spark and gas settings while accelerating

Right: The jig/former used to hammer out
the front firewall pressing, copied from an
original pressing also seen in this photo
Below: The finished firewall top ready to be

folded, and the backing jig made from MDF and
plywood
The top of the firewall

with its swages being
hand formed with
hammer and plastic
chasing tools made
from a chopping board
from The Warehouse
“It’s Athow’s
ambition
to paint
the Ulster
himself”
Forming the tunnel over a steel tube The completed tunnel

“He made it
wonderful in 18
months, which
was more than
had happened
in the previous
20 years”
LI$WKRZZDQWHGWRÀQLVKLWWKHQWRZHG
it down to him. Athow believes he was
OXFN\7KH/RWXVWRRNXSDOOKLVVSDUH
time for a year but, he says, “It felt like
a nice transition between Joss, who
started it, myself, and Richard.”
According to Richard, “Athow
has a great eye for beauty as well as
functionality. He wants things to be just
so; authentic. He can see and think in
3D, seeing that things look right from
all angles, and he welds aluminium
Hard at work, “Wiring the
H[WUHPHO\ZHOO2QWKH/RWXVKHZLUH
edges like piping in sewing”
edged the guards, created a scuttle,
and chopped the nose cone into several
Ash seat frames will use the leather as a template, to pieces and reformed it over the buck.
In the absence of European ash – the work out the stitching and spacing of his Essentially, he made it wonderful in
choice for the original Sevens – Athow new seats. 18 months, which was more than had
has sourced American ash for the seat “I have a friend with an industrial happened in the previous 20 years.”
framing. Fortunately, Joss had saved sewing machine so I will probably Athow says, “I love working on cars.
some big Austin seats from the dump, ERUURZWKDWDQGÀJXUHLWRXW,·YHGRQHD There is always something new that I
collected all the horse hair, wadding, bit of sewing.” want to master. You get close, but there
and innards from them, and kept most When Richard McWhannell bought is always something nagging at you, that
of the worn leather upholstery. Athow -RVV·VXQÀQLVKHG/RWXVRIIKLPKHDVNHG you could have done better.”
Now he is close to finishing the

bodywork and is looking forward
reconnecting with Ian Williams to get
things going under the bonnet

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THE SHED
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What’s happening online
at the-shed.nz?
Every week, we upload new content
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Letters to the editor
Project display
ecently, I visited Hokitika. Forty- She did just that. She is now an
R three years ago, I was appointed

teacher of technical drawing
and metalwork/engineering at Westland
associate professor.
School cert
“What has not
changed? Kids
High School. The workshop was brand
new. It was my job to set it all up and
0\ÀIWKIRUPVWXGHQWVSUHSDUHGIRUWKHLU
ZULWWHQ6FKRRO&HUWVXEMHFW¶(QJLQHHULQJ
are much the
create the courses appropriate for each of Shopwork’ by each constructing a small same. They
the Years from Form 1 to Form 5.
7KHURRPZDVZHOOHTXLSSHGÀYH
wood lathe. This involved making alloy
castings for headstock, vee belt pulleys,
each come with
lathes, a shaping machine, two drilling and a face plate. The shaper was used their individual
machines, welding gear, foundry, and to machine the headstock base. This
forging equipment, and all the hand ZDVGULOOHGOLQHERUHGDQGÀWWHGZLWK
potential for
tools and measuring equipment. Now, bronze bushings. The spindle was turned growth and
it’s all gone. The room is now carpeted WRÀWDQGWKUHDGHG
DQGÀWWHGRXWIRU2XWGRRU(GXFDWLRQ Heat-treated turning chisels were an development”
In the end, the school had no option. option for those who could squeeze them
It had tried, unsuccessfully, to attract a in before the year ended.
teacher for three or four years, and so the 2XWRIWKDWFODVVFDPHWZRGRFWRUDWHV So how have we arrived at
room gathered dust. The equipment has earned in later studies. Shane is now the situation as it is now?
all gone into storage at a local museum. a head of department in the Faculty A key ‘marker in the sand’ was the
So, for me, big questions loom. I RI(QJLQHHULQJDWWKH8QLYHUVLW\RI decision that all teachers in secondary
am describing the situation as it was Canterbury. Hilary won a doctorate schools would be university graduates.
40 years ago. Much has changed. We at an American university and for a This was a shallow decision and
now live in the digital age. What has time worked for NASA. Jeff is now a overlooked some important realities.
not changed? Kids are much the same. leading plumber servicing Hokitika and 2IFRXUVHDOOWHDFKHUVQHHGWREH
They each come with their individual South Westland. Hamish is now well competent. Competency is an all-
potential for growth and development. TXDOLÀHGLQWKHHOHFWULFDOGLVWULEXWLRQ encompassing measure. But not all
And we still need, on every hand, people industry. Richard earned 100 per cent competencies can be achieved by
who can do practical things. in School Cert Tech Drawing. Chris is a studying at university.
Much was achieved in those early successful builder in Brisbane. Glen very The teacher conducting school
1980s years. Rachael was in Form 3. successfully mastered the art of carving workshop classes of yesteryear did so
Her class was working on the design jade. Joe went off to a maintenance ZLWKFRQÀGHQFH7KDWFRQÀGHQFHKDG
and making of a personal pendant engineering position in Queensland. been hard won, and rested on years of
in cast pewter. Rachael’s result was Yes, their teacher was but a tiny practice manipulating materials with
outstanding. I remember writing on her cog in a much bigger machine, but tools and machines. That experience
Report, “Rachael should explore the the education system of 40 years ago probably originated in either a
SRVVLELOLWLHVRISXUVXLQJTXDOLÀFDWLRQVLQ provided the facility that enabled all that construction or a manufacturing
the area of three-dimensional art. achievement. pursuit.

Wood lathe and chisels
Odd Jobs
Hang out on
your own DIY
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Swing chair to do list

Prep and prime with the right
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Paint with Resene Lustacryl in
Out of this experience emerged the but their competence rests largely on your chosen colour
norms which prevailed in each practical their years of experience. In the end, it Suspend your chair and hang out!
class at school. is a question of trust.
There would be a level of exploration This hard-earned experience
accompanying all student-centred continues to be at the heart of all
learning, as students developed apprenticeship and technician courses
solutions to practical problems, but to this day. It is a denial of that
such ventures were always conducted trust that has seen a never-ending
with the knowledge that the teacher list of prohibitions applied to school
was keeping a watchful eye and would workshops.
act to prevent any action which was “We can’t let students near that
potentially harmful. process. They might get hurt.”
7KLVFRQÀGHQFHLVQRWXQOLNHWKHWUXVW That decision meant there was
Watch now!
we place in airline pilots. Certainly, no longer the need for Colleges of
pilots must demonstrate their command Education to offer training for teachers
of aviation knowledge via exam results of workshop subjects.
LETTER OF THE View how to make your

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MONTH PRIZE and step-by-step instructions at
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15 great years of The Shed magazine.
made paints, wood stains and colours.
Letters to be emailed to
editor@the-shed.nz,
$QDGYHUWLVHG¶6LOYHUVPLWKLQJ6NLOOV·
ZHHNHQGZDVZHOODWWHQGHGLQ+RNLWLND
Community funding was used to
invite a professional Christchurch
silversmith to come over and provide
encouragement and instruction to a
YHU\DSSUHFLDWLYHFODVV)RUDWLPH
an evening class was offered offering
instruction in introductory engineering
VNLOOV7KLVZDVZHOOVXSSRUWHGE\DQ
Pewter pendants
enthusiastic class.
Complete set-up Degrading the value of skills Progress?

One can conjecture that a further 7KHRXWFRPHZDVWRGHJUDGHWKHYDOXH 6RWRFRQFOXGHP\ÀQDOTXHVWLRQ+DYH
decision for change was economic. of the skills and knowledge required we made progress in education?
In my teaching career, I had the to fashion materials to create designed Of course, priorities change over
responsibility of setting up and products. time. But some things do not change.
commissioning four school workshops: :HPLJKWFRQVLGHUWKH-DPHV .LGVDUHPXFKWKHVDPH7KH\FRPHIXOO
0ʕNRXUDLQ0DVWHUWRQ:HVWODQG+LJK :HEEWHOHVFRSH)RU\HDUVSUDFWLFDO of potential to learn and develop and
6FKRROLQ+RNLWLND*LUOV·+LJKLQ engineers worked alongside the succeed. And the opportunities have not
Christchurch, and Kaiapoi Borough in disciplines of astronomy and physics FKDQJHG)RUWKRVHZKRVHLQFOLQDWLRQ
Kaiapoi. In each case, the set-up task DQGPDWHULDOVVFLHQWLVWV7KHLU is to develop their manipulative skills,
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engineering equipment – machine tools, of good design, there will always be
foundry and welding equipment, and a
generous supply of hand and measuring
“The local productive and rewarding avenues to
H[SORUHEHWKH\DUWLVWLFRUWHFKQLFDO
tools. I can only wonder what fraction of community I conclude that these really were ‘the
the cost of setting up a new secondary JRRGROGGD\V·
VFKRROWKLVIDFLOLW\FRQVXPHG$W*LUOV·
lost out as 7RKDYHFODVVDIWHUFODVVIXOO\HQJDJHG
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machine and a suite of CAD computers. see them move on to face the future
A further strategy was framed as demise of the ZLWKFRQÀGHQFHDQGRSWLPLVPNHHSVPH
“keeping up to date” and a search for workshop” supplied with valued memories.
UHOHYDQFH´:HKDYHPRYHGRQµ7KLVLV Russell Gifford
WKHGLJLWDODJH7KHUHDUHVKDUSHUZD\V
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do all the making.
So, it was no surprise that when the cables, motors, and fastenings
QHZ7HFKQRORJ\FXUULFXOXPDUULYHG to work reliably in a hostile
it aligned workshop programmes to environment. And they
WKHVHWKHPHV7KHQHZVWDWHPHQWVZHUH succeeded brilliantly.
structured around a series of objectives. 7KLQJVWKDWIXQFWLRQZLOO
7KH\HQVXUHGWKDWWKHDFWXDOPDNLQJ always need maintenance.
of a product was well down the list. At every point in our
Students were required to give close built environment, in our
attention to stakeholders and issues infrastructure and the
like sustainability and the environment means we use to move
and the ways in which manufacturing about, there needs to
might affect the lives of people. It be teams of competent
is acknowledged that each of these people who know how
are important topics and well worth to keep things working
discussing. If only the curriculum could HIÀFLHQWO\DQGUHOLDEO\
KDYHEHHQUHVWUXFWXUHGDVDPRGLÀFDWLRQ 7KHORFDOFRPPXQLW\
RIH[LVWLQJFXUULFXODUDWKHUWKDQD lost out as well with the
completely new document. demise of the workshop. Westland High School workshop

uilding an acoustic guitar is a Tone wood selection example matai, totara, or even rimu
B very satisfying project that is

within reach of most people
with a modicum of woodworking
Tone woods are named for their ability
to contribute their own tonal character
to the sound that your guitar produces,
FDQPDNHDÀQHVRXQGLQJJXLWDU7KH
guitar soundboard or top is made from
resonant softwood such as spruce or
experience. I have speed-built a guitar and should be selected to suit the overall cedar.
within a week, but for a more considered sound that you are looking to produce There are several species of spruce,
approach, it is more usual to take three from your guitar. all with slightly differing qualities and
to four weeks. Most tools required are Traditionally, the back and sides are prices. Sitka or Engelmann spruce are
in the general woodworking shop; some made from the same timber (usually the most commonly available species of
VLPSOHRQHVWKDWDUHOXWKLHU\VSHFLÀF a dense hardwood). Commonly used spruce from luthiery-supply companies,
can be easily made or adapted from exotic woods for backs and sides are and these will produce a top-quality
other tools. Access to a thickness sander East Indian rosewood (bias towards instrument. Adirondack or red spruce
is almost essential, but with patience, lush dark tones), mahogany (brighter was used on highly sought after pre-
there’s not much that can’t be achieved than rosewood, quite punchy sounding), war Martin guitars, and is considered
by planing/scraping/sanding. maple (can sound a bit thin and trebly), by some to be the best spruce for
Photographs for this article are from and walnut (somewhere between guitar tops, but it is getting rare – and
student guitars built during the acoustic mahogany and rosewood). therefore expensive and somewhat
guitar building courses at the Centre Native New Zealand timbers could variable in quality.
for Fine Woodworking and from guitar DOVREHXVHGLI\RXFDQÀQGDZLGH The indications about how these
builds I have completed. enough quarter-sawn plank. For woods sound is a bit of a generalisation,

Preparing the sides
Blanks for the sides are normally cut to
approximately 820mm long by 110mm
ZLGHDQGDWDWKLFNQHVVRI²PP
7KH\DUHERRNPDWFKHGSLHFHVRIZRRG
It is important to mark them in some
way to ensure that the book-matched
sides are on the outside in order to get a
visually pleasing match up at the bottom
RIWKHJXLWDU
The side to which the soundboard will
EHJOXHGLVSODQHGÁDW7KHHGJHWKDW
is going to be glued to the back is not
straight, as the guitar body is thicker at
Building up the guitar mould the bottom (tail) than at the heel (where
WKHQHFNMRLQVWKHERG\
This lengthwise taper is not even;
and the way that the guitar is built (size, where the bridge plate, saddle, and there is a high point at the waist, which
bracing, wood thicknesses) and the skill EULGJHSLQVZLOOEH7KURXJKRXWWKLV helps spring the back into a lengthwise
of the luthier in using the qualities of article, the words ‘strut’ and ‘brace’ DUFK$OVRZKHQWKHEDFNKDVVWUXWV
these woods also play a major part in for the support strips of timber are glued on, these also have an arch in
WKHÀQDOVRXQG almost interchangeable, although it is WKHP7KHFURVVZLVHDQGOHQJWKZLVH
Other important points to make about conventional to consider the back to arches combine to give the back a slightly
the tone woods is that, ideally, they KDYHVWUXWVDQGWKHWRSEUDFHV domed shape, and the guitar is shallower
should be perfectly quarter-sawn (grain DWWKHKHHOHQGWKDQDWWKHWDLOHQG
lines at right angles to the surface), Because of this, the sides have to be
DLUGULHGDQGERRNPDWFKHG)RUDÀUVW
guitar, I would recommend mahogany
´)RUDÀUVW shaped to accommodate the dome of
the back, resulting in the sides being
for the back/sides and sitka spruce for JXLWDU,ZRXOG trimmed lower at the outer point of
WKHWRS UHFRPPHQG the curves of the upper and lower
bout of the guitar, and being tapered
Guitar design mahogany for OHQJWKZLVH7DNLQJPHDVXUHPHQWVIURP
7KHJXLWDUZHEXLOGRQWKH&HQWUH)RU WKHEDFNVLGHV plans or from an existing guitar of
)LQH:RRGZRUNLQJFRXUVHLVDVPDOO similar body style will serve as a good
ERGLHGJXLWDULGHDOIRUÀQJHUVW\OHSOD\LQJ DQGVLWNDVSUXFH DSSUR[LPDWLRQWKDWFDQEHUHÀQHGODWHU
RUVWUXPPLQJ7KHERG\RIWKHJXLWDU IRUWKHWRSµ ZKHQÀWWLQJWKHEDFN
is built up in a mould made of layers of :KHQWDNLQJPHDVXUHPHQWV
PP0')ZKLFKDUHDFFXUDWHO\FRS\ remember to take into account
URXWHGWRDPDVWHUWHPSODWHGHÀQLQJD the top and back
half outline of the guitar, then screwed
together on a baseboard, working to
Template
DFOHDUO\PDUNHGFHQWUHOLQH3DUFHO
tape is used to cover the area of the
baseboard that will be under the heel
and tail blocks, and a strip is also run
up the inside wall of the mould on the
centreline to avoid glue squeeze-out
VWLFNLQJWKHVLGHVWRWKHPRXOG
Template
3ULRUWREXLOGLQJPDNHDQDFFXUDWH
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it, mark all important dimensions
from your plan: centreline, centre of
sound-hole, sound-hole dimensions,
rosette dimensions, bracing, and also

either side of the hot iron, and increase
the pressure slightly as the top surface
of the wood starts to steam and dry out.
At this point, the wood starts to feel
PRUHÁH[LEOHRUDELWSODVWLF'RQ·WWU\
and force things to get the curve for the
waist done in one fell swoop. It usually
WDNHVWKUHHWRÀYHDSSOLFDWLRQVRIZDWHU
and reapplication of heat to get the
curve right.
Some moisture is essential to the
bending process. Too dry, and the wood
becomes more brittle; too much, and the
heating iron cools down and the wood
doesn’t reach the point at which the
OLJQLQÀEUHVFDQVOLGHRYHUHDFKRWKHU
2QFHWKHZDLVWFXUYHÀWVWKHWHPSODWH
Checking fit on sides in mould
\RXFDQÁLSWKHVLGHRYHUDQGVWDUW
moving around the curve of the upper
thickness to get the width for the sides half, then the lower half.
or you will end up with a guitar that
“Increase It is tempting to try to rush things,
is approximately 5mm thicker overall but accept that it will take some time
than planned. Once you are happy with the pressure initially (several hours). It is important
the measurements, draw onto the side slightly as the WRJHWDQDFFXUDWHÀWWR\RXUWHPSODWH
blanks and bandsaw off the excess. DVWKLVZLOOGHÀQHWKHRXWOLQHVKDSHRI
Sides are thicknessed to 2mm; a top surface your guitar.
thickness sander is ideal. Running wood of the wood
to this thickness through a thickness Fitting sides to mould
planer is not really viable; there is too
starts to The guitar will be built face down, so
much danger of the spinning blades steam and place one bent side into the mould with
ÁH[LQJWKHZRRGWRWKHSRLQWWKDWLW the straight soundboard edge facing
breaks.
dry out” downwards. The side should be a fairly
VQXJÀWWRWKHVLGHVRIWKHPRXOG$Q\
Bending the sides major discrepancies might need a bit of
Make a half guitar template out of 1mm tweaking on the bending iron to ensure
ply that is 2mm smaller all around than the side on the hot bending iron, move DJRRGÀW&ODPSWKLVVLGHLQWKHPRXOG
the outline of your guitar. the side to and fro on the hot iron to and transfer the centreline (at both
Bending the sides involves developing distribute the heat and moisture. ends) from the baseboard to the inner
a feel for how the timber you are using Apply light pressure with a hand surface of the side.
will respond to heat and moisture.
Some practice using narrower offcuts
is a worthwhile investment of time and
effort. We use an aluminium heating
block supplied by one of the luthiery-
supply companies. It is possible to get
by using a blowtorch and some steel
pipe clamped in a vice but, aside from
REYLRXVVDIHW\LVVXHVLWLVGLIÀFXOW
to regulate the temperature so that
the wood doesn’t get scorched (this
would need heavy scraping/sanding to
remove), bearing in mind that you have
only 2mm of wood to work with.
I normally start bending the sides at
the waist of the guitar. Mark where the
waist of the guitar will be with pencil on
the outside face of the sides, moisten the
Trimming sides to fit Planing heel blocks
wood with a spray bottle, and, placing

