Ognib

Glad you're enjoying, Marshall. Agree with what you're saying, Tim. The pics are a point of inspiration for me as to what is possible...keeps me motivated through my mistakes. Happy weekend to all! Edges are work hardened & there's excessive material. Time to take it off the buck, trim the edges & practice the annealing process. Nice definition of the feature lines on the face though. It is identifiable as a deuce grill shell, at this point. Working with the .025 here.

I just keep looking at this series of pics of 1/4 scale Ferrari. That cat's bashing aluminum on to a hammer on form with a big hammer. And...they're ending up with...

Thanks for the encouraging words, Tim! I am probably partly insane when it comes to how much I'll endure to get what I want when doing stuff like this. My only hope of success is my refusal to quit. The concept has evolved since earlier today, with several scrapped pieces, to the present. I learned a couple of things about how to work the caulking tool on to the buck & my results are improving. I can see the beginning of the shapes of the sides & at the bottom. The top...I'm moving more area here & it's working a little slower to show shape.

Cut a plug to fit the opening to act as a clamping block during shaping. This will have to be shaped down to allow the metal between the block and the shell buck. Want there to be somewhat of a press fit here for snugness & holding power. Aluminum will have a lip in the bottom for the block to clamp to. This lip will be trimmed off after shaping is complete. Using a couple of pieces of angle steel, I bent the lip for the metal blank. Estimated length needed is 15", which will provide some overlap for fitting of the seam.

Shaping metal is accomplished by shrinking and/or stretching. Simple to say, not so simple to accomplish, I'm finding. The larger bucks (body & cowl) are a work in progress in their own right as I fit my rather extensive collection of templates to the wood...or fit the wood to the templates is probably a better way to say it. I'm hot to get something finished in metal that I feel can actually be used on the build. The grill shell is small & simple comparatively so I'm going to focus on it for now. Two ways I can approach the grill shell. either start on the outside & shrink into the smaller radius on the inside. Folds in the paper indicate how much shrinking required. Stretching is "easier" to do than shrinking. I can start on the inside & stretch the metal out to the larger radius. This is the method I'm going to use. The stretching will thin the metal as it happens. I've been experimenting with .016 & .032 up to this point. I bought some .025" sheet & am going to start with it for the shell. See how this works out.

Thanks Tim. Good to be back. Gotta make hay while the sun shines, tho.

My shop music for today.... A most profound set of lyrics! http://www.bing.com/videos/search?q=eye%20of%20the%20storm%20frank%20marino&qs=n&form=QBVR&pq=eye%20of%20the%20storm%20frank%20marino&sc=0-21&sp=-1&sk=#view=detail&mid=53F2CAD9FFEFCA5ED33B53F2CAD9FFEFCA5ED33B

Fits the opening nicely. Now needs tapered down to the sides. Little round off work around the outer edges & I've got myself a grill shell hammerform.

There was a lip around the grill which allowed it to seat against the back of the opening on the shell, for ease of fitting on the model. Trimmed that lip off so it will now fit "in" the opening. Centered it on the buck & used it's shape to "connect the dots", if you will, for an accurate pattern to work to in shaping the opening on the buck.

With the machine running, I moved the block into the bit until I could just begin to feel contact against the side of the bit & then down for the cut. This gives me an accurate transfer of points. Separated the glue line with the x-acto blade & gave it a quick ride on the belt sander for a clean flat surface.

Ya got me drooling here, man!

Very nice work!

Development of the buck for grill shell. Stