Summer 2002 Blueprint Project
Prints of parts and parts of prints
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 Major Changes and Improvements
 By Dave Clements & Lyle Landstrom

This column is the only one that has been hard to write since I started this project just before the VI changed from a common bulletin board to a magazine. I am giving up the Blueprint project so that I can start other projects, the first of which will be a series on electricity. I have always been better at starting projects than sticking to them. So it seemed like time for a change. Since Lyle is much more qualfied and has already taken the project over and, since most of the Blueprint stuff in this issue is his doing, I'll let Lyle describe this months prints.
Dave

Hello,

It is my pleasure to be able to pick up where Dave left off with the Blueprint Project. I hope I can fill his shoes and not get them too muddy. I tip my hat to the job he did for us. 

As I take over the coordination of this project, one of the biggest challenges I see is to get these drawings from the various formats which they are received in to a format which works well with the Virtual Indian Magazine and one that works with most people’s computers who do not have CAD.

For example, this month’s drawing of a luggage rack was created in Autocad by Dennis Cumin. It is an excellent drawing when kept in that format. Unfortunetely I do not have Autocad so I converted it from a .dwg to a .dxf format so I could view the drawing on my computer. This usually works but there are problems. Not everyone’s color 3, or linestyle 2 at a weight 1 is the same. So things may look different after they are converted. Not to mention the defaults on the computers regarding coordinate systems, units, etc. 

After the drawing is edited and approved, it is then converted to a format which works on the VI. This drawing was converted to .jpg which is pretty much readable by any machine with internet capabilities. Problem is, the colors and size of the drawing change once again. In fact, as I write this, I’m not sure how the final drawing will look after I screw around with it tomorrow night.

At any rate, enough about the technical problems we face on the Blueprint Project. Lets talk about the drawing. The material thickness is not specified but if I were to make one, I’d go with whatever I thought would work. Steal that old traffic sign out of the neighbor’s garage and start sawing away. The rods can either be lathed from round stock complete with the threads on each end or you could find some threaded rod and slip a tube over it. When you get finished, you’ll have some pride knowing you made the part yourself.

As you take a break from making the luggage rack, give a silent “Thank You” to Dennis for creating the drawing. He’s put a lot of time into it.

For next issue, we’re working on a Chief Leaf Spring Front End Fork Shield. I anyone would like to contribute to the Blueprint project, please contact me at creepinogie@aol.com.

Enjoy!

 Aluminum Luggage Rack
(late models)

Click to enlarge
End plates 
(big print, slow loading)

Click to enlarge
Rod detail

Click to enlarge
Tracing template for end plates (you may need to adjust from printed size)
 
 
 

VI Blueprints so far
Oil tank (under seat), 648
Brake pedal, 1938 Chief
Instrument panel mount, Chief
Rear Frame, 640
Clutch pedal, Chief
Cyl. base gasket, SS/Warpath
Petcock mounting boss
Engine plates, SS, front
Engine plates, SS, rear
Engine plates, 1910-13
Footboard rail, R/H, 741
Footboard rail, L/H & R/H, 640
Brake pedal bushing
Crash bar spacer
Front fork main frame, 640
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