MadaboutKitcars

Interesting idea, I'll look into the chrome strips idea next week.

I took the car over to the painters' yesterday to talk about the stress cracks on the front wings.

It now seems unlikely than the pie cutting has caused it, rather it looks like it's where the box section part underneath the wings stops and changes to single skin as it heads along to the headlights.

This is causing a weak point where the box part stops and very slight vibration of the front end ahead of it has caused the problem.

I'll leave it now until early next year and it can go in for strengthening and painting as well as rubber buffers on the slam panel.

Cheers, Bob.

Would it be an advantage to put an extra layer of GRP matting in mine now to prevent cracking later?
Has anyone else had problems in this area?
Any chance of some pictures, if it doesn't show up very well perhaps a couple of shots with your finger pointing to the troublesome area.

thanks

Here's some photos of the worst side. Hopefully you can just about see the crack and can work out the position from the wheel arch and vent.

Not sure if it wants more layers of glass or if it's possible to fit a lightweight box section down the inside of the wing top as there's no point just moving the problem along a bit.

As mine's been lowered it does crash a bit over speed humps if I'm not concentrating and I've taken to shows across bumpy fields to camping areas. Possibly a car that's been treated more carefully wouldn't have the problem.

Cheers, Bob.

I wonder if creating ribs out of 15mm plastic pipe and a couple of layers of glass would do the trick. They can add a lot of strength.
Thanks for the photos.

That's the sort of thing I had in mind.

Also making sure it's well supported on rubber at the front will probably be good.

Let us know how it proceeds as I'll probably be following your plan.

Cheers, Bob.

Bob,

Sorry to hear this, but at least we know it could be a future problem so thanks for sharing.

The blue one I am doing has had a tube bonded in along the top of the wing for the wiring, Chris at Tribute did it for the customer, it goes in to the box section so hope fully does add some strength.

Pic

You can also use hose pipe, very useful on curves, it's the GRP matting that goes over the top that gives it the strength. My wife can't work out why the garden hose seems to be getting shorter!

That's not good...
Sorry to hear about this, but thanks for sharing.

I do have the pipe in mine as well for the wiring. That side has not cracked but I can see the tension has altered the shape enough that I can see it causing a shadow.
It's all unfortunate but just one of those things that happen and we'll deal with. All semi one off projects suffer little setbacks.

Hi Bob,

I've got a feeling I live quite close to you, I'm sure I drove past your car car outside the bakers in Taverham a couple,of days ago, if I did it looked lovely.
I'm building a Replicar at the moment and have very similar wheels to yours, I've bought some plastic spinners and wondered how you fitted them to your wheels securely?

Hi Steve, that was me, I was next door getting a hair cut.

I only live at the Norwich end of Drayton off Hurn Road so pop round at some point for a chat and have a look.

Cheers, Bob.

Not Val's knickers surely?

In the end I did it differently so my rare collectors edition 'Vals Old Knickers' are safe in their frame.

Fitting Spinners



I've also got wheels similar to yours, so would welcome any advice on fitting spinners.
Thanks, Mike

Hi Mike, I think most of the information is between about pages 10-13 of this thread. Anything else you need to know, just ask and I'll say.
Cheers, Bob.

Try here

http://www.raceways.co.uk/Spinners.htm

It was somewhere like that, that they came from. They do a kit with the mounting towers included.

I was donated the spinners and towers from 2 different friends.

The towers were cut down as the spinners stuck right out and extra holes were drilled in the tower surround to match the bolts welded to the wheels.

Bob.

Thanks Bob!

This morning I've been to see my friend Graham so we could take some comparison photos of my coupe and his recently bought convertible.
Since he bought it from Chris a few weeks ago he's had some brake and suspension work done for MOT and has altered quite a few small bits on the way to making it his idea of how a slightly hot rodded version would look.
Making a kit to fit your vision is a lot of the fun of this hobby and it was interesting to see just how many details are different between the 2 cars.
I've also bought some trim to go round the edge of the windscreen and will report back when I've fitted it. I bought quite a bit so should have enough to supply a couple more cars if it all works ok.







Cheers, Bob.

I cut the screen trim to length and taped in. Will leave it to settle and probably tiger seal it on tomorrow.

I prefer the coupe version and yours looks great. The windscreen trim will be a nice addition, hope your idea with fitting works out.

That windscreen trim really helps the overall "look". Good work!
I do prefer the coupe, wish I could get one here. (USA)

Trim is stuck in now and does the job nicely.


I've started to disguise the high level brake light
Will do a bit more tomorrow