Acoustic guitar specifications

“Dry-clamp
the heel block
into position
and check that
the centreline
of the block
matches
up with the
centreline of
Gluing in heel block; note cutout
the baseboard”
Clamping the tail block as start of mortise for neck
Remove the side, square the line match the outline shape of the guitar. guitar being built. This is shaped in a
across, and trim to the line with a razor Dry-clamp the heel block into position similar way to the heel block to match
saw. Repeat for the other side. Both and check that the centreline of the the outline shape at the tail end, and
VLGHVVKRXOGQRZEHDVQXJÀWLQWKH block matches up with the centreline of WKHQJOXHGLQ(QVXUHLWVLWVGRZQÁDW
mould. WKHEDVHERDUGWKHEORFNVLWVGRZQÁDW and tight against the baseboard of the
on the baseboard, and the curve planed mould.
Making and fitting heel and into the glue surface is accurate and a
tail block JRRGÀWWRWKHVLGHVPRXOG,IDOOLV2. Linings
The heel block (at the neck end of the remove clamps, apply glue (Titebond Linings are glued onto the sides to add
body) dimensions are 70mm wide by or similar), and clamp back in position. stiffness and to give a wider gluing
50mm long; depth to suit the guitar Clean up excess glue with a damp cloth. area to which to attach the back and
being built. Using the two pre-drilled holes in the soundboard.
It is best to make them over-deep heel block as a guide, drill through the The linings are thin strips kerfed (cut
by 5mm or so in order that the edge sides from the inside. nearly through) at regular intervals.
that the back is glued to can be planed The tail block can be made of .HUÀQJWKHOLQLQJVPDNHVWKHPÁH[LEOH
to suit the arch of the back. I usually plywood, or a 3-ply laminate of spruce so they can be glued on without steam
laminate two longer pieces of wood or similar, normally about 60mm bending. Many wood species can be
together to give an overall thickness wide and 18mm thick, and about used: spruce, walnut, mahogany,
of 7mm, then square up and use the 2mm greater than the depth of the Tasmanian blackwood. Lining is dry
table saw to cut off 50mm lengths to
make several blocks at a time. The heel Linings glued in
block is drilled (6.5mm diameter) on
a drill press to maintain square, with
two holes to receive the neck bolt. I also
remove some material on the bandsaw
to create a rough mortise that will later
be trimmed by hand to receive the tenon
on the neck.
The heel block is glued onto the sides
such that the end grain of the heel
block is the glue surface. This is not a
particularly strong way of joining wood,
but there are also two bolts running
through it into the neck. In addition, the
top and bottom surfaces are also glued,
so there is plenty of strength.
Prior to gluing, plane the glue surface
Dry fitting kerfed lining to trim to length
of the heel block to give it a curve to

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Back and top glue up

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Shooting edges in the
SLHFHVDUHEURXJKWGRZQWRWKHLUÀQDO soundboard
WKLFNQHVV IRUWKHEDFNDSSUR[LPDWHO\
“After placing weights either side of

the centre join, tap them inwards to
push the two halves together closely”
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$IWHUSODFLQJZHLJKWVHLWKHUVLGHRIWKH VWULSVDSSUR[PPWKLFNFXWFURVVJUDLQ
FHQWUHMRLQWRSUHYHQWOLIWLQJDVSUHVVXUH IURPWKHH[FHVVVRXQGERDUGPDWHULDO
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VLPLODUXQGHUWKHFHQWUHMRLQWRSUHYHQW EDJJLQJV\VWHPIRUJOXLQJRQPRVWRI
JOXLQJLWWRWKHEDVHERDUG WKHUHLQIRUFLQJDQGEUDFLQJRIWKHEDFN
DQGWKHVRXQGERDUG,WDOORZVVWURQJ
Thicknessing the back DQGHYHQFODPSLQJSUHVVXUHZLWKRXW
2QFHWKHJOXHKDVGULHGOLIWRIIWKH GLVWRUWLQJWKHWKLQZRRG7RJOXHRQ
EDVHERDUGDQGXVHDFDELQHWVFUDSHUWR WKHVWULSDSSO\JOXHWRRQHVLGHRIWKH
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5XQWKURXJKWKHWKLFNQHVVVDQGHU RIWKHEDFN,QVHUWLWLQWKHYDFXXPEDJ
Gluing while weighed down
XQWLOWKHRXWVLGHIDFHLVVDQGHGHYHQO\ DQGWXUQRQWKHYDFXXPSXPS&KHFN

Back reinforcing strip
Positioning the struts 3–4mm-thick ply to the length of the

Space the struts equidistant in this longest strut, mark the centre point, and
length, and mark out their positions out draw a curve on the template to give a
on the centre strip. Use a razor saw to 4mm arch (i.e. the line ends up 4mm
cut through the reinforcing strip either away from the baseline at each end of
side of the strut, and chisel out the the strut), and cut to this line using a
waste in order to create a notch in which block plane. Mark this curve on the side
the strut can sit. RIDOOIRXUVWUXWVXVLQJDÀQHSHQFLODQG
Back struts (spruce, mahogany, plane the strut to the line, ensuring that
walnut) are cut from quarter-sawn stock the glue surface is kept square to the
so that the grain stands vertically in sides of the strut.
the strut for maximum stiffness. The It is worth writing ‘glue’ on the curved
dimensions are roughly 7mm wide, by surface to ensure that the strut is used
16mm high and length to suit the width the right way up. Choose a low humidity
of the guitar. There are four struts, day to glue on the back struts. The struts
and they are spaced equidistant in the can now be glued on in the vacuum bag,
gap between the tail block and the end ensuring that they are square to the
block. The struts have an arched glue centreline. Once dry, the ends of the
surface to the back so that they induce struts need to be scalloped (chiselled
a crossways arch in the back when they down to approx 3–4mm in height), and
are glued on. the top of the struts shaped to give a
To do this, make a template from URXQGHGSURÀOH
Back struts and notches in reinforcing strip

that nothing has moved, and leave to
dry.
Clean up the glue squeeze-out. Plane
the centre strip down to approx 3mm
in height, and shape it so that the top
is rounded crossways (using a chisel,
small plane, and sandpaper).
Place the back with the centre strip
on the guitar (be careful to align it
with the centreline of the body) and
make a pencil mark at each end of the
centre strip at the heel and tail end of
the guitar. From these marks, transfer
the measurements for the inside
surfaces of the tail and heel blocks to
get the internal length of the guitar.
“Choose a low
humidity day
to glue on the
back struts”

Gluing on the back
struts prior to
vacuum bagging
Back struts glued on

and being tidied up
Gluing the back

Place the back onto the sides in the
mould.
At this stage it will be obvious that
the tail block and heel block are too
high, and also that the scalloped ends of
the struts prevent the back from sitting
down on the linings.
Using a sharp block plane, plane
down the heel block and the tail block
until they are a similar height to the
linings, and so that they help support
a lengthwise arch in the back. Realign
the back on the sides and mark on the
side of the guitar where the sides of each
strut fall.
Using a coping saw, cut a notch 4mm
deep through the lining and the side to
house each strut end. It is important to
go no deeper than 4mm as the bindings
on the guitar edge will be 7mm deep
and will cover 4mm plus back thickness
(2.5mm). Any deeper and the ends of
the struts will not be covered.
5HÀWWKHEDFNDQGFKHFNWKDWWKH
strut notches are in the correct place
and that they allow the back to sit

“Do not
overtighten
the clamps;
they are
squeezing
down onto
the edge of
a piece of
wood that
is only 2mm
thick”
perfectly on the centreline. The centre

strip on the back will need trimming to
length so that it will sit down between
the heel and tail blocks.
Trim linings and blocks

At this stage, the linings will still be
slightly high, as will the tail and heel
blocks. Use a block plane to trim the top
surface of the linings and the blocks to
suit the dome of the back and to enable
it to sit tight down on the sides. The
strut ends or notches may also need
WZHDNLQJWRJHWWKHULJKWÀW
:KHQWKHÀWLVJRRGDQGWKHGRPH
of the back is maintained, it is ready to
glue on. Apply glue onto the surface of
the lining, and to the top surface of the
heel and tail blocks. The back is lowered
into place and clamped at the heel and
WDLOEORFNÀUVW XVLQJODUJHPPWKLFN
clamping cauls to spread the pressure
over the block). Trimming the
Check centrelines, and then clamp reinforcing strip
around the body, using 30mm square
clamping cauls of thin ply – it is
important to position the cauls and squeezing down onto the edge of a piece GU\SODQHWKHVHVPRRWKDQGÁXVKWR
clamps so that the clamping pressure of wood that is only 2mm thick. the top, with a slight bevel upwards
comes down onto the lining and the side, When the glue is dry, remove the to accommodate a slight dome in the
rather than too far inboard, which would clamps and ease the body out of the soundboard.
depress the back, or too far outboard, mould. In the next issue of The Shed, issue
which would induce too much arch. Do Glue kerfed linings onto the ZHÀQLVKWKHVRXQGERDUGDQGDGG
not overtighten the clamps; they are soundboard edge of the sides and, once the neck.

OUR THREE STEPS FOR
PROFESSIONAL
PAINT PREPARATION.
1 Clean the surface

with Sugar Soap
2 Smooth the walls

with Spakfilla
3 Fill the gaps

with No More Gaps
selleys.co.nz
Building a child’s hut
For a DIYer who has left-over bits and pieces lying around,
building a playhouse need not be a costly undertaking
By Nigel Young
Photographs: Nigel Young

y six-year-old grandson, Mars, It began with a pallet
M has been diagnosed as autistic.
With his birthday coming up,
I decided to build him a hut – one that
I decided to start with a pallet; I had a
number on hand as I like to work with
pallet wood – you never know what
could go outside or in the garage; one \RX·UHJRLQJWRÀQGEXWVRPHRILWLVMXVW
where he could do whatever he wanted beautiful.
to and it wouldn’t be a problem. This pallet was a fairly typical
Mars likes tools, so a place where he 1200x1000mm, which proved to be a
could randomly hammer some nails, SHUIHFWVL]H,ZRXOGSUHSDUHLWDVDÁRRU
for example, was part of the thinking. so I turned it over and started with the
Mars is always on the go, bouncing from three pieces that spanned the underside.
one activity to another, to the point at I sanded them down smoothly and then
which I’ve taken to calling him ‘Jumping curved the ends so they would act as
Jack’. After a brief conversation with his skids, making it easier to drag the hut
parents, I set to work. across the lawn or any other surface.
“Mars likes
tools, so a
place where
he could
randomly
hammer some
nails, for
example, was
part of the
thinking”

“Keep in mind
that I made
this up as I
went along”
I painted them with a grey latex roof

The hut started on my paint in order to seal them, and then
assembly table you can proceeded to paint any other part that
see behind it. Now it was was exposed, such as timber ends.
on a piece of carpet on the
floor in order to protect
Keep in mind that I made this up as I
the grey latex paint from went along – there was no planning
getting scratched. Note or sketching, and it all came down to
also two of the 40x40mm
whatever materials I had around me.
plates I’ve used to hold
the edges of the rubber
flooring down A playing surface
I covered the top of the pallet with
some 12mm ply, screwing it down
along the pallet structure. This wasn’t
treated, so I painted both sides and the
edges with two coats of the grey latex.
These would subsequently be covered
from the outside, but I hadn’t got that
far yet. Finally, I glued some non-slip
rubber over the ply, to provide a safe yet
comfortable surface for Mars to play on.
This was 1200mm wide, so I only had
to buy a metre – one of the few costs in
the project. I used a spray-on contact
DGKHVLYHKRZHYHUP\ÀUVWDWWHPSWZDV
not successful as I had been sold the
wrong product. I took it back and it was
swapped for another. The edges also
had 40x40mm timber plates screwed
over them, so that, if there were any
other issues with the rubber, at least
LWZDVÀ[HGDOODURXQG $VLWWXUQHG
out there were, but I’m ahead of myself
KHUH ,XVHGURRÀQJVFUHZVWRKROG
them down.
The 40x40 was quite rough, so I
cleaned it all up with my belt sander.
Part-way through, the paper I
was using became too worn, so I
replaced it with some Diablo 36-grit
‘quick removal’ paper. They’re not
The end of one of the four
corner posts I made up kidding! What had previously been a
from the 40x40mm timber time-intensive and laborious job all of
I had on hand. These sudden came back with a much quicker
were glued and screwed
– and slightly rougher – result. For
to make them 80x80mm
on two sides. These were this job, it was perfect. Edges became
subsequently painted with URXQGHUZKLFKÀWWHGLQZLWKP\
the grey latex paint and
intention of making the hut as safe yet
then screwed onto the
pallet ends on two faces robust as possible.

Next, the sides ZHUHPPKLJKDQG,ZRXOGVLWWKHP Access
+DYLQJHVWDEOLVKHGWKHÁRRUQH[WFDPH PPRIIWKHJURXQGLQRUGHUWRSUHYHQW 6RWKHÁRRUDQGFRUHVWUXFWXUHZHUH
the sides. DQ\GLUHFWFRQWDFWZLWKZHWVXUIDFHV HVWDEOLVKHGDQGWKHERWWRPSODWHV
6RPHWLPHEDFN,KDGEXLOWVRPH ZKLFKFRXOGEULQJDERXWURW ZHUHÀ[HG,KDGOHIWDQRSHQLQJRI
ZLQGVFUHHQVDURXQGRXUGHFNIURP 7KHHQGVZHUHDOVRSDLQWHGDV, PPIRUDFFHVVDQGDOORZHGWKH
VRPHOHQJWKVRI[PPSLQHWKDW, GHVFULEHGSUHYLRXVO\ UXEEHUWRUROORYHUWKHSDOOHWHGJH
KDGDFTXLUHGDQG,VWLOOKDGTXLWHDORW 7RDFKLHYHWKHFOHDUDQFH,VDWWKHP IRUDVPRRWKHUHQWUDQFH:KDWZDV
OHIWRYHU,WKDGEHHQVLWWLQJDURXQGIRUD RQVRPHPPVFUDSVRISO\EHIRUH OHIWRYHU,À[HGGRZQZLWKDVWULSRI
ZKLOHDQG,KDGQ·WTXLWHNQRZQZKDWWR VFUHZLQJWKHPLQSODFH7ZRRIWKH DOXPLQLXP,WDOUHDG\KDGKROHVLQLW
GRZLWKLW1RZ,GLG²LWZDVSHUIHFWIRU SDOOHWHQGVKDGVRPHURWVR,HQGHGXS DQG,ZDVDEOHWRPDWFKLWTXLWHFORVHO\
WKHKXW·VVWUXFWXUH EX\LQJHLJKWLQFKODQGVFDSLQJEROWV WRWKHHQWUDQFH
,GHFLGHGWRIRUPIRXU/VKDSHG DQGMXVWVFUHZLQJWKURXJKWKHURWLQWR 1H[WZDVDPDWWHURIW\LQJWKHWRS
FRUQHUVZKLFK,ZRXOGWKHQÀ[WRWKH WKHVROLGZRRGEH\RQG:LWKWZRRI WRJHWKHU$JDLQWKH[PPZDV
VLGHVRIWKHSDOOHWÁRRU7KHVH¶/V·ZHUH WKHVHLQHDFKDQGIXUWKHUPPVFUHZV XVHG%\WKHWLPH,KDGÀQLVKHG,KDG
WKUHHOHQJWKVRIWKH[PPJOXHGDQG FRPLQJLQDWGHJUHHVIURPWKHRWKHU WZROD\HUVLQWHUORFNLQJZLWKHDFKVLGH
VFUHZHGWRJHWKHUJLYLQJDQRYHUDOOZLGWK GLUHFWLRQWKHVHSRVWVZHUHQ·WJRLQJ 2QFHWKH\ZHUHFODGWKH\ZHUHYHU\
RI[PPVKRZLQJRQHDFKVLGH7KH\ DQ\ZKHUH VROLG1RZIRUWKHURRI
The bare structure ready for the next

stage – the roof. Notice the four
clamps holding down the rubber floor
at the doorway – I hadn’t decided
yet how to finish the entrance step,
and I didn’t wan’t to risk tripping and
tearing the edge. Notice also the two
8-inch (200mm) landscaping bolts
holding the post back into the pallet.
These weren’t going anywhere

When I had painted the ply for the Bracing the roof
ÁRRU,KDGDOVRSUHSDUHGVRPHIRUWKH 7KHUDIWHUVZHUHVFUHZHGERWKWRWKH
“I formed URRI,IRUPHGDVLPSOHGHJUHHURRI ULGJHEHDPDQGWKHFRUQHUSRVWV$OO
a simple XVLQJDFHQWUHSRVWEHWZHHQWKHWRS WKDWZDVQHHGHGQRZZDVD[PP
UDLODQGDULGJHEHDP7KLVKDGEHHQ SXUOLQVSDQQLQJEHWZHHQWKHUDIWHUVDW
30-degree VSHFLÀFDOO\UHTXHVWHGE\0DUV·PXP WRSDQGERWWRP7KHURRISO\FRXOGWKHQ
roof using a DVVKHKDGDVOLQJW\SHVZLQJWKDWVKH EHVFUHZHGRQDOOIRXUHQGVDQGZRXOG
ZDQWHGWRLQVWDOOIURPWKHFHQWUH DFWDVDGLDSKUDJPEUDFHDFURVVWKHKXW
centre post 7KHEHDPZDVDSLHFHRI[PP $ULGJHÁDVKLQJZDVIROGHGXSSDLQWHG
between the ZKLFK,RYHUKXQJDWHLWKHUHQGZLWK JUH\DQGÀ[HGLQSODFH,IWKHKXW
WKHHQGRYHUWKHHQWUDQFHEHLQJPP HQGHGXSRXWVLGHLWFHUWDLQO\ZRXOGQ·W
top rail and a ORQJHUWRDFWDVDVOLJKWVKHOWHURYHULW OHDN7KHRSHQLQJZDV[PPSRVWV
ridge beam” 7KHEHDPRQO\UHTXLUHGDUDIWHUIURP UXQQLQJIURPWKHÁRRUWRWKHXQGHUVLGH
WKH[IUDPLQJRQHLWKHUVLGHDWHDFK RIWKHGRXEOHGWRSSODWHV7KLVZDVDOVR
HQGVREHWZHHQWKH[FHQWUHSRVW XVHGKRUL]RQWDOO\DURXQGWKHVWUXFWXUH
DQGWKHIRXUUDIWHUVLWZDVZHOOVHFXUHG IRUDGGLWLRQDOVWUHQJWK
The roof structure in place prior to fixing.

Note the grey latex paint on the top ends of
the corner posts. The rafters and ridge beam
would also get the same treatment
The roof installed

over the two inline
(between the rafters)
purlins at top and
bottom. The sling
hook has also been
added in the left hand
one. The 250mm
ridge beam and roof
overhang over the
entrance – note the
grey latex paint on the
end of the beam on
the right-hand photo

Some of the 100x15mm crate siding
timber waiting to be cleaned up with
my belt sander
Cladding
The cladding followed, and for this I had
some approx 100x15 crate siding timber,
which I cleaned up with my belt sander
in the same way as I did the 40x40.
I clad either side of the door, the
opposite end, and one other side
completely. The other side I trimmed
RXWDVDZLQGRZRSHQLQJ,ÀQLVKHG
it with some pink timber – I think it
was mahogany – so that knees and The hut still on its carpet, with two sides
elbows couldn’t get hurt while Mars was complete. The window opening has been
trimmed with some pallet mahogany (I
climbing in and out of it.
think) for easier access and climbing. Note
I didn’t clad the gable ends, as this also that the floor edge on the window
lets extra light in as well as providing an side has now been covered over, so there
eyeline for keeping watch on Jumping is now no chance of the plywood flooring
soaking up water through the edges. Note
Jack. I didn’t have quite enough of the also the roof flashing is now in place
cladding to be able to fully enclose the
sides, so I put a 15mm gap between each
– it achieved the same end. For that, I Extracting the finished hut the roof on there – but as it was directly
just used a piece of the 100x15 edge on. When I started building the hut, I had under my garage door, there was virtually
$SSDUHQWO\RQHRIWKHÀUVWWKLQJV0DUV it on my cutting bench. However, once no clearance. I had been building it on
wanted to do was to climb the sides and the corner posts were attached, I had to a piece of old carpet, so when it came to
sit on the roof. You can see why the need VKLIWLWWRWKHÁRRU be moved outside, it was just a case of
for clear supervision was important. 7KDWZDVÀQH²,HYHQPDQDJHGWRJHW carefully dragging the carpet.
Luckily, it stayed on there until it was
transferred to the trailer, just prior to its
delivery. Now that I had the clearance, I
FRXOGÀ[WKHURRIULGJHÁDVKLQJ$OOWKDW
was left was to complete the cladding
described earlier.
I mentioned previously that there
were some issues relating to the rubber
safety mat. Once the hut was outside
in the sun, the rubber started to rise in
places. I found this a bit concerning as
it pointed to bad adhesion between the
mat and the ply underneath. I should
point out that, prior to applying the
adhesive to the painted ply, I had given
it a good sanding to break down the
surface to allow better bonding between
The roof flashing painted and ready for fixing to the roof
the two surfaces.

No nails
No nails were used in the project, apart
from two small ones that prevented
a small split from getting bigger.
Otherwise, it was all screws that I had
on hand, some PVA for the corner posts,
the contact adhesive for the rubber
matting, a large hook for the sling in the
ULGJHEHDPVRPHPPSO\IRUWKHÁRRU
and roof panels, and some grey latex
roof paint.
The roof flashing clamped in place, and the
My only construction costs were the pencil lines for the screws to fix through into
rubber matting and contact adhesive – the purlins below. The corner was hammered
approx $50 – and the eight large 8-inch up and under so as not to cause an injury. I
had originally made the flashing long enough
landscaping screws, which cost around
to hammer the ends down over the ply roof,
$18. but this turned out to be an impractical idea
While it was easy enough to get the
hut onto the trailer, it took four of us
to get it off again and into the garage, Interestingly, he decided it needed
where it currently lives. a door – I had run out of time for the
Wee Jumping Jack’s response was, birthday deadline, and wasn’t sure “Despite
“This is the best hut ever!” – client whether a door was a good idea, given
our thinking
satisfaction at its best. the supervision comments above.
of the hut
Mars enjoying his hut – that pretty well sums it all up being a place
to hammer
nails and the
like, it has
turned into
a safe space
that he can
call his own”
Mars had other ideas, and found a box

IURPLQVLGHWKHJDUDJHWKDWÀWWHGWKH
opening perfectly. Due to his boisterous
behaviour, we hadn’t been sure whether
a wooden door or just a curtain would
be the better idea, and I gather the
jury is still out on that one. For now,
however, Mars has his own safe space,
and I’m reliably informed that he’s in
there all the time.
Despite our thinking of the hut being
a place to hammer nails and the like, it
has turned into a safe space that he can
call his own. His sister has also taken
a shine to it. However, I had previously
built her a desk and she has to be
VDWLVÀHGZLWKWKDW

Industry Insider
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Electronics
Below: In this instalment, we will see how to replicate the features

of the Arduino WiFi board version using Arduino UNO R4 Minima
connected to an external ESP32 S3 via the I2C protocol.
The MCU on the two models is the same, and this makes it possible
to also have the Minima board playing chess via telnet
INTRODUCTION TO
ARDUINO UNO R4
(PLAYING CHESS) – PART 2
How to the replicate the features of the Arduino WiFi board to
enable a game of chess using the cheaper Minima version
By Enrico Miglino and Luis Garcia

Left: The scheme architecture of the
connections between the two boards: the
Arduino UNO R4 Minima and the external
ESP32 S3.
It was also possible to connect the two
boards via the serial port, but, as it is
being used to configure the parameters
of the Arduino board, configuration
of debugging and WiFi parameters is
actuated from the USB serial connecting
the Arduino board to any serial terminal,
including the Arduino IDE.
While the I2C protocol on the Arduino
UNO R4 works at 5V, the ESP32 S3 works
at 3.3V; for this reason, a level-converter
IC has been necessary to enable I2C
communication between the two boards
“The only
FKDOOHQJLQJ
issue is the
incompatible
YROWDJHOHYHO
of the two
boards”
n this second instalment, we will ESP32 S2 and Arduino UNO Serial and I2C protocol
I see how we achieved the same
consistent result playing chess
with Arduino UNO R4 Minima, the
R4 Minima
The hardware connection of the two
boards is extremely simple, and a
Considering that relatively little
information should be exchanged
between the two microcontrollers,
cheaper version of the new Arduino breadboard and a few wires have been and that it is not needed at high
board, without the LED matrix VXIÀFLHQW speed, adopting the serial protocol
display and the ESP32 S3 on the The only challenging issue is the for communication may be more than
board. incompatible voltage level of the two adequate.
While Enrico was developing the boards: while Arduino logic is 5V, the This had to be excluded, however,
software implementation on the Arduino ESP32 needs 3.3V; this negatively as the Arduino UNO serial should be
UNO R4 WiFi, Luis worked to create a impacts on the communication between XVHGIRUWKHVRIWZDUHFRQÀJXUDWLRQDQG
sort of ‘advanced’ Minima board. The the two boards. On the Arduino UNO R4 some basic display functions, so the I2C
main problem of the Minima version WiFi, which includes the ESP32 S3, of option has been adopted.
concerned the inability of managing course, there is a level adapter session The I2C communication protocol is
a WiFi connection, which, in the WiFi on the PCB to solve this issue. not particularly complex, and, to make
model, is covered by the ESP32 S3 being In our case, to deal with the voltage things easier, the software layer has
included on the board. To keep the same incompatibility, Luis added a level- been based on text-only commands; two
environment, and leave both boards as converter integrated circuit between different features have been developed:
much as possible compatible with the the connected power lines of the two
same software architecture and design, microcontrollers; the communication 1: The WiFi name and WPA security
we chose to add an ESP32 S3 to the worked beautifully. SDVVZRUGFRQÀJXUDWLRQ
board. a: Ask the ESP32 S3 for the list of

Above: Detail of the connections of the level converter IC between the two boards. The two wires, black and red, connect to the power
lines – 3.3V on the ESP32 side and 5V on the Arduino side – while the third cable (green and blue) is the I2C protocol line.
Note that the small PCB has some unused PIN. If used for the serial protocol, two lines should be level-converted: Tx and Rx. In our
case, the I2C protocol needs only a single wire
available wireless access points; • ESP32 S3 is the telnet server, and

b: Send to the ESP32 S3 the desired
access point and the WPA password –
manages the connection and data
exchange;
“Using the
this parameter can be saved in the non- • Arduino UNO R3 Minima is the breadboard
volatile memory of the Arduino UNO
for future use;
main processor unit that controls the
FRQÀJXUDWLRQRIWKHV\VWHPDQGSOD\V
wiring is a
c: Ask the ESP32 S3 the retrieved chess. great idea
IP address assigned by the access
as a proof of
point after the connection has been Make the I2C
completed. communication reliable concept and
2: Chess moves sending and As it is a high-speed communication for testing
receiving by the Arduino (which protocol, using the breadboard wiring
runs the chess engine) to the wireless is a great idea as a proof of concept and the circuit”
connection: for testing the circuit, but for reliable
a: Send the next move to the ESP32 S3 communication we strongly suggest
in a standard chess notation; soldering the wires (a breadboard PCB
b: Receive the next move from the is an excellent solution).
remote opponent connected to the
WiFi, and validate the chess move The old-fashioned display
before processing it by the engine. Our assumption was that neither model
of Arduino UNO R4 should require any
As explained above, the roles of the other extra component. However, we
two microcontrollers are extremely agreed that a small OLED display can
clear: make things easier.

Left: Detail of the external
ESP32 S3-WROOM
A piece of game play model of the board.
The characteristics and
Welcome to Chesstelnet the code are identical
+-----------------+ to the ESP32 S3 on the
board of the Arduino UNO
8| r n b q k b n r | R4 WiFi. In this set-up,
7| p p p p p p p p | the ESP32 S3 receives
commands from the
6| . . . . . . . . |
main processor on the
5| . . . . . . . . | Arduino UNO R4 Minima
4| . . . . . . . . | board and manages the
WiFi communication
3| . . . . . . . . | implementing a telnet
2| P P P P P P P P | server, in a very similar
way to the Arduino UNO
1| R N B Q K B N R |
R4 WiFi
+-----------------+
abcdefgh
d2d4
The text to the left reproduces some
1. d2d4b8c6
+-----------------+
moves on the player’s telnet terminal.
When a terminal is connected to the
“When the
8| r . b q k b n r |
Arduino board via WiFi telnet, every player types
a wrong
7| p p p p p p p p |
move is represented with the piece from
6| . . n . . . . . | position and to position. Every chess
5| . . . . . . . . | piece is a single character: ‘r’ (rook), ‘b’ move or a
4| . . . P . . . . | (bishop), ‘p’ (pawn), etc. The upper-case checkmate is
3| . . . . . . . . | characters are the white pieces and
2| P P P . P P P P | the lower-case characters are the black recognised,
1| R N B Q K B N R | pieces. a proper
After every move, a whole text-only
+-----------------+
chessboard is redrawn with the updated
message is
abcdefgh
b1c3 position. sent”
When the player types a wrong move
2. b1c3e7e5
or a checkmate is recognised, a proper
+-----------------+
message is sent.
8| r . b q k b n r |
7| p p p p . p p p |
6| . . n . . . . . |
5| . . . . p . . . |
4| . . . P . . . . |
3| . . N . . . . . |
2| P P P . P P P P |
1| R . B Q K B N R |
+-----------------+
abcdefgh
g1f3
3. g1f3f7f6
+-----------------+
8| r . b q k b n r |
7| p p p p . . p p |
6| . . n . . p . . |
5| . . . . p . . . |
4| . . . P . . . . |
3| . . N . . N . . |
2| P P P . P P P P |
1| R . B Q K B . R |
Above: Thanks to the completeness of the two boards, Arduino UNO R4 Minima and Esp32 S3, very
+-----------------+ few wires are needed to make the hardware work.
abcdefgh For better prototyping, a breadboard circuit extension of the ESP32 S3 GPIO has been used, so the
pins of the microcontroller are accessible from the breadboard with their correct PIN names

To develop this
prototype version
of the Arduino
chess circuit,
we have used
an experimental
breadboard.
However, a general-
purpose PCB can
make the building
assembly stable
and more compact
Configuring the WiFi 7KHODVW:L)LFRQÀJXUDWLRQVHWWLQJV

connection via serial (access point name and WPA) are
“If the The Arduino UNO R4 serial connection VDYHGLQWKH$UGXLQR8125ÁDVK
Arduino is needed to make the application run, Until the WiFi access point changes,
modifying the code every time we these parameters are automatically
board detects change the WiFi access point, and to let reused for the next connection.
the serial us know the Arduino telnet server IP If the serial connection is
connection address.
Until we have set the Arduino UNO
connected to a terminal, the game-
play output to the telnet terminal
on startup, R4 board with the right coordinates for is replicated on the serial terminal,
a menu the WiFi access point (name and WPA

password), we are unable to connect to
without the board being redrawn
after every move, to save it as a text
is shown the Arduino telnet server; in addition, ÀOHRIWKHZKROHJDPH
with three it is mandatory to know the dynamic

IP address assigned by the WiFi access The full software
commands” point in order to start a player telnet The most up-to-date version of the
session from the terminal. software – some parts are still a
If the Arduino board detects the serial work in progress – is available on the
connection on startup, a menu is shown GitHub repository: https://github.com/
with three commands: alicemirror/Arduino-Telnet-Chess
In the next issue of The Shed
1: &RQÀJXUHWKH:L)LDFFHVVSRLQW magazine, we will explore in detail
2: Set the WPA password; how the Arduino UNO R4 chess
3: Get the telnet server (running on the program works and how it can be
ESP32 S3) IP address. interfaced with a smartphone.

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For a couple of pointy-ended coffins,
these boats are amazingly capable; photo
taken during 2009 Nationals, off Nelson
Murray proves a home-build can still take line honours

Photo: Rachel Leatham
By Murray Grimwood
Photographs: Murray Grimwood

The 14-foot single-chine hulls were
initially built of plywood; my mid-80s
hulls were factory-built in fibreglass/
foam sandwich
n the Kiwi sailing world, there are a
I handful of evergreen designs; ones

that got it so right that they’ve stood
the test of time. The Starling dinghy,
the Noelex 22, and the Farr 727 come
to mind; but the one I have the most
affection for is a wee catamaran known
as the Paper Tiger.
I noted the design when I was 20ish
but didn’t get to sail one until I was 46;
I mildly regret that delay, and from here
on I’ll sail one until I can’t. Given that I’ve
been putting most of my sheddie effort
into my own Paper Tiger lately, it seemed
an obvious topic for this issue’s column.
History
Designed in 1966-8, reputedly on a beer
coaster, and aimed at beating the then-
formidable Javelin, the PT’s simple lines,
DIY-compatible construction, development
potential, and speed per buck have seen it
outlive almost all its contemporaries and
grow well past 3000 in sail numbers.
The single-chine 14-foot (4.26m)
hulls were initially built of plywood, but
lightweight plys are getting harder to
come by and recent hulls are typically
constructed of carbon/foam/carbon
sandwich. The two cross-beams that
connect the hulls are simple 50x50mm
alloy box sections, between which a small
trampoline stretches. There is one six-
It’s a friendly, down-home class; here National Champion Dave
metre mast, one fully battened sail, and
Shaw rigs while chatting to a fellow competitor. Note the carbon sail
one person aboard.

Class rules
Something that contributes to the Paper
Tiger’s longevity/popularity is that
the class rules are not prescriptive; if
it’s not disallowed, then it is allowed.
Over the years, this approach has
seen a progression from round masts The traditional
to teardrop ones, thence to internal Paper Tiger
sleeving. It has seen a plethora of spanner (lower
left) and vang (blue
approaches to mast-rotation control, rope etc.) set-up.
and a trend to narrower, deeper
centreboards and rudders. Rigs have
progressively sloped backwards, as
have the centreboards. Carbon sails are
SUHGRPLQDQWDWWKHIURQWRIWKHÁHHW
nowadays, and they’re loose-footed,
attaching only at the outer end of the
boom. Hulls have trended from empty
FRIÀQVWREHLQJEUDFHGZLWKVWLIIHQLQJ
devices: sub-decks, bulkheads, and
stringers.
“I sail
through
Dunedin Murray’s approach Thus, over the years, I’ve built two
winters, ice My penchant is to run a cheaper boat VHWVRIFHQWUHERDUGV²RQHÀEUHJODVV
and build the add-ons myself. I’m never RQHFDUERQ²DQGDORWRIELWVDQGSLHFHV
and snow going to outlay the price of a front-of- My current boat was factory built in
included” ÁHHWERDW ² EXW,VWLOO ÀEUHJODVVIRDPÀEUHJODVVEDFNLQ
have a lot of fun. DQGZHÀUVWXQLWHGWRJHWJROGLQWKH
0DVWHUV*DPHV,ERUURZHGWKH
SODWIRUP EHFDXVHLWZDVOLJKWRQO\D
whisker above the minimum weight of
NJ DQGXVHGP\RZQULJ,ERXJKW
her a few years back and she’ll probably
VHHPHRXW²ZH·UHDFRPIRUWDEOHWHDP
,WDONWR¶KHU·DQG²DV,·PDGRWLQJ
JUDQGSDUHQW²WKHSKUDVH¶ZHHJLUO·
ÀJXUHVIUHTXHQWO\
Locally, I don’t get to compete with
Paper Tigers very often, usually ending
up trying to gauge my performance
DJDLQVWDPL[HGFODVVÁHHW+RZHYHU
WKLVVXPPHUVHDVRQ ,VDLOWKURXJK
Dunedin winters, too, ice and snow
LQFOXGHG ,GHFLGHGWRXSWKHDQWH
DQGJRDQGUDFHZLWKWKH37ÁHHWV
IXUWKHUQRUWK7KDW¶PL[LWZLWKWKHUHDO
yardstick’ effort was a lot of fun, and
An evolution of centreboards, spawned an enthusiasm to improve
left-to-right: Traditional, both Hijinx and her passenger; the next
production, production, national championships will be in the
180mm V-moulded version,
150mm carbon 6RXWK,VODQGDQG,·OOEH,WVHHPVD
logical target.

Plenty to do
I’ll list our shortcomings: lack of sailing
skills and lack of boat speed – but apart
from those …
First on the wish list after I sortied
north for the Nationals was separating
the mast rotation from pulling the boom
down (separating the spanner from the
vang or kicker, in sailor speak). It went
like this: all the good sailors do this, and
they’re all ahead of me, so that means I
need to – you see the logic, right?
For years, I ran the traditional
combined system: a rope pulley
purchase from the end of the mast Old-style crossbeam and (foreground)
my long-ago first attempt at brackets
spanner to the boom. Going up wind,
you slacked the purchase off to allow
the spanner to rotate to leeward, relying because it incorporates a cut-down leg
on the downward pull of the mainsheet of a camera tripod – that’s so me.
to hold the sail down. Often, when
going down wind (when the mainsheet The traveller
cannot help), I would want both a tight As built, the traveller car had a
sail and a rotated mast – a combination swivelling cleat on top of it. That meant
often crudely achieved by pushing the you pulled the rope directly from
spanner sideways with my foot. I tried wherever the car happened to be; sort
to separate them years ago, using a wide of a 2:1 purchase with your bum friction
stainless spanner, but gave up. I tried being one of the purchase points.
again now – and nearly gave up again! The swivel had seen a lot of miles
I thought I could do the ‘pulling’ with and was more than sloppy; no chance of
a loop of Spectra (incredibly strong À[LQJLWHLWKHU$QLFHOLWWOHDOOR\DQJOH
rope) around the mast. Turns out the bracket dead centre, a nylon bush, new
pull has to be from behind, not in front rope, and a better cleat, and suddenly
of the mast. I couldn’t grunt it across life is very different; it’s much easier to Mast pivot (top)
in a tack, no matter what I did. It took be accurate. While I was at it, I found and adjustable
four iterations to get something that supporting
a loose hull/beam bolt (which went
strap (bottom)
works fuss free, and I like it all the more through the traveller track).
Mid-evolution spanner development

extra weight. This time I decided just to
fabricate the allowable external beam
EUDFNHWVZKLFKWREHKRQHVWGRPXFK
of the job. This collaterally removed
the perpetually loosening single bolt
I mentioned earlier. I hope I haven’t
replaced it with four smaller loosening-
prone ones!
Shifting the mainsheet pulley forward
– to give me more space to cross through
ZKHQ,WDFN²VHHPHGOLNHDJRRGLGHD
,QWKHRU\LWKDGWKHFROODWHUDODGYDQWDJH
A different approach: spanner up near the RISXOOLQJWKHERRPIRUZDUGKHOSLQJWR
boom, completely separate from vang
NHHSWKHPDVWURWDWHG,QSUDFWLFHWKHUH
seem to be conditions where it is better
Let’s (not) do the twist IRUZDUG OLJKWZLQGÁDWZDWHU DQG
Next on the list was increasing her RWKHUV VWURQJOXPS\ ZKHQLWZRUNV
“If you lift torsional rigidity – if you lift one bow of EHWWHUEDFNZKHUHLWZDV'RQ·WDVNPH
one bow of a DIURQWRIWKHÁHHWERDWWKHRWKHUERZ

FRPHVXSZLWK\RX/LIWRQHRIPLQH
ZK\+RZHYHULW·VDVLPSOHFOLSVQDS
VKLIWDQGLW·VQLFHWRKDYHERWKRSWLRQV
front-of-the- and the other will follow sometime later 7KDQNV5DFKHOIRUWKHWLG\VHZLQJMRE
ÁHHWERDW tomorrow. That means wasted energy –

and we aren’t starting with much! It’s not all happy sailing
the other One way of stiffening is to rigidify 1RWHYHU\KDSSHQLQJLVDSRVLWLYHDQG
bow comes the hulls internally. I did that with my WKHDELOLW\WRDGDSWRQWKHÁ\LVRIWHQLQ

SUHYLRXVERDWFXWWLQJWKHGHFNVRII demand.
up with you” between the cross-beams for access and $WWKH6RXWK,VODQGFKDPSVLQ1HOVRQ
LQVHUWLQJEXONKHDGVDQGVWULQJHUV²D ,ÀQLVKHGWKHVHFRQGUDFHZRQGHULQJ
ORWRISRVWKRFSDODYHUQRWWRPHQWLRQ ZK\WKHERDWIHOORIIWKHSDFH,ORRNHG
How the champion does it –

spanner related to the deck,
rather than to the boom. Yellow
tackle (upper left) is vang

The old-school flogged-out traveller (right) Rebuilding the best bits into a boom – I
and centre-pull new set-up (left) didn’t think it a priority but she insisted ...
The last of the 3-metre sleeve Prototype nylon spacer

being eased up the new mast
at the odd shape of the bottom of the Back to the build QRWKLQJDQGGLGWKHMRE²XQWLODUHJDWWD
sail, where it meets the mast, and traced Those barn-door centreboards had to go; ZKHQKDOIRIRQHÁRDWHGXSDVWHUQRIWKH
that to the outhaul (the pulley at the FRPSDULVRQZLWKIURQWRIÁHHWERDWVKDG ERDW 7KHUHVFXHFUHZVÀVKHGLWRXWDQG
outer end of the boom) which does what made that clear. presented it, suitably inscribed, at the
its name suggests – or should. It had 7KHÀUVWKLJKHUDVSHFWSDLU,·GEXLOW prize-giving.)
torn clean out of the boom and gone back in ’09, were 180mm across and laid To replace them I’d made a male
walkabout. As I informed Race Control up in a sheet-metal V-mould, which was pattern 150mm across, took split female
that I was heading for home, my mind then clamped shut (like shutting a book) plaster of Paris moulds off it, and laid
logged its way through the bits and over a timber stiffener. They weighed up carbon in them. They glued together
pieces I’d brought up from Dunedin.
That night, on the camp-ground cabin
ÁRRU,MXU\ULJJHGDUHSODFHPHQW²MXVW
in time for the following day to be
abandoned. So it goes; a pity, as the Running repairs;
glueing the bow
MXU\ULJLVVWLOOZRUNLQJZHOO
back down
Later in the season, I was waiting
for a local race, hove to (parked), with
starboard right of way. A Finn barrels
down onto me on port, and capsizes. My
bow drops off a wave, slithers down his
XSWXUQHGKXOODQGP\GHFNKXOOMRLQ
parts; it looks like a little shark mouth,
open. I do the race, making sure that
‘mouth’ stays above the chop! Thanks,
Richard, for the glue-up (see pic).

After 20 years it was time to retire
the slogged-out outhaul (lower)
with a slicker unit (upper). These
slide at the outer end of the boom,
flattening – or not – the sail
perfectly, ending up a tad too heavy but Looking up one in the heavy going,
After some
WKHULJKWVKDSH,GHFLGHGWRUHÀWWKRVH you wonder why it isn’t failing – and Anglo-Saxon
into Hijinx, and maybe one day I’ll build they often do. People started to sleeve conversations.
DOLJKWHUSDLURIWKHVDPHSURÀOH)LWWLQJ WKHPÀUVWZLWKROGVPDOOPDVWVHFWLRQV the 150mm
board finally fits
them took a day – with a race looming; shoved up them with car jacks, then
GULOOLQJÀOLQJDQGVDQGLQJSURÀOHGVORWV with carbon tubes. Nowadays, some folk
through the epoxy/microballoon mix I’d even insert a still-wet carbon lay-up and
dribbled down the cases the day before. LQÁDWHDPDQGUHOLQVLGHIRUFLQJLWWR
A knowledge of Anglo-Saxon helped! marry to the aluminium. The consensus
seems to be that three metres of sleeve –
Now for the mast half the total mast length – is optimal.
Next came the mast. Paper Tigers Complicating this, older sails tend
originally had round masts, then to have been cut for unsleeved bendy
progressed through a smaller teardrop masts, modern sails for the sleeved ones.
to a more substantial one, but it’s still a My very old, many-times-restraightened
piece of spaghetti. mast was/is a compromise; it sports one
Getting close – my
current spanner/vang,
incorporating tripod-leg

A different traveller treatment;
sliding nylon blocks rather than
stainless rollers
I wondered where that sponge had

gotten to! Camera lowered into
one of my hulls, showing there’s a
centreboard case and not much else.
Layup is fibreglass/foam/fibreglass.
metre of aluminium sleeve at the lower

I poured epoxy and micro-
hounds (lower rigging attachment point) balloons into the old
but mostly as a splint; that’s the most centreboard slot, then hand-
restraightened point. carved the new slots. Batten
saves scratching the gelcoat
Time to replace the mast

That has probably saved it more than once,
but it was time to use the new blank I’d
bought and brought south to sleeve it and
use it, retiring the other to spare status.
Scuttlebutt says that you can’t use an old-
style sail on a sleeved mast, whereas I’m
thinking it’ll just need more pull on the
mainsheet to bend the stiffened mast in
the heavy going. Carbon sails cost a bomb
DQGODVWIRUDERXWÀYHPLQXWHVJRRGIRU
the sailmakers, perhaps, but – as readers
will have gleaned by now – that’s not quite
my style.
I wasn’t into the wet lay-up/blown
They presented me
mandrel approach; that process costs
with the remaining
three times what I paid for the whole boat! “Turns out half ... Seems like
Nor did I think that paying hundreds for
that 44mm
yesterday but the
date says 2009 ...
DFDUERQWXEHMXVWLÀHGWKHVOLJKWZHLJKW
saving over alloy. tube with
An old hang-glider pilot often has a
collection of high-tensile alloy tube hanging
one wrap
around. Turns out that 44mm tube with one of duct
ZUDSRIGXFWWDSHLVDVQXJÀW$IHZQ\ORQ
spacers, two placed at particular load points
tape is a
(boom, hounds), and we were in business. VQXJÀWµ
At the time of writing, I’m still to
decide which masthead halyard lock to
go for – the higher you can get the sail,
the better (more wind, better underneath
clearance) but it has to hang from the top,
not cleat from the bottom, to relieve mast
compression.

Postscript We scoot across the Cross Ditch,
All this preparation is, of course, almost as shimmy through Macandrew Bay
“Off the line much fun as the sailing – I guess it’s like DQGDORFDOUDFLQJÁHHW WKHQVXUIRQ
I’ve always that with a lot of equipment-based sports. down harbour – until a big nothing.
With the carbon boards newly installed, Whitecaps ahead, whitecaps behind,
been faster, I turned up for one of my favourite races: DÁDWFDOPLQEHWZHHQV\VWHPV7KHQ
but now I the Otago Yacht Club Cross Ditch Race for blam! The nor’wester, which soon
could retain the Miller Cup – essentially a circuit of

half the harbour. Off the line I’ve always
backs west and settles into 20 knots
and gusting. I can’t let her heel too
the speed been faster, but now I could retain the far; that remaining rudder would be of
and climb to speed and climb to windward of the whole

ÁHHW
little use in air! I don’t want to capsize,
either, so, traveller well down, sheet
windward The tacks all went smoothly; Jonathan ZHOOLQSOD\LWOLNHDÀVK
of the whole Livingston Seagull would have been proud. Turn for home; the last leg is a reach
Then: crack! I’ve hit the unmarked groyne DQGZH·UHÁ\LQJ7KHERZZDYHLV
ÁHHWµ off Roseneath. Up pops the port rudder, KRUL]RQWDOPLVWWKHUH·VDORQJÁDWZDNH
its pull-down rope torn out. Uh, oh, the behind the leeward rudder, the rig is
centreboards are deeper – yes, the port singing, I’m fully stacked out and well
one’s up a bit; push it back down (later I aft (keeping that bow up today, not
ZLOOÀQGLWKDUGO\VFUDWFKHG DQGWUXFNRQ WRPRUURZ
We slash across the line – not just
Down-wind trick line honours but handicap as well, it
I’ve occasionally sailed down-wind legs on turns out; so cool when your home-
light-wind days with one rudder purposely build efforts deliver as envisaged. I
Photo: Peter Wilhelmson

raised, but never up wind; this is ease off and pat the deck: “Thanks,
unknown territory. She walks it in, never wee girl, we nailed that one.”
missing a tack, which I put down to the Sometimes it’s good to be alive. Just
First outing with the 150mm boards in this new boards being further aft, taking some ahead there is an appointment with
boat; we’re in a happy place. Minutes after
this photo was taken, that rudder was pointing of the sideways load off the remaining a surgeon in Christchurch, but this is
skyward, as it would for the rest of the race ... rudder. now – and I’ll take it.

The tool shed
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ongoing cylinder rental fees whether you’re using the gas or not.
Eziswap Gas works differently. It operates a ‘cylinder swap’ system.
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used. This way, customers avoid paying any ongoing cylinder rental fees.
Worried about the initial cost? You can buy a cylinder of your choice
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With more than 57 swap centres nationwide, Eziswap Gas is a better
ZD\WRSXUFKDVHLQGXVWULDOJDV,W·VDOVR1HZ=HDODQG·VRQO\SHUFHQW
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,WVVHOHFWLRQRISODVWLFÀ[LQJVDQGIDVWHQLQJVLQFOXGHVVWDQGDUG
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RUSKRQH

My shed
Marty working on the Camaro

THE SHED THAT
ATE THE HOUSE
Living the dream – a factory-sized shed crammed with a diverse array of treasures
By Chris Hegan
Photographs: Chris Hegan, Zoe Radford
f your shed is larger – much larger – NSU forever

I than your house, is it still a shed?
This is a question Marty and Zoe
Radford might well ponder in their
Relics of the Radford Snr’s NSU
enchantment can be found amidst the
overwhelming array of projects, from
“A leaking
exhaust
spare time – if they had any. Their ÀQLVKHGWRDOPRVWVWDUWHGWKDWOLWHUDOO\ manifold or
house, a well-furnished, modern two- OLQHWKHFRXSOH·VJLDQWVKHGIURPÁRRUWR
level dwelling, is built into a corner ceiling – a shiny NSU Quickly moped, still
head gasket
of the sizable factory unit that is their in regular use; another Quickly gathering could give the
shed.
Let’s start at the beginning. Marty’s
dust, parts on the shelves somewhere;
DQGWKHHUVWZKLOHSULGHRIWKHÁHHWWKH
passengers
petrolhead father had a strange love NSU Prinz 1000, still functioning, but a knock-out
affair with the German automaker NSU,
home of the Wankel rotary engine. A
hoisted to a high storage shelf with the
family forklift (an old Datsun called
dose of carbon
frugal man, he worked two jobs and Tetanus, beautifully refurbished) because monoxide”
would never pay for something he it’s not up to the requisite standard.
could do or make himself, meaning he This was the car in which Marty’s
had little time for the kids (or for the mother drove him to school, a former The to-do list
wife, who left) – although that does showroom sample that failed to set The Prinz was restored in the early ’80s
not seem to have stopped Marty from New Zealand alight back in the ’60s. It by Marty’s father, and is now showing
turning out in a similar mould. Through had its virtues, staunchly defended by its age.
car club connections, the young Marty, Marty, but the fact that hot air from the “The last time we used it was at
driving his massively overpowered air-cooled rear engine was cycled to heat Caffeine & Classics. We went off
Capri V8, met Zoe, a young solo mum the interior meant that a leaking exhaust somewhere and came back to hear two
in a luxurious, throbbing Camaro. A manifold or head gasket could give the old geezers just grilling the car. ‘How on
petrol-soaked romance became a 23- passengers a knock-out dose of carbon earth could someone let a car like that
year relationship, and still counting. monoxide. Sub-optimal, can we say? get in such a condition, blah blah blah.’
An oldie but a goodie

Boiler, V8 engine,
and the NSU
Quickly moped

Careful! Fetching
the Prinz with
Tetanus the once-
rusty forklift
They didn’t know it was ours, obviously.
So we took it home and stuck it up
there with the forklift. Another of many
things on the to-do list.”
Priorities there are in abundance. On
the day of my visit, Marty has his nose
in the partly stripped big block engine
in his 1979 Chevrolet Camaro – Marty’s
teenage dream come true. In the 20-odd
years he has had the car, this is at least
its seventh engine – he has lost count.
On the hoist beside him is a big
American-made Ford Falcon Sprint with
a wheeled, sprung extension sticking
RXWWKHEDFNWRVWRSWKHFDUÁLSSLQJRYHU
backwards under full power.
“This was rebuilt as a drag car in the Self-taught
States. It’s what they call a pro-streeter Looking at the three functioning hot “If you had
– big wheels on the back, little wheels rods, the two steam engines under
this car in
on the front, big engine poking out of restoration (or is it three – it’s hard to
the bonnet, back’s higher than the front, tell), the immaculate classic caravan, that era, you
makes a lot of noise, has heaps of go. the Prinz, the stripped cars in the stacks, would have
“This is my Queen St tribute car. If the coffee cart, and who knows what
you had this car in that era, you would else, I assume that Marty has, at least, a been a god on
have been a god on the streets.” mechanic’s training. Not a bit of it. the streets”
I remember those days – Friday nights His only formal training was a night
in the ’70s and ’80s, when Queen St in course in spray painting at Manukau
Auckland was a thundering parade of Tech. For the rest, it is mostly thanks to
gleaming cars and motorbikes shuttling MOTAT (Auckland’s venerable Museum
testosterone-dense young males relying of Transport & Technology).
on their ‘wheels’ to ‘pull chicks’. In ´'DGGLGÀQGWLPHWRKHOSZLWK
2024, that seems more than half-way my model aeroplanes, and I suppose
back to the time of the cave dwellers. I because of the planes I volunteered after
can’t help pointing out that some people school at MOTAT’s aviation workshop.
grow out of those dreams. The planes were badly neglected in
“Some do,” Marty replies with a grin. those days, a bit boring for a 12-year-old
Power to spare – the T-bucket and the Falcon Sprint

kid who wanted to be busy. But over in It looked all right but it had been used to
WKHUDLOZD\VHFWLRQWKH\ZHUHÁDWRXW tow a big boat and everything behind the
´+HÀQDOO\ RSHUDWLQJORFRPRWLYHVDQGUROOLQJVWRFN front seat was shot. So I bought another
VDYHGHQRXJK ZRUNLQJRQDOOVRUWVRIWKLQJVVRPHDQG
my mates changed workshops. We got
and turned the two into one but I never
got it right. That’s the only car I’ve ever
PRQH\WREX\ the railway jigger working and charged given up on.”
KLVÀUVW9 IRUULGHVRQWKHZHHNHQGV:HÀOOHG
in rosters selling tickets or shovelling Marty and Zoe
D)RUG&DSUL FRDORQWKHWUDLQVRIWHQDUULYHGRQ When Marty met Zoe she was working at
KLVZHHNHQG Friday evening and wouldn’t go home DJ\PDQGPDNLQJH[WUDPRQH\ÁLSSLQJ
till Sunday. We’d try anything; ask the cheap cars bought at Turners Auctions.
ZDUULRU ROGHUJX\VKRZWRGRWKLQJVSXVKLQJ ´,·GEX\RQHIRUFOHDQLWXSDQG
ZKHHOV+H ERXQGDULHVWROHDUQ2K\RXQHHGWR VHOOLWIRUµVKHVD\V´,ZRXOGKDYH
ZHOGWKDW":HOOÀUVW\RXQHHGWRHWF made more with better cars but I never
KDVKDGWZR sort of thing.” had enough money.”
DQGWKH\² Getting together with Marty opened
RUDWOHDVW Marty’s first job up new possibilities for the ever-

7KDQNVWRWKHWLPHDW027$70DUW\ entrepreneurial Zoe.
WKHLUVWULSSHG WDONHGKLVZD\LQWRKLVÀUVWMREDVDÀWWHU “We actually got a good bit of the
ERGLHV²DUH and turner with a company that sold

and serviced air compressors. For them
KRXVHGHSRVLWGHDOLQJWKUHH&DPDURVµ
:KDWLVLWDERXWWKHVH&DPDURV"
XSWKHUHLQ KLVODFNRIDWUDGHFHUWLÀFDWHVLPSO\ ´,OLNHWZRGRRUFDUV²0RQDURV9
WKHVWDFNVµ meant they could pay him less. Even so

KHÀQDOO\VDYHGHQRXJKPRQH\WREX\
FRXSHV&DPDURV²FRPIRUWDEOHOX[XU\
cars. We’re both addicted to over-size
KLVÀUVW9D)RUG&DSULKLVZHHNHQG HQJLQHVDQGZHERWKOLNHWREHEXV\²
ZDUULRUZKHHOV+HKDVKDGWZRDQG I’ve always got to be doing something.”
they – or at least their stripped bodies %\WKHWLPHWKH\ERXJKWWKHLUÀUVW
– are up there in the stacks. Then he KRXVH ZLWKQRJDUDJH 0DUW\KDGRQH
switched jobs to work for an importer of commercial unit full of his projects and
American cars where he discovered the had inherited another from his late
glories of the Yank tank. father. They spent years looking for a
´0\ÀUVWRQHZDVD3RQWLDF/DXUHQWLDQ house with a big enough shed or garage
Awaiting resurrection – Marty’s

weekend warrior Capri, top right

Orenstein & Koppel workhorse. Decades
of shunting cement, five years of loving
restoration at MOTAT – Marty’s pride and joy.
EXWWKDQNVWRDOOWKHLQÀOOKRXVLQJ
in Auckland, these have become “Zoe would MOTAT
an extreme rarity. After some
DJLOHQHJRWLDWLRQWKH\ODQGHGWKH
dearly love a Marty’s decades-long devotion
to MOTAT has seen it grow an
former upholstery works that the garden – but impressive steam collection.
RZQHUKDGPRGLÀHGDVDKRPHDQG
their vast “We have 10 working boilers.
business. It is not ideal – Zoe would There are two stationary boilers, a
GHDUO\ORYHDJDUGHQ²EXWWKHLUYDVW collection left portable steam engine – which is a
collection left them little choice, them little boiler on wheels with flywheels on
it to power a variety of things – a
and it is one that has worked out
well in the end. choice” traction engine, a steam roller, four
railway locomotives, and a steam
tram. The tram is very rare – they
were made in America and three
survive, two in Australia and one
here. There are none in the UK, I
think, but an English-built steam
tram runs in Christchurch. It’s
amazing. New Zealand does have
some unique steam gear if you
know where to look. Per head of
population, we outdo most of the
world in working steam.”
Garden decorations now, but not

forever – Fowler traction wheels
Everything, everywhere, all at once

For the love of steam
“I’d been working with steam for years at
MOTAT and decided I wanted to restore
one of my own. I spent two and a half years
looking for a steam engine to restore. I went
on wild goose chases around the North
Island until I found a guy with an unfinished
steam bus based on a steamroller boiler.
[When Marty says ‘boiler’, he usually means
a whole steam engine.] He was one of these
guys who puts something up for sale and
then changes his mind. He had this one
for spares and advertised it for sale. I went
and had a look, we agreed on a price, and I
Setting off for a big fright came back with a trailer, but he goes, ‘Oh,
now that I’ve dragged it out, I’m not sure I
want to sell it.’
The jewel in the crown 0HWULFEROWVLQLPSHULDOKROHV)URQW
“I had come all this way, hired the trailer,
We naturally gravitate to the most brakes were new but weren’t what was so I pulled out his hand, put the cash in it,
spectacular item in the collection: the RQWKHFHUWLÀFDWLRQZKLFK\RXQHHG and said, ‘It’s on the loader; put it on my
T-bucket ’23 hot rod with its huge, LI\RX·UHJRLQJWRGULYHLWRQWKHURDG trailer, please.’ Very reluctantly he did,
gleaming supercharged V8 engine, When he realised how much needed and I drove off. It’s an Aveling and Porter,
enormous back tyres, and immaculate doing, he offered it to me for what he a British company that was the biggest
manufacturer of steamrollers in the world.
KLJKJORVVÀQLVK,WFDPHWRWKHP SDLGIRULW:HKDGFRQVROLGDWHGRXU
through a friend who had bought it house and workshops into this place, “The name rang a bell for me. I pulled up
WKURXJK)DFHERRN DQGKDGDELWRIVSDUHPRQH\VR,WRRN the pictures from my 2018 walk across
LWRQ northern Spain. Sure enough, there I
0DUW\H[SODLQV´:HERWKWKRXJKW
was sitting in a rusting steamroller in an
it was a good buy because it had been ´,WKRXJKW,·GGRRQHH[SHQVLYH
abandoned park outside Vilalba. I had
pieced together to look like a car but it WKLQJWKDW,FDQ·WGRP\VHOIDWDWLPH photographed the nameplate: No. 6566
ZDVQ·W3OHQW\RIWKHELWVGLGQ·WPDWFK VR,VWDUWHGE\KDYLQJWKHUDGLDWRU – Aveling & Porter Limited – Rochester,
Kent.”
Sourcing parts
“Maybe crack the world record. They Marty started combing the world for parts
and information. “I’ve met a lot of people
eventually got more than 50 of them because of this. A guy in Tasmania had a
together for the photograph” CD of 400 original drawings from Aveling

and Porter. They enabled me to make a
new horn plate, which I’ve welded on.
“I found one brand-new gear in Holland,

another in the UK on eBay. I had an
inspector look at the boiler. There were
a couple of bits he wasn’t happy with, so
I’ve had those repaired, through mates. I
found a guy in Christchurch who used to
own one, and he had a few bits and some
patterns he had used to make other parts,
so he onsold those to me and we’ve been
mates ever since.”
Marty found a headstock in the UK, and

shows me – an enormous piece of cast
iron inches thick. I point out that it must
cost a fortune to ship something like that.
“It would if I didn’t know someone,” he

says with a grin.
When I ask if he has all the bits he needs,

he concedes that lots of it is still missing.
“They’re out there, but you have to work

Marty and Zoe not quite ready to hit the town
on people to convince them that you’re the

The once and future
steamroller
“With the
I suggest that such a person might
then be tempted to sell it to a rich
freight and overseas buyer.
the GST, “I’d have to get to know them, know

what sort of a person they are.”
you’re talking This is a constant theme that seems
hundreds of to run through the steam community,
which clearly runs on values other than
thousands money, even though a fully restored
of dollars – working steam engine is as valuable as

an elite-marque car. In fact, as I listen to
not going to Marty, I realise that the glue that holds
New Zealand’s steam engines together is
happen” friendship. Marty vigorously concurs.
“If I get the roller up and running, well, if

I didn’t have a circle of friends who were
interested in that as well, to help me get it
going and help me use it, it’s kind of pointless,
because one person couldn’t run it down the
road on their own anyway. It’s similar with the
hot rods. It’s why I’ve never gone down the
Harley route. The only person you can share
the Harley thing with is another Harley owner.
My family would never want to own something
like the Falcon or the T-bucket, but they’ll
happily come for a ride to a restaurant in it and
really enjoy it. I can share that experience with
them, or a couple of mates.”
You want my bus?

All this had already taken years, and
meanwhile the owner of the steam bus had
been trying to sell it.
person that should have the parts that they
don’t really need in the first place. It can
Wait, we have another one “He kept harassing me about buying his
In fact, Marty will have more than enough bus, but I told him I now had a traction
take years. In some places these parts are
parts because the family from Gore heard a engine and was working on that. He would
worth really good money, and that’s often
rumour that there was another one buried ring around and everyone kept telling him
why they’re reluctant to let them go.
on the property. They located it, dug it up, that the only people in NZ who would want
“I started to get really frustrated, thinking and found it was exactly the same make this are Marty and Zoe.”
maybe I should get one that’s more and model; the deal was that Marty and Zoe
had to take that as well. It is now sitting in a They ended up getting the bus, but they had
complete, because there’s a chance that
container in their yard, but Marty knows his to take the whole thing.
this won’t get finished in my lifetime.”
limits. “Some friends with a trucking company
We walk across to the other side of the shed.
“That’s one project too far. I’d quite like to relocated it for us at a really good price, but
“So that’s where this one comes in.” it upset the neighbours because it blocked
get rid of that. The only interest I’ve had is
someone in the UK, and I don’t want to do up the forecourt.”
Now we are looking at another huge
convoluted lump of iron. that. I don’t want to be part of exporting Marty chopped it up for firewood and scrap
steam stuff out of New Zealand. The only metal, and now has enough bits to make a
“I tracked this Fowler traction engine down way it would come back would be to buy stationary traction engine, which he can put
to Gore in Southland. It was a project that it back, and a going traction engine in the on wheels to make it portable.
the owner had given up on. They pulled it to UK is twice what you’d get one for here.
bits then saw what a massive project it was With the freight and the GST, you’re talking So many parts, so many plans – where is all
so they bought one that was going, or nearly. hundreds of thousands of dollars – not this activity heading, I ask.
It’s fairly complete but rusty. going to happen.” “What I want to achieve this year is to get
“The water tank is rusted out but all the For people whose projects keep them one of these two boilers steamable.”
fixtures are there – the wrought iron work, permanently poor, this is a considerable
“Is that realistic?”
the brass fittings and decorative edges. I’ve show of loyalty.
just got to make a new water tank and put all “Well, we just have to say this is what we’re
“To be honest, I would gift that to someone
those bits on it.” doing and get on with it.”
who wanted to get it going and keep it in
Right. Just make a new water tank … New Zealand.” The Shed will be watching.

“Past the skeleton
doorman, up the stairs
to home sweet home”
“Hold it steady ...”
reconditioned and put it on the shelf. A much quicker than I expected. It also
mate did the gearbox in his spare time; hammered the budget. I’ve spent so
that takes longer but I wasn’t in any much money on it all. The other projects
hurry. Then in 2022, a friend pointed have been pushed back. It hasn’t helped
out that the next year was going to that the cost of automotive parts has
be the centenary of the 1923 Model T doubled, if not tripled, since Covid.”
Ford, on which these cars are based. He My cynicism leads me to conclude
was planning to get as many of them that, since so many companies went
together as he could for an event. Then to the wall, the lack of post-pandemic
Beach Hop said it was going to do the competition has led to ruthless
same, maybe crack the world record. SURÀWHHULQJEXW,FDQ·WJHWWKHHYHU
They eventually got more than 50 of generous Marty to agree.
them together for the photograph. “I guess the companies that survived
want to survive well,” is as far as he will go.
Budget blowout I ask how much of an original ’23 T is
We gave it a bloody good nudge; a lot in the car.
of friends came and helped, a mate did “None,” he replies.
the upholstery. In the end, we didn’t However, the car is registered and has
make it but it moved the project along its own plates, so how does he get a VIN
Step 1: the chassis

Five seconds of sheer terror!
when there’s no original car to measure

it by?
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Ya just know
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It’s a frame-up!
feel it in your bones when you’re driving The caravan

it, that no, we can do better than this.” We move on to another completed
“The seats, Considering that on a nearby back SURMHFWWKHH[TXLVLWHO\ÀQLVKHG
cupboards, URDG,ZRXOGVRRQH[SHULHQFHÀYH caravan.
seconds of sheer terror when Marty “Zoe was desperate to get a little
door frame, EULHÁ\SODQWHGKLVIRRWWRWKHÁRRU, 10-foot caravan, something a bit older
etc. are what wonder what better might look like. with a bit of style. Did no research,
Later, back leaning over the beloved saw it on Trade Me and bought it for
stiffen the Camaro, Marty tells me that the KXQGUHGEXFNVXQÀQLVKHGSURMHFW
thing” responsible thing to do would be to How hard could it be? Well, it can be
sell it. quite hard, apparently.
“But you’d sell the T-bucket, surely? “We brought it from Te Awamutu
This Chevy is your dream car.” on a trailer, and it was already falling
“Yeah, but I’m still not happy with it. to bits when we got here because the
I couldn’t sell something I’m not happy timber frame was all rotten. We got
with.” into the interior and started ripping
everything out. We thought it was
like a house – just get in there, tear it
all out – but we soon realised that all
WKDWLQWHULRUÀWRXWLVZKDWJLYHVWKH
caravan its structural integrity. The
seats, cupboards, door frame, etc. are
what stiffen the thing, and, thanks to
the rotten frame, it started to collapse.
“It sat in a corner for six months
while I packed a sad over the fact that
we’d bought a lemon. But I’m so tight
I couldn’t bring myself to write off all
that money. So we took it all apart,
carefully preserving the tin parts,
which were nailed onto the wooden
Spreading the joy at Beach Hop
frame. Getting the nails out was a bit in bits, we could reverse engineer how
tricky, so I used an angle grinder with a they made it in the factory. We beefed
worn-out stone to take the heads off and up parts that made it better; the factory
popped the aluminium over the nails. It was trying to make it cheaply but I
was the least destructive way of getting wanted it as strong and as hard-wearing
it off. Moving the roof in one section as possible.
meant I had to get a group of mates “We laid it out slightly differently,
around to move it every time, but that’s the way we wanted it, mainly to work
what you have good friends for. I got a around a fridge because it never had
bit carried away and made a whole new one. It has two on-board batteries that
frame. You can’t use H3 or H4 because it you can plug into a solar panel. It’s all
will react with the aluminium, so I used set up with its own everything – towels,
boric treated. It’s only 20x30mm pine. toiletries, cooking utensils, plates, etc.
So, to go away in it, you just pack the
No knots clothes you need for the trip and it’s a
“We bought a whole lot of ceiling home away from home.”
battens, ran them through a bench saw,
and picked all the best bits, because you Cuppa Zo
can’t have a single knot in it. The door The coffee cart sitting next to the
and window frames are original, one caravan is not a Radford project but has
cupboard, too, and a couple of cupboard the trademark high Radford shine.
doors. We used the aluminium sides 0DUW\ÀWWHGLWRXWZLWKDJHQHUDWRU
to make a jig to make a new wooden liberating it from the need to use
side frame. I made a big MDF table the designated powered sites. ‘Cuppa Zo’
size of the caravan, and steam-formed can go anywhere, and does – The Trusts
the framing onto the rim. With it all Arena in Henderson, where Zoe has a
Good looks not just on the outside

She also acts in TV commercials or as
an extra – performance is in her blood.
Her father, Dave Sheridan, is an old
performing mate of mine, his street-
show strongman act a major crowd draw
LQKLVGD\,VXVSHFWWKHUH·VDJHQHIRU
showing off and Zoe has it in spades.
Mr Sooty
All this has to be paid for. Marty is on
contract to MOTAT, sometimes for as
little as 10 hours a week and sometimes
as much as 60.
´7KDW·VRQWRSRIP\YROXQWHHULQJ
7KLV6XQGD\,·OOEHGULYLQJWKHWUDLQ
DOWKRXJK,RQO\GRWKDWZKHQWKHUH·V
a gap in the roster. Some guys only
ZDQWWRGULYHDQG,GRQ·WZDQWWRWDNH
that from them. I prefer the behind-
the-scenes stuff, making sure the
Arrrr mateys!! The Cuppa Zo pirates mechanicals are all working properly.”
Zoe, who has no mechanical skills,
part-time admin job, MOTAT, car club has all the comforts and you can get the does more than her share in bringing
meets, Beach Hop, anywhere. Since parts, which is why I did a lot of work LQWKHFDVK:KHQVKH·VQRWEHKLQGD
HYHU\WKLQJKDVWRKDYHWKH¶ÀUP·V· on these when I was working on the GHVNDWWKH$UHQDVKH·VRIIVRPHZKHUH
trademark, it is hooked onto a beautiful, imports. We made a lot of money out of shifting the coffee, putting on a show. In
VN\EOXH&KHY\SLFNXSDQ·ZLWKD· these trucks.” a short period before last Christmas, she
grille. Cuppa Zo is never just about coffee ran through 24kg of beans – all to stay
´,W·VQRWDFODVVLF\HWEXWLWJRHVWRFDU DQGVQDFNVLW·VDOZD\VDVKRZZLWKD poor but revel in the love of their lives:
VKRZVVWLOOTXLWHFROOHFWLEOH,W·VJRWDLU WKHPH²IDLULHVSLUDWHVURFN·Q·UROO big, shiny motor cars with huge motors.
con, electric windows, power steering,” =RH·VPDWHVRIWHQWXUQXSLQFRVWXPHWR And steam engines?
Marty explains. “Zoe wanted an older create an event. ´1RQRWDWDOO7KDW·V0DUW\·VWKLQJ,
truck to go with the cart but I said, ‘You “I like to make people smile,” Zoe GRQ·WZDQWWRVKRYHOFRDO0DUW\FRPHV
UHDOO\GRQ·WWKH\·UHMXVWROGWUXFNV·7KLV says. home looking like a chimney.”
Badges of honour

A Brilliant Shine Every Time.
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Find Your Local Stockist at www.hobeca.co.nz

The versatile wooden pallet
MAKING
SOMETHING OUT
OF NOTHING AT ALL Among their many other uses, unwanted timber pallets make
great wind-breaks, plant shelters, and compost bins
By Andrew Broxholme
Photographs: Andrew Broxholme
The first iteration of the

compost bin structure had three
bays; the cat is just curious

When we first moved to our lifestyle block, there wasn’t
a single tree or shrub – or a house, for that matter
bout eight months ago, the where to put them – they needed to be
A groundworks contractor that

rented my yard went out of
business. Among the many things left
protected from both wind and overly
hot days. In about a day, I built a very
simple plant shelter using pallets
“I added a
basic frame
behind were dozens of wooden pallets screwed together to form a base. On top
– some in good condition, some not so of this I added a basic frame and draped and draped
great. I do hate waste, but it’s not always it with thick, wind-break material. It it with thick,
easy to use them as anything other than, KDVEHHQXSIRUÀYH\HDUVDQGKDVVWRRG
well, pallets, unless you get creative. up to some really bad weather. We are wind-break
The timber isn’t high quality. If the trying to empty it but keep buying more material. It
pallets have been outside, the nails will plants, and somehow haven’t found the
be rusty; the nails are also ribbed, so time to build a greenhouse and a proper has been up
they don’t come out cleanly and will potting shed yet. IRUÀYH\HDUV
leave large, rust-stained, ragged holes.
The timber is rarely treated, so the
and has stood
bottom planks will rot if left in direct up to some
contact with the soil. That said, I’ve
made good use of pallets on my lifestyle
UHDOO\EDG
property. Before I get into the most weather”
VLJQLÀFDQWSURMHFWOHW·VORRNDWVRPH
things I have repurposed them for (or
upcycled, to use the latest lingo).
We had dozens of trees and shrubs
ZLWKXVLQSRWVXQWLOZHÀJXUHGRXW

Three pallets screwed
together around a young tree
will break the wind nicely
I built a lot of tree shelters using pallets contain the mulch around the tree and
as a base. They are easy to attach ties protect it from careless use of a mower.
“By then have to, to stop the sapling from being beaten The regular rain through the early
done their up in the wind. After a few years they summer, interspersed with lots of sunny
tend to rot at the bottom, but by then days, in my local Whakatane area meant
job and can have done their job and can be broken that I have struggled to keep ahead of the
be broken up up and burned. The little one above was weeds and long grass around the edges of
cut down from the original and is helping our property.
and burned”
Three good-sized
screws down
the frame – top,
bottom, and middle
– are more than
enough
Compost bin not big enough?

Just add another section or two

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I’ve been experimenting with making ,OHIWQDUURZJDSVWRDOORZDLU
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you are
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weeds and grass in a big heap and
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there seems
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thing as a
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The fourth bay almost ready to go

Composting under
way; the first two bins
starting to break down
“We had
two garage
sales before
Christmas
and needed
a temporary
table”
Something a bit different
We had two garage sales before creative use of an old toilet. I turned
Christmas and needed a temporary the bath upside down and built a
table. I grabbed some partially broken simple frame from 75x50mm timber,
and rotted pallets and one long one and which was then clad in some old but
assembled this temporary structure. serviceable galvanised iron. It’s just
Covered in cardboard from some been moved to a new location. As we
appliance boxes, it did a great job used good-quality paint on the steel, it
2XUÀQDOELWRIXSF\FOLQJLQYROYHG was a quick job to give it a fresh coat.
our old steel bath – removed when It’s now ready to be used for growing
we renovated our bathroom – and the our herbs.
Our herb garden

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Electronics
Chinese microcontroller enables computer learning in a number of languages

By Mark Beckett
Naomi Wu at Elecrow during development

Calliope, showing connections around outside
have to admit that I was rather late to Language options

I the party with this device, which was
introduced in late 2017.
Readers may have heard of the BBC
According to Elecrow, “The sino:bit
is a single-board microcontroller
designed for computer education in
“Of greater
VLJQLÀFDQFH
micro:bit (The Shed July–August 2018), China. It is based on the Calliope mini
which was developed to enable UK with permission of the Calliope mini is that this
schoolchildren to learn coding. It was
cloned by Calliope, with added features
SURMHFW:KLOHVHYHUDOPRGLÀFDWLRQVDUH
SODQQHGWKHÀUVWZDVWRXSJUDGHWKH
LVWKHÀUVW
and on-board hardware. Then came the LED matrix from 5×5 to 12×12. This FHUWLÀHG
sino:bit.
The Elecrow website states: “The
allows for support of Chinese, Japanese,
Hindi, Arabic, and other non-Latin
RSHQVRXUFH
sino:bit was created by Naomi Wu, an character based languages. Without this, KDUGZDUH
open-source hardware evangelist and the vast majority of the world’s children
from China”
DIY enthusiast. It was executed and FDQQRWH[SHULHQFHWKHWKULOORIWKDWÀUVW
engineered by Elecrow Technology, a ‘Hello World’ in their own language.”
Shenzhen-based electronics company
that offers contract manufacturing Similar to micro:bit
and engineering services to maker and I purchased a couple of sino:bits
hardware enthusiasts.” from Elecrow. With shipping and the
Naomi made the challenge more exchange rate included, they work out
GLIÀFXOWIRU(OHFURZE\FRPPXQLFDWLQJ to be a similar price to the latest BBC
only in English, as if she were a micro:bit (which has extra features)
westerner collaborating with a Chinese from a local retailer.
manufacturer. 7KHÀUVWWKLQJWKDWVWULNHV\RXLVWKH
2IJUHDWHUVLJQLÀFDQFHLVWKDWWKLVLV size. The sino:bit is more than twice
WKHÀUVWFHUWLÀHGRSHQVRXUFHKDUGZDUH the size of the micro:bit, which is not
IURP&KLQDKWWSVFHUWLÀFDWLRQRVKZD a bad thing when you’re dealing with
org/cn000001.html students.

