DDK - Die Deutschen Klassiker

If it was over the nose it would be a 'Rob Walker' stripe. I quite like it too!

Motivated by Steve's progress , I retreated to the garage, so should be nosing back into the lead......



Well, I need to get this one finished quick, if Steve's model is going to be here soon!


It's quite motivating when I open the door to be faced by something that's starting to look like a car!

Al

I managed to get a couple of hours at the weekend to fill and then sand the model, sorting out a load of imperfections, blending in the rear to the roof line, and creating a nice sweep around the rear clamshell. Just need to prime and paint over the next few days, then make a custom plywood box to bolt the model into, so it can be posted to Al in Scotland. Think I've nudged into the lead again Al...









Slowly but surely the design is getting better with each iteration.

I'm up a ladder cleaning a ceiling with sugar soap buying garage time!

(and yes you are!)



Al

wow, you must be pleased. A lovely looking little thing.

i have two questions - is the shape of the door set, i.e will it be constructed as in the model? And what are your plans for the side glazing - where will the b pillar go?

the panel layout and glazing are areas I'm going to play about with -door and rear quarterlight glass, and possibly some changes to the rear screen shape. I'm also going to incorporate the air inlets for the engine cooling in such a way that they look intended.

Al

Drum roll please... I've finally managed to complete the model work and got my designs "down on paper" so to speak. Here's the finished product - this is about as far as I can take things design-wise (run out of talent), so I will be boxing up the model and sending it to Al this weekend. I mucked about with the door gap lines (tried designers tape, then pen, then went back to designers tape: it's too thick (3mm) but it gives a lovely line), and I finally settled on the window treatment: did just a line with red windows, then silver, before settling on black which seems to work best. I'm delighted with the how it's turned out - if Barry made this I'd be thrilled; no doubt Al will make it look like a three year old's attempt! But at least I feel I've had a hand in the design of a period race car

















Oh, and if it looks unashamedly Ferrari 250LM inspired, that's because it is! But my view is that's no bad thing if it's mistaken for an LM.... Enjoy. Cheers, Steve

Just checkin'



Al

Well all boxed up and off to Al's tomorrow. Looking forward to seeing his handiwork.

Damien Hirst would be proud.

I KNEW we'd make an artist out of Steve!

Al

Down in the garage, something stirred........... (but it's a secret!)

Happy new year!

Al

Back in Barry's Den, when will the English Wheel stir?

Well, there's no harm in underlining the intended plan.

1) With the model taken as far as Steve and I can go, it's now been handed over to Al (we've got long arms) to cast his infinitely more professional eye over it.

2) Al is hoping to work up a couple of his own ideas for the rear (I think), plus a refinement of the work that Steve has done.

3) From the above, it is hoped that a pointer to the final form will be arrived at (no doubt after a bit of back-and-forward design tennis between Steve and Al, which is exactly the point of the excercise).

4) All being well, and Al's time permitting, he'll then work up a final back-end and side, and actually attach it to the model, and work it up so that there is no particular difference in finish between 'mine' and his, probably finishing with a colour coat over the whole thing, just so eyes aren't distracted by colour / texture differences.

5) One way or another, we'll scale back up from the model, using this data to produce another eggshell buck. Bare in mind that we've now changed the front wings (much wider), bonnet and front leading edge (narrower / longer), and obviously the entire rear. Therefore the buck is going to be started again from scratch. I'm rather hoping to twist Al's arm, and come up with a few drawings in addition to the model to help me get going on the rear buck (the front will be modified shapes from the existing).

6) With the buck on, no doubt we'll do a few trial panels just to clarify we're heading the right way.

7) After that. it'll be down to me, and one early job will be to see what order to do things in - inner structure or outer? Probably a blend of both as we go forward.

One thing's for sure, with a few years of bookings ahead, every hour really counts at the moment, so the more efficient we can make this (re)design stage as far as the workshop is concerned, the better.

It's a really exciting time for the project, as at last we've got someone with the same eye and talents as Macaulay, but within reach (more or less). It is amazing to see how Al will do a sketch / drawing, and in just a line or two, absolutely get a point across, or refine a shape. It's also brilliant from my point of view to have someone as a sounding board who not only has 'the eye' but a lot of valuable hands-on experience as well.

Oh yes, to answer your question again, Graham, it was used through October and November last year to modify a replica Sebring Sprite racer. It had been built very wrong, and I was comissioned to rebuild the front and rear screen apertures (which involved cutting the roof in half, taking out 3/4in, and welding it back up). I also had to do some work around the rear deck which involved the wheel.

BTW, this is where I came up with the tooling to do the recesses in Darren's doors, as I had to make a new recess for the front screen rubber on the Sprite.

Just one reason why Darren's has been here a while ...

Work on version 2 should commence during the week.

Al