Pinewood Derby Soddy Daisy

[Daniel Coats]

Dad's old riveting tool punch in use for the first time in nearly 60 years. I used one of his rivets for this job. I clearly remember him using this and repairing harness leather for the horse teams we had the time. The team's names were Tom and Bird as I recall and we're amazing dapple gray work horses.

[Daniel Coats]

It's coming along nicely.  Thanks for sharing the process.  I think you have the shape pretty good on the Soddy butt plate.   Nice job.

Ken

Thanks Ken I appreciate the comment!. One of the great challenges for this project for me is trying to get the architecture correct I've had to make everything at least three times

[Daniel Coats]

You're getting there brother.  Please proceed.  God Bless,   Marc

Thank you so much, I'm working on it as time allows! Building this rifle the way I have has taken an exceedingly amount more time than I anticipated I can only imagine what the old Smiths went through.

[Daniel Coats]

Looks awesome Dan. You’ve motivated me. Can’t wait to get started on my .29 youth Soddy.

Thank you Bob, your rifle project sounds truly amazing and I also can't wait to see how you progress on it!

[smylee grouch]

Nice neat riveting job.

[Daniel Coats]

Sally gotta new butt. This one is number 3 and I'm not building any more of them for this rifle. Still a long ways to go getting everything trimmed down. I'm using mostly drywall screws for my manufacturing and assembly process they will be replaced later.

[Daniel Coats]

Some measurements are locked in now. length of pull 13 3/8 inches, butt plate hight 4.380, comb length 4.910. I wanted the toe longer but had to shorten because of a internal stress crack that grew into a split. Cracks are common in figured walnut so I'm told.

[Daniel Coats]

Haven't posted in a while so I thought I would give a quick update. I have changed my mind several times on features for this rifle. The butt plate has been thrown into the scrap pile with other previous attempts and I'm now locked in on using a cow horn comb and steel toe plate. I like the look and it's much more comfortable to hold. Soddy Daisy style cheek rest is taking shape and this is the trigger guard that I'm going to use.

Balance point is shifting forward with the weight distribution changes.



Current weight is 7 lb even including the John Deere dog leash!

[FALout]

By the time you get the finish on, you’ll be over the weight limit!
Bob

[Daniel Coats]

Got two copper pipes on the gun and not adding an entry pipe even though I have one made up.

[Daniel Coats]

Brass front sight made out of folded up brass sheet stock 0.065 thick. I need this extra thick front sight so I can see it at the end of the 4-ft barrel. Should almost look like a shotgun bead way out there.

[Daniel Coats]

Stock is coming along and trimming down to a slimmer size. Seems like everyday all I get is about a dustpan full of sawdust off of this super dense walnut stock.

[Daniel Coats]

Thinking about adding a pewter nose cap made from food grade pewter. The pewter itself was cheap enough and works easily.

[oldtravler61]

  Daniel it looks better than my nose cap...  Ya I know always a smart a$$ in the group...lol
Can't wait to see how it comes out.
 My pours always have holes in them...  Oldtravler

[mr. no gold]

Looks nice and slim which is a real advantage. My original Clement's, Soddy has a heavy 42" barrel and is almost too heavy for an old man like me to hold at the level anymore. But then, I always did prefer those long slim guns. Great efforts for a fine looking gun. Eager to see it completed! Thank you for letting us all see how it is progressing.
Dick

 

[Daniel Coats]

  Daniel it looks better than my nose cap...  Ya I know always a smart a$$ in the group...lol
Can't wait to see how it comes out.
 My pours always have holes in them...  Oldtravler

Yeah the trick is trying to get that yellow sticky barcode on straight! 

[Daniel Coats]

Looks nice and slim which is a real advantage. My original Clement's, Soddy has a heavy 42" barrel and is almost too heavy for an old man like me to hold at the level anymore. But then, I always did prefer those long slim guns. Great efforts for a fine looking gun. Eager to see it completed! Thank you for letting us all see how it is progressing.
Dick

Thanks Dick I would love to see pictures of your rifle. Mine is weighing 7 pounds right now which is pretty light for a rifle with a 4 foot barrel. I'm still whittling on her but not likely to get many more dustpans full of sawdust removed.

Thanks for the comment!

[Ken G]

She's starting to shape up into a true Soddy.  Thanks for posting the journey.  I've enjoyed seeing the progress.

Cheers,
Ken

[Daniel Coats]

She's starting to shape up into a true Soddy.  Thanks for posting the journey.  I've enjoyed seeing the progress.

Cheers,
Ken

Thanks Ken I really appreciate the comment!

[Daniel Coats]

Poured the nose cap today. First picture shows the prep work and sealing all the leaky spots with sheetrock mud it dries fast and helps eliminate bubbles and leaks.

Second picture shows the end result. The secret to working with bubbles is give them a few seconds to stop and then keep on pouring hot liquid metal over them and  they tend to heal up by themselves.

[Daniel Coats]

Long Tall Sally got a nose job today. Here's a couple profile pictures showing how she looks so far.

[Keith Zimmerman]

Wow!!  Turned out great.  Looking good.

[Daniel Coats]

Wow!!  Turned out great.  Looking good.

Thanks for the comment!

That grade of pewter is by far the best that I have ever worked with and the thin delicate nature of the cream pitcher  that it came from tells me you could make a nose cap of almost any dimension or thickness.

[oldtravler61]

  Daniel you did a excellent job in that nose cap... She's looking great..  Oldtravler

[Ken G]

That nose cap looks pretty slick.  Nice job for sure!  You are in the final stretch.

Ken