Bag Beta….SUCCESS!
This bag was a huge step for me. But first, things first. Photo dump….then see detail below.
-bag itself-
-bag on hot model-
As I said, the production of this big was a big step for me. I did it in about the same time as the first bag, but with planning and being less rusty on my machine, I made a superior product.
As you can see I added the following features:
Padded shoulder strap (words were a nice touch too)
Shorter top-flap
Inside pocket (has proved very useful)
Sternum strap (for stabilizing when riding)
Much taller
With all of these additions and a big growth in the pattern, I feel I am on the road to building the best bag. The bag rides pretty well, but the strap could use improvement in placement. As you will also notice, there were two beers missing from the six-pack in my demonstration, so I’m off to rest now and think more about the pattern.
Goals for the next bag version:
Better top-flap
More pockets and/or large pocket on outside, under top-flap
This is the progress as of 8:30pm PST tonight. Although the bag is a success for testing the general pattern and materials, there are many changes in order for the next run.
It need to be much taller. I made this model on the short side to conserve vinyl. This bag only required one of the 5 vinyl posters I was given.
The edges and corners are razor sharp. I need to devise either a method of preventing this or come up with a “edging” material.
I’ve forgotten how to finish off stitches. I need to google that and relearn. Otherwise this thing is gonna fall apart fast.
Pockets and any “intricate” strap attachments will need to be made before the main bag seams are stitched. I had a hell of a time trying to manipulate the vinyl once the main seams were in place.
Need to determine most comfortable strap settings.
All of this noted, I will sort it out tomorrow. Time for a beer and a cigarette. Celebrate a job well done.
My messenger bag is about to give way finally. It’s been with me for a solid two years, and is long overdue for a replacement. Not to mention that this current bag has hardly enough room for a city rider like myself. My first intuition was to go out and buy a Chrome bag. However I quickly found that I didn’t like the way they wore, so I opted away from Chrome bags. Next, I heard about a great made-to-order messenger bag company called R.E.Load, and really liked the way their bags looked. I happen to see one of their “not-so-custom” version at the local bike shop and tried it on. It fit great and felt like a bag that would ride easy.
The problem I found, after contacting R.E.Load, was that I would have to wait 6-8 weeks to actually get my bag. Not sure of how much longer my decrepit current bag might last, I looked for a quicker solve. That’s when I found Federico’s messenger bag pattern and blog about the evolution of this pattern. I quickly started a new, customized version for myself, drawing the pattern in illustrator and noting all the measurements needed.
As you can see above, I have not yet taken into account the straps. But I think those can be done after the main body construction. I’ve also changed the dimensions of the original pattern somewhat to make a larger bag. Seeing as how I am probably 1.5x the size of Frederico, it seems appropriate.
Now to find a sign shop dumpster tomorrow and get this going of the sewing machine….
Notes:
I really liked making these.If you cannot tell yet, I prefer working with my hands and brain, rather than just my brain. I put these pieces together from some parts I found. The black painted one was also weathered by me. They are both gone now. I believe the three-mirror piece was last given to Kristin Pippin of Costa Mesa, and the five-mirror piece I do not know.
Notes: These are some flowers I made a few years ago for friends. It was something one of my friends had commissioned, but as the others saw her little fabric flower, proudly displayed on her chest, the others asked if I could make more. I tried to produce very over-simplified version of real flowers. Things that were more like a child’s drawing of the plant than the way it exists in reality. As you can see, also, over the few weeks I made these, my designs got more and more perverted from the original “simplified” style. The last one I created was more of an expression than a flower itself.
I used to fancy myself a chef of sorts. Although I still cannot make a casserole to save my life, I learned to master the art of “mash-up” entrees. These mainly consist of whatever you can find, prepared in some classic method and served in a standard venue. I think everyone has done the noodle “mash-up”: grabbing any noodle ready (Ramen normally) and throwing in veggies you find in the fridge and chicken or tofu. Well, today I decided to rekindle my love for the “mash-up” entree and devised the PDX Roll. Prepared and wrapped similarly to a traditional egg roll, however this roll has some ingredients from all over. It’s basically a giant potatoey, cheesy, green veg lover’s treat. There is no meat so it’s also vegetarian.