Micro:bit showing close
proximity of connections
´7KHÀUVW
WKLQJWKDW
VWULNHV\RXLV
WKHVL]Hµ
us/makecode), Arduino, or MicroPython

(https://tdicola.github.io/sinobit-
micropython/editor/editor.html). Many
of the links and libraries seem to involve
the work of Adafruit (Limor Fried), a big
advocate of open source and the maker
community.
Adding sino:bit into the Arduino
The micro:bit has three connections IDE is a matter of following the well-
that students connect to, using alligator documented guide at Adafruit: https://
clips. Both the Calliope and sino:bit learn.adafruit.com/sino-bit-with-arduino/
increased the number and moved them dastels-overview
to the perimeter to prevent shorting. This Once it is installed, you can see all the
is important in a classroom situation, examples and try a few yourself.
as a student may not understand why
their device is not working, or how it Custom images
was damaged simply by a slip of the If you wish to create and display custom
connection. images, there is a very useful html editor
Resources To access more of the hardware LQWKHVLQRELWVRXUFHÀOHV<RXVLPSO\
https://github.com/sinobitorg
features, the sino:bit has a standard 0.1 click the squares and copy the result into
https://github.com/tdicola/ pitch connection. This eliminates the need your code.
sinobit-micropython/releases for expensive add-on boards and gives I have no plans to use this
https://learn.adafruit.com/ greater control to the user. microcontroller, and the purpose of the
sino-bit-with-arduino/dastels- article is to bring it to the attention of
overview Programming readers and educators looking to include
As with the micro:bit, you can program students who may not be native English
the sino:bit using Microsoft MakeCode speaking, or who need a larger display
(https://www.microsoft.com/en- than the micro:bit offers.
Sino:bit front
Sino:bit rear,
with AA battery
to show size
B YOUR C O PY
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Shelby M us nghame.
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For a fully illus .co.nz
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Chris Gordon keeps busy – Part 2
Chris Gordon and his engines

A USE FOR
LEFTOVER FORGED
CRANKS
For most of us, building or restoring a motorcycle would be a mammoth
undertaking. Not so Chris Gordon – he decided to build three
By Ritchie Wilson
Photographs: Ritchie Wilson
he story of Chris Gordon Chris ended up with a number of forged onto a hexagonal housing on the crank.
T making a seatless tricycle from

components inexpensively
sourced from Christchurch’s EcoShop
cranks. Originally, these cranks would
have transmitted the push on the bike’s
pedals to the chain and then to the back
This makes a strong attachment between
the crank and the chain wheel.
Chris naturally thought, “This is a
was related in part 1 of “Chris Gordon wheel. The chain is driven by the chain neat arrangement; I wonder what else
keeps busy” – The Shed, issue 113. wheel, a sprocket with a diameter of a bit it could be used for.” With his extensive
A consequence of buying several less than 200mm, which has a hexagonal- background in motorcycles, he didn’t take
second-hand children’s bicycles was that VKDSHGFHQWUDORSHQLQJWKDWÀWVQHDWO\ long to come up with the answer.
Exposed valve gear is

typical of early engines.
The brass tube on top of
the head directs drips
of oil to the rockers and
the timing chain. In a
late development, Chris
has decided to enclose
some of the chain’s run
in wooden-lined tubes

The three engines; the engine stands were made from aluminium and steel tube from Chris Gordon’s scrap bin
A trio of motorcycles suppliers (pistons and cylinders,

For many years, Chris has had the carburettor and ignition components).
idea of making a trio of early racing The engines are all OHC, with the “Sourced from
motorcycles, two having twin-cylinder valve gear exposed – as was usual in
engines; the other, a single cylinder. the early days of motorcycle racing.
vintage car
After 18 months of work, he has just The rockers, which push the valves swap meets”
completed the engines and is seriously downwards against the valve spring,
thinking about his next move. and the chain, which turns the
The engine components come from camshaft, are oiled from a tube Chris
four general sources: swap meets (spark made, which runs horizontally across
plugs, carburettors, ignition cases); local the top of the engine’s head. The small
foundries (crankcases, crankshaft discs, brass oil reservoir, which is braised to Rocker, valves, and plugs
valve gear supports, heads); mainland one end of the tube, was sourced, like The rockers (from Lifan) and the
China (valves, rockers, oil reservoirs, many of the components used in the valves (copies of Honda CF250 scooter
sight glasses); and automotive parts project, from AliExpress. valves) also came from AliExpress. Each
cylinder has two spark plugs, as the
only positions available for a spark plug
were off to the sides of the four-valve
cylinder head, which may have been
OHVVWKDQRSWLPDOIRUHIÀFLHQWEXUQLQJ
of the fuel/air mixture had there only
been one plug. Chris’s solution was
to have two spark plugs, one on each
side of the head. The plugs are ancient
items – Champion C5s – designed to be
disassembled for cleaning. They were
sourced from vintage car swap meets,
and have been machined to allow a
small modern plug (also from China) to
be hidden inside.
The 92mm-diameter pistons and
PDWFKLQJF\OLQGHUVFRPHIURPWKHÀUVW
air-cooled Volkswagen Beetle, designed
by Ferdinand Porsche, and were
One of the V-twin
purchased new.
engines; the central
sprocket is from a
90 The Shed 114 April/May 2024 child’s bicycle
Tube bending
Chris made the inlet manifold and
exhaust pipes using tube bent by
an Auckland company. This was a
challenging job because the tube was
1¹/8th-inch in diameter and had to be
bent to tight radii.
Large forces are involved in this type
of operation. Chris has made a powerful
tube bender that could do the job, and
had mandrels (which sit inside the tube
as it is bent to stop it from collapsing)
WKDWÀWWHGWKHWXEHEXWZLWKD1HZ
Zealand company that had recently
developed the capacity to do the job,
he paid to have it done. The other
part of the inlet manifold is a common
7MXQFWLRQSOXPELQJÀWWLQJZKLFK
was machined on Chris’s large milling
The single-cylinder engine; a Fairbanks-
Morse magneto case is next to the engine PDFKLQHWRÀWWKHWXEHVZKLFKZHUH
then brazed into place.
The nuts holding the

crankcase sides together are
modern items; they may be
replaced with larger ones for a
more authentic look. Note the
Holley NH carburettor and the
engine’s immaculate finish

The pattern for one of the crankshaft’s discs; A pattern for the
Chris Gordon’s symbol – a G-shaped arrow – is crankshaft disc
cast into the discs and the crankcase and its shaft
A crankshaft disc pattern

with a crank pin; the
discolouration of the pin is a
result of heat treatment
Wooden patterns made

by Chris Gordon for the
aluminium crankcases

The jig used to keep A crankcase showing
the crank’s shaft two brass crankcase
square to the crank breathers and two
disc as it is pressed sight glasses, which
into position show the oil level
The jig used to Chris Gordon’s

hold the crank stylised G cast
discs in position as into one of the
the crankshaft’s crankcase’s
components are sides
pressed together;
a force of nine
tonnes is needed
Patterns in wood of two discs connected by a crankpin,

Chris has previously built a single- ZKLFKLVDSUHVVÀWLQKROHVLQWKHGLVFV
“For the cylinder engine for his replica board- These were cast in steel by CanCast
three latest track racer (The Shed, issue 77, March- in Washdyke from Chris’s patterns and
April 2018). It used the crankcase, then machined by him. A Christchurch
engines, Chris crankshaft, and connecting rod from a HQJLQHHULQJÀUPZLWKPXFKH[SHULHQFH
has made JAP (JA Prestwich Industries Ltd) engine, with built-up motorcycle crankshafts
probably from the 1920s or ’30s. then pressed the components together.
the patterns For the three latest engines, Chris has Nine tonnes of force was required
for the made the patterns for the crankcase in for the crankpin to be pushed into
wood, using his milling machine, and its housing. To ensure that it went in
crankcase in had them cast in LM25 aluminium alloy squarely, two heavy jigs were machined
wood, using by the Mecca Group foundry in Woolston. up by the company. One was a short
The aluminium castings were then section of very heavy walled steel pipe
his milling heat treated to make them harder; the opened out so that the crank discs were
machine” hardened and tempered cast aluminium DYHU\VQXJÀWDQGWKHRWKHUZDVDKHIW\
machines better. The crankshaft, in steel block with a hole just larger than
typical motorcycle fashion, consists the diameter of the hardened pin.
Above: The wooden pattern for the head of the board-track

racer’s engine (left) and an unfinished cast iron head (right)
Left: Chris has previously built a single-cylinder engine for his

replica board-track racer (The Shed, issue 77, March-April 2018)

A forged, one-
piece crank
from a child’s
bicycle – the
object that
started the
whole project
A camshaft driving
sprocket and chain
Alignment crankpin. One rod’s big end straddles

Together, the two jigs ensure that the the other, both having the same contact
“The advantage pin is kept square and the two discs in area with the pin. This means that
alignment, as the large hydraulic press three separate roller bearings are
of the two exerted its force until the pin’s shoulder needed – two narrow and one wider.
cranks turning grounded on the disc. The connecting The advantage of the two cranks
on the same rods are one-piece forgings, so have

to be in position, complete with their
turning on the same journal is that the
two cylinders can be in the same plane
journal is big-end roller bearings, as the two crank rather than staggered.
that the two discs are pushed together. The aligning

À[WXUHKDVDFXWRXWPLOOHGLQRQHVLGHWR Electrical current
cylinders allow the two crankshafts to poke out as Back in the 1920s, this type of engine
can be in the the crank is pushed together. would have had a magneto to generate
The crank turns in ball main bearings, the spark at the spark plugs, thereby
same plane which are located in housings in the eliminating the need for a battery.
rather than crankcase. The crank turns in the main A magneto has a magnet that rotates
bearings, which are located in housings LQVLGHQHDWO\ZRXQGÀHOGZLQGLQJV
staggered” in the crankcase. producing a current in the windings
The connecting rods are Ultima 4130 by electromagnetic induction. This
chromoly H-beam after-market Harley- current is conducted through the
Davidson, and both connect to the single primary windings of a coil which acts
Left: Sprockets and chain on the single-cylinder

engine; the castellated nut, at top left, is an old-
stock item sourced at a vintage car swap meet

The brass oil reservoirs on each of the heads lubricate the
rocker gear and the chain; the Fairbanks-Morse magneto
case’s new cap is from the Brillman Company
A magneto case in original condition; Chris The eight-lobed reluctor wheel, which controls the A Fairbanks-Morse magneto case in
Gordon has collected a box full of the devices Hall-effect ignition system on the V-twin engine as-found condition
as a transformer, converting a small WXUQV ZLQGLQJV LQWKHVHFRQGDU\

primary voltage into a much larger ZLQGLQJVLVDFRXSOHRIRUGHUVRI
voltage. At precise points in the PDJQLWXGHJUHDWHUWKDQWKHQXPEHU “A magneto for
engine’s rotation a cam opens a set of LQWKHSULPDU\ZLQGLQJVWKHYROWDJH
points that acts as a switch, cutting the of the new current is large enough to
a multi-cylinder
current to the coil. cause an electrical arc to jump across engine needs
7KHPDJQHWLFÀHOGSURGXFHGE\WKH
FXUUHQWLQWKHFRLO·VSULPDU\ZLQGLQJV
the spark plug’s air gap, igniting the
petrol/air mixture. A magneto for a
to produce
collapses as a result, which causes PXOWLF\OLQGHUHQJLQHQHHGVWRSURGXFH sparks more
²DJDLQE\LQGXFWLRQ²DFXUUHQWWR
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VSDUNVPRUHIUHTXHQWO\DQGPXVWKDYH
DGLVWULEXWRUWRGLUHFWWKHFXUUHQWWR
frequently”
ZLQGLQJV%HFDXVHWKHQXPEHURI the appropriate spark plug.

Keeping the lights on engine as an upgrade. They were still
The ignition systems on Chris’s motors being made until the middle of last
“The twin- look like pre-WWII magnetos; indeed century. The number that Chris has seen
the case and distributor cap come from over the years suggests that they were
cylinder old industrial motors’ magnetos, which ÀWWHGWRHQJLQHVWKDWZHUHFRPPRQLQ
engine’s rotor Chris has bought at swap meets over the New Zealand; perhaps locally made
years. He has a box of them. stationary engines used them, such as
has eight lobes, The ones he buys are made by the Mason and Porter or Anderson.
arranged in Fairbanks-Morse Company (founded
four pairs, so in 1823 – 200 years ago) for its range Pluses and minuses
of IC engines. The company, famous Magnetos have the advantage that they
each rotation for producing diesel engines for the US don’t require a battery, because they
of the rotor Navy’s submarines, 130 or so years ago

was a leading maker of the windmills
generate their own electricity, but they
also have the disadvantage that the
produces eight that produced electricity for the isolated spark they produce at low revolutions
sparks” homes of vast numbers of American is relatively weak, making starting

farmers. harder. Chris has replaced the internals
The problem with the wind as an of the Fairbanks-Morse magnetos with
energy source is that it doesn’t always a modern Hall effect electronic ignition
blow, even in windy parts of the world. system coupled with an ignition module
Fairbanks-Morse began to produce from a Yamaha XV250 ‘cruiser’ (a
petrol engines that could turn the V-twin with the same 60-degree V-angle
farmer’s electrical generator, keeping as Chris’s twin-cylinder engines). This
the lights on when the air was still. will be discreetly located on the frames
These engines had magnetos made by of the bikes, along with a small battery.
Below: The Hall-effect ignition the company that were highly regarded The heart of the system is a rotor that
system fits neatly between the two
DQGRIWHQÀWWHGWRRWKHUPDNHVRI turns at one-quarter engine speed.
cylinders on the V-twin engine

Hall-effect
electronic ignition
In 1879, a young American physicist,
Edwin Hall, discovered the effect that
carries his name. The Hall effect generates
a small voltage in a thin conductor (or
semiconductor) that is in a magnetic
field perpendicular to an electric current
flowing through the conductor. The voltage
generated is at right angles to both the
original current and the field.
This discovery was important, not only

because the Hall effect is used in a wide
variety of modern electronic devices, but
also because it was evidence that the things
making up an electric current passing
through metals had a negative – rather
than a positive – electrical charge. This was
nearly 20 years before the discovery of the
The large brass nuts that fasten the inlet (negatively charged) electron, which today
manifold to the cylinder head are plumbing items is accepted as being the charge carrier of
electrical currents passing through metal
conductors.
On the single-cylinder engine, this ZKLFKÀWWHGDKH[DJRQDORSHQLQJLQ
The electron was discovered in 1897 by Sir
rotor has four iron lobes, each of which the bicycle’s chain-wheel, held securely
Joseph Thomson while he was experimenting
triggers a spark at the engine’s spark in place by a threaded ring. It was this with cathode ray tubes (CRTs). Cathode rays
plug. The twin-cylinder engine’s rotor neat connection between the chain- – a stream of electrons in a vacuum – are
has eight lobes, arranged in four pairs, wheel and the shaft that got Chris now called beta radiation. The non-flat-
so each rotation of the rotor produces thinking about how to make the three screen TVs of last century used CRTs.
eight sparks. The rotor, a transistor- HQJLQHVLQWKHÀUVWSODFH:KHQKH
Hall voltage
controlled (TC) module, the coil, and noticed that the modern arrangement The theory is that as the electrons of an
the distributor are crammed into the was so superior to the old method – electric current flow through a piece of
magneto case. Chris sourced new where the bicycle’s two pedals were metal, which is held between the poles of
Fairbanks-Morse distributor caps and attached to the bottom bracket’s a magnet, the electrons are deflected by
suitable braided spark plug wire from axle by over-stressed cotter pins – he a force, called the Lorentz force, which
the Brillman Company in the US. WKRXJKWWRKLPVHOI´:KDWFDQ,XVH is at right angles to both the current and
the magnetic field between the magnet’s
this for?” The answer, perhaps not
poles. The consequence is that electrons
Clever thinking obvious, was to use it in an ignition accumulate along one side of the metal,
The shaft that turns the rotor is from system for V-twin and single-cylinder giving it a negative charge compared to the
the one-piece forged crank of a child’s motorcycle engines. The sprocket and opposite side. If the two sides are connected
bicycle, which Chris straightened. shaft are turned by the chain, which to a voltmeter, a voltage – called the Hall
The crank has a hexagonal projection, also drives the camshafts. voltage – will be detected. This voltage is
constant as long as the current and the
magnetic field are unchanged.
A modern spark plug flanked by two antique examples;
Chris hides the modern plug inside an old one
The magnetic field is reduced if a ferro-
magnetic object, such as a piece of iron
or steel, moves closely past the magnet,
causing the Hall voltage to reduce. This
change in the Hall voltage is used in
electronic ignition systems to trigger a high-
voltage current to a spark plug. The piece
of steel that affects the magnetic field is on
a rotor, sometimes called a reluctor wheel,
which turns with the engine. The overall
result is that fat sparks are reliably generated
at the appropriate time in the engine’s cycle.
Hall-effect ignition has the advantage over

the old points and capacitor ignition systems
that preceded it in that it doesn’t suffer from
wear or contamination and, in theory at
least, should operate faultlessly for the life of
the engine.

The Holley NH carburettor was original equipment on Henry
Ford’s Model T
A refurbished Reprinted
Holley NH manual for
carburettor the carbs
Carburation GHFDGHV%HFDXVHRIWKHYHU\ODUJH
The carburettors used on all the QXPEHURI0RGHO7VVWLOORQWKHURDG
“Reconditioning engines are Holley NHs, as were comprehensive reconditioning kits
kits are available RULJLQDOO\ÀWWHGWR0RGHO7)RUGV&KULV are available relatively cheaply from
has a box of these (13 in fact) that $PHULFDQVXSSOLHUVVXFKDV/DQJ·V2OG
relatively KHKDVERXJKWDWVZDSPHHWV$SDUW &DU3DUWV
cheaply” from being fairly common and period The overhead camshaft’s sprockets
correct, they are made of cast iron, are driven by a bicycle half-link
so haven’t deteriorated as aluminium FKDLQ7KHVSURFNHWVZHUHODVHUFXWE\
carburettors tend to do after a few &KULVWFKXUFKFRPSDQ\$XWREHQG
The comprehensive reconditioning kit available for the

Holley NH carburettor from Lang’s Old Car Parts
The inlet manifold is made from

tightly bent, large-diameter
tube – only one NZ company
98 The Shed 114 April/May 2024 (besides Chris Gordon) can
bend this tube to these radii
Double-pitch chain, used today to drive conveyor belts, could be
used to connect the engine to a gearbox and the back wheel
Nuts and studs

There are some metric threads in the
engines, but the vast majority are UNC
– which, in America in the early years
of last century, would have been called
SAE (Society of Automotive Engineers).
The engines are held together by
studs and nuts. The brass nuts are 5/16-
inch UNC automotive manifold nuts,
and look the part. Chris thinks that the
steel UNC nuts he has used elsewhere
on the engines may be replaced with
QXWVWKDWÀWWKHVWXGVEXWKDYHODUJHU cylinders are plumbing components,
external dimensions, to resemble possibly locally made. The brass oil
more closely the size of nuts used on glasses, oil reservoirs, oil caps, and “Consequently,
motorcycles of the WWI era. He may crankcase breathers all come from China. larger nuts
have to make these nuts himself.
The reason the nuts and bolts used to What will the engines look more
have relatively larger hexagonal heads be used for? authentic”
is because in the past weaker material Chris is keen on motorcycles. He has built
was used to make these fasteners. As a V8-engined racing bike and a replica
stronger steels came into use, the size 1920s single-cylinder board-track racer.
of fasteners could be reduced and, He also used to campaign a successful
particularly, the size of the hexagonal 125cc MotoGP bike on which rider
head could be smaller. Consequently, Dennis Charlett won the 1998–1999 NZ
larger nuts look more authentic. The Championship. It is probable that at least
large brass nuts that hold the inlet one of the V-twin engines will end up in a
manifolds and the exhausts onto the replica old-time racing bike frame.
The drip-feed (also called total loss) oiling system for the engine’s chain
made by Chris; the brass oil caps are from China

