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Good to hear from you too.
Thank you for words of encouragement.
Yes amazingly over a year went past since I've collected this very body. I have had quite a busy year but eventually went for it and started my build and this thread as I've said I will.
Hopefully this will help you sell few more of those kits in the coming future.
Watch this space
Best regards
Kuba
Today's update:
I went to Essex in the morning to pick up seats I bought from fleebay. And as you do I ended up buying another set. Two sets for 300 not too bad. It was a classic car and kit car workshop, with at least 10 Cobras, few gt40 and other wicked cars on display. Quite an amazing start of a week for me.
Later today I thought I tackle more rust finding I knew that drivers floor is beyond saving but wasn't so sure about passenger site. Previous owner done quite a good job of hiding actual state of a body. I believe I collected good kg of filler, paint and flashbound?! from floors alone. Well, well we live and learn...
Till next time
Kuba
They are called total headturners.
If I understood them correctly they also building xkss replicas too. With bespoke chassis and i think xks engine. I was well impressed...
Today I was going crazy with grinder again. I have removed drivers floor pan and rust proof passenger floor. I think with few new bits of metal plating it would be good as new.
After successful cutting session I moved to the rear. Bit by bit I was removing body panels until I ended up with quite satisfactory fit.
Then I started stripping boot floor paint to look for more hidden rust luckily my boot floor is quite decent.
I also discovered that I need around 4" extension so each side of my sill can meet.
Pictures will tell the story.
Regards
Kuba
Not sure about that An original Alpha is design to fit on spitfire shell. My body is a prototype from which Alpha was shaped so it's not necessarily the same. I also moved bonet a bit further out for better stance and to clear chassis front frame.
Kuba
My shell came as one piece since then I chopped it in to bits. If you look on my first photo, front wheel arch on original shell was very close to end of a bonet. I have moved arch around same distance (4") Kuba
Today's progress:
Today's plan was to tacke boot floor. First I finished scrapping paint, smooth it down and painted with red oxide paint.
Then I made a little fabrication for boot floor for additional strength and for a little better look when I eventually open up rear for booth.
I'm planning to swap self tapping screws to rivets (the one's I've bought were a bit too short)
This would be all for some time as work doesn't permit me to take any more time off.
Till next update.
Kuba
Not sure about that An original Alpha is design to fit on spitfire shell. My body is a prototype from which Alpha was shaped so it's not necessarily the same. I also moved bonet a bit further out for better stance and to clear chassis front frame.
Kuba
Not a problem and to answer your questions regarding hinges, yes I saw them. I like them a lot along with a handbrake...decisions, decisions, decisions
Hello.
So it turned out I couldn't stay away from my build today. This car building stuff is seriously addictive I'm beginning to worry...
Today's progress:
Rear light. I have made a mould for rear lights first, then cut openings, glassed them, put some filler and gave them quick coat of primer.
It pretty much took all day. As my indicators haven't arrived yet I put some other ones I had laying around.
Till next one
Kuba
Just had a quick read through your thread and it brings back some happy memories all be it a few years ago, loads of ideas and stuff to buy ohh happy days.
Keep on posting with plenty of photos as the guys on here love them and i wish you luck in seeing the build through to the end.
I'm doing my very best with updates and posting photos.
Apart from few purchases there is nothing to report today.
I've bought some nice shiny gauges (second hand) and lots of resin
I have a question, what is a bare minimum that I need to have on the rear end by law?
Number plate light? Reflectors?
I looked at different cars and it seems there isn't a definite answer.
Given that your donor looks like a Mk IV or 1500, so 1970 to 1980, you'll need: a rear number plate lamp; a matched pair of red tail lights; a matched pair of red stop lights (can be integrated into the tail lights and you can have a single, central stop lamp if registered pre 1971) a matched pair of amber indicators; a matched pair of red reflectors; and, if registered after 1st April 1980, a red fog light or pair of fog lights.
The distances apart/from the edges/visibility angles are all covered in the schedules, but it's quite straightforward.
This is great help. And yes my donor is mk4 spot on.
Assuming that red tail/stop lights has a bit of reflectors incorporated into lense will that classify as legal?
Thanks again
Kuba
In the case of your car, assuming it was registered after 1st July 1970, you'll need reflectors that have 'approval marks'.
It's covered in Schedule 18, part 1, paragraph 5, subsection (a) (ii) -
5. Markings–
(a) A motor vehicle first used–
(ii)On or after 1st July 1970 and before 1st April 1991:
(A)An approval mark incorporating “I” or “IA”, or
(B)A British Standard mark which is specified in sub-paragraph (i) of the definition of “British Standard mark” below followed by “LI” or “LIA”
So, if your rear lights incorporate suitably marked reflectors then they're fine, but if they just reflect a bit of light or aren't marked then you'll need separate reflectors.
The good news is that the rest of the regulations are pretty lax for a pre 1986 car: you need a pair of reflectors which don't even need to be a matched pair. They need to be a maximum of 1525mm from the ground and a maximum of 600mm from the edges of the vehicle with no minimum separation distance. They can be any size and so long as they're at the back of the vehicle and visible from the rear, there are no angles of visibility to consider.
