Progress report for January 2022
Plowing ahead
As we see the end of January it’s time to quickly look back at the month’s activities. All in all, it’s been a positive time for range development so let’s take a closer look at the progress of Dunmore Range.
The Range Cat
Those following on Facebook may have seen the trail cam photos of some feral pigs wandering around the creekbeds. Now there is a bigger beast in the bush with our own range cat due in the coming weeks. At 4 meters wide and 26-tons, the range cat will be put to work ripping, grading, and completing roadways around the site.
Range Design & Construction
January saw the restart of works after the “big wet” of 2021’s closing months. Fortunately, the preparation work meant a swift start and some great progress down the line.
Weather Station
On the 15th of January 2022, our own mini-weather station went online and started charting the highs and lows at Dunmore Range. These results are available online via https://www.ecowitt.net/home/share?authorize=1E2JVK for anyone curious to watch the rain currently overhead (Note: Click on the menu icon in the top-left corner and then Units to change to Celcius).
500m (600-yard) Range
The debate between MIL and MOA is a personal preference so we’re looking to have both yards and meters downrange. As mentioned in our previous post, the 500m range extends to the 600-yard mark for those wanting to try out imperial units. For simplicity, though we will be referring to the layout as the 500m range to distinguish it from the 1000-yard range.
Below is the aerial footage for the 500m range showing the progress through January. Each clip starts from above the firing-line end of the range and looks down towards the backstop; a 30m high ridge that runs north-south and also forms the end of the 1000-yard range.
Of course, the most noticeable improvement is our video post-production results. We’ve tweaked a few things with our capture and processing gear to optimize the videos for viewers.
Equipment & materials
Apart from the Range Cat, we’re also acquiring an old “Aussie battler”; the LeTourneau-Westinghouse LW16R Dozer. Unlike the Cat, the Tournatractor is a smooth-wheeled machine for working the berms without damaging the range. With the Operators Manual in hand, it’s full speed ahead when the range is a little drier.
Stay Tuned
Our next update will be later next week (around 11th February) this month with a progress report on the 1000-yard range and beyond.