This month makes one year since I started working on restoring Franklin the speeder! A few more months and the cosmetic work should be pretty much done. We'll have it mostly done by August, planning on tying up the loose ends after that and the project 100% closed by the end of September.

We'll start working on restoring the second speeder in October, which I expect will probably take about a year total (it's in better cosmetic condition but will need a fair amount of mechanical work, plus complete rewiring).

After that we'll see what else the speeder program holds! There's a spare engine for Franklin I want to get running on a stand and probably do a complete tear down and rebuild on, so we have it for demos and as a spare should Franklin ever need it. And then I've been told we own a third speeder that's in a shed being stored elsewhere until we need it.

Also non-speeder things as they come up, there's always lots of that too! #choochoo

More work disassembling Franklin’s shell today! Got the last pieces of the plywood off, then started cleaning all the loose rust off the frame. Smaller pieces can get sandblasted, larger pieces are being gone over with a polisher with a rust removal (sandpaper flap wheel plus scotchbrite) drum.

New plywood has arrived, we’ll probably start cutting pieces to size next week! Also need to order replacement hardware, we talked about it today and we’re going to stick with button head slot screws and square nuts since that’s historically appropriate.

Four months until it needs to be done for the big expo! #choochoo

2 Line timelapse from Mercer Island to South Bellevue

#Seattle #SoundTransit #ChooChoo

Started working on removing the wood from Franklin the speeder’s shell today, to get ready for refurbishing. Not a glamorous job but it’ll be satisfying once it’s done! It’s a very large number of slot screws with square nuts on them, all of which are rusted in place then painted over so it’s slow going. Got the antenna counterpoise off (might reuse this depending on the new antenna as it’s in reasonable shape) and half the roof wood off by the end of the day today.

Should have new wood in the next week or two, we’ll use the old as a template to make new pieces, clean up the frame, reinstall it all, and it’ll get a new coat of paint.

Also pictured: my view out the door from today’s workspace.#choochoo