The Shed 129, October/November 2026

Motorbike customisation – CGR916 Café Racer Accomplished sheddie Chris Gordon's extensive shed work continues, but this latest project comes with a Ducatisti advisory warning: This article contains graphic images and descriptions of procedures that some Ducati fans may find disturbing. Reader discretion is advised. Chris wondered: with my previous projects completed, what to do next? Another motorcycle project would be good. I’d never done a café racer. The Gulf Racing livery was nice. What if I combine all of these? I say yes. Consideration was then given to what base vehicle to use. By chance, a work colleague’s beloved 2001 Ducati ST4 Sports Tourer had recently suffered engine failure, leaving him stranded somewhere in the bowels of South Canterbury. Although the bike had been taken to a safe location, he couldn’t see a viable way forward for getting it back on the road. To purchase a copy of this edition of The Shed, see the bottom of this column. To view a fully illustrated content rundown of what’s in this issue, head here to our website A new home for this Men’s shed The Whanganui Community Men’s Shed Trust Inc has found a new home. The Trust opened in March this year in what used to be the Auto Barn of Whanganui businessman and vintage car collector, Ed Boyd. From the archives: Growing up A decorative vertical herb planter is the perfect outside addition to the barbecue area for summer. Rotting hull to speargun pro The restoration of a newly bought boat with a rotting hull gave Matt Debono a challenging apprenticeship that equipped him with the knowledge and confidence to start making high-quality hardwood spearguns. He quickly discovered the benefits of constructing them with the assistance of a CNC machine. Motorbike restoration – Restoring a 1952 AJS – Part 12 Peter laments some restoration errors in this instalment. Several times he has installed parts only to find that before he did X, he should have done Y. A masterpiece hits the rails MOTAT was gifted this Whanganui City tram back in 1967. Finally, after decades of work and storage, its rebirth is complete. The restoration is a remarkable product of love and persistence, and the result can only be described as exquisite. Electrical problems – why doesn’t it go? As a registered electrician for most of his life, Sandy Fergusson felt he should offer some basic electrical info to readers and extol the virtues of owning a $12 digital multimeter. Basic woodworking Mortise and tenon part 2 – a cabinet project In the previous issue of The Shed, issue 128, Edward explained how to make a mortise and tenon joint. Now it's time to put that knowledge into practice with this stylish cabinet project. Off the grid: Consolidating, philosophically With management out of town, Murray turns the sitting room into a rope maker’s workshop to complete his favoured Amokura model. Happily, YouTube clever buggers and the current world situation with oil keep him alert and focused. Route 79 Museum Inside Geraldine’s hidden treasure. A passionate, varied collection of vehicles. Geraldine could claim to be New Zealand’s museum capital. Ham Radio: Part 3 – Extending the reach Nigel Young goes even deeper to learn all he can about Ham Radio and is surprised to discover the strong use of Morse Code. Plus, he explores aerials, antennas, the tricky Moonbounce, and the future of this unique method of communication. Beyond the Valley of the Dolls In the 1970s, the Department of Labour sent Glen Wilkin-Holland to the Purfex mannequin factory. He had long hair, too much jewellery and make-up. The owner, Austin Purdy, was a rugby, racing and beer sort of bloke. He took one look at Glen and said, "You’re a creative type; you’ll be perfect for the job.” Now Glen owns the Purfex mannequin business, one of the very last of its type in NZ. The Shed Shrink: Local focus Our shrink meets an ex-police officer who has not only done exemplary service here for us, but has also served overseas in conflict zones and trained locals in policing. Back O The Shed – Jim Hopkins – a Kiwi shed legend I was shocked to hear that Jim Hopkins had died recently. Jim was my predecessor in this column, something that we have had since the start of The Shed magazine.