January 6, 2026
The Phantom Mantis build is really really difficult. Martin finally figured out how to do step 3. And we had wind!
You have got to be kidding me! Twelve pieces and two subassemblies have to have that screw threaded through them??!! That’s simply not possible. U4 isn’t part of this step, you just need to make sure it can fit there.
Modeling clay to the rescue! It took Martin a week or so to come up with the modeling clay idea and it worked! There it is, everything but the last 4 pieces held in the exact right position with the modeling clay. the bolt is threaded through.
There it is with all the clay cleaned off. Martin just noticed when he looked at this picture carefully, that the nut is overtightened a bit.
Numerous gusts over 40 yesterday and today, with 55.1 at 7:24 this morning. That’s way too much excitement!