New Motorcycle Helmet

Have talked about it long enough.  Finely got around to get myself a new motorcycle helmet today (June 7, 2021).  The shop is now open to let customers in.  They didn’t have a big selection of different colours, 90% were black.  Was hoping to get one that stood out a bit so I will be less likely to be run over.  Tried on six different full face helmets.  A few didn’t fit right, too tight or loose.  Another I couldn’t get my glasses on.  Then a guy pointed to one that has a flip down sun visor built in.  Tired it and it fit great.  That is the one I bought.  It is the LS2 Stream, in matte black.  This would be my third helmet and think it might to the best one.  Time will tell once I get so use our of it.

First Ride Of 2021

Am late getting to my first ride of the year (2021) on my 2006 Yamaha XT 225.  Most years have gotten going in May.  Not so much this year for a few reasons.  The weather was part of it.  But the main reason is I need a new helmet.  However everything was closed so I couldn’t get one.  That being said.  It is way to nice out now so couldn’t wait any longer.  Took  a good look over it and checked the tire presser.   The tires themselves are bran new last year.  But the battery in and it fired up on the second push of the button.  Went for a quick ride to see if everything felt right.  Which it did.   Going to start taking it to work.  Things now are starting to open up so hopefully I can get a new helmet this week coming.

 

Reality Capture Hands On

A few posts back talked about the photogrammetry program, Reality Capture.  I gave it a try.  My goal with is to take video game things and turn it into 3D printable item.  Have had a bit of success with other programs.  But they are limited to how many pictures/video you can use.  This one however is the full program.  The drawn back is when you want to export you need to pay with what they called PPI (Pay-Per-Input) Credits.  The bigger the project the more credits you will need.

My goal is to turn one of my ships I use in No Man’s Sky into a 3D model. This program lets you import video.  So re-edited so footage I had.  I must say the results turned out the best yet.  As you can see in the picture below. There are only a few small holes in the wings.  So decided to see how many credits it would cost to export, about 117.  You can buy 3500 for about $13.00 Canadian.  The new plan to is get better at this software and make a bunch of models.  Then buy the credits.  Will be back with more updates in the future.

Merry Boxing Day 2020

I hope everyone had a fun and safe Christmas with the crazy times we are in.  The weather here was very mild.  As for the dinner, must say it turned out really well.  Cooked a turkey breast with olive oil.  It made it taste awesome.  Didn’t have homemade rolls last year.  This time managed to get some from a local bakery.  Since it is boxing day hot turkey sandwiches are one the menu tonight.

 

 

  

Chocolate Peanut Butter Balls

Every year at Christmas my mother used to make me chocolate peanut butter balls.  This was the only time I would see or eat any.  They are one of my favourite “cookies”.  They taste even better then they are still frozen a bit.  Thought about making some last year but really wasn’t into it.  However this year gave it a go.  Found her old recipe, there are lots online as well.  What’s great about these are they are no bake.  You mix icing sugar, peanut butter, rice rice krispies, some butter and little salt.  Mix that together and roll in to balls.  Put them in the fridge for about half hour.  They you roll them in melted chocolate.  Did run into some trouble with the chocolate.  It wasn’t getting very runny.   So just had some extra butter to it.  That worked great.  As you can see below the don’t look pretty but they tasted all most like the ones my mother made.

Christmas Tree 2020

The first Sunday in December (which was yesterday) it is tradition that we put the tree up.  While there is one less person in the house still need to stick with that rule.  Like last year forgot to buy a new stings of lights.  Thinking I might just do that one day after work and have them for next year.  Have done this so many time have a system.  So it doesn’t take long.  But did run into some trouble.  Tested all the lights by themselves and all attached together.  They worked fine. Then when I put them on the tree the second set wouldn’t work.  So guess what it’s staying that way.   Still think it turned out good.

Bugs And Motorcycles

If you ride a motorcycle you will get hit will all kinds of stuff, mostly bugs.  Think I have been hit with them all now after today.  Riding home I get hit right in the throat with this big black bug.  Didn’t know was it was.  Until I got home and looked in a bike mirror to see it was still stuck to me and some what alive.  That did freak me out a little.  But whatever I now have a story to tell with some pictures.  Which you can see below.

 

 

3D Modeled Coin

Awhile back I made a 3D model of a coin using Tinkercad and printed on my Elegoo Mars.  Printed off about seven of them at one time.  They didn’t turn out so good.  So decided to start over.  The first time I use the dimensions of Toonie.  This time I just made a bigger coin thinking it will be cooler to look at and hold.  Making them as kind of like a promo for the YouTube channel I’d Rather Watch Paint Dry.  In the picture below.  The small coin in the front is the old model and the one in the back is the new.  I have printed off six off the new.  Just need to clean and cure them.  Will be back with another post.

Motorcycle Trouble Another Update

It took a week and more phone calls but I have a new “new” back tier for my 2006 Yamaha XT225 (Yesterday June 25, 2020).  Two weeks ago at a new set put on.  Days later while returning from work the bike could not get up to speed and was super loud.  Turns out back tire was too big.  Causing it to rub again the suspension. Many phones call later they came and got my bike.  Saying the will order a new tire.  A week goes by.  Give them a call to see what going on.  They forgot about it.  First the guy said the tire wasn’t there and he would look into.  He called back said it was.   Then the guy gave me a speech about how there are down people in the shop.  Have been hearing that story every time I need to get something done.  Later that day he called back saying it was on and it how much it would cost.  I reminded him that last week you said it wouldn’t cost any thing.  Gave me another speech about how this tire costs a lot more money.  He wasn’t going to charge me labour and he had to change different departments money.  To makes the long story shorter got him down to $39.00.  I hate dealing with them.  Not going to buy anything from them again.

Photogrammetry Yet Again

Have made a few posts about photogrammetry.  My first two attempts failed.  However in the last post talked about how I seen a tutorial on how to use video instead of pictures.  Give it another go with No Man’s Sky again.  This time use my game capture device.  The loaded that into VLC and exported screenshots.  The next step to edit the pictures.  Had a 140 or so to edit.  Which took a long time but was well worth it.  Because when I load them in the photogrammetry program and did what I to do, (side not one step over two hours to render), it worked out great.  As you can see in the picture below.  This is were I stopped at.  There are a bunch more I have to do.  Think it will turn out great.  Either way will be back with another post.