Colonel Sponsz's Shared Items

Dropzone Commander table setup

2CV three bar grill bonnet chevrons

The silver birch tree in the back garden was the tallest tree in the immediate area and it was quite nice to be able to see when coming home on the train. However, it was also right next to the house so to reduce the risk of roots getting into the foundations or branches damaging the roof it needed to be cut back.

Rear aspect of silver birch before crown reduction

Rear aspect of silver birch after crown reduction

Front aspect of silver birch before crown reduction

Front aspect of silver birch after crown reduction

It’s a bit more of a reduction than was planned but it was dictated by the growing points of the tree. The leader has now been taken back down below the level of the rest of the crown so as it regrows it should broaden out rather than head straight upwards again.

The day before it was cut I made a point of climbing it, as a boy I knew all the routes up the tree at the bottom of our garden so I owed it to my younger self to make my way up this one. It was fairly easy and the view from the top was well worth it.

View from the top of the silver birch before pruning

At this point I’m standing about where the new top of the tree is.

Continued De-clarting of tinware

7th January 2018 15:25

After the initial de-clarting of the tinware I now moved on to trying to clean them up further. However, after the best part of a day (or what passes for daylight hours at this time of year) with various abrasives and power tools I’d not made much more than an impact on the surface.

As this has now sucked more than enough of my time I’ve opted to pay to have them sand blasted.

In the mean time I’ve picked up a new set of fixings to hold it all together when it’s done.

New year Hadrian’s Wall walk

1st January 2018 14:03

Coming out of Gilsland there is a section of Hadrian’s Wall that was built as “narrow wall” (eight Roman feet wide) on top of “broad wall” (ten Roman feet wide). As the narrow wall is later in date, this indicates that the foundations were built first and the main wall was built afterwards.

Further on there is a milecastle.

The wings of the milecastle that join into the wall are also built as broad wall and are stepped in to meet the inner face of the narrow wall. This indicates that the mile castles were built independently and before the main wall.

Further down there is the remains of a bridge abutment. This was significantly modified twice throughout its life as it was presumably damaged by by the river. To relieve pressure on the structure sluices were put into the wall on the first rebuilding.

As these seemingly didn’t prove sufficient they were widened when it was modified for the second time.

Electric fuel pump and inertia cut-out

2nd December 2017 15:12

As I’d blanked off the mechanical fuel pump mounting I needed an electric fuel pump. This came in the form of a Hucco 133010 engine mounted (suction) pump that can deliver the 2.6-2.9 psi specified in the Citroen Workshop Manual for the fuel system.

Hucco 133010 fuel pump and inertia cut-out

For safety I have also got an inertia cut-out that will isolate the fuel pump in the event of an impact to minimise the risk of fuel being pumped out of a split or disconnected fuel line in the engine bay.

Lego Carbonite Freezing Chamber (75137)

26th November 2017 20:33

This is a superb kit with lots of functionality: there’s the carbonite freezing switcharoo, a lift and a hidden torture chamber.

Baked Cauliflower

18:08

Start with a full cauliflower and an oven at 180.

In a suitable container mix a good amount of olive oil with seasoning: celery salt, pepper, coriander, cumin.

Cut the leaves off and cut a flat cone into the bottom of the stem to reduce the bulk that needs cooking. (These offcuts are good for stock.)

Rub the oil and seasoning over the cauliflower trying to get as even a coverage as possible.

Place on some parchment in a baking try.

Cover with tin foil and bake for 45 minutes.

Take the tin foil off and put an open container of water in the oven.

Bake for another 30ish minutes – keep an eye on it to make sure it doesn’t burn, adjust the temperature or take it out as appropriate.

De-clarted tinware

20th November 2017 14:26

I’ve got some Dyane tinware for the Burton engine, this has the “back end of a horse power” forced induction take off and the cylinder covers are metal rather than whatever it is the later 2CVs used. However, it’s seen better days so needs some renovation.

First off the engine mounts needed removing with the aid of heat, Super Crack Ultra, and an impact driver. With that done I’ve declarted them using pound shop oven cleaner.