DIY things to locate your position
If you're not interested in making things for the hell of it
then go back. You probably won't save any money by following
these instructions, you could go out and buy the commercial
VorTrak product for around £20. You won't have as much fun
though!
The idea is very simple, take a bearing and distance arm and
stick it to your chart so that you can spin it around and read
off the bearing and distance from a beacon. Use several and you
can easily cross cut to locate your position.
Kit of parts required
Instructions
Start by modifying the bearning and distance arm, hereafter
referred to as the NP-2. All this needs is a suitably sized hole
in the middle but since I wondered if this would wear through
with use, I decided to fix a popper socket to it. In order to fix
the socket you need to push the one side of the popper through
the arm, however to make this a little easier, try holding a pin
with a pair of pliers and heat the pin to red hot in the flame of
a gas cooker. (Feel free to improvise here!). When you've made
the required pilot holes (no pun intended) you should be easily
able to push the pronged bit through the plastic. Of course, if
you're feeling fancy you could use a small drill.
Next you need to press on the socket recess onto the spikey
bits. Ensure that your poppers come with the special tool to aid this. The next diagram
shows the two unfixed parts on the right and the finished
assembly pushed together.
Next step is to fix the studs and compass roses to the chart,
don't forget to stick the roses on first!, I find it easier to
align the spikey bit by holding the chart up to a window with the
back to me so that you can find the beacon you want to stick the
stud to.
The finished product!
