The steps are approaching the mechanical mechanisms for the underside, which I'm looking forward to. In the meantime, the last fiddly bits of the upper car body construction, except the roof, are the side boards for the open section of the cable car. You can see them where the folks are hanging on for dear life here
The two lengths for each step are laser cut parts, the smaller vertical pieces are measured and cut to size. The instructions call for them to be painted white with a black strip (presumable a non-slip strip) along the front edge. The photos I have show them all to be what appears to be light grey. Maybe they are just dirty or off-white. I'll go for the white anyway with the vertical pieces painted the same blue shade as the body onto which they connect, as you can see between the peoples legs in the picture above.
While the primer is drying on the side boards in preparation for the white, I revisited the trellis barrier. I said I would not be defeated. So I tried the sewing pins and crimps. No success there wither, the crimps wouldn't stay in place. So I went online, and after a bit of thought I altered my search from jewelers or watchmakers nuts and bolts or rivets, to 'glasses repair kit'.
I basically went nuclear. 1,000 pieces, various sized tiny bolts and nuts, washers, screws. A combination of nuts and the bolts worked! A less than NZ$10 fix. And what's even better, is I can now repair my glasses at home :nerd:
I did however, have to drill out an extra .5mm for every single hole for the bolts to fit. Laborious, but using an (overkill) electric drill made it easier and faster using a polystyrene box lid as a base. The nut heads are subtle, you'd struggle to notice that they aren't rivet heads unless you went looking. The nuts not so subtle, but they'll be partly hidden.
I built up the required shape with the lengths I cut to size earlier on. It was useful to size the screen diagram to the same scale as the actual item. I left the only successful rivet in the lower left joint. It would casue more damage then it's worth to take out and replace.
Three rings were placed onto the opening/closing side of the trellis barrier, and the other pole was inserted into the 'fixed'side. As you can see, the barrier is functional. Two brackets will secure the fixed pole to the cable car cabin wall, the other will extend to a closed position and sit in two hook latches which will be attached to the white cable car pole at that end.
There is one negative to using nuts and bolts in this construction. The more you exercise the trellis, the bolts tend to loosen off. A few have even detached over (much) repeated use. But I'll be setting the trellis at a favourite position and securing the bolts in situ. It can still operate, but as it's not a toy I'm not fussed about a permanent solution to the bolt loosening issue. After the fight I've had with it I'm content to continue as is.
Next update will be in a little while again. We'll be attaching the trellis barrier, those side boards, painting and attaching the various control levers, and beginning construction of the lower mechanical bits and bobs (running gear/undercarriage?).
Bye for now, thanks for looking in again. Hoping you are all well and safe.
