I had to ask a mechanic if I could work at the garage for the day, he agreed. During this day I had watched him change a tyre where I had taken pictures of the whole process. This was very useful as it allowed for me to document the process so that I would be able to come up with a design that can be taken apart and put back together with accuracy. As well as this I was able to get a close look of the inside of an engine bay, which allowed me to see all the visible parts of the engine like the air filter. It helped me get and understanding of where certain car part go so that when I make models, I can position then in the right places. I had also gained experience of getting a car off the floor and in the air using a ramp. This taught me where the cars jacking points where, which is important for getting the car off the ground as can be dangerous if incorrectly done. As the car was in the air, I used this opportunity to take detailed pictures of car parts such as the suspension where I was able to see exactly how it is put together. This will be useful for when I draw these parts out as I know exactly how they look.
To finish the day off the mechanic wanted me to learn how to weld, I had previously done this on a past project however wanted to practice my skills further. After giving me safety instruction, he had showed me how to do a stitch weld more specifically a fillet weld where two pieces of metal are joint together at a right angle. At first, I struggled to get a continuous line of weld going known as a bead. However, with some advice of going slow and steady I managed to get a good weld on between the pieces of metal.
To conclude the day at the garage was the most useful piece of primary research I could receive as I was able to take picture of car part so that I was able to draw them correctly and I was able to practice my welding skills. From this I will be drawing motorcycle parts in more detail.
Manifesto Project 