MadaboutKitcars

What I want to know is how he went from building kit cars - to submarines. Wouldn't have thought there was a lot in common there...

Robin

I believe it came from his day job - he worked as an engineer/designer for Rolls Royce, and I believe he was involved with subs there? And I guess he found it difficult to make a living out of making and marketing kit cars.
His web site certainly makes for interesting reading.

Mike

I haven't found the full video yet but there is a documentary about one of Paul's submarines.

An extract of the transcript starts to explain how and why Paul got into this industry......

NARRATOR: Paul's design combines a conventional steel aft section with a forward pressure hull made of transparent acrylic plastic. It won't be strong enough to dive as deep as Alvin, but it should still be able to descend a thousand feet and more, deeper than many military submarines.

And Paul's design has another striking advantage over most mini-submersibles. Alvin is typical of small submarines, in that it can only be launched from a large support vessel, the Atlantis. This means that each dive costs tens of thousands of dollars. But Peter's sub, the Alicia, will have, in addition to an underwater electric motor, a long-range diesel engine, which will allow it to operate independently on the surface, like a conventional motor boat. It looks good on paper.

The historic port of Plymouth, on the south coast of England: it's from here that the Pilgrim Fathers first set sail for America. It's also home to designer Paul Moorhouse's workshop.

Peter's given Paul a budget of just $1.5 million, not much to build something as complex as a submarine. Custom-made parts are expensive, so Paul's plan is to source as many components as possible from ordinary hardware stores and auto suppliers.

In this spirit, Alicia will be powered by this modified truck engine. It's a lot cheaper than a custom-built marine motor.

PETER ROBBINS: If we had unlimited money, then it would simply be, "Build it." We have to be much more delicate and much more careful. I don't have unlimited funds.

NARRATOR: Sticking to the budget will be tricky, but Paul has handpicked a small team of multi-skilled specialists, including Richard Dawson. Richard and Paul have known each other for years, and they share another obsession.

Before working on submarines, Paul and Richard designed and made kit cars together. [COLOR="Blue"]They are used to stretching a budget and improvising. [/COLOR]They know that sometimes the right part can come from the unlikeliest source.

The other common thing is they both leak water

Preview of the film here....

http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/preview/i_3319.html

(the end of this clip is worth waiting for )

http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/alicia/

P.S. i seem to have gone off topic but it was my thread anyway

Uxbridge Autoshow CANCELLED due to waterlogged site

http://www.facebook.com/Uxbridgeautoshow

Was at Farnborough today, not too bad - got better in the afternoon!

I will be going to "Classics on the Common" next Wednesday (25/07/12). Anyone else going?

http://www.classicsonthecommon.com/

Robin

Silverstone Classic car Racing 21/22 July

Is anyone else going to Silverstone this weekend for the Classic car racing?

http://www.silverstoneclassic.com/page.cfm/Link=1/t=m/goSection=1

We are going on Sunday

Mike

Alas I have to pick up a classic Sunday - the mother-in-law lol...

Robin

Wanted to but SWMBO had other plans

We're away on holiday next week so won't be able to make either of these events

Anybody know anything about this show?

12th August -The Classic, Kit & Performance Show
Old Warden Park, Biggleswade ,Beds SG18 9DX

It doesn't seem to have had much publicity and only costs £3 per car to exhibit.

http://www.classicmotorevents.co.uk/motor_show.html

But....The cut-off deadline for pre-booking your vehicle is strictly 14 Days before the show date.

Just found a little bit more info.......

http://www.themansionhouse.org/Events/Details.aspx?evid=101

Old warden? That's where the shuttle worth collection (vintage planes) is kept. Count me in if we make a date of it.

OK, I'm planning to attend. If you want to exhibit your car (silly question!) then you'll need to get an application in the post today.

...peter

Sent off my form today - I'm sure they won't mind it a little late.

Let's hope we get some more warm weather by then.

Anyone else able to join us?

...peter

Pauline forgot to post the letter! Argh!!

All is not lost though. I rang up, and they are taking a couple of late bookings by phone. It's a £5 via debit card for your passes, handling fee and postage. So I'm in.

So - if you still want to go give them a call and beg forgivenesss. :-)

Hopefully I will be going but no car, still being built

My pass arrived today. That was quick! Especially as the envelope didn't have a stamp on it.

Thats only 5 miles from where I live. Often see the vintage planes - mainly in the air....

I didn't know it was on and I only return from hols the day before - but I will see if I can blag a pass. If not you are welcome to come round to mine after to look (laugh?) at the new project and maybe partake of a non-alcoholic (officer) drink.

Robin

Mine arrived today complete with stamp

OK - done. I have both a pass from SWMBO and Greenway - lol. Lets hope they remember the stamp!

Robin

Old Warden Park, is this the same place as the airfield or is it a separate place. I see from Goo's post he believes it is.
But is that the case ?
If so vintage aircraft and cars all in one location...................fabulous

Hi Dennis,
The car show organisers call it an 'adjacent site' to the Shuttleworth Collection. The pass gives us a discount on entry to the Shuttleworth Collection.
Should be a good day......
...peter

The park is adjacent to the Old Warden Aeroplane collection. It houses an agricultural colledge and hotel amongst other things. Recently went through a change of ownership and so I suspect they are looking to increase their revenue flow in one form or another. Aeroplane collection is normally about £12 to get in as I recall and so if it is all included it's a good deal.

And the aeroplane collection is fantastic - if you are into that sort of thing. The current project is a Spitfire rebuild - make a kit car look easy.....

Robin

Fingers crossed for good weather on sunday!