Making an Aerial-Match

[Keston]

Wonderful insight into the world of a skilled craftsman, engineer and artist.

[Lovatt]

Very well made, a skilled machinist working wonders

[Watermole+]

I expect that most of you are wondering by now, if this job will ever get any further..!

I wonder that myself at times..Every time I try to make a bit more progress, something else takes priority.

However, just to keep the project ticking over, here is a very short update.
I have spent a few hours last week working on the first line drum. This is a kind of "trial" line drum, in order to test that the drawings made are mathematically correct, so even if this is scrap as far as the Aerial-Match 2 reel is concerned, it can be used for something else. It's not looking too bad so far and the face detail dimensions are as per original 1939 model. There is still a lot to do on it, including the spoke holes and a lot of metal to come off it yet, but it's beginning to shape up..

This was the last stage when the drum had been roughed out..




Since then, the drum has been finish turned in part and some of the holes started..




..and this is where we are up to now.




The undercut lines which you can see on the inside of the rim and outside of the spoke flange are deliberate and as on the original.

Hope to make the updates a bit more frequent from now on..

With regards

wm+

[Lovatt]

Fantastic, I know what you mean when you talk of other things that need to be done, I'm making a planing form at the moment it will get there soon enough, I'll probably post the project here. Water mole sir Your reel is coming along nicely. Will the reels back plate be plane metal or will it have a coating like paint or bluing ?

Trefor

[Marc]

Starting to be recognisable. As ever, fascinating stuff.

[Lea Dweller]

It is taking shape beautifully!

[Watermole+]

A bit more progress today on the line drum which is now complete as far as the aluminium shell is concerned..

Following on from last time, the holes for the spokes were put in next..




I have also put in a ventilation hole pattern, although this particular form will be improved upon in subsequent reels.
The reason for the holes is to allow water trapped inside to escape. The 'floor' of the line drum is centred about the Pitch Circle Diameter of the line lays, is only 1/32" thick and should not add too much to the all-up weight.

The next step was to turn it around and take the rearmost side plate down to thickness. The three holes near the centre are for securing the ratchet wheel and centre hub.






The line lays were now added. I made these from brass bar which was turned and drilled right through so that the ends could be riveted over.




The final step was to countersink the two handle holes, of which you can see one near the top of the drum front plate. The handles will be then screwed flush from the inside, not just riveted on.




I have fitted the drum within the backplate to see how it looks so far...




...but there is a long way to go yet..

Regards to all..

[Old Man River]

Fascinating, a work of art.... money cannot buy that kind of skill.... sat on edge waiting for the end result. The brass line carriers and drilled arbour to facilitate line drying are an idea I have not seen before, and a good idea as well. Do any other reels available have a similar build.?

OMR

[Lea Dweller]

Absolutely stunning work, I can only dream of having such skill!

[Lovatt]

That sir is certainly looking more like a reel everytime I browse the project. Very well made please let us know how much the reel weighs when finished.

Trefor