Creating something new, day 5
Window shopping and more
Wake up with Iselin's soft lips pressed against mine, with light that faintly plays between her hair while protecting my eyes from the most of it. I embrace her and answer her kiss, until I feel that another part of me also have lips around it. Kari may not be as good as Iselin is, but she intends to be. Kari seems uncomfortable with a three way threesome, and considering how wet it might be, it's not something I will try to have with them, but I can 'sacrifice' myself to be her practise subject when she practices oral sex. Hard work, literally right now, but someone has to do it. Poor me.
Iselin's lips are wonderful, but it's her other lips I become interested in tasting, which I know she likes, and when she comes, so do I.
----------------------------------------
The morning is spent preparing crucibles and building a furnace for them, and preparing a burn in the afternoon.
I let it dry a bit before we light the fire, and I take one of the old dried lumps of clay and spend an hour methodically carving and forming a model. Small and graceful with soft shapes and space for a piece of polished glass in the base. There is a type of really nice ruby red glass that could be used, as real jewels is unnecessarily expensive and they probably have no one even close to big enough. I want it in Sterling Silver with 5% copper, but Rose Gold would be fun, and I'm not sure how pure the silver, or gold is here anyway. Nickel allergy rash in the butt must be unpleasant as hell.
Sketch and prepare a mold in clay for a lead bullet for my future cartridges, basically a minieball with grooves around the side and holes in the base so it can expand and become more stable when shot, and recessed edge so it can sit on a brass casing. Add a completely unnecessary top that acts as a pour guide and camouflages its purpose. I will have to cut it of and file the shape after its cast. Cut off the top of a brass containers and make a ring to use as a diameter template, and ask the craftsman to make the minieball fit on top of it. Don't think my sneakyness is needed, but who knows.
In addition to trying to build a wind turbine, I have made the decision to make a sextant and a drawing compass. Not finished with the ship compass yet, but everything takes time. Also need to make sketches on a strong brass net for the ventilation holes so I reduce problems with rats, mice and possibly snakes in the house's basement and basement spaces. Don't know what is good but smaller is better, and better to err on the small side, so maybe a thick 200x200mm square with about 7x7mm square holes; easier to cut down or wall in, and a little more light in for the sneaky windows.
I already have the lenses for a monocular, concave-convex set that works - lower magnification than prims monocular and a little too long for sextant, but in line and less distortion as there are no prisms, which is a bonus if it is to be used at night against stars as 4% of the light is lost for each glass-air passage which quickly accumulates. Polished brass works as mirrors and I have colored pieces of glass that can act as light filters. Not perfect but probably good enough. I can get Craftsman Digraldi to cast the arm and the sextant frame itself. With what I have access to now, it can be useful if I am careful with everything and the scale, because I hope to get below a measured resolution of 20-30 km, but I will not get the precision I really want which is a couple of kilometers. It requires so careful manufacture of everything, especially all the glass and mirrors, and fine adjustments or really long arm. An updated version is for the future, but requires a lot of improved manufacturing. Small errors accumulate. It will be problematic to get the math right, because Alfheimr earth probably has a similar shape to Midgard, and it is neither a perfectly round ball nor in a perfectly round path to the sun.
The drawing compass is easy to make. But oh how I miss being able to buy screws. It's my biggest problem building things here. Riveting and soldering often work, but to be able to tighten or loosen something? More difficult. They use wedges. Screws are a big reason I want a lathe, but a lathe can build itself, and will make other tools and machinery too. However, I have come up with a solution; making molds off screws I already have with me, and casting them in brass. Not perfect but a solution that might work, and I have removed some longer M4, M6 and M8 screws from things in my pack. I have M3 and M5 too, but it feels like too small and an unnecessary intermediary size. I just have to see if I can make decent nuts or taping tools. Material shrinkage is a problem I can't really do anything about, but everything should shrink the same amount. Will ask craftsman Digraldi to make molds and if it works mass produce screws. Each screw might require some finishing, but the thread pattern should be correct. Don't think that M3 will be good, its just too fine threads, but I hope that M4 will be usefull as the smallest and work well. M6 will then be the standard screw, and M8 for larger things that require more durability, maybe can cast those in iron as it should be more durable. Do they even cast iron here?
