Differences

This shows you the differences between two versions of the page.

--- wiki:stage:towers [2023/01/20 19:32] – JonathanFerguson
+++ wiki:stage:towers [2025/04/16 13:41] (current) – ac9g23
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-===== Contents =====
+===== Description =====
-  - Description
-  - Dimensions
-  - Assembly/Disassembly Instructions
-  - Storage
-  - Safety
-  - Builders' Notes
-==== Description ====
 Two towers were built. The bases are 4' by 4' wide. The towers have two floors, with a central ladder to climb between them. The ground floor is at 1' high, and the top floor is at 6' high. Three sides of the ground floor are enclosed by a truss-like structure. The top handrail is continuous apart from one side, which has a half length handrail to allow walking from one tower to another (or onto a piece of 6' deck).
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-==== Dimensions ====
+===== Dimensions =====
 {{:wiki:stage:tower_v3_crop.png?400|}}
-==== Assembly/Disassembly Instructions ====
+===== Assembly/Disassembly Instructions =====
 This set of instructions is for one tower. Be sure to check you have the pieces for the right tower, otherwise the holes may not line up (sorry!).
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-=== 1. Bases ===
+==== 1. Bases ====
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-=== 2. Back and Sides ===
+==== 2. Back and Sides ====
 //The outer bolts on the bottom of the back and side pieces are difficult to access. You should attempt to get at least three out of four bolts installed.//
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-=== 3. Top Floor ===
+==== 3. Top Floor ====
 //Hard hats recommended from this stage onwards.//
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-=== 4. Ladder ===
+==== 4. Ladder ====
 Insert the ladder from the bottom through the gap in the top floor. Bolt down through the bottom rung, into and through the base piece, and reach underneath to do these up. Bolt the ladder to the back piece with all four bolts as well.
@@ Line 90: / Line 81: @@
-=== 5. Handrails ===
+==== 5. Handrails ====
 Check the ladder and top floor are secure, and then carefully climb up to the top floor. Remember you are working at height! Have the handrails passed up and hold them in place while they are bolted in position. Put the bolts from the front handrail in from below, and put the nuts on top, so there is no protruding bolt to hit anyone's head below.
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-==== Storage ====
+===== Storage =====
 The 2'x4' wheeled base pieces are currently stored in Big Store and are used as wheely trollies. You can stack one on top of another if you apply both brakes on the top one!
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+===== Safety =====
+It is essential to check the structural integrity of the towers as part of any set inspection. Repair and replace any broken or damaged parts. Be sure that the towers are safe to be used before climbing on them!
+Cast should be familiarised with the towers and given the opportunity to climb them - some cast may be apprehensive!
+Do not move the towers with cast on them. At least three brakes should be applied on each tower before it is climbed. It is recommended to use lighting hook-clamps mounted to a side piece to clamp the tower to an appropriately braced piece of deck for added stability. Do not assemble the towers without the sandbags in the bottom - recommended mass at least 50kg per tower.
+Be aware of the open handrail and do not position the tower so the open handrail leads to a drop! Ensure the edges of the top floor are clearly marked in white tape, and familiarise the cast with the hazards of using the towers in a dark environment.
+The top handrails are not designed to be load-bearing.
+Decorative materials can be applied to the outside of the tower, but should use the minimum number of small screws so the structural wood is not compromised. Limit the weight of any decoration attached to the top half of the tower.
+===== Builders' Notes =====
+The towers were built in January 2023, to be first used in The Addams Family. They were designed by Jonathan Ferguson and built by him and a team of dedicated crew over the period of two full days and one evening. The total cost was significant (>£300), which was paid for by StageSoc as the towers will be an asset used for many shows to come (hopefully!).
+The SOLIDWORKS CAD model and all the PDF part drawings are here: [[https://stagesoc.org.uk/gallery/download.php?file=8420_WtSqkLv2.zip|download Towers V3.zip]]
+The materials used were:
+x38mm CLS studwork from Wickes
+x2440mm 18mm structural plywood from Wickes*
+x100mm carcassing timber from Jewson (for the base structures)
+Torx screws throughout (to stop anyone accidentally over-dismantling the flat pack pieces during get-outs!
+M12 bolts (for the base piece bolts)
+M10 bolts of varying lengths elsewhere
+The aim was to build the flat pack parts to be interchangeable. Due to some oversights in the design (i.e. Wickes CLS is 2400mm long, not 2440mm) not all of the bolt holes lined up. Many were fixed by judicious application of a larger spade drill bit, however this means there may be inconsistencies between parts. Because of this, it was decided to allocate each part in its specific place to aid easy reassembly.
+The towers were designed to be neutral, so that they can be decorated appropriately for the show in question. This could include solid walls (3mm plywood is recommended) on any of the four sides (remember to leave an exit route!).
+Having said this, it is theoretically still possible to re-configure the towers. For instance, it should be possible to configure either tower as a "left" or "right" tower, by flipping the top floor panel over (the ladder is in the centre so does not need to move). Equally, the handrails on the top floor could be re-adjusted (however new bolt holes to join the handrails to each other may be needed as the placement of these was not measured!).
+In theory, both towers could be bolted together to make a 4'x8' mega tower. This would be very cool.
+The base plates can be assembled in any configuration to make a piece of 1' tall wheely deck. Bolt holes along the sides should all match up to enable this. The top handrails should in theory be able to attach to the baseplates as well (although this is much less certain).
+Using the drawings and by measuring the towers themselves, it would be possible to build extra pieces, such as stronger or different length top handrails, shorter/taller sides etc.
+==== The Wickes Trip ====
+Jonathan's estate car was not large enough to fit the large pieces of uncut ply. To get them from Wickes to the Annex, he took 4 unwitting volunteers (Cerys, Ellie, Simon and Sy) and the wheely board in his car to Wickes, tied the ply vertically to the wheely board, and left them to make their way back by foot. This was unadvisable and should not be repeated. The aforementioned volunteers should be commended for their tireless work to bring the 3 pieces of plywood back to the Annex.