let it snow...

So, I didn't go to the ranch today. It was snowing very hard and it was also very windy out. I called my neighbor up there and found out that it was a hard downpour. Looked like it was going to rain hard all weekend. I have cancelled the trip and will go up next weekend. The outlook is better for then.
I feared I made an error in my math, which I may or may not have mentioned in a previous blog. I decided that I would put together the two types of triangular parts to see if they would fit ok. One is a 5 strut star, using the a and b struts. The other is a 6 point star using the C and B struts. they fit together just fine. It made what I thought was about the most beautiful thing I have seen since I found my wife and found my property!
I took some pictures, of course and you can see that each one looks perfect. Since I am going to be making a larger version of this for underground use and since I used undersized tubing and undersized bolts, I decided to see if the thing would bend under weight. I knew that away from the bolt points, it would easily bend. The strength there will come from the cement and chicken wire, but the overall strength can be checked by weight on the center of each start. My wife stepped up onto it, but refused to give her weight. No sign of give. My kid stepped up on it at around 225 lbs. No sign of give. Earth weighs about 110 lbs per sf., so that means with 2 feet of earth on it there would be no problems. That is PRIOR to adding the strength of the ferro cement. I am now comfterable with this plan and shall proceed as planned.
For now, the pictures of the stars can be viewed at:
First star and Second Star
I can also see the smarts in having at least one other person helping to build this. you need the extra hands. LOL