Stingray Build

[Captain Scifi]

Look what I found on eBay in the USA, Item no:

400314242707 (other online auction services are available)

Embossed upholstery Vinyl, looks spot on as Stingray wallpaper to me, given a lick of pillar box red acrylic paint. I have seen similar materials with a square pattern but this has the correct diamond outline. If they use it to make car upholstery then the material must still be made with stock available, perhaps even in the correct colour. I also noticed that they used the pattern in both horizontal and vertical orientations, look at the wall in the last picture below.

I can't provide proof just yet but I am certain the green shades in the windows were bamboo dinner place mats. Most of the kitchen equipment bought as set decoration came from a branch of Woolworths department stores in Slough very close to the AP film studios. One of my forum members worked at the branch during the Century21 heyday in the late sixties to mid seventies and gave us a potted history. So I am trawling through old catalogues and reference material that still exists trying to find them and anything else that maybe useful.


What do you think? It's a good match to my eye but I can't judge the scale from the Ebay image.

Another detail I have noticed is the use of drawer pulls to make features in the puppet set, there is a row of nine of them just in front of Troy & Phones feet lined up like rungs in a ladder. I think Reg Hill was responsible for a lot of the set work back then, the guy was a genius at making something out of everyday objects. He had an eye for adding "value" with chrome bezels, ash trays, tops from glue and paint tubes and parts from old radio cases.



David: Of course you can call me Bernie, no problem at all.

[He Who Shall Not Be Named]

Cheers for the screen grabs Matey!

Yes, quality stuff, Bernie (may I call you Bernie?). You're giving me absolutely no excuse to 'wing it' when it comes time to appoint the STINGRAY's interior. Gee .... thanks!

Now you got my brain in gear -- I went to bed tonight working out the pleated paneling and furniature.

Geez! ... like I don't have enough on my plate already!

You two are shoveling sugar-treats into the puss of a willing diabetic. Pure meaness!

David

[RCnut]

First pics of the new Ratemaster tool. With comparison shots of the original tool and casting.

[RCnut]

Cheers for the screen grabs Matey!

[RCnut]

Yes, that's what I was thinking -- thank goodness for the length of the Ratemaster, it will accommodate an extension to the nozzles length if necessary.

David

Most definately!

[Captain Scifi]

Further details,

Port side equipment, Starboard side front quarter.

[Captain Scifi]

And a little more....

L/R SVS, Starboard front quarter, deck seat area, roof and SVS, Starboard wall and deck well

[Captain Scifi]

Now Bernie, damn him!, has got me obsessing on how to appoint the interior of the damned thing!

David

You'll really hate this David....

New screen grabs, much midnight oil and coffee were expended in this effort.

From L to R
Seat clamps from the titles, main controls, roof detail and SVS, deck well and ladder, deck well starboard side

[He Who Shall Not Be Named]

David, Its the same as the one I made but perfectly Symetrical, I gave the guy a clear one to copy. I am sure a gimble could be fitted anyway the nozzel could be placed a little bit ferther away from the rollers if need be.

Yes, that's what I was thinking -- thank goodness for the length of the Ratemaster, it will accommodate an extension to the nozzles length if necessary.

David

[RCnut]

David, Its the same as the one I made but perfectly Symetrical, I gave the guy a clear one to copy. I am sure a gimble could be fitted anyway the nozzel could be placed a little bit ferther away from the rollers if need be.

[He Who Shall Not Be Named]

OK, Now the good news, A couple of weeks ago I had an engineer pop into the shop and we got to chatting about the stingray, he saw My Ratemaster and agreed that for a freehand effort it was good, It wobbled in a few spots when turning but for a static kit it was fine, Imagine my reaction when he said he could do me a totally symetrical one out of Aluminum. Well He needed his hand so I couldnt bite that off, but for a very fair price he did me one, Suffice to say its beautiful and I have allready taken a mould and it is now being left alone to cure before I put some Polyester in it.

So........ I have to wait but im confident it will all turn out right, In the mean time I have a few other bits to sort out.

David.... the next Stingray that comes out of the moulds will be on its way to you, so obssess a bit more and I look forward to seeing the results as and when.

Sounds like the new version of the Ratemaster will not take up the room near the nozzle the three-wheeled one did. If that's the case, I can fit a proper gimbal. Whew! That will make life easier. Good work attracts good ideas.

David

[RCnut]

If I can't get the gimbal to fit within the confines dictated by the mandrels I'll work up a thrust-vector control set up ala V-2 rocket -- collectively and differentially direced exhaust vanes. If that comes to be, we realize anadditional means of roll control/stabilization.

I'm lov'n how you're handeling the entire project, Mamas. Good, sound, basic, well executed engineering. You leave very little to 'go wrong'.

Now Bernie, damn him!, has got me obsessing on how to appoint the interior of the damned thing!

David

OK, Now the good news, A couple of weeks ago I had an engineer pop into the shop and we got to chatting about the stingray, he saw My Ratemaster and agreed that for a freehand effort it was good, It wobbled in a few spots when turning but for a static kit it was fine, Imagine my reaction when he said he could do me a totally symetrical one out of Aluminum. Well He needed his hand so I couldnt bite that off, but for a very fair price he did me one, Suffice to say its beautiful and I have allready taken a mould and it is now being left alone to cure before I put some Polyester in it.

So........ I have to wait but im confident it will all turn out right, In the mean time I have a few other bits to sort out.

David.... the next Stingray that comes out of the moulds will be on its way to you, so obssess a bit more and I look forward to seeing the results as and when.

[He Who Shall Not Be Named]

Thats the plan Mark. I had a 700bb engined one a few years back and it was fast then, this time with a brushless set up I'm hoping for good things.

If I can't get the gimbal to fit within the confines dictated by the mandrels I'll work up a thrust-vector control set up ala V-2 rocket -- collectively and differentially direced exhaust vanes. If that comes to be, we realize anadditional means of roll control/stabilization.

I'm lov'n how you're handeling the entire project, Mamas. Good, sound, basic, well executed engineering. You leave very little to 'go wrong'.

Now Bernie, damn him!, has got me obsessing on how to appoint the interior of the damned thing!

David

[RCnut]

Thats the plan Mark. I had a 700bb engined one a few years back and it was fast then, this time with a brushless set up I'm hoping for good things.

[greenman407]

Wow, this thing looks like it ought to scoot.