It better spreads out the weight to keep it from sinking into the soil.  It's like how a snowshoe distributes a person's weight over greater surface area in deep snow.

These are called “ground pads”. There are lots of situations where they are used, for even weight distribution. Plus, it will help compact the base as a whole.

What will be interesting to see, is if this is it, or if they start laying large metal plates over top of it. The idea is to keep building up until a layer is firm with little flex.

Looking at the webcam.... is that a piece of track st the bottom of drop? And is it installed now?

Looking at the webcam.... is that a piece of track st the bottom of drop? And is it installed now?

Yes. They did that a couple of days ago.

13 minutes ago, upstop said:

Looking at the webcam.... is that a piece of track st the bottom of drop? And is it installed now?

Yep.  Once the big cranes come in, they'll work incrementally on both sides until they meet at the top with the "key stone" - the top of the lift hill.  It will be the final piece that will lock everything together structurally.

So is something like this what they're laying down as the ground pad?

https://www.sterlingsolutions.com/product/crane-mats/

 

^^ Yep that's what it is!

So it looks like a bunch of posts glued or bolted together, that fit like floor tile or puzzle pieces.  Each post is 12x12 inches.  Those things are THICK.

@LovinMeSomeBanshee You gotta think about the weight on them though... they gotta be thickkkk. And yes, with 4 k's.

Looks like they are maybe adding another piece of the catwalk right now.

Yes they are adding to the catwalk.

A 4x4 box crib is capable of supporting 6,000 lbs per contact point, so 24,000 lbs for 4 pieces of wood.

 

Up that to 6x6 and you get 15,000 lbs per contact point, for 60,000 lbs total for 4 pieces of wood.

 

The larger the piece, the higher the weight per contact point, the more you can support.

 

Edit: this was written for FEMA US&R but explains it well.

 

https://www.absoluterescue.com/vehicle/quick-tipbox-cribbing/

 

2 minutes ago, TheFloppyDisc said:

Looks like they are maybe adding another piece of the catwalk right now.

Maybe that indicates that we will get another lift hill piece soon! Or after more parts of the drop are added.

I still love that blue.  

They painted the new covered shelter they put up this summer as well.

Just getting caught up on the past couple days.  Doesn't look like I've not missed too much. Lol

Could the new building colors be a hint to what the Orion station could look like?

15 minutes ago, silver2005 said:

Could the new building colors be a hint to what the Orion station could look like?

It looks pretty nice from the simulation.

From WildGravity Travels Facebook!

 

She thicc. 
 

Here are some more pictures from WildGravity Travels FB page:

 

I am an editor and photographer for them now, so feel free to request pictures for their page!

 

 

Don’t ask me why, but I still find it hilarious that you have to start with a small crane to built a bigger one and then use a bigger crane to build the biggest one, which may also add parts onto the bigger one before it’s all said and done!

She thicc. 
 

The “feet” on the sides of the crane are known as outriggers or jacks. The crane will usually check all of them for contact before allowing a heavy lift since the crane is only at its strongest when all of them are touching a solid surface.

3 hours ago, fyrfyter said:

 

The “feet” on the sides of the crane are known as outriggers or jacks. The crane will usually check all of them for contact before allowing a heavy lift since the crane is only at its strongest when all of them are touching a solid surface.

 

I know the outriggers on our aerial truck on my department spread out 20’, and our Bronto is 114’ tall. I hate to see what their spread is.

Doesn't seem like much is happening this morning. 

I hope this will be one of the more active weekends. 

17 hours ago, DeltaFlyer said:

She thicc. 
 

That is a Liebherr 1300, lifting capacity of 330 tons, and max boom length of 393 feet.

Found this video on YouTube. it shows how they are put together, kinda neat. 

 

 

I guess there isn't much happening today. 

Ran into Don at the tower, we were both wanting to go up and get pics. It’s closed right now. Ugh 

@Enchanted Voyage Lover Go figure. Lol

 

Would anybody feel like donating a Cannon EOS 90D to me? lol

Edited October 5, 20196 yr by sixohdieselrage
Added help me pls!

18 minutes ago, Enchanted Voyage Lover said:

Ran into Don at the tower, we were both wanting to go up and get pics. It’s closed right now. Ugh 

Oh yeah, last weekend I went to get some pics from the telescope and....