The windscreen trim is a kit of parts at the moment that will be fitted after paint ! Here is a photo of my 275 which was given the same treatment. The only difference on the Z3GTc is a lower trim across the bottom of the screen. I'll also do the quarter window and door top the same too.
To do a single 90 bend is easy. Simply heat the aluminium strip with a blow torch and bend it around a former that is cut to the correct radius. A bit of tweaking once its cooled and your done.
Headlamp surrounds are a different ball game and are best cut from a sheet of aluminium having first made a card template. More time and effort but probably the most effective method.
Here are a couple of photos of the headlight surrounds supplied in the kit. The initial fit is very good. They are pretty wide though so I've trimmed them down from about 20mm wide to around 8mm wide. They look a lot more in proportion now and will be painted bright silver which will contrast well with the midnight blue paint ! I've ordered some 3mm black piping which will go between the perspex cover and inside edge of the surround just to finish them off.
These are the GRP ones supplied in the kit. They are about 2.5 - 3mm thick. I think they will be satisfactory once finished so on this occasion I won't make aluminium trims.
I chrome wrapped the 275 surrounds and they were ok from 6 feet away ! To be fair I think I could do a better job on these, I might give it a go ! I can trim the GRP rim on the inside a bit more. I'm going to paint the buckets silver so they shouldn't show too much in the end.
Thanks, yes I've checked out progress. Should have the first one out of the mould by the end of the month or perhaps a bit sooner !
I've completed the door cards which have turned out pretty good. I also chrome wrapped the head light surrounds. Far more convincing than on my 275, perhaps I'm getting the hang of wrapping !
Still might get this finished by the end of September !
Here are the chrome wrapped headlight rims with 4mm piping between the trim and the perspex, worked out pretty well......
Rear end buck ready to take a mould.......
Collected the rear end yesterday and trial fitted earlier today. All good, everything lines up. Chris has utilised the Z3 boot hinges on this kit so the boot lid is a quick and easy fit. The gas struts fitted to the hinges mean you don't need to fit an extra boot stay. The rear moulding also makes use of the upper mounting points from the Z3 wings so it all helps alignment and a quick assembly.
Plans for the weekend include fitting twin filler caps, recessed into the upper part of the rear wings. I also want to french in the rear lights a little further along with the rear number plate light.
The deep dish BMW wheels might get a 10mm spacer each side so they really fill out the arches. Lowering springs will be decided upon when everything is fitted and the car driven a bit, I've got a feeling it might settle a little.
Photos to follow !
Managed to make a little progress. I've decided not to fit the twin filler caps on the rear wings. I mocked them up in place but they just spoilt the flowing lines of the car. So instead I've decided to use the Z3 filler flap with the subsequent cut out from the body fitted over it. This worked well on my 275 kit and with the midnight blue paint you'll hardy notice it. So if anyone wants a pair of alloy 3"Monza style caps pm me, £50 the pair plus P&P.
Mods were done to the frenched rear light mounts, just the upper indicator light mounts needed a tweak so the lamps fitted in a bit deeper and squarer in the recess.
Zagmad, I stumbled over an ebay ad the other day for a DB7 shooting brake kit to fit a SE6 Scimitar. I didn't save the ad and I haven't found it again. Think he had several "kit" options, but the advert description was really bad, you would need to talk to him ! The photos of the finished car were pretty convincing.
Most of the prep is done, just a light skim of filler here and there but nothing major. I've had the rear end and boot lid on and off a few times but I'm happy with the fit now.
Looks like a warm and dry few days coming up so I'm hoping to get the paint done by this time next week !
I can see why body shops charge so much for paint ! Another day spent prepping, sanding and a bit more filler ! To be fair the panels are pretty good but the more prep you do the more you find to do ! Should get some primer on it early this week.
High build primer is next, I needed to get it close before hand ! 40c in the garage at 3pm but I managed to get a fair bit done by 7pm. All masked up and ready for primer, hope it isn't quite so hot tomorrow afternoon. Humidity should stay low enough when I'm ready for top coat later in the week.
Lol, 35c today when I was ready. Too hot for me and the paint ! Change of plans Wednesday so I'm in with a chance to get some paint on about midday !
Got some paint on the car today, at last ! Not too bad considering its the first car I've painted in 20 years or so and I wasn't an expert back then ! First time with 2k paint as well. A few areas will need a wet sand and polish but on the whole pretty good ! The council decided to mow the grass and kick up loads of dust in the playing field opposite me just as I was finishing up, couldn't believe it !! Luckily the paint was going off enough not to worry about it.
The headlight buckets will be painted silver before anyone points out I've missed a bit !
The paint is a couple of shades lighter than I thought it was going to be but it looks very period and similar to sports cars in the 60's.
Should be on the road in a week or so !
Panels and parts going back on the car now. Best part of the build is the final reassembly, it all comes together really quickly and looks finished for the first time !
Getting there slowly ! All the panels are back on the car and the rear lights fitted, wired in and working. Moving onto the front lights next, a few hours work to finalise them. The windscreen aluminium trim is fitted around the whole circumference giving a retro look. I'll get some photos at the weekend !
Couple of photos from the weekend. The car is covered in dust when I took the pictures, Ill get some better shots outside in the coming days ! The wiring is all done and everything works ! I'm not sure where to mount the front number plate, at the moment I'm thinking of a stick on one on the nose. I'm also in two minds about highlighting the inside faces of the lower ducts in silver . What do you think ? The front grill worked out well, I used the Mondeo outer surround with honey combe mesh behind it.
Thanks Molleur. The modern chrome finish slats in the Mondeo grill were too blingy, the painted mesh suits the car well with just the chrome surround fitted.