DDK - Die Deutschen Klassiker

And finally after a BIG day we ended up here:










It might not look like much but we now have the foundations to move forward with the rest of the design process which I'm sure Al will outline. I can't thank Al enough for his time - he ended up doing a 20 hour day on Saturday, and Barry for his endless patience in this process as well as his expertise and time on Saturday too. It does really feel like we're beginning to make progress on the design with momentum, focus and confidence now. Thank goodness because I was getting to the point of scrapping the damn thing otherwise! Al and I are hatching a plan to keep the actual build up continuing without him having to get on a big silver bird every weekend so hopefully we should be able to report on positive progress a little more frequently than we did in 2012. Cheers, Steve

OK my first thought on just seeing the wood was it looks like a 58 Cadillac - you just need the fins. However when you drape the sheet over it I can see it looks much more balanced than it has done previously

if it ends up as a Cadillac then we've gone horribly wrong somewhere!

with the sheet draped over it, there's a much better overall look!
the rear looks a bit longer than before if anything, but lower and more inline with the shape of the front.. its kind of a flowing low bodyline with the roof popping out the top; i always really liked this sort of look on the old silhouette (sp? ) cars where the top-half (roof, windscreen, windows, etc) appeared a bit tall for the bottom-half (below the window lines). it gives cars a really squat purposeful look, and older cars which have a lot less pillar and a lot more glass can carry it off well because they look lighter.. DEFINTELY a nicer balance/look than modern cars with their short windows and tall slab-sides. infact it almost has similar proportions (bodywork vs. cabin/glass) to the elan +2, which is one of my favourites of the era

keep up the good work guys, this car is going to be well worth the effort!

Well, as we are all bouyed up with enthusiasm for the project, I did a quick sketch at lunchtime to illustrate the next stage - drawing up the various sections through the body at key points which Steve and Barry can attach to the foundation 'box'


okrasa rear buck001

I should point out that the transverse section I did on Saturday between the centre line and the rear arch over the wheel was done VERY quickly in the dying stages of the day, and as such was really just to help the 'dust sheet test'

In all honesty, I'm probably as well doing these sections here at my leisure - it takes a long time to get it right - not only does each line need to look OK on its own, but they also have to work well with the adjacent shapes too, so there is a lot of to-ing and fro-ing and redrawing lines you thought were OK 15 minutes before. My language can often get a little fruity at such times, and I wouldn't like to expose Barry and Steve to the more 'anglo-saxon' elements of the Scottish dialect!

Each line has to pick up on the intersections with the others - so a change to one line can affect one or more others too.... more swearing here.

Still, it can be done on paper up her and posted to Steve to cut out of wood and build onto the buck.

The lines on the above sketch are therfore just to give you a feel for the process - it will look better, and not a bit like a Cadilac!!

steve wright wrote:

Sorry guys - not meaning to be insulting with the Cadillac remark - it was the above picture that made me make the remark - but comparing that to the sketch you uploaded there are no intermediate 'ribs' (like there are in the sketch) - seeing those lets your eye make the connection of where the body will be - they aren't there in the above pic so it's easy to focus on a what seems to be a larger tail.

I reckon it will look fantastic

don't worry, not offended. It certainly still takes a leap of faith to see the intended form at this stage.

I post this just to amuse you as to the possibilities prompted by my visit to see the car last week.

My overriding old car passion is early minis and derivatives, so it was perhaps innevitable that after seeing what a lovely shape the Ghia roof is when viewed out of context, I'd start thinking 'I wonder how I could use that'!




I cunningly combined a standard Mk1 Mini front, a Riley Elf (my first car was an Elf) body and the roof of the Karmann Ghia (which needs to be slightly narrowed to fit the Elf body, causing a few issues with the glazing!). This drawing is to 1/10 scale.

You'll note the echos of Aston Martin DB4 / Gilbern GT. I actually think it worked out looking surprisingly good - I'm thinking Aston Martin Sage green metalic with OEW door circles and a big alloy fuel cap) Anyone want to swap an Elf for a clubmans racing car?

I really need to scrath the 'Gilbern GT Itch' I've been suffering for since first becoming aware of them in '96. I was offered one as a project recently and I think it's getting to me :D

Anyway, I digress........

That has echoes of the Broadspeed GT:

Indeed it does, and it's no coincidence that the file is saved on my computer as 'Narrowspeed GT'

Al

"cough", a shape only a mother could love

steve wright wrote:"cough", a shape only a mother could love

I would have to agree with you on that Steve

I think I prefer yours to the Broadspeed Al

That's 'cause I know the rules!