I started making it today. I took ten strips of balsa that are four inches wide and about a sixteenth thick by three feet long.
First, I cut the boards in half so that they are 18 inches long by 4 inches by sixteenth thick.
Then, I laid two of the 4 inch boards side by side and then cut one lengthwise so that it was two inches wide. Then, as I lay the layers on top of each other, with glue of course, I stagger the boards so that they overlap, adding strength. The final piece is a rectangle that is 18 inches long by 10 inches wide by a half inch thick.
Then, when the glue was still wet, I laid it upon the underside of longboard’s nose to add rocker and used packing tape, along with coolers full of water, to clamp it down. I didn’t know if that would work, but it did. So, the handgun has about 3/4 inch rocker to it, maybe an inch.
Next, I drew out the basic outline (still working on it, actually) and I’ll cut it tonight.
I also made two fins, retro, that are about three and a half inches long by about two and a half inches deep.
So, I’ll carve out the outline tonight, carve out some finboxes with an exacto knife, glue the fins into the boxes, sand the rails, etc., make a laminate on the computer, and glass it this weekend. I am documenting the entire process for comedic purposes with a digital camera. I can’t believe How easy it has been. Of course, if it falls apart, I’ll know why.
I can’t wait to get back into bodysurfing. I never enjoyed it enough to do it without a planing device, but this should be fun.
I’ll keep you posted.