Starting the Lumbar vertebrae.



This issue we start working on the lower spine, although the vertebrae themselves are not used until next issue.



Take the thinner metal disc and the thinner rubber disc, then place them together like this.



Insert the metal component with the longer end through the hole.



Place the thicker rubber component on top, the metal component will come through the hole a little.



Place a split washer on each of the screws, and screw the asembly into the smal cavity in the centre of the lower Thoracic cage.



NOTE: Ensure that the ribs visible are going front to back, NOT side to side as I have here. I had to loosen the screws and turn the component as otherwise the vertebrae installed next issue would not fit correctly.

Having sorted that, that is all for this issue.

Starting the Pelvis



A fairly light issue this time, we will only use one of the plastic components, so be sure to keep the other safe until we need it..



Cut this one, labelled "R", from the sprue,



And place on this metal component like so.



Turn over and use the small countersunk screw to hold it in place.



Connect the two metal components like this, and that's it for this issue.

Second pelvis frame



This issue is a repeat of the first frame, just with mirrored components, and a sprue of two plastic details for the shells.




So cut the 'R' detail from the sprue, sparingly add a little superglue to the edge, and install into the other side of the pelvis like this.



And that's all for this issue.

Pelvic frame top, more shell



Another small issue, so once gain I'm combining this and the next issue into one post.



With the lower frame from last issue and the top frame from this one, the pelvis looks like this.



With the frames screwed together, it pulls the pelvis into shape more and makes it much more solid.

Take some superglue and put a small amount on each of the two pins on the right side of the pelvis shell (Left in the picture) then place this issue's component on top and push it flush.



That's another issue done.



and the next one is more of the same.



Do as we have just done and fit the other piece of the top pelvic shell.



The hydraulic sockets are then screwed in. They are keyed, so will only fit one way, but I presume this is more to prevent them turning more than they have to go in at a particular orientation.



And finally for these two issues, the front shell piece gets glued in here.

Almost up to where I have currently built to. We have some more finishing touches for the Pelvis, but once again, not much to do each issue.



The front of the pelvis will curently look like this.



Take the plate supplied this issue and slide it downwards into the front. Again, I found this fairly hard, but it will go in and snap into place. There are a couple of lugs on the side of the piece that slide into slots in the pelvis, so ensure they are aligned.



This is what it will look like when it's in correctly.



Put some superglue on either the pins shown here, or the corresponding areas of the circular part supplied this issue and glue them together.



That completes issue 51.

Issue 52.



Take these three components from this issue, and the top with a connector from a previous issue. We will use these to make one of the leg muscles.

The instructions tell you to slide the piston into the housing, then glue the cap in place. It works just as well doing it as I did and gluing the cap in place, then inserting the piston.



With the piston installed, the link from the previous issue can be clued on the other end, trapping the piston inside.



The final thing for this issue, and our first year of the build, is the final part of the pelvic shell. This is another push-fit part, and goes on easily.



And that is that for now. I plan on doing more work later today, so should have more updates tomorrow.

Issue 55



One part in a cardboard box this issue. Again plastic. As this is the main part of the thigh, it's obvious that this model won't take it's own weight. The stand must have some sort of rod behind the model, maybe branching out under the arms and holding it up that way. At least that would be better than having something screwed in through the back and attached to something like the thoracic cage.



Take these two parts from the previous two issues, and slot them together as shown.



These will make the outside of the hip joint.



Glue a nut in each of the holes in the thigh component. Once again, we need to ensure the nuts don't move before we have fully made the connection.



Take the two parts slotted together this issue, and place over the hip joint.



And that is what we have at the end of this issue.


Issue 56



The parts for the hip joint.



Take the black, ring shaped plastic piece and place it in the thigh with the concave side up. There are four cut outs in the circumference, these fit over the four tubes that we will eventually drive the screws down to tighten the whole joint up.





The metal ball joint then goes through, we will then screw through this and attach the thigh to the pelvis.



It is worth noting that there are only two orientations for this joint due to a double key design to the fit. Having said that, I don't believe that it makes any difference which of the two ways it goes, in fact I can't see any way to tell which way it goes out of those two.



Once the ball joint is securely connected to the pelvis, this domed plastic component goes over the top. There will then be two metal components required to finish off the joint.



Firstly this domed component, designed to fit over the plastic one and compress is to provide the required friction to make the joint work.



Then this flatter component which gets screwed to the rest of the joint.

It is important to note that the hip joint is still NOT complete at this stage and is loose. We will be able to complete the joint and tighten things up next issue.

Latest delivery arrived today, so I spent a pleasant time completing the right thigh.

Issue 59



Bit of a weird issue to start though.



Take these two parts and glue the plastic ratchet part into the knee component.



Like so.



Then we make one of the pistons for the thigh muscles. For the first time I am aware of, the screw to secure the grommet in place is a type with a flat ring to help keep the grommet on the end of the piston.



Shame they hadn't had these from the beginning, I hope they have learned and only use these from now on.



Select the large piston unit we made in a previous issue, ensuring it's the one with a '1' on it as shown here.



This gets attached as the front muscle on the right leg, with the flatter edge towards the centre of the pelvis.

That is all for this issue, the knee component will be used in a later issue.

Issue 61



Parts for the knee joint.



This time we have two ratchets to install. Take care with these as the two sides are different, there are differing depths for the ratchets to go down. The best way to install these is to put the glue in the holes in the part, otherwise you may just glue the ratchet to the part without it going all the way into the part.





This is what they should look like when in the correct positions.



We then take the final piston component for this area, and connect it to the knee like this.



And that's all for this issue, we install it on the leg next time.

And this months update.

We work on the lower right leg.





Note there is a notch in the collar which fits over a tab at the top of the tube. This ensures the correct alignment when fitted.





The knee joint part of this assembly is then added to the other end of the tube, going in the smaller socket at the top of the circular part in the picture. Once again, the socket is keyed, so correct alignment is easy.



And that's it for the first of these four issues.

This issue we install another leg piston.



So it's really just a repeat of last issue, ending up with this.





We then take the larger leg front piece supplied this issue, and the assembly we have just worked on.



The front piece is screwed to the assembly, although I would have liked to leave it off for the time being. The top of it slightly covers the screw location for the final, and largest, hydraulic piston. I was able to get all the screws in without much trouble, so I leave that to other people's discretion.



The front shield is now added to the main leg section.



Apply a little superglue to the indicated locations, and then press it into the main leg plate.





And finally screw it in from the back like so.



And that ends this issue.