But getting there.
The panel gaps are starting to look a little more uniform.
And the front fenders.
These have too much flare for a SWB but I can't muster the courage to take the flares back to skinny / period correct.
Using 3mm dowel rod to build up the edge seems to be a good method (in my inexperienced pov)
Getting the profile on the curve on the fenders to match the doors was also a puzzle.
Cutting slots and using a strap to form the shape before adding FBG to hold the curve seemed to work.
The bottom of the fenders were too long so I had to chop out 15mm to get them flush with the sill.
"Some fitting will be required".....understatement of the century!
Messy work.
The tops of the fenders also needed work.
God knows what they looked like on the previous car they belonged to.
And the front vents were so out of whack they required some serious reconstruction. Along with the bottom of the fenders where they joint he front bumper.
The idea is to create grille's that will be riveted over the openings - will save time on having to craft the edges.
Still need to finalise a design.
Probably get them laser cut and bod the mesh onto the back.
Hand made at this stage.
have been playing around with different thicknesses and colours.
A few more prototypes to go through I reckon.
A bit of work on the sill and the door.
The hours and hours I spent test fitting the sill and the door to get the gaps as good as i could seem to have paid off.
Minimal filler (in my world anyway).
The end result of all the FBG work looks good.
Not bad.
Starting to come together.
And a few go fast holes for the oil cooler.
The bumper is going to need to lose an inch in the middle somewhere.
Should be simple enough....famous last words.
A few more jobs to be done before I can start the paint prep work in earnest:
- oil cooler brackets
- fit of the fenders to the front bumper
- bonnet edge
- front bumper mounts (laser cut from alu)
I bought a litre of paint to do a colour test on the roof.
Will need to come off to get the primer free of sanding swirls but looks good.
Mitsubishi Ivory White (apologies to the purists, but it was all my local could mix)
Not a bad finish for a muppet in a dusty garage with an old gun!
I'm planning to shoot the final coat myself in said garage, with a few amendments:
- new gun
- lots of coats for colour sanding
- a simple plastic sheeting spray booth
Managed to get the engine mounts in.
Lots of measuring and aligning but they are in, the engine bay is painted and ready.
And the last, most important milestone was getting the body out of the octisserie.
5 years later.
A gratifying job.
After staring at a SWB shell with a ride height akin to a Cayenne, it was very exciting to get a sense of how it will sit on it's wheels.
Still about 150mm too high.
Almost time to start making engine noises!
