Rocket Sculpture

I was picking up three hot water tanks from someone who needed to get rid of them.  I don't usually pass up a chance to scrounge things that have metal in them.  As I was loading the tanks into my truck I got the idea that I could make a rocket with them.  I had a fourth at home, so that was the project for the next week. I made the rocket in two sections and used the boom attachment on my tractor to lift one to the top to place it for welding. My wife said she was glad she was not here to witness that.  I also used a little helium tank that was used for balloon filling, and part of a scuba tank that I got from my uncle.  The wings on the rocket were made from side panels of an old furnace.  The bottom of the rocket is an old metal wash tub and the leg base is made from scraps I got when a welding shop I worked for closed up in 2000. I painted it with a gray paint that I also got from the welding shop and held onto because I knew I'd use it some day.  The only new thing on the rocket was the black and red paint.  This spring I am going to paint letters and numbers on the side of it.  This is now in our front yard and makes a nice landmark to tell people where we live.  Not many people can say "It's the house with the rocket in the front yard."