The Challenges of Building a Dalek: Part 16
Be sure to read the previous parts of The Challenges of Building a Dalek. We are still working slowly through the Florida heat, working in the shade and using fans can only work for a short amount of time; and now we are dealing with intense thunderstorms from about midday to early evening. Both of these issues are contributing to some delays, as our paint is taking more than a day to dry with the high humidity.
Exterior
We have sanded down the dalek again, filling in more bumps in groves that have formed before painting another layer of hunter green. With each layer of paint, we are reaching the shade of green that we have been wanting to reach. Though as I mentioned above, we are coming to a problem that due to the weather it is taking longer for our oil base paint to dry. We have finished drilling in all the holes that are needed to attach all of the hemispheres, though we have not finished making all of them yet.
Hemispheres
With still a large number of balls to make, we are taking our time, as we noticed when we start to rush the balls look a little more lopsided or not as smooth. Currently, we are making about 2 to 3 balls a week. After about 5 balls dad then flips them and drills the hole in at the bottom, a 10 by 24 one-inch bolt, so that way we have the threads as well. We have been polishing the balls as we have been going along, got to make them shine. Dad wants to be able to see his face in them.
Current Design
Our batteries have died yet again, this will be our second set that has called it quits. In our defense, the latest batteries that we received were not exactly fitted for our scooter. We will be buying the correct batteries as we really want the dalek to move at top speeds. Currently, the neck is about 10 inches in height; and about 16 inches in diameter. When you add it to the base it stands at 62.5 inches, 1587.5 millimeters, including the wheels. Derek the Dalek is currently a bright hunter green and will be having soul-sucking black hemispheres around the base. We are in the process of looking for another electronic scooter/wheelchair to make the next dalek to make more of today’s version of the dalek.
