MadaboutKitcars

Cheers for that, anyone care to decipher what the FC prefix means?

FC just denominates the type, FC being Spitfire 4 or Spitfire Mk II

Baz from Brussels

edit:
for completeness
Heralds start with G
Vitesses with HB or HC
Spit Mk 3 FD
Spit MK 4 & 1500 FH
GT6 Mk I & II KC
GT6 Mk III KE

So what did happen to the German Front mould?

Wish I knew as I'd gladly do a deal on it.

Just need to find out who bought a G front and er, borrow it for a day or two. I rather liked it.

I did find an auction for the moulds on ebay and inquired of the winning bidder, turns it it was err how can I put this.... Lets just say I think maybe the seller and buyer had quite a bit in common!

If anyone out there has a German bonnet then sing out!

Maybe Miglia Mike would know.

Hi the mould got cut up as it was not great .We only sold two bonnets out of the 125 kits we sold.

:-(

On a lighter note delivered my chassis to the galvanisers today, total weight of a clean unmolested MKIII spitfire chassis is 40KG!!!
So light they have had to charge me the minimum of £97 inc VAT so no complaints from me on that score really. Should be ready Monday morning and is booked into the paint shop Monday evening so will be done and ready for collection Wednesday.

Shame about the mould as the shape was good, even if the mould was not.

Interesting that you are going to paint the galvanised chassis. Here in the marine trade we have always had problems bonding to freshly galvanised steel, and usually allow it to weather first. We mainly use Bradite EU96 as a barrier primer to the zinc, and thats usually just for decorative coatings as galv steel will last 30+ years in the marine environment anyway.
What do you plan to coat your chassis with 9

Cant remember the brand but its an epoxy etch primer, amongst its specific properties is the ability to etch/bond well to galv, have used it in the past and it seems to stay where its put! It will also get a further coat of epoxy topcoat and a dose of waxoyl so i fully expect it to outlast judegement day :-)

and i agree its a shame about the German mould, only chance now is that one of the 2 that were sold surfaces either for sale or for laon to take a mould from.

Sounds like things are going to move ahead quite quickly on the chassis front.

Also I now understand your plan for the re-body inspection too.

Good luck, Paul.

It is possible to do a beetle headlight conversion to your standard Cordite, or Sammio , Pilot or whatever the new names are. When i was working with Gary i had to cut and fit beetle headlights as a one of. Almost early Corvette style afterwards.

Any pics? Although tbh it wasn't just the lights but the grill area I liked as well

Sorry no pics. The bonnet mould was poorly made and then left out in the sun so went out of shape.

How about a Microplas Mistral bonnet? Might need massaging in some areas but ih has similarities to the G Front.

To be honest I think it's going to be the first of the new improved bodies so to start with I'm going to go standard as I think Andy will be photographing it whilst in the workshop, once built I can always goose around with the bonnet later. Can't understand for the life of me why the German front end was so unpopular.

Can't understand it either, especially as it was symmetrical! Maybe the name did not help. Maybe 'Porche Front' or Merc front would have inspired.

Hi guys. I'm afraid the German mould was so badly warped when I went to Poole to collect the set there was only one sensible decision. It had to go. There was no way it could be retrieved, and having had absolutely no customer interest in it since the 'Lancia' style was released, I told Gary to destroy it. I think it had been stored on its edge and gravity did the rest. We will be looking at alternative bonnet shapes and it's possible that if enough people really do like that shape it may be the inspiration for one of them.

Well chassis is back from the galvanisers, a day late but a good job, it's in the booth tonight to thoroughly dry out and then will get a wire Brush over it tomorrow to remove any loos tags and then paint so should be back to me for a marathon tap and die session by Thursday.

That is as good as it gets! Stunning foundation to your build Mac.

Yep, looks great. Wish I'd thought of having mine galvanised now.

How much was it if you don't mind me asking?

Little more than I expected but still not too bad at £180 inc vat. But it will outlast me now!