I also want to make that mobile little ring sundial, and a larger sundial. So I make more drawings of parts that need to be cast for a small collapsible mobile ring sundial and a large sundial. I really hope that all the markings on the small parts for the ring sundial are correct. Engrave a few latitudes on the arms, like the Borgarsandr and where a couple of other places are located shouldn't be difficult. Many parts, but it's the months in the middle of the ring sundial that I'm a little worried might be wrong. Or that there is some error in manufacting with wrong dimensions. I really need to introduce vernier calipers etc, so that I can specify dimensions exactly.
None of the sundials correct for the sun's analemma, its figure 8 movement during the year, which is caused by the earth's orbit around the sun not being exactly round. But I don't know it, although I should be able to measure and calculate it in the future. If the sundials up to a quarter hour wrong a few times a year, I can live with it. Doesn't matter much if everyone use the same suntime. It can be fixed in the future.
Might as well try to start with the improved carrige project as well. Every trip to the city reminds me of that, and I quickly sketched a 'modern' wheel with spokes and steel straps.
Its quite late in the afternoon when we start up the furnace to make crucible steel and without asking I get the same help as last time. Iselin, Ciara and Bodil are happy to be helpful, and quite pleased that I trust them enough to do the right thing when I need to make a round to the city where I take Kari, Alith and Gunhild along.
----------------------------------------
It will take time to manufacture all windows so it is best to place the order as soon as possible. 90% of all exterior windows will have special iron frames with the lead lattice diamond pattern copied in 10-12mm iron bars just inside the window glass and against the lead lattice, and the same with the vertical section between the window halves but thicker and stronger. So should somebody smash a window to break in, they can't just climb through because the iron bar lattice will block and be strong even with the bad iron they have here. The windows that sit lower than 2.5m above ground can't be opened at all, and will be firmly attached by the iron frame in the log wall, when the log wall has settled enough. The windows above 2.5m can be opened towards the middle but only about 20cm. The window frame on these will also have an iron arm that protudes 15cm out past the hinge which goes into a gap in the log wall that can be blocked. Its hidden by the facade and a extra locking catch from the inside, and also for a central locking of some of the windows, so someone can't just smash a pane of glass, push their hand through and unlocking it with the normal latches. Along with the sliding limiters through the iron frame, it also helps against trying to pry the window more open so that some thin bastard can try to squeeze in.
The windows will not have external shutters simply because most can't be accessed and closed, and the upper windows on the south side are almost 7m up so they are not easily accessible from the outside and outward opening window doesn't help, although I would have liked to have sun protection shutters in the summer. It is possible that there will be shutters that can be maneuvered via a link arm from the inside, or awnings, but that is for the future. Winter is comming so not really a priority.
The window craftsman who received the order for all the windows are overjoyed, and thinks my protection idea with the iron lattice behind the glass is very interesting, even though it will be much more work and much more expensive. I can live with much more expensive. The windows should last a long time and the mansion will contain expensive and valuable things, and this is a violent world. I order 12 windows without iron lattice to the three 6x4 houses, where 6 are smaller windows to the hall and in the bedroom/chamber. Then 94 windows in total to the mansion to get single glazing windows everywhere, and most are quite large, so very expensive, of which 16 are mosaic stained glass with motifs, although 9 of them are half mosaic / half glass for the mezzanine and east side windows in the dining room and my bedroom. The mezzanine windows are huge, 2.7x1m, but the rest are smaller or narrower windows. 16 windows are 'smaller' 50cm square with deliberatly inferior and bubbly glass and some have built in ventilation for light tunnels to the basement and toilet. The rest of the windows are a mix of different sizes. The window maker will try to collect the best glass panes with the least distortion in important windows, and in the middle of these windows, in eye height or lower. The sky doesn't really matter.
Did you know this story is from Royal Road? Read the official version for free and support the author.
I can add inner windows later, but that will be another 50 to 74 windows, so I will contemplate about investing in it for every room window, including the wing and the staffrooms, but it is likely. Double windows will do a lot for overall insulation and the need for heating will be lower. Quite unnecessary to have over-insulated 40cm thick exterior walls and roof, if the biggest heat loss is the windows, and double windows reduces fogging and condensation.
The order of delivery is first all windows to the three 6x4 houses, then there is a list of batches of about 10 at a time depending on size and quality requirements; the mosaic stained glass windows are included by prioritization and he gets the sketches of the motifs. I decide to increase the order with all the windows for the greenhouse. 42 windows of the 120x120cm model, which is expensive, but it will be done sooner or later, and those windows have low demands on quality and bubbles. He can use the worst panes for those instead of scrapping them. The question is mostly whether the greenhouse windows will be finished so we can benefit from the greenhouse this winter or not.
Urgh. I must order the exterior doors as well, followed by interior doors. I need to make drawing and sketch on them too. There is so much to think about when building a house where nothing is ready to buy from a construction buisness.
Craftsman Digraldi is very willing to make prototypes and then make cast copies of everything. He also begins to appreciate my clear sketches and drawings. He is a little surprised by the scale of the arches of the large sundial, but the large bow arm can be made. Apparently cooling in the mold is a problem on long narrow things, but there are ways - it is just complicated and cumbersome to do. Say that he can make them thicker or wider as long as the curvature, markings and frame are right and fit. I again specifies the corrosion resistant model of brass. Not much difference in cost, so why not? I ask him to make 5 pieces of each, but 40 of the ventilation grilles, and of the screws I want ten sets of each size, and also cast some 'screws' in iron but extend the shaft, beveled tip and with cutting flutes, ie threaded taps and shows on the sketchs. He understands how they should be hardened etc, when I explain that they should cut in brass after a hole have been drilled. Digraldi's quite fascinated by the concept of screws. Its completely new to him but he sees the potential. He really like playing with the screws and bolts I give him to use. He asks to have a week to do everything, but he can prioritize so I can pick up some parts after four days, so I asks him to make the mold for the lead minieballs first and if he can have it finished by tomorrow, if it goes well, and make the big sundial and the drawning compasses last.
I take the opportunity to buy pretty much all of his copper wire in a couple of different thicknesses and asks him to manufacture much more, one kilometer more, of which 100m should be the thinnest wire he can make. It pretty much makes his mind boggle. Like, what the hell am I going to use it for? No real point in even trying to explain. I buy copper and brass plates too, since he has made some in a couple of different thicknesses, and I order 60 10mm brass balls so they can be used as ball bearings, and I stress that its important they're in the same size and round so a mold is best, and add two ball tracks with 200mm diameter in brass as well. I can almost see him rubbing his hands in delight over all the orders I give him, even if the silver in his hand stops it. His apprentices seems to have a delighted but 'oh boy' look on them. Guess they know what they will be doing the next couple of weeks.
When we visit the jeweler a couple of doors away, it surprises both Kari and Alith that I don't want to buy anything, but instead pick up jewelry I ordered. When they see the necklaces, Kari is actually impressed. Iselins with emeralds is very beautiful and obviously expensive with all the gold. But they are almost more amazed at the other, with its incredibly finely embroidered black lace necklace with inlaid pattern in gold thread and gold details that end in the gold pendant with the dark star sapphire. I too am surprised at just how good it turned out, and didn't expect the gold thread etc. I ask him to relay my appreciation to the seamstresses, and the jeweler's quite proud over how good it looks and our reactions. Kari have never seen jewelery like it before - it has been all metal or a leather strap, and she gently touches the pendant and its lace necklace.
I'm pretty sure she wants a similar one, and I realize that I havn't given her anything since she became my concubine. Bad Robert. The question is if I should give her that one, as she likes and look real good in black, as it is meant to be special for Ciara, but I'm going to give Ciara something even more special, so why not?
I take the jeweler to the side and ask him to make a similar necklace but with another jewel, and when I ask him what he's got, he smiles and tell me that he has bought more jewels just a couple of days ago. I find what I think is an amethyst, and its beautiful deep purple-blue color reminds me of Ciara's eyes, and personally I think it looks better than the star sapphire, so I ask him to use it and do something similar with a color-matching necklace with gold thread etc.
I also ask him to make something special, but its no jewelry, so I discreetly show the buttplug template I made. I'm most worried that Alith might see it, because she will understand. I want to two copies made, hollow so they will be both lighter and cheaper. Both sterling silver with an inserted polished glass crystal, ruby red. Specify that it is very important that the silver is as pure as he can make it, and then add 1/20 in copper - no other metal. If he can, I would appreciate if one can get a thicker layer of red-toned rose gold, which he says can be done. After that polished the surface, although it doesn't need to be mirror perfect. The jeweler is understandably quite surprised and wonders what they're for, but I just say is a special decoration for home. His craftsmanship so far has impressed me, so I hope that he can do this too.
Flattery and money goes a long way, so he agrees to it and asks to have two days for the plugs and four for the necklace. It is not a really advanced design that requires enormously fine work, but it also depends on the seamstresses. I can live with two sextoys for five ounces, even if I don't really know what to do with the other. Maybe Ciara want both, but its probably better to have one in case of 'games'. I take the opportunity to order two matching rose gold rings for Ciara's pierced nipples as well. She has not asked for it, but I know she wants it, as she has said she's saving silver to buy it in the future. Her mind seems to be set at copying Alith, but if she actually like it, a future gift might be something prettier than just rings.
I should probably get better at negotiating and bargaining, but as long as I have the amount of money I have, I'm far more interested in the time factor and willingness to help me quickly and that they do a good job.
We buy a lot more paper, and some books I need more. It's time to start writing down everything in books, including a book in math, and 'save' the world map with coordinates etc. I need to make a large globe, but its impractical to make and move. Can't count on the tablet, cellphone etc to work forever. When they break, they're broken and all the information is gone. So I need to spend a lot a lot of time in the near future and just jot everything down and save as much as I can in book form. I just wish I could have saved the pictures of my family, the music and more as well.
We find a carpenter / furniture craftsman who accept the work on the wind turbine parts. I show him the sketches for the parts, and they're very strange things but he will do as I order even if he doesn't understand what they are for. I'm a bit worried that he will make something really wrong, but I expect to improve this too in the future. Something that works okay over the winter is good enough.
The same wagon maker - aka wainwright and wheelwright - who sold the wagon to me is happy to try to make two steel clad wheels with differently thick outer frames, and if it seems good enough, will make three more of the best. He has made wagon wheels with spokes before, but not thought of heating an iron strip in a large fire until it turns red and expands, and then quickly fit it over the wheel, quickly hammer in a few nails to keep it in place and quickly cool it all with water. He will use well-seasoned dry wood and try to do it with a thinner outer wooden frame than he's used to. The hub is also a bit special as I want steel straps on it as well, and space for holes as I intend to try to attach a drum brake to in the future.
It gets even more complicated as I want him to try and make the wheel with slightly angled spokes so the hub isn't centered vertically and ends up a little inside the rolling outer diameter of the wheel itself. The shrinkage of the steel strip should help, and the point is to take the lateral forces in a turn better. It design can also be used to set the wheels at a slight angle to the horisontal so that the lower spokes are straight down, while the upper part of the wheel slopes outwards and thus the wagon can be a little wider at the top without making the wheel width wider. A better modern horsedrawn carriage will be a step-by-step process that might take several years.
But wagon construction is a future subject and we discuss templates and ways to try to get it as symmetrical as possible, and subjects like steam-shaped wood and different types of woods. I would have liked to have a bearing in the hub as well, but it may be a future upgrade, and the diameter of the oak axle will be quite large anyway, so the hub should accomodate a future bearing and metal axle upgrade. It will be interesting to see how good the wheels will be, how durable, etc.