Stripped Thread, New Hub, My First Wheel Build, Swans

I got a new 20t (!!!) sprocket to try out a lower gear inch, I wanted to bring it down from 70 to mid 60's so that I could take on some more hills. I whipped the 18t off to find that the thread on my hub was completely stripped, I don't know why but it was and was unfixable so I had to spend out on a new rear hub. I got the System Ex from Schmoos cause it was all I could afford and gets good enough reviews. My first wheel build began. I used this article to learn how to lace it up and then this video to true the bugger, which took ages! It's still a little bit off but I'll get some help to get it spot on, every time it was practically perfect one tiny turn would throw it out again, I enjoyed though. Here is a photographic diary of the process...

Stripped Thread

System Ex 32 hole hub

All the bits

Don't copy this!
Or this!


Note that the spokes are coming from the inside out...

On both sides! :-(

They should be from the outside in

3rd of 4 groups done

Now some go from inside out

Turns out that brakes are actually useful for something
First build, DONE!
And now for something completely different, me with some swans...