gemstone globe model engineering mikes-models

Following on from our world cruise in 2008 I bought a gemstone
globe on eBay . Unfortunateley when it arrives the frame was
damaged beyond repair due to very poor packing. When seeking
to return the defective item to the seller she said she didn't want
it back because of the further expense in shipping. So it sat
there, too nice to dump, but useless.

My son recently started to see a lovely lady who is a teacher at a
primary school, so at Christmas 2007 I asked if it would be of
any use to her for her school, if I made a stand for it? And thats
how this project came about! They are visiting us this weekend
and I am hoping to have it completed before they return back to
Bedfordshire.

After taking the old, and cheap and nasty (considering the value
of the globe) frame off. I decided to make a new stand wilth a
heavy aluminium base and a rod to pass through the 2 holes
already in the globe.

General construction notes:

To ensure the globe revolves smoothly there were two home
made nylon washers produced. These were placed between the
nut and the globe at the top and the base rod and globe. The
level of resistance was achieved by adjusting the top screw. To
ensure it wouldn't undo itself I used some metal 'glue'. To
achieve the Earth's tilt I bored the base rods hole with the base
set to the correct angle.

What I though woud be a simple task, whilst not challenging
engineering, certainly took a while. It also created perhaps the
most swarf to date!

I would have liked to have spent more time on the finish but it
was ever thus. At least it can be of use now, so I suppose I can
say I have recycled on a Global scale! (sorry!).

The gallery photo's will hopefully make all clear.