The whole thing is totally striped down with just the frame and tyres - one of the tires kept going flat so we had to get a new one - another $89 and we were left thinking that's more for a car tyre and there is less rubber, so where do they get that price from....
The painting has begun but needs lots of sanding and re doing so thats a work in progress.
We have divided off into teams with different groups doing different things
One group of girls have gone off on a totally different tangent and are designing a trailer for the tractor - after all how can you cart stuff round without a trailer !
Other groups are looking at lights - electrics - wiring - transport tray - tractor blade - mudguard design - steering - seat design - safety roll bar - electric motor and solar panel design and fitting so there's lots to do.
As the children come up with designs and measurememnts we work out what is needed and then I get the steel - they cut some of it up and then I weld it up for them.
The trailer goes back to school on Tuesday so the girls can set it out and clamp it ready for welding - the others who designed the roll bar etc need to look at bracing and come up with a plan, the seat designers need to drill holes for the bolts for the seat and the painters need to sand down the bonnet redy for its last coat of paint. At the same time they need to work out how to connect the bonnet to the tractor - and make it with a flip top lid so we can access the batteries. The boys doing the wiring must get the wires down the roll bar before we weld the last bits on too !
LOTS TO THINK ABOUT !
Here's some pictures to look so you can see the latest progress on the tractor - it is now starting to take shape and everyone is excitied !
Mrs Buckley has already booked in a trial ride when its finished !
The painters hard at work with the yellow paint - its already been nick named the bumble bee for obvious reasons !
The trailer design team take their job very seriously and have devised plans and measurememnts ready for the kitset trailer
The seat design was a hard one as we had to work out what height and where it has to be positioned on the deck
Totally stripped down and with additions all ready - here you can see the seat frame and the roll bar
Steering column is welded in place and the first part of the rear mudguards is welded i there too
Did we tell you about the transport tray too with a towing ball ready for the tractor
This is the yellow colour - hence the name bumble bee
The wheel with the knobbly tyre is off an old rotary hoe - nothing is wasted here and lots of parts are recycled ! Our trusty welder is there too
