With the second floor slabs poured and the ship and tower installed it is time to start forming the second floor walls. The castle walls are over 27 feet tall at their peak so they will be poured in two sections. It is great to see the forms under way!
The Hazelnut Inn changed dramatically today. It was the day to lift the ship and one of the castle towers into place. We’ve been preparing for this day for a long time. Yesterday, we placed the large pieces into position (ready to lift) in preparation of the crane’s arrival. The ship’s cabin was the first piece craned up and then its roof was gently placed on top. The worksite changed in an instant!
Around back the first castle tower was set upright and lowered onto the wall. The boys quickly anchored the tall feature permanently in place. The building suddenly felt bookended and it was easy to get a feel of how the rooms would look when completed.
The rest of the day with the crane was spent lifting heavy steel posts and setting them on the steel plates which had previously been cast into the concrete. Each was carefully plumbed and then welded in place. Two large circular beams will be welded to the tops of the posts in the next couple of weeks. These beams will support the large tower roof.
We have averaged just about 2 blog entries a week over the last 18 months. It has been great fun documenting the Hazelnut’s design (and now it’s construction) and we just wanted to thank you for journeying with us thus far. We have a long way to go still but it’s going to be a lot of fun getting there!
Today was a very big day. We poured the three interlocking suspended slabs that form the second floors of the North Star and the Copper Crown as well as the Under Hill’s green roof. It was a complicated pour (and a long day) but it went off with only a hiccup or two. You can bet Hailey and I will be dancing on the floors tomorrow!
It’s official, the North Star’s bedroom has been christened the Avellana. Today, we added the transom name plate to the top of the ship.
I snapped this picture on my way back out of the shop tonight. We should finish painting the ship soon and I can hardly wait to see it all together!
Today the crew over at the Imagination Corporation finished up the carved concrete on the Copper Crown’s “dragon tower.” Next week it will be lifted into place along with the rest of the Avellana.
