Hi Frog. Good to meet you on Saturday. As I mentioned then, first step and original idea is to use the Spitfire tub, but as an option later, the frame may be a good idea to give the customer a choice. The tub route is the quickest way of building a car like this. Dan and I have talked this over and estimate that if an MOT'd Spitfire was used as a base that we could have an A352 on the road in 3-4 days
We made them. After failed attempt by 2 suppliers, we have finally managed to get the right mould/heat/pressure yourselves to produce them. We are just waiting for the polishing kit to turn up before we can offer them to customers for the MX250 and A352 kits. How did you get on with your attempts?
Let me know how you get on
You are absolutely right Towed
I had figured that gullwing doors opening to the centre of the roof would help but I like your idea too
Interior cockpit panels
Once the outer shell has been moulded, starting tomorrow, the internal panels, which are currently several individual pieces screwed together, will be moulded to produce 2 side panels and a rear bulkhead in GRP. These panels will make trimming the inside of the Spitfire tub a very quick and simple job to do.
Boot space on the A352 isn't going to be problem!
We have slightly increased the bonnet bulge to ensure clearance for the 6 cylinder option.
All improvements now completed to the bodywork. Doing this before the moulding stage means that the finished shells should need very little filling and sanding for the builder before painting, a gelcoat finish may even be possible. Also we have spent a lot of time making sure the bonnet/boot/doors fit straight out of the mould, again to save the customer build time and money.
Door hinges will be water jet cut steel profiles ready assembled on to the internal door bars, so that once the shell has been bonded on it will just be a case of packing the door gap and then bolting the doors to the hinge inside the cockpit.
The shell has now had it's "flanges" added to split the moulds into multiple sections. The grill area is separate as we may change it's design at a later date to give more choice. We have also split the mould at the bulkhead so we can add length to the shell if longer wheelbase applications are required. Current wheelbase is 83" to fit the Spitfire but Herald may be another option at 90".
Hi Neemo. I don't think the A352 would work with the MGF for the same reasons that we didn't put it on the MX5, too slab sided and too modern in the windscreen area which can't be removed without an IVA test. The MX250 on the other hand would work if the panels were modified to resemble something like this 250LM:
This could be good. No no no no, stop it, stop it stop it!
Dan has been doing a cracking job of making the new moulds for the A352, whilst I have been skiving off for a few days.
Most of the main shell is done, so just the internal panels and boot/bonnet to do next week.
This shows were the scuttle area has been done as a separate section in preparation for different screen/hardtop applications. The split also allows for any stretch in wheelbase required by bolting an additional section into the mould.
We should have the first new shell out of the mould in around 10 days time
When we have some more time I may ask to "borrow" your MG for that experimenting. Please remind me after Xmas!
Door hinges
The design below is my first draft for the door hinges that will come with the A352 kit. They will use a single M10 bolt as the pivot, bolted to the new door/crash bar in the Spitfire door opening. Any vertical adjustment will be done at the pivot end with shims/washers, and addition movement at the door end where the hinge bolts through the inner door skin.
The doors are a very good fit straight out of the mould, so very little adjustment should be required.
Exciting day today
Taking the moulds off the buck i always one of the best parts of the project for me.
Trimmed all the excess/rough flange edges off with a 4" grinder (always suit up and wear a mask).
Wedges and chisels used to separate the moulds and remove from the shell.
Moulds all removed and ready to be cleaned, lightly sanded and polished before laying up kit No.1
Thanks Rog! The false double chin and bold patch wig that I always don for my pictures has worked then, it makes the car look pretty having a old fat bloke sat in it!!
Yes, strangely they are 95% the same shape!
The buck that the boot lid mould was taken from was a bit fragile and didn't make it out of the mould in very good condition, we could have lashed it up for the trip tomorrow but decided it was just as quick to lay up a new one...
Fits quite well, even when fitted in a hurry this afternoon.
Trimmed the unfinished head fairing to match the profile of the rear arch. Much better fit.
It now sits bang on the centre line of the driver seat
Tried a set of cheap Europa 3 ear spinners on the TR6 wheels. Very pleased!
My thoughts exactly!! I will await the calls.
80hp a little bit light, just had it on the rolling road at 450 without the nitrous
ound:
You are getting good with photo effects aren't you Nick!
We got the moulds for the internal panels on the A352 started today. All of the joins between the individual parts were filled and the tech screws that were used for fixing were capped with mirror screw covers so they will echo the rivet detail on the exterior of the car. The moulds are split into 3 parts and will go along way towards a total replacement GRP tub option that will be offered alongside the retention of the steel Spitfire tub option.
Gelcoat and paste applied.
Matting applied with reinforcing bar to stop flexing of the rear panel.
We are planning to produce a finished set of new internal and external panels over the next week or so, along with the acrylic and steel hinges, to have a complete A352 kit package ready for the first customer to pick up. Not too bad when we only started on the 15th October!
