WOODWORKING projects can be fun, even when a complex project is duplicated 90 times.
Steve Shepler, instructor of manufacturing and construction at North Carroll High School, felt his students would enjoy the challenge of mass-producing detailed wooden model trucks.
In the past two years, Shep- ler's advanced wood manufacturing students have handcrafted a model truck that serves as a toy bank. Past models look like the delivery trucks of local companies TBM Hardware and D&M; Transmissions, which have donated to the project to offset costs. Each student makes two trucks, one to take home and a second for the benefactor company.
Shepler's son wrestles in Hanover, Pa. So does the son of Ed Jacobs, who owns Hanover Ice Co. Inc. The dads started talking, and Shepler got the idea to duplicate Jacob's ice delivery truck as the project this year. Jacobs offered a donation of $400 for 20 trucks.
Previous trucks had been based on plans from an outdated Woodsmith Magazine. The ice delivery truck, with dual axles and an extended body, required design changes.
Several students who had taken advanced courses and were doing independent study in manufacturing gave extra effort to the project. The design extension problem was solved by Travis Martin, who modified the plans at the Career and Technology Center. He used the AutoCAD computer program to produce a full-scale rendering.
Chuck Brady and Corey Major created computer graphics that could be cut into vinyl and the decal lettering in blue for the trucks. At first, they struggled to include the penguin mascot, but compromised by using just the slogan, "Have an ice day."
"We then made the conscious decision on how many to make. The double-axle assembly is complex and it takes time to do a good job. They're handmade, so there is individuality in each truck," Shepler said.
Several classes, totaling 47 students, decided to assemble 90 trucks, including 20 for Jacobs. The finished truck is about 18 inches long.
To manufacture at least 10 parts for 90 trucks, the students created jigs for routing windows in the cab and for cutting the curved fenders.
They developed a method to make a tricky mechanism on the underside of the body. Wheels and round plugs were purchased.
On Friday, nine seniors who had manufactured the model trucks met Jacobs, who drove the real ice delivery truck almost to the classroom door. The students presented the trucks to Jacobs.
"They did a nice job," Jacobs said. "These are a great idea for gifts for customers and distributors."
Blood donations
The Red Cross will hold the Manchester Community Blood Drive at Grace Bible Church of North Carroll on Monday.
The blood donation drive will be held from 2 p.m. to 7 p.m. in the lower-level multipurpose room of the church at 3250 Charmil Drive, off Route 30 south of Manchester.
Appointments: 800-448-3543.
Annual Fishing Derby
Youngsters are checking their fishing gear and practicing casting a lure, planning to join Manchester's annual fishing derby June 29 at the Walnut Street pond. Charlotte's Quest Nature Center sponsors the Fishing Derby.
Prizes will be awarded for the first fish caught and the last one caught; for the most fish caught; for the "lunker"; and a specialty fish.
Registration takes place before each age group begins to fish for prize winners in five categories.
The small fry group, ages 9 and younger, register at 8 a.m. to fish from 8:30 a.m. to 10 a.m.
Older children, ages 10 to 15, register at 10 a.m. to fish from 10:30 a.m. to noon.
The cost is $1 per child.
The registered child must do all of the fishing, and each fish to be considered in the contest must be measured and weighed immediately after it is caught.
Information: 410-374-3395 or Manchester Town Office, 410- 239-3200.
Pat Brodowski's North neighborhood column appears each Wednesday in the Carroll County edition of The Sun.