“In England,
between the
two world wars,
cyclecars were
the basis for
many amateur-
built ‘specials’,
which competed
in famous hill
Cyclecars climbs”
In some European countries, in the 1912 Bédélia BD-2 Cyclecar
early years of last century, motorcars
were taxed annually, with smaller
capacity engines attracting a lower The suggestion that a WWI-era into a period wooden crate, just as if it
tax. This encouraged hundreds of cyclecar, like the famous GN, would be had been discovered after being long
manufacturers, from about 1910, a use for one of the engines has been forgotten in the back of an old bike shop,
to build two-seater cars powered by
suggested by a couple of acquaintances, or hidden under debris in the proverbial
small air-cooled single-cylinder or
but Chris is unconvinced. Perhaps better barn.
V-twin engines, often sourced from
motorcycles. Final drive was usually by than anyone else in this country, Chris
belt or chain, and the bodywork was is aware of the work required to make The engines’ finish
rudimentary. a rideable motorbike, such as his 500cc Chris Gordon takes great pains with the
They were called cyclecars because GP bike, or his replica board-tracker; it ÀQLVKRIWKHWKLQJVKHPDNHV7ZRRI
they were an amalgam of motorcycle would be a major time commitment. the three engines are being cleaned and
and car engineering. There was a boom Another consideration is that painted so that they look new; as if they
in the manufacturing of cyclecars after Christchurch’s vibrant post-earthquake were fresh from the factory. The second
WWI, but the introduction of low-priced motorcycle scene, which included well- V-twin will have the appearance of an
vehicles from large companies such as attended beach races and regular but engine that has had little care since it
Peugeot (the Quadrilette) and Austin
unpublicised suburban bike exhibitions, was built 100 years ago. Chris thinks that
(the Austin Seven and its continental
replicas) eventually killed most of appears to be contracting back to one of producing an aged patina on the ‘old’
them off. Exceptions were Morgan in its sources: Johnny Moore’s Smash Palace HQJLQHLVPRUHGLIÀFXOWWKDQPDNLQJLW
England, which is still making cars, inner-city bar, with its Thursday-night look new as, except for the carburettor
and Amilcar in France, which lasted bike nights. and magneto case, the engines are new.
until the occupation of France by the The possible venues to show off In issue 115 of The Shed, June/July
Wehrmacht. a V-twin racer in the future may be 2024, you can read part 3 of ‘Chris
Some of the lightweight cyclecars limited. Gordon keeps busy’ – Gordon goes
had quite powerful engines, so could One of the engines may be packaged electric!
produce performances that were,
for the time, respectable. In 1920,
a Cyclecar GP was held at Le Mans.
In England, between the two world
wars, cyclecars were the basis for
many amateur-built ‘specials’, which
competed in famous hill climbs such
as Shelsley Walsh and Prescott, among
other venues.
The most successful Shelsley special

was Basil Davenport’s Spider. Based on
a GN cyclecar, it had a wooden chassis,
V-twin engine, and chain drive to a
solid back axle. Davenport achieved
the fastest time at Shelsley, against
all comers – including the racing
1919 AV Cyclecar
departments of large manufacturers –
manufactured by
no fewer than seven times. Ward and Avey

The Shed shrink
TIME IS ON
Time: the precious gift that we so often forget to value

By Mark Seek
markseek@rocketmail.com
Downtime
What about the rest of us? I found
myself watching a doco on The New
Yorker YouTube channel – yes, I had
some downtime between carving
the Christmas turkey and New Year
festivities – and felt it could provide me
with material for my own side hustle:
The Shed shrink 2024.
The documentary introduced several
middle-aged Americans who found
themselves digging for diamonds
amongst the remains of a volcanic
plateau (Crater of Diamonds, Arkansas).
The park has been open to DIY diamond
hunters since the early 1970s. Sadly,
most go home empty handed to
mundane lives.
I sat in my recliner watching these
folk and thinking to myself: “Is this a
good use of their time?” Obviously, I
can’t answer that, but I wonder if these
modern-day miners with their buckets
The Stones last contribution to vinyl? and spades had any other place to be.
he Rolling Stones released the
T single Time is on my Side in

1964, and to be quite honest, I
can’t think of anything more prophetic
Diamond seekers
for the current trio with their

combined age of somewhere near 240
years. It would appear that time has
been something these old chaps have
managed to slow with their appetite
for life.
Hackney Diamonds is their latest
album release, and it could quite
possibly be the last of some 31 studio
albums created by these elder statesmen
of rock ’n’ roll. Promoted with much
‘Stoneseque’ fanfare, it is somewhat
tinged with a bit of sadness for die-hard
fans of Charlie Watts (RIP).

Why? Things to consider Six aspects of
7KHÀOPPDNHUOLNHPHZDVFXULRXV 7KHVLGHSDQHOOLVWVVHYHUDODVSHFWVRI resilience, for
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• Vision: Vision is about your
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sense of purpose, goals, and
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• Composure: The ability to
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maintain your composure in
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all situations;
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FDPHUDZDVUROOLQJLWEHFDPHREYLRXV QRZRUVRPHWLPHLQWKHIXWXUH • Reasoning: Be resourceful;
see opportunity in change;
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DQGG\VIXQFWLRQDORQJZLWKKHDOWKLVVXHV IRUXVDOOWRPDQDJHRXUWLPHHIIHFWLYHO\ • Tenacity: Creativity, and
DQG«ZHOO\RXJHWWKHSLFWXUH0D\EH WRORRNIRUQHZZD\VWRFRQWULEXWHWRRXU innovative problem solving;
QRWGHVSHUDWHEXWFOHDUO\ORRNLQJIRU FRPPXQLW\WRWHDFKVRPHVNLOOVWRWKRVH • Collaboration: We are social
WKDWELJMDFNSRWDJLIWIURPWKHJRGV ZKRVKRZDQLQWHUHVWLQRXUKREELHV beings, so support and be
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WKHLUSUHGLFDPHQW HVSHFLDOO\WKRVHHDJHUEXWZKRKDYH • Health: Enjoy quality sleep,
3HUVRQDOO\,KDYHEHFRPHLQFUHDVLQJO\ OLPLWHGUHVRXUFHV regular exercise, and healthy
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To hell with the hustle

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Cool little paperback
Safety in the shed
The sound that no one else can hear

By Ritchie Wilson
ne of the things guitar legend in the shed and going to rock concerts.
O Eric Clapton and I have in

common is tinnitus. Eric blames
the years he spent in the band Cream,
I should have been much more careful
about ear protection.
“I should
have been
much more
playing in front of the bass speakers of How the ear works
fellow band member Jack Bruce, who The ear has three parts: outer, middle, careful
DOZD\VKDGKLVDPSOLÀHUWXUQHGXSWR and inner.
One of the differences between 7KHLQQHUHDUKDVDVSLUDOÁXLG about ear
Eric and myself is that the continual ÀOOHGWXEHFDOOHGWKHFRFKOHDZKLFK protection”
phantom ringing, which is a common has tiny hair cells projecting into it.
form of tinnitus, doesn’t bother him. Sounds cause the hair cells to move; the
However, it certainly bothers me and, movement sends electrical signals to the
I predict, it will bother you if you ever brain, which interprets them as sounds.
suffer from it. Loud noises cause the hair cells to bend
Tinnitus is usually associated with and stop moving. The brain interprets
hearing loss, and hearing loss is most the lack of signals from the bent hair
commonly the result of exposure to cells as a noise – the familiar ringing in
loud noise. My slight hearing loss was the ear that the audience experienced
probably caused by hammering on metal after a Cream concert.

Professor Grant Searchfield from
the University of Auckland is
actively searching treatments
“Tinnitus is
an example
of prevention
being better
than cure –
because there
doesn’t seem
to be a cure”
Usually, the hair cells recover and, 3URIHVVRU*UDQW6HDUFKÀHOGLVWKH tinnitus that uses white noise to control
standing upright again, move in Director of the University of Auckland’s the imagined din.
response to sounds. The ringing in the Hearing and Tinnitus Clinic, and he is A psychologist has told me that
ears stops. actively researching treatments. PLQGIXOQHVVWUDLQLQJFDQEHEHQHÀFLDOLQ
Repeated exposure to loud noise I heard Grant tell how he heard coping with the incessant sound, which is
causes more and more of the hair cells rumours that the drug ecstasy inaudible to everyone but the sufferer. It
to be irretrievably bent or broken, until reduced tinnitus and so he set out won’t reduce the level of the sound but it
the ringing can be permanent. This is to investigate. He gained permission will promote acceptance of the condition.
tinnitus. to give ecstasy to tinnitus sufferers.
He then ran into a bit of a problem. Not always there
Not the same for all +HFRXOGQ·WÀQGHQRXJKYLFWLPVRI Some sounds reduce tinnitus. For
Not everyone who has damaged hearing tinnitus who were prepared to take the instance, I can’t hear it when I am
experiences tinnitus and not everyone drug. He thinks it’s probably not very driving in my car. Either the sound of
who has tinnitus has damaged hearing, effective in most cases anyway, and it the car’s movement (white noise?), or
but the vast majority of tinnitus does have noticeable side effects. the concentration needed to navigate
sufferers have hearing loss. So what can Grant’s team has recently developed the local roads causes my brain to lose
be done? a successful phone-based therapy for focus on the lack of information coming
from my ears and to cease ‘hearing’ the
phantom ringing.
When things in the shed get
noisy, stop what you are doing Tinnitus is an example of prevention
and put on the ear muffs being better than cure – because there
doesn’t seem to be a cure.
My advice is to wear ear protection
much more often than is commonly
done. Wear ear muffs when shooting,
hammering, mowing the lawn, or being
near to anything that is noisy – even
slightly noisy. When things in the shed
get noisy, stop what you are doing and
put on the ear muffs.
Get extra muffs for visitors, and
special ones for children. If your
workplace is noisy, wear ear protection
religiously; it’s all cumulative, and you
may be nearer to suffering from tinnitus
than you imagine.

Pest control
My Version 3 (right) next to Version 2
POSSUM TRAP
Live and let live worked well until the nightly visitors began eating the strawberries
By Mark Beckett
Photographs: Mark Beckett
e live in a rural setting and ravages of time took hold. Version 2 Christchurch’s Hagley Park.
W have a large hedge that

extends all the way to a dry
river bed, which provides an excellent
was made but, while it has been very
VXFFHVVIXOLW·VVWDUWLQJWRÁH[DQGWKH
past few possums have been desperate
7KHJXLGHIURP%LRQHWVSHFLÀHVWKDW
a muzzle velocity of 120 MPS or 394
FPS is required (so some pistols will not
conduit for possums. to get out, so it’s time to make it EHVXLWDEOH 7KHDLUULÁH,SXUFKDVHG
The local pest people had previously stronger, and share the design. would also double to shoot hares (that’s
offered to set some traps as part of their Previously, we had been ‘relocating’ another story), so check the specs before
TB-monitoring program, but as we had the trapped possums as I didn’t have a you buy.
a cat and their only option was a leg- ÀUHDUPVOLFHQFHDQG,ZDVQ·WNHHQRQ
hold trap, we politely refused. We were grabbing something that was annoyed My trap
aware there were possums about, but at being locked up overnight – that was, The trap detailed here works well in
it wasn’t until they started tasting the until I found out that it’s illegal to live keeping the possums out of sunlight,
strawberries and making a mess with trap then relocate; see side panel. but is not so well suited to despatching
the rubbish drum that we decided to We stopped using the trap until them. I was fortunate to pick up a
take action. a conversation with a colleague metal cage, so, by putting the two
DERXWXVLQJDKLJKSRZHUHGDLUULÁH doors together, and with some poking
The battle begins to dispatch the animals provided a and prodding, the reluctant animal
A neighbour had been using a drop-door solution. enters the wire cage, where it is more
trap, so I set about copying the principle. Elite Pest Control’s Dawn Hendrikse accessible. You could use a sack or net –
9HUVLRQZRUNHGÀQHXQWLOWKH XVHVDQDLUULÁHWRVKRRWWKHSRVVXPVLQ whatever works.

“But it
wasn’t until
they started
tasting the
strawberries
and making a
mess with the
rubbish drum
that we decided
to take action”
Design Handle marking v actual

The trap works when the animal enters
to get the bait and stands on the trip
ÁDSWKLVSXOOVRQWKHFRUGUHOHDVLQJWKH
door and trapping them inside. The size
HQVXUHVWKDWODUJHDQLPDOVDUHIXOO\LQVLGH
when the door drops.
3RVVXPVDUHYHU\VWURQJDQGZLOO
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RXWDQGFDQEHHOLPLQDWHGLQ\RXUYHUVLRQ
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WKHÁRRUMRLQWZLWKJOXHDIWHULWZDV
assembled.
7ZRKDQGOHVKDYHEHHQLQFOXGHGWKH
IURQWRQHKHOSVVWRSWKHER[IURPWZLVWLQJ
DQGKHOSVVWRSWKHGRRUIURPELQGLQJ
Materials
The materials cost less than $100 at a local retailer.
I chose treated materials that would better handle the moisture, but the size
meant two sheets of 1200x600x12mm were needed. (If only they measured that –
what is it with wood and sizing?)
The door needs to be robust. If you paint it, paint both sides to reduce warping.
I used:
Two 1200x600x12mm sheets of treated plywood
Two 18mmx18mmx1.8m lengths of treated moulding timber
One 16mmx16mmx2m length of 1.5mm aluminium channel
Screws, glue, a short length of wire/fishing line and something for a hinge.
Materials

Clamp and glue
Trip flap line hole
Hinge pivot left clamp to stop splitting

right pivot and rounding of edge
Construction ,IRXQGLWHDVLHUWRÀWWKHWULSÁDSWR
The drawing featured gives all the WKHÁRRUEHIRUHLWZDVDVVHPEOHG)RU
dimensions. WKLVYHUVLRQDFRXSOHRI3FOLSVDQG “The trip
7KHÁRRUWKHWRSDQGHDFKVLGHDUH
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VRPHVFUHZVPDGHDJRRGKLQJHWKDW
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ÁRRUKDVDQH[WUDVWULSRISO\ZRRGRQ rotation and drilled a hole for the line to
HQRXJKEDFN
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lifting the door. HQRXJKEDFNWRHQFRXUDJHWKHZKROH WKHZKROH
,VWDUWHGZLWKWKHVLGHVDQGDWWDFKHG animal inside.
WKHWKUHH[PPVXSSRUWVZLWKJOXH ,DGGHGWKHVLGHVWRWKHÁRRUDQG DQLPDOLQVLGHµ
DQGVFUHZV XVHGWKHUHDUWRNHHSLWVTXDUHDQGULJLG
,QKLQGVLJKWLWPLJKWKDYHEHHQHDVLHU 0DNHVXUHWKHIURQWHGJHLVVTXDUHVR
WRDGGWKHERWWRPVWULSWRWKHÁRRU the door is smooth.
UDWKHUWKDQWU\WRVFUHZWKHÁRRUWRWKH ,WKHQJOXHGDQGVFUHZHGWKHUHDU
VLGHIURPLQVLGHWKHER[/HDYHDJDSIRU HQVXULQJLWZDVVTXDUHEHIRUHWKHJOXH
WKHÁRRUWRJRWRWKHUHDURUFXWDQRWFK dried.
Glue and screw

rear support
Marking guides
make easy work
Channels, door, flap
The channels need to be cut and drilled
IRUWKHÀ[LQJVFUHZV&RXQWHUVLQNWKH
KROHVWRHQVXUHWKHGRRULVQRWFDXJKW
RQWKHKHDGV)RUWKHXSSHUKROHV,
GULOOHGWKHVFUHZKROHWKURXJKERWK
VLGHVRIWKHFKDQQHOWKHQGULOOHGD
ODUJHUKROHWKURXJKWKHIURQWDQGXVHG Marking and fixing step for door
WKDWWRFRXQWHUVLQNWKHUHDU
,IWKHGRRULVELQGLQJ\RXPD\ZDQW
WRUHPRYHDVPDOODPRXQW,VDQGHGWKH
HGJHVWRVPRRWKLWDQGUXEEHGDFDQGOH
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7KHSLQKROGLQJXSWKHGRRULVD
OHQJWKRIZLUHEHQWWRIRUPDORRSDW
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the handle and then lift the door so it
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VLPSO\SRXUHGDVPDOODPRXQWRQWKH www.bionet.nz/assets/Uploads/A3-Landowners-Possum-Comtrol-Guide-2021.pdf
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UHVXOWHGLQRQHKHGJHKRJEHLQJKHOG possums-in-the-centre-of-a-new-zealand-city
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“There are
many recipes
out there for
possum bait”

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Model-making
It may have taken

40 years, but it was
worth it. Bill Thomas
with his masterful
miniature house
SMALL IS BIG
IN BILL
THOMAS’S
SHED A creative spirit knows no boundaries
By Vicki Price
Photographs: Vicki Price
e walk into Bill Thomas’s achievement that has taken Bill 40 he explains. “Only the outside came
W Waikanae Beach house

through his shed. The trestle
WDEOHVLQWKHVKHGDUHÀOOHGZLWKWKLQJV
\HDUV+HLVMXVWLÀDEO\SURXGRILWDQG
ZDQWVWRVKRZLWWRXVÀUVW
Bill had always wanted to build a
with the kitset; I have had to make all
the interior – the ceiling scotias, the
staircases, and the large skirting boards,
Bill plans to show us but they have dust- miniature house and when he spotted plus the redwood roof shingles. All the
sheets over them for now. this one while on holiday, he bought it. weatherboards are moulded, and they
Inside his home, a tiny house awaits. “We bought the kitset in America tongue and groove together, all out of
The tiny-house project is a huge LQDQG,·YHRQO\MXVWÀQLVKHGLWµ SRQGHURVDSLQHµ
The finished interior of the house, with both kit set

Chippendale furniture and those that were handmade by Bill.

Bill holds a
tiny replica he
made of his own
writing desk
Filled with Bill’s creations He replied, “A radiogram.” Disposable dental brush heads made
Bill presses a button, and the tiny house She said, “What’s a radiogram, realistic candles for the candelabra
begins to rotate on a pedestal similar Poppa?” – so naturally Bill made one to
WRD/D]\6XVDQ7KHLQWHULRULVÀOOHG show her. The arm for the record player
with Bill’s creations, including a replica is the pin from Bill’s watch-strap and the
of his own writing desk. There are tiny disc is a cutting disc from a Dremel.
paintings, washstands, furniture, even For the past 40 years, Bill has kept an
chandeliers. eye out for tiny things with the potential
When Bill’s granddaughter visited, to be used in the house.
she was asked what was missing and The lightshades are cut from ice
replied, “A television.” cream containers. Bill put the circle of
Bill explained they didn’t have plastic onto a large bolt head and put
televisions in those days, so she asked the heat gun onto it, causing it to get
what they did have. the wrinkled effect. The stairs were
The pin from Bill’s watch strap

made an effective arm for the
radiogram’s record player
redone by Bill, with carpet laid on them
and rods made from copper electrical
wire. Candles in the candelabra and
wall lights are disposable dental brush
heads. One of the units is made from
DSLHFHRIPDFURFDUSDÀUHZRRG7KHUH
DUHÁRXUGUDZHUVLQWKHNLWFKHQDQGD
piano sits in the lounge. The room at
the top is called the naughty room by
their granddaughter. All the doors and
drawers in all the furniture open.
The weathervane was bought from
America, but Bill made the clock. The
little lady and man were in a French
Christmas cake.

A tiny deck where tiny people
could sit and enjoy the view
Time to aim for perfection [to stick them together].”

“It’s a challenge,” says Bill, who has taken There is a bar of soap in the soap dish,
the time to construct each piece as if it and the toilet cistern has a pull-chain.
ZDVJRLQJWREHXVHG´,W·VWKHÀUVWWLPH The wall of the bathroom is covered with
in my working life where I haven’t had to tiles.
work to a time limit. If I didn’t like it, I “It’s a piece of Perspex with lines
could chop it up and start again.” scratched into it,” explains Bill.
He adds, “The English TV programme, In the kitchen is a clock, made from
doing miniatures – the trouble was they an old watch, for which Bill made a
had a time restraint, and they were doing wooden ring. Bill worked everything to a
a lot of hot glueing and it doesn’t last.” one-inch scale. Fitting the ceiling scotia
Bill has made tiny planter boxes and and skirting boards was time consuming,
plants, and the doormats are interlocking especially working around all the corners
ZRRG7KHÁRRUERDUGVDOOKDYH and the stairs.
UHDOLVWLFQDLOGHQWVDVLIDWLQ\ÁRRULQJ “It’s not a doll’s house; it’s a miniature
craftsperson has been on their tiny knees house,” says Bill.
hammering each board in place. The He is proud of his achievement — but
ÀUHSODFHLVPDGHIURPPLQLDWXUHWR\ would he like to live in it after all his
bricks Bill had as a child and had kept. efforts?
“They were little bricks and you used “No, not with the stairs and my
WRPL[XSÁRXUDQGZDWHUIRUWKHPRUWDU DUWLÀFLDONQHHVµ
It is the many details that bring

this miniature house to life

“Bill worked in Wellington, initially The best thing ever
We go back out to the shed. Bill lifts a dust-
at a carpentry apprenticeship then sheet to reveal a vast collection of beautiful
at a joinery factory, making timber and complex wooden creations, a sample of

other things he’s been making in his shed,
windows, doors, and staircases” mostly since he retired.
Before retirement, Bill worked in
Wellington, initially at a carpentry
apprenticeship then at a joinery factory,
making timber windows, doors, and
staircases.
“Then, for the last 40-odd years,
I’ve been in the display manufacturing
business,” he says.
The company was called Displayways
and Displaycraft, and there Bill worked for
the advertising industry, be it a shop or a
new brand launching itself into the market.
“I was production manager for the last 30
years. I was coming up for retirement and
they were revamping the place, so I took
early retirement – six months early. It was
the best thing that ever happened to me.”
Bill’s carpentry
apprenticeship pre
computers gave him design
and crafting skills which
have stood him in good
stead for this project

A Shed magazine article inspired Bill to try his hand
at segmented woodturning. He then produced many
intricate and beautiful pieces in this form
Makes dust to take +H·VUHFHQWO\ÀQLVKHGDQDSSOHVKDSH
“He likes to into the house made out of a piece of wood he had lying
Bill got organised. “I set up a little around in his shed; other pieces have
spring little workshop here.” EHHQWXUQHGLQWRSʕXDVKHOOV$¶FODFNHU·
surprises on He says his shed is where he “makes

dust to take into the house”, but when
of the type you might wield at a footy
game makes loud clacks as it is turns in
his neighbours you look outside the shed and around the the air.
from time to cul-de-sac he lives in, there are signs of

his work on fences, in gardens, and on Rings, rings, and more rings
time – they the houses. Bill is looking for new things to create all
might wake up He likes to spring little surprises the time.

on his neighbours from time to time ´,MXVWÀQLVKHGRQHWKLVPRUQLQJ
WRÀQGDIDPLO\ ²WKH\PLJKWZDNHXSWRÀQGDIDPLO\ actually,” he says. “Just whatever takes
RIZRRGHQ RIZRRGHQSÑHNRVKDVPRYHGLQRUD me, you know.”
‘bloomered’ gardener is bending over in He was watching a programme on TV
SÑHNRVKDV the shrubbery. It is a friendly community, DERXWDSLRQHHULQJIDPLO\LQ$ODVNDDQG
PRYHGLQµ and even the children receive handmade was inspired by one of the lads who was
wooden gifts from Bill, who loves to getting married.
make things in order to give them away. “He couldn’t afford a wedding ring,
The beginnings of a piece made using the segmented woodturning method
Some examples of Bill’s freestyle designs in wood.

The shell is particularly beautiful
The ring within a ring, on
the left, and three small
to tiny wooden barrels
with lids, below. The
smallest is just 3mm x
4mm in size
The beauty of segmented woodturning

is apparent in the finished product
so he made a wooden wedding ring. “I Inspired by an article on wood

watched them doing it and I thought: turning in issue 85 of The Shed, Bill
“He’ll put it yes! You know, from a hand plane you ZRUNVRXWWKHÀQLVKHGVKDSHWKH
on to scare get those curls of timber?” number of rings for depth or height, and
Bill shows me his creation. “It’s the diameter of rings for the shape of
them or laminated around a piece of tube. I the article.
lead them glued one layer, then another layer, then “I usually work on 16 or 32 pieces per
another layer, and then hand sanded ring,” he says. “For a 130mm diameter
to think DQGKDQGÀQLVKHGLWWRJHWWKHVKDSH ring, with 16 pieces at 25.51mm wide,
someone The circular inlays are made from each needs an 11.25-degree angle cut on
knitting needles or toothpicks. each side.”
else is “I’ve had that in there since January, These are then glued together on a
working in and it’s lasting really well, but then sheet of glass to form the ring. When the
his shed” I wanted a challenge: to make a ring

within a ring. I had to make one ring,
glue has dried, Bill sands the face that
was on the glass until it is smooth, then
then make a ring inside the ring.” glues it to the pre-made base block.
Bill likes to keep his neighbours on Lathes and saws don’t take up much room
their toes – putting a wig on every in Bill’s shed, but their output is massive
now and then freaks them out!

“I true it up on the lathe, ready to ,W·VDZLJ7KLV%LOOH[SODLQVLVWRNHHS
accept the next ring, and start turning WKHQHLJKERXUVRQWKHLUWRHV+H·OOSXWLW
WKHÀQLVKHGVKDSH$FFXUDF\LQ\RXU RQWRVFDUHWKHPRUOHDGWKHPWRWKLQN
calculations and saw cut angle is VRPHRQHHOVHLVZRUNLQJLQKLVVKHG
LPSRUWDQW7KDW·VZKDW,HQMR\LW·VD
FKDOOHQJH,W·VSDWLHQFHLWMXVWWDNHVWLPH Honeypots
Some of the items I have made have over ´,PDGHWKDWRQHWKHUHµ%LOOSRLQWVWR
SLHFHVLQWKHPµ a thimble-sized honeypot, “and my
7KLVOHGWRDOOVRUWVRIFOHYHUO\GHVLJQHG ROGERVV3HWHUVDLG¶&RPHRQ7RPR
bowls and containers, comprising multi- ,XVHGWRPDNHVRPHWKLQJVPDOOHU·VR
FRORXUHGWLPEHUV ,PDGHXSWKHQH[WRQH+LVGDXJKWHU
´7KLVRQHLVSLHFHVµ%LOOVD\V Simone, was there, and she said, ‘Come
KROGLQJXSDERZO´7KHUH·VSLHFHVRQ RQ7RPRPDNHVRPHWKLQJVPDOOHU·VR
WKHWRS,W·VJOXHLQJWKHPWKDWWDNHVWKH ,GLGµ
SDWLHQFHµ 7KLVWLQLHVWRIKRQH\SRWVMXVW[PP
´:KDWVRUWRIJOXHGR\RXXVH"µ,DVN DOVRKDVDOLG%LOOPDGHLWRQWKHODWKH
´6WLFN\JOXHµVD\V%LOO²DGGLQJWKDWLW·V ZLWKDFKLVHO$PD]LQJO\IRUVRPHWKLQJ
39$ VRVPDOO%LOOGLGQ·WORVHLWRQWRWKHÁRRU
%LOOOLNHVWRVHHWKHOLJKWHUVLGHRIOLIH ZKLOHPDNLQJLW
Sticks for stirring or making
²DQGZDLWLVWKDWDSLOHRIKDLU,VSRW ´,WZRXOGQ·WKDYHZRUULHGPH,·GMXVW
miniature creations
EHQHDWKKLVZRUNEHQFK" KDYHPDGHDQRWKHURQHµKHVD\V
The challenge of making

something smaller is one of
great satisfaction for Bill

A magic puzzle-box that makes
coins disappear is a great favourite
of children, many of whom have
received one from Bill
Something for the kids popular, too. They’re made out of tree
Bill reaches for a wooden box, quite branches; I just carve them out. We give
“Accuracy devoid of decoration. It’s a puzzle box these away a lot; people love them.”
in your – something for the kids to watch in Bill uses a spoke-shave to carve the
fascination as coins magically disappear spoons from branches that have fallen
calculations from the top drawer into a secret or been removed from their garden.
and saw opening in the bottom drawer. They One of these branches was from a
have to work out how to open it. A Portuguese laurel.
cut angle is panel on the side of the box pulls out to “These are popular with the kids,” Bill
important” reveal the lost coin. Bill has made quite says, showing us a wooden periscope,
a few of these and given them away as suitable for spying on mates.
Christmas presents. The small handles Paint remnants from Bill’s creations
on the box are made from brass welding have been scraped off stirring sticks
rod. Bill has a metal lathe, too, but with a Stanley knife and layered and
hasn’t used it for some time. glued onto wood to create a marbled
“These wooden spoons are quite effect.
Broken tree branches on the property are turned into

spoons by Bill, many of which he gives away

What pirate wouldn’t want
arrgh real treasure chest?
Tiny goblets, barrels and rings sit upon a miniature cabinet
Bill’s shed is tidy and

organised, which is helpful
when you’re working with
tiny components
Large salad bowls are a lovely addition to the couple’s table
Along with the puzzle boxes and

Bill works to get the angles just right
clackers, Bill has made a few dogs that for the segments of a new work
wiggle along the ground on their leash,
and these are arguably more popular
with the children than anything else.
“I made ‘Peg’ the knocker for the
little boy over the road – and the
expression on his face! I gave a clacker
I made to Reid [the boy over the road]
and he loves it. He came over and told
PH¶1RWODWHDWQLJKWRUÀUVWWKLQJ
in the morning.’” Clearly repeating
instructions from his parents.

Neighbour Keith An example of
gave these to the calculations
Bill, in case he required before a
needed them project is begun
The
weathervane
Bullshit corner that might come in handy.
Bill made for %LOO·VQHLJKERXUDQGFREEHU-RKQDIÀ[HG Bill must have gone through some
his own home a sign to Bill’s fence: ‘Bullshit Corner.’ timber over the years.
doesn’t escape Then Keith down the back saw a can of “Yeah, well, I haven’t bought any since
his sense of
sweets labelled ‘Bullshit Blockers’, which we’ve been up here [to Waikanae].”
humour. This
one came from he bought for Bill. Working on tiny items means very
America for the “Very appropriate,” says Bill. little goes to waste in Bill’s shed. A
miniature house
Bill’s tool line-up includes a scroll saw, weathervane he made brings a chuckle
metal lathe, sander, drill, bandsaw, and from him.
the lathe. A cabinet of little wooden “Which way is the cock facing today?”
drawers holds all sorts of bits and pieces he asks with a grin.
Bill’s lathe with a block of wood ready for turning

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the men’s shed movement is about
maintaining men’s health and well-being
in an environment catering for their interests
A shed brings men together in one community space to

share their skills, have a laugh, and work on personal proj-
ects or within a group for the shed or community.
Sheds and their members decide the repairing old bikes for community distri- engineers some of their skills and vice
projects to undertake. However most bution, building planter boxes for the main versa.
sheds throughout New Zealand take on street of the local central business district, Sheds have been operating in New
some community projects, examples the list goes on. Zealand since 2008. The last decade has
include repairing toy library stock, building The shed is a great place for blokes to seen the number of sheds across both
playgrounds for early learning centres, learn new skills. We see builders teaching urban and rural areas increase to 140.
We have a team of Regional Reps who attend to sheds and public inquiries:
Northland, Auckland - David Broadhead 021 324 762 regrep1@menzshed.nz
Waikato, Bay of Plenty, Gisborne - Keith Dickson 021 025 96454 regrep2@menzshed.nz
Lower North Is - Murray Campbell 021 070 2258 regrep3@menzshed.nz
Tasman, Nelson, Marlborough - David Packer 021 022 82592 regrep6@menzshed.nz
Canterbury, West Coast - Trevor Scott 021 022 11199 regrep4@menzshed.nz
Otago, Southland - Ian Miller 027 485 1452 regrep5@menzshed.nz
North Island Menzshed Napier Trust Menz Shed of Kaiapoi

Menzshed Hawera Christchurch Busmenz Shed
MenzShed Kaitaia Inc Menzshed Hastings Trust Darfield / Malvern Menzshed
Kerikeri Men’s Shed Mens Shed Wanganui Trust New Brighton Menz Shed
The Shed (Russell) CHB Community MenzShed (Waipukurau) Bishopdale Menzshed
Hokianga Men’s Shed Inc MenzShed Dannevirke Inc St Albans Menzshed
Whangarei Men’s Shed Feilding Menzshed Hornby Community Menzshed
Dargaville Menz Shed Menzshed Manawatu Riccarton Park Menzshed Trust
MenzShed Waipu Inc MenzShed Pahiatua Linwood Menz Shed
Mangawhai Shed Inc Menzshed Foxton St Martins Community Menzshed
Men’s Shed Warkworth Levin Menz Shed Halswell Menzshed
Hibiscus Mens Shed Trust Eketahuna Menz Shed Redcliffs Community Shed
Settlers Blokes Shed Albany Otaki MenzShed Rolleston Men’s Shed
Men’s Shed North Shore MenzShed Kapiti Inc Men’s Shed of Lincoln
Devonport Community Workshop Henley Mens Shed Inc Akaroa Men’s Shed
Massey Community Men’s Shed MenzShed Carterton Ashburton Menz Shed Inc
Auckland Central Community Shed Greytown Menz Shed Men’s Shed Trust Geraldine
Mens Shed Auckland East Plimmerton Community Menzshed Inc Temuka Men’s Shed
Howick Community MenzShed Inc Featherston Menz Shed Timaru Community Menzshed
Boomer Shed (Manurewa) Menzshed Upper Hutt Omarama Men’s Shed
Waiuku Community Workshop Porirua MenzShed Inc Glenorchy Menzshed
Whitianga Community Menz Shed Trust Menzshed Tawa Arrowtown MenzShed Inc
Pauanui Community Menz Shed Men’s Shed Naenae Cromwell Menz Shed
Thames Community Menz Shed Martinborough Mens Shed Waitaki Menzshed Inc
Whangamata Community Menzshed Eastbourne & Bays Menz Shed Oamaru Menz Shed
Paeroa Community MenzShed Trust Wellington City MenzShed Alexandra Men’s Shed
Waihi Beach Menz Shed East Otago Blokes Shed
Menzshed Huntly North Dunedin Shed Society Inc
Katikati MENZSHED South Island Taieri Blokes Shed
MENZSHED Omokoroa South Dunedin Blokes Shed
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Matamata Community Men’s Shed To learn more and to find a shed near you,
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Hamilton Community Men’s Shed scan the QR code with your phone or
Tapawera Men’s Shed Inc visit our website at www.menzshed.nz
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Back o’ The Shed
OK, BOOMER!
We haven’t been perfect … but things are,
overall, better than when we started
By Jude Woodside
’m a boomer. I was born in that We exposed racism, and
I exalted era between the end of

World War II and 1964.
I was a rebel, a hippy, a rock music “Our parents’
campaigned for equal civil rights for
all. The contraceptive pill helped to
energise the feminist movement, and
fan. I grew up during one of the
longest sustained periods of peace
generation WKXVZHWRRNWKHÀUVWVWHSVWRZDUGV
sexual equality (clearly got a way to
and prosperity. That changed when saved the go there!)
the Americans brought us into the world from We questioned government,
Vietnam war in 1965, and when they DQGEXVLQHVV²VRPHWKLQJWKDW
introduced monetarism in the 1970s.
tyranny; that’s ZDVSUHYLRXVO\XQWKLQNDEOH²DQG
7KHÀJKWDJDLQVW1D]LVPZDV a hard act to normalised it. We campaigned for
RXUSDUHQWV·ÀJKW²DÀJKWWKDWWRRN
millions of lives. It was necessary.
follow” freedom of thought and religion.
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7KH1D]LVSODQQHGWRHQVODYHPRVW ÀQDOLVHGEXWP\JHQHUDWLRQGLGVWDUW
of Eastern Europe to work in their them and made them mainstream.
factories, mines,
and farms. The That
idea appealed to promise
the Japanese, too. We didn’t invent
They planned to the smartphone
do the same to or the internet,
us and anyone in but, sadly, we did
between. Fascism help to perpetuate
was the Italian the Cold War
name for what had that went on to
originally been dominate our
called ‘Corporatism’, culture and our
which gives an media. We haven’t
indication of who been perfect. The
was in charge. It promise of those
was predicated on rose-coloured
the idea, to quote hippy days wasn’t
Orwell, that “Some IXOÀOOHGZH
animals are more never achieved
equal than others”. the cooperative,
equal society we
Fading away exciting time as we reached for new hoped for, but
Every generation eventually fades experiences and new sensations, things are, overall, better than when
away, and my generation is doing so and campaigned for our ‘freedom’, we started.
now. We are often portrayed as a whatever that was. We at least have the freedom to
self-indulgent generation. To some protest (at the moment). The things
extent, there is truth in that. We were What have boomers we fought for and won are still
always pushing the boundaries for achieved? LPSRUWDQWULJKWVDQGZRUWKÀJKWLQJ
new experiences, whether in music, I look back now on what my for. My fear is that they are now
SHUVRQDOIXOÀOPHQWRUMXVWIRUIXQ:H generation did for the world at large. under attack by the same ideologies
ZHUHWKHÀUVWJHQHUDWLRQWKDWGLGQ·W Our parents’ generation saved the RXUSDUHQWVULVNHGWKHLUOLYHVÀJKWLQJ
really have to work quite as hard world from tyranny; that’s a hard act I hope our children don’t end up
as our parents had. It was a heady, to follow. having to reclaim them again.

05.05.24 Catalogue
Collectors’ Cars, Coming Soon
Motorcycles &
Automobilia
1962 Jaguar E-Type S1 FHC

űƵƼ $145,000 – $175,000
Our highly-anticipated Collector’s Cars, Automobilia & Viewing Contact

Motorcycles Live Auction KU EQOKPI VJKU /C[ CPF KV QőGTU 9GFPGUFC[/C[COɍRO Caolán McAleer
Thursday 2 May, 10am – 4pm *GCFQH%QNNGEVQTUɜ%CTU
collectible cars and motorcycles from the United States and
(TKFC[/C[COɍRO Motorcycles & Automobilia
Europe both for luxury and sporting pursuits. Saturday 4 May, 10am – 4pm caolan@webbs.co.nz
2TGUGPVGFCOQPIUWEJPQVCDNGENCUUKEUKPQWTŔTUVCWEVKQPQH Sunday 5 May, 10am – 12pm
2024 is the 1962 Jaguar E-Type S1 FHC. Estimated at between
$145,000 – $175,000, presented in a quintessential British Racing
Green and in excellent condition, this example represents one Live Auction +CP0QVV
Sunday 5 May, 2pm %QNNGEVQTUɜ%CTU/QVQTE[ENGU
QHVJGŔPGUVKVGTCVKQPUQH,CIWCT9GDDɜUJCUJCFVJGRTKXKNGIGQH & Automobilia Specialist
QőGTKPIVQFCVG ian@webbs.co.nz
6JG XGJKENGU KPENWFGF KP VJKU ECVCNQIWG ECP DG GZRNQTGF +64 21 610 911
through our digital and printed catalogue — coming soon — or
KPRGTUQPCV9GDDɜU)CNNGT[C0QTOCPD[4QCF/V'FGP
6JGNKXGCWEVKQPYKNNVCMGRNCEGCVROQP/C[CPFYKNNDG Viewing & Auction Location
C0QTOCPD[4QCF
UVTGCOGFNKXGQPQWTYGDUKVGYKVJKPRGTUQPQPNKPGCDUGPVGG
Mount Eden
CPFVGNGRJQPGDKFFKPICXCKNCDNG(QTDKFFKPICUUKUVCPEGQTOQTG #WEMNCPF
KPHQTOCVKQP CDQWV VJG XGJKENGU RNGCUG EQPVCEV QWT VGCO QP +64 9 529 5600
09 529 5600. or email us at auction@webbs.co.nz. webbs.co.nz
STAYS SET
IN ALL
WEATHER
CONDITIONS.

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FROM MITSUBISHI MOTORS NEW ZEALAND

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For more info ph 09 276 3271

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A use for leftover

24 Letters to the editor

38 Subscribe to The Shed

123 Bookcase – essential

124 Back issues of The Shed

126 Find your local Menzshed

128 Back o’ The Shed – Jude

Athow keeps it as true to original

hen Athanasius (Athow) First attempt

The Shed 114 April/May 2024 7

What is it about vintage? Ian was assembling an Austin Special

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Richard McWhannell’s Lotus Mk 6 replica. Richard says,

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One of Richard McWhanell’s poster

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