Tillamook Sharp Cheddar (Any Market - God bless those crazy effing dairy farmers)
Brown Potatoes (Diced, frozen or fresh -Any Market)
Extra Firm Tofu (Anywhere but Texas)
**Secret Spices** (Sorry kids, find your own spices)
Basically, saute the stuff that needs it, wrap em up in the papers and deep fry away.
Yours should look something like this:
Now you are equipped with my newest culinary creation (yet).
So go ask out the cute girl from Powell’s/Buffalo Exchange/Montage/Backspace, prepare some PDX Rolls, serve up a chilled glass of Riesling….and score like a professional athlete on “performance enhancers”.
Comments: Just some things I made this evening. I have said it before and I will reiterate it, Sharpies are my love. If I was caught in a time warp and sent back in time to redo the world’s greatest art works, I would have only ask to have a chisel tip, fine tip, and super fine tip. Preferably black and red. Possibly metalic silver.
PLEASE SEE PREIVOUS “PART 1″ BEFORE READING ON. -CLICK HERE-
Clever, Missouri - December 27th - 1700 hours
It has been two days since the original idea and creation of my plane that can carry and launch the bottle rocket payload. Although I promised myself to try launching yesterday, I was overcome by videos games, thrift stores, and casinos. A murky, murky gambling haze of yesterday still haunting me, I set out to complete my project today.
- Project: “Death from Above” - (CONT.)
Step 8: Check plane for preflight and load for payload test flights. Check. Technical: The duct tape seems to have held up fine and everything looks in order. The charger is functioning well. Weather conditions seem ample for launch with a slight SW breeze, just enough to keep the plane air-borne in small area.
Step 9: Payload Test Launch(es). Check.
Technical: I am experiencing immediate problems with the payload. Although my estimates put the six bottle rocket payload at a feasible weight, I could not have been more wrong. The immediate nose-dives mean the plane is way too heavy. As you can see from the video, I attempt to test the plane without payload….perfect flight. From the video you cna also see that I troubleshoot the old fashion way. I remove the payload two rockets at a time until the plane is at a “flight-ready” weight. It turns out the plane can only really hold two rockets. But this is still a great thing. However, I need to reconfigure the launch tubes to only hold one rocket per wing.
Step 10: Reconfigure launch tube to accommodate one projectile per wing. Check. Technical: I cut new, longer, launch tubes from two more straws. I mount the straw as close to the plane body as possible without disrupting the propeller. I also decide to construct a few new fuse extensions based on the new reduced payload.
Step 11: Launch my mad creation and enjoy. Check….well almost… Technical: Although the flight weight, wind, and plane seem to be perfect, I fail to launch the plane successfully four times. It seems to nose-dive, even if not immediately. I almost blow the left wing off after a nose-dive that left a lit bottle rocket pined to the wing on the ground. My father is also almost hit in the face with a bottle rocket. Although a continuous failure, it is pretty awesome nonetheless.
Step 12: What went wrong? One more try? Check. Technical: After talking to my dad a bit I realize that I may have made another mistake when reconfiguring the plane to one launch tube. As you can see, the single launch tubes extend well in front of the wing. This places the balance of the bottle rockets in front of the wing rather than under it. Thus causing the eventual nose-dives of the plane. My dad recommends placing the front of the launch tubes actually under the center of the wing. While I realize this means that one more failure like today and the plane wings are probably going to blow off, I am happy that my dad is so excited about the project. I probably should have consulted the old aerospace engineer first anyway.
So Saturday, my final full day here, I plan to test the last and greatest build of project “Death from Above”. Final launch is eminent!
Clever, Missouri - Christmas Day - 1300 hours
My father is in the backyard, lighting “parachuter” fireworks for the kids. They run and catch the produced parachute as it descends to the earth. He then brags about the large volume of fireworks he has stored in the “safe room” (it’s for tornados, not money and jewels).
My curiousity peaks.
I look across the yard at the odd self-propelling airplanes that my aunt sent for the kids to play with. The kids aren’t quite old enough and the chaotic flights of the planes, pointed into the wind, had me launching them while the kids hid behind me and screamed with joy when the planes passed. (Maybe I’m a little over-protective).
But I connect the dots between the over-abundance of fireworks and the under-used airplanes.
“A project,” I think, “something to keep me busy so I don’t just sit around all week…something that flys…and shoots….and blows up…”
- Project: “Death from Above” -
Step 1: Procure self-propelled airplanes giving to smal children for Christmas. Check. Technical: Although the planes are quite awesome, I had little resistance to taking one of them for modification and possible destruction. I think the family has come to realize that when my genius strikes, they should not get in the way. Also, I think they were all napping.
Step 2: Testing plane for weight and flight longevity. Check.
Technical: The plane tests for strong flight and a decent weight, meaning the extra ounces of weight from the six bottle rockets should not affect it terribly. Also, the engine seems to charge quickly and keep going for a long time. This may prove a problem ion retreiving the plane post launch….especially if it catches on fire itself.
Step 3: Locate and collect combustible projectiles (bottle rockets). Check. Technical: Once again, with everyone napping I was able to gleam a large supply of needed bottle rockets.
Step 4: Obtain tools and additional items for full build. Check. Technical: I found all things necessary for the final build, I believe. Straws (Bottle Rocket launch tubes), Tape (launch tube adhesion), Scissors (sizing launch tubes), the plane, and the rockets.
Step 5: Constructing the launch tubes and attaching them. Check. Technical: I cut the launch tubes down roughly to a length that matched the wings themselves. I knew that if I didn’t provide enough support, the rocket might not last long in the tubes after takeoff. Everything attached well and the launch tubes should not be a problem.
Step 6: Fuse problems…..fuse problems….bah! Check. Technical: As I shove the bottle rockets into the launch tubes to test the plane’s total weight I realize…..”these fuses are too short!” I don’t want this to blow up in my hand, long before launching the plane…so I improvise. I extract some fuses from three packs of old firecrackers. (Two for the main project launch and one for a “fuse extension” test.) I attach one fuse extension to a test group of three bottle rockets.
Step 7: Testing fuse extensions
Technical: As you can see, I first think the fuse extension is a failure but after seeming to go out, they exlpode with life and the three bottle rockets launch simultaneously a good 8 seconds after lighting.
However, darkness creeps over quickly and I realize that the project only has two steps left….the final deployment of the plane to test conditions and then the main lauch. But, in darkness neither of these can be completed or documented well. So I resign for the night.
Launch is scheduled for tomorrow, 1100 hours.
Me, cause they’re full of awesome shit. For instance, this last Saturday.
Let’s start with the essential materials:
Smokes, Amelia, a Pile of Boxes, and one very nice Razor Blade.
Most people think you need to go to bars or clubs… but leave it to the master and I won’t steer you wrong. So, Amelia and I eat some grub and hang for a bit. (FYI: Instant Miso and Udon is great)
I get to thinking that this here pile of cardboard boxes aren’t going to do much but take up space unless I do something effing cool with em. So I get to cutting…
Then come the Philip K. Dick inspired pieces….
aka the Hipster Androids..
“Do android hipsters dream of electric designer jeans?”
And that was about it. I think Amelia was scared, or intensely attracted, and had to leave immediatley after I showed off my skills. I went to bed. It was a good day.
UPDATE: Since yesterday, I tried devising my halloween costume, not yet to be announced, out of cardboard mail. Similar to “wiki(chainmail)” however exclusively made with masking tape and cardboard squares. I ran into a few snags and have had to adjust my reasoning. It will be an excellent costume and I cannot let this second step into the cardboard costume foul me up.
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