MadaboutKitcars

Looks superb Scottie just the MOT and then it's a blast down the country lanes what more could you ask for?

Although the donar Spitfire came with a years Mot, I never ever drove it, I just stripped it down, so the first drive will be a bit scary I think!

I have made so many changed to the ride height, suspension and so on, I'm not quite sure what to expect.

It should handle well being lower, and with a 2inch wider track wider wheels and tyres, and so much lighter than the Spit.
I will post in due course!

A video would be nice scotie, maybe a walk around and some exhaust notes? It does look the part well done!

I will have a go at that later Danny, I have spent all day getting the drivers door back on, and same as before, it does not fit, nor does the lock work, and in the process I have chipped the paint!

Its a bloody nightmare, I have had to shim the hinges so much, I needed to go out and buy longer bolts.

I've just about had a gutful today, doing soul-destroying jobs for hours and hours is so depressing.

It really will take me several days to get the doors sorted out in some order.

On a lighter note, I will get it done in the end!

Well done!!

Keep up the good work! Your build is really inspirational, and so close to it being finished!
Well done!!

Scottie dont worrie about the chipped paint, will all add to the effect of the 'not a newly built car' will go with the distressed leather and scuffs. You can always sort it later if it bothers you

Yes you are right Danny, I just find it stressful, so near, yet so far, and the car is fighting me all the way!
I will win though!
Tomorrow is another day.

Evocation

An accurate description, unlike 'replica'.

D Type

Wow! What an awesome machine Mick!

Sunday

I have spent most of today fitting the doors, side screens and mirrors, with limited success.

The drivers door is on with its side screen and it opens and closes reasonably well, it'll do for now.

The passengers one, I am afraid, at the days end, I have failed to get right,
and it will need a lot of time spent shimming and messing about.

The long awaited head light covers arrived on Friday, and although I was very careful drilling the fixing holes, the drivers one cracked down the middle, so it went in the bin. I lost heart and did not do the nearside one!

The worst setback of the day was when I opened the bonnet, and noticed it had cracked in half near the louvre on one side.
Eventually the bonnet will have to come off and have serious repair work done and get re-sprayed yet again.

I had this happen once before, and thought I had given it my best shot when I repaired it, but its back to the drawing board on that one.

First off all I was gutted, then re-appraising the situation, I realised I have done 99% of all the hard work and this setback whilst extremely irritating, will get sorted out too.

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Scottie, you have my sympathy, the last mile is often the hardest. Mine is fighting back too!

May I suggest instead of drilling the holes in the perspex, you use a Dremell type tool and grind the holes out with a fine diamond type tip or a small end mill, little by little. Maybe keep dipping the perspex in cool water to stop it from getting too hot.

Perhaps better to practice on the broken one?

Looks awsome Scottie, dont let any little hickup put a downer on what a fantastic job youve done. Although you only have a few little bits now to finish it, remember with kit cars there never finished! You always want to do more!

Looking Great

It certainly is Scottie. If I can somehow get my twisted doors to fit like yours I'll be absolutely delighted.

Sorry to hear about the hiccups. I'm going to have a go at drilling my perspex covers today. I'll put Duck Tape patches on and use a cobalt drill very slowly!

Keep your chin up and make hay while the sun shines

Thanks Danny and Mick!

I just took Ed's advice and had a practice drilling of holes on the cover I threw away, and without too much care, drilled 5 or 6 holes in it no problem, and this was done in just a few seconds, as I wanted to see what could be done!

So I'm not sure what caused the cover to split in the first place?
I will have to go cap in hand to Chris yet again!

It seemed to me like the cover was under "tension" and the hole was a good excuse to let rip!


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Glad to hear it Scotty, perhaps it's one of those cases where you can be 'too careful'?

Perspex can be unpredictable, Polycarbonate is almost indestructible, I once attacked a piece with a sledgehammer just to prove a point, I couldn't break it no matter how hard I tried. my mates and a couple of onlookers dived for cover, they thought it was ordinary glass because it was shiny new and I put it down so carefully!!! LOL

I tried to glaze my speedo and rev counter with real glass a little while back, total disaster! I ended up with a small piece of perspex which did the job perfectly. I got it from a sign making firm nearby. They didn't even charge me for it! 10 inches by 5.

Chin up, will all come right in the end, you have come too far to take any crap now.

Get it mot'd and I guarantee you will feel much better about any hicups cut knuckles and agro by the 2nd shop window you see your reflection in. Even if it runs like a bag of spanners you will love it again by the time your home.
I can see the news paper headlines now " spy photo reveals hulk hogan to play Steve McQueen in the film of his life!"
Seriously your creation looks very special indeed. Ed.

It's often better to drill with a blunt drill bit. A sharp drill bit tends to grab perspex or GRP causing it to chip or crack. Also a small 1.5mm drill bit gives a good pilot hole and I find that grp doesn't chip as much if you have drilled a pilot hole first.

Scottie - Sorry to hear the car is still fighting you all the way to the finish.

Having said that, it does looks absolutely fantastic.



Good luck, Paul.

Don't use a blunt drill , that will simply melt its way through and just as likely to crack the plastic.

The secrete is too grind the drill bit with a very shallow angle , so the height from the tip to the outer edge of the drill is less than the thickness of the material being drilled .
Use water to keep it cold and slow speed and it will cut though even the most brittle Perspex without problem. Let it cut at its own rate , don't push on the drill !

I find the danger point is when you reach the point of breaking through . A wood bit (the type with a point) and 90 degree cut works well.

Thanks for the help fellahs, I particularly liked the "pilot hole" idea, which I normally use, but did not on this occasion!

Also the shallow-angle cut bit, which ought to help.

I will be taking your advice, as at forty quid per side, its an expensive F.U.to make!

As well as the above advice, don't forget to support behind the hole being drilled with a piece of wood or similar.

Manufacturer's advice on machine Perspex here: http://www.theplasticshop.co.uk/plastic_technical_data_sheets/working_with_perspex_manual.pdf

As well as the above advice, don't forget to support behind the hole being drilled with a piece of wood or similar.

Manufacturer's advice on machining Perspex here: http://www.theplasticshop.co.uk/plastic_technical_data_sheets/working_with_perspex_manual.pdf

I still have not got the passengers door right yet, and have done a "tempory fix" on the bonnet split, as it cannot really be seen with the bonnet closed, and the headlight cover I need has not arrived yet.
I have the car booked in for an Mot, but with rain forecast, that may not happen either!

I had a quote for having all four wheels tracked, which was £55, which I thought was expensive, is that normal, or what is the general cost that you guys have come across?


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Scottie, just get it done... You've saved millions already. You can be out driving in the countryside soon.