Parade Float

spiderclimber · Post by **spiderclimber** » Tue Jul 12, 2011 10:26 am

Hello again.

Here are a few updated pictures of the framing. The first pictures shows the treads completed. I cut 2 inch treads on the bottom to go in front of the tires. It completes the look and from 20 feet away you can't really tell.

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the next series of pictures is from the entrance to the float. I created steps that hinge down. The top board slides up to release the steps and then slides all the way down and out to create the opening. When locked in place. it would be rather difficult for one of the kids to accidentally open the door and fall out.

I built a channel that the top piece slides through and it overlaps the steps by 8 inches creating a friction lock.

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spiderclimber · Post by **spiderclimber** » Tue Jul 12, 2011 10:31 am

Here is one more picture of the slide lock. There is 2x4 framing on the inside preventing it from sliding down all the way while the steps are up. The 2x4 rests on the top of the steps and holds it all in place.
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Then here are a few pics of the inside of the float. The Young Marines wanted the inside to look the realistic as well which meant I had to cover up all of the 2x4s with plywood and I had to frame in the whole thing without angle braces off the floor. This made life difficult to say the least.

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spiderclimber · Post by **spiderclimber** » Sat Jul 16, 2011 6:22 pm

Updated pictures of the float

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spiderclimber · Post by **spiderclimber** » Sat Jul 16, 2011 6:26 pm

A few more.

Here is a few of the door / steps in the back of the float open and closing and closed.

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Also a small turret on the front just added. This one is stationary and can not fire.

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judaspre1982 · Post by **judaspre1982** » Sat Jul 16, 2011 6:28 pm

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fjimp · Post by **fjimp** » Sat Jul 16, 2011 6:48 pm

My congratulations that is amazing. I wonder how long it will take for a museum to desire that. Fjimp

charlese · Post by **charlese** » Sat Jul 16, 2011 9:40 pm

Wow! You'll win a ribbon for sure!:D

swampgator · Post by **swampgator** » Sat Jul 16, 2011 11:20 pm

Very nicely done. Was just thinking that if you had a big enough hole in the back of those PCV pipes that act as track support, maybe, you could ignite something like cherry bombs so that they would fire out toward the crowd. I'm sure it would not go off enough to hurt anyone, but would give a deeper blasting sound and then smoke would expell from the ends. There may be something better, but that could be fun for the crowd and the young Marines.

spiderclimber · Post by **spiderclimber** » Sun Jul 17, 2011 5:53 pm

Thanks for the replies all. I am close to being done on it, it is in finish stages now, hopefully in the next week I will have it completed. I don't know if it will work or not but here is a link to the guns in action as well as a whole series of pictures of the build.

Amtrac Water buffalo

spiderclimber · Post by **spiderclimber** » Sun Jul 17, 2011 5:54 pm

judaspre1982 wrote:That thing it positively cool!!

What are ya gonna do with it after the parade?

Dave

I am building the float for a young marines group. It is theirs and they will use it for several years hopefully. They go in about 10 parades a year so they should get good use out of it.

Shopsmith Forums

Parade Float

More pictures