Monday 24 June 1974
Back to work. Bob Grant is endeavouring to improve the SnoTrac gearbox but without parts may not achieve much. We are also fitting old Polaris windscreens to the OMC Snocruiser toboggans. Stuart Clarke attempted to get a further run with the photometer but was prevented by cloud. Garth Cowan had just completed his magnetic readings when a sudden 11 minute change in the field direction occurred. As a consequence he had to do everything again. I have again attempted to pressurise the heat machine but without success. It leaks at the electrical output terminals.
The Geophysics Laboratory at Scott Base
Bill Johnson complained that some mice were not filling the melters properly so I spoke to all staff. Bill has been a bit off-colour for a couple of weeks now.
Conditions at 0900 hours Wind Calm Temperature -18.5°C
Tuesday 25 June 1974
To avoid the difficulties of testing the heat machine prior to its insertion in the sea I have decided to make a shortened boiler by leaving off one section of tubing and instead using a special end cap. I spent most of today making the cap.
Mike Wing is carrying out a very thorough (so far as parts will allow) overhaul of our heavy duty Tamworth sledges. Garth Cowan, in the laboratory, is now starting to make up a device for inserting and orienting the current meter under the ice through a 5½ inch hole.
Conditions at 0900 hours Wind North-East 14 knots Temperature -22.3°C
Wednesday 26 June 1974
Normal laboratory and maintenance routines. Several of the Base staff decided to spend a few evenings building a bar in the recreation room.
Conditions at 0900 hours Wind North-East 18 knots Temperature -25.0°C
Thursday 27 June 1974
The maintenance staff had a major rubbish clean up and as a result a complete truck load of metal scrap was taken to the McMurdo dump. Stuart Clarke’s attempts to get a full 12 hours of photometer results were again frustrated, this time by the rising moon.
I am endeavouring to seal the electrical outputs from the heat machine by the use of three tiny stuffing boxes each made of copper tube, tapered wooden pegs, insulation and araldite. Since the job must be left three days for curing I will go on with the installation of the incinerator burner meantime.
Conditions at 0900 hours Wind North-East 5 knots Temperature -26.9°C
Friday 28 June 1974
This morning, Bill Johnson arc-welded the flanges and end-caps onto the tubes forming the boiler of the heat machine. I spent the day pre-cutting metal sections for the incinerator burner fuel tower.
Conditions at 0900 hours Wind Calm Temperature -26.6°C
Saturday 29 June 1974
Nothing to report
Conditions at 0900 hours Wind North 8 knots Temperature -32.2°C
Sunday 30 June 1974
Strong winds with gusts from 40 to 60 knots throughout the day. I have got the incinerator fuel tower set up in a jig ready for welding tomorrow.
Conditions at 0900 hours Wind South-East 25 knots Temperature -22.2°C
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