Mid February saw the addition of the rearnon-trip frames and the beginning of the sponson frames.
	Jim Harvey works in the cockpit area drillingthe hole for the "turnover bar." Jim's own boat, Trendwest, (upside downto the right) quietly awaits her pre-season tune up and paint job.
	Don Mock's 1/8th scale '82 Atlas poseswith its full-size counter part. Don built the model as part of a two partvideo series on how to construct an R/C hydroplane. Like the big Atlas,the mini U-00 won several races and the High Point Championship and TripleCrown on the R/C Unlimiteds racing circuit.
	Jim Harvey takes time out to pose withseveral volunteers.
	Right side view shows sponson frames attached.
	The influence of model boat building madeits way to the Atlas via a few R/C racers/volunteers. Full length plywoodsponson sheers were formed and attached to the frames. Typically on unlimiteds,only the forward few feet are plywood while the remainder is bent oak orsimilar wood. Ron Brown agreed to the idea knowing time would be savedand additional  strength would result.
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	Side view of the right sponson.
	In early March, the big day came to glueand rivet the rear non-trips into place. The job required several workersas each non-trip was pre assembled and over 16 feet long. A few volunteersreported sore arms after that day as we must have mixed over two gallonsof Hysol glue for the big job.
	The new transom was also glued in placeearly March. Another big project can also be seen in the photo. The hullwas modified back in the early ‘90’s to give the boat a more modern turbineshape which included flatting the deck by about four inches. To restorethe original Atlas deck line, we had to add height additions to the enginestringers and every frame in the center section.
	On the first weekend of April, the hullwas turned over to complete the sponsons and rework the bottom.
	Flipping an unlimited hydroplane is atricky task and requires lots of help. This first turnover went withouta hitch because the boat was very light. When the boat was turned backright-side up a few months later things got a little hairy.
	In mid March several of the crew includingJim Harvey  and Rob Wheeler took a day off and went skiing at CrystalMountain. Don Mock had a freak slow motion collision with a snow boarderand severely broke his leg. With over 20 screws and a few plates holdingthe bones together, Don returned to the shop less than a week later andcontinued work on the sponsons from a wheelchair.
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