Sincerely appreciate the feedback and continued interest. I know erosion or watching paint drying is much more exciting (Truthfully, folks. I thank you!).
Sorry I'm late (no really).
Was out pillaging with me mates (working at the grind).
Failed at several attempted U-turns in me ship (seriously, have you tried blowing on a sheet with holes in it?).
Jumped ship to get here sooner (ok. That's a lie. Starcraft 2 was released.).
Succeeded in getting meself caught in a riptide and thusly unable to return to shore (got stuck in L.A. traffic. A skill I've apparently mastered).
Concluded me Michael Phelps-Olympic style strokes (panic-stricken, thrashing-frenzied, doggie paddling) wasn't getting me anywhere, (this realization took months - hence the belated post).
Climbed into a dingy randomly floating by (they do that).
Paddled toward shore (hopped on the diamond lane).
Me dingy capsized (got a flat).
Finally dragged me weary body ashore to find meself eyeball to eyepatch (thanks kai) with a horde of pissed off natives (a motorcycle cop gave me a damn ticket riding solo in the diamond lane. Apparently putting me pirate hat on top of the rig which was riding shotgun looks NOTHING like a real person).
Performed several valient attempts to bring this update to fruition (whoa. big word. thanks thesaurus.com).
No but really, after much debate, planning, hints, lies, allegations, things left unsaid and failed execution attempts, I've finally mounted the port windows in a way I can label it a success.
(Seriously at this point, I'm as unsure why I'm writing all this as you are reading it.)
Perhaps I should just update more often to spare you these outlandish (but very true) stories I have disclosed thus far.
I used the Roto zip to create the circular cut on the chassis:
I was flying to Las Vegas for work a couple of months ago and I was delightfully chosen to be one of the few pulled out of line to have me backpack inspected (Yes. Pirate's have Swiss Army laptop backpacks).
Airport security at Burbank, California had to run it through the X-ray machine a couple of times, reinspecting it, running it through again,
reinspecting, running it through, etc. while holding up the line.
Meanwhile, the co-workers were all cleared and waiting going something like, "What in God's name...?"
At this point, a crowd of security officers have gathered inside my comfort zone and one turns to me with her wafting malodorous breath situation and says, "We can't find it, but it's showing up on the Material Detection Scanner display".
"Can't find what?" I ventured.
"A weapon." they said in THX surround without blinking.
My stomach shot up to my throat.
"I beg your what?" I managed.
After what must have been the 10th time of me tornado digging through my backpack and finding nothing, there it was.
Buried deep within a secret pocket located underneath the bottom lining, there was the compass which I thought I had lost years ago.
In a nanosecond, all of security just *snap* disappeared except one saying, "You're clear" while handing the compass back to me.
"I can keep it?"
"Yes. Have a nice flight."
The lesson: If you can't find your compass, run your backpack through your local airport security scanners.
The side panel being outfitted for a gaping hole:
To prevent bit drift I employed this useful, little guy - the centerpunch aka Manny Pacquiao:
Setting up the RZip's circular cutting tool:
About halfway, I tripled check to see we were gtg. I must've measure pretty well since it was spot on:
Had some deburring ahead of me:
This box of 8-32, black oxide screws will help me mount the window to the chassis on both sides:
Lining up the screws with the window on one side:
Mounted the portholes on both sides of the panel:
Mesh was just a "prop" to make it look a little more um...more... meshlike?
Dunno if it will remain there for the final situation:
The only decent shot I had of it mounted on the inside. I'll post more internal pics showing other angles later:
Next update should include my shenanigans in creating an instrument panel on the other side of the motherboard tray.
Until then, thanks for dropping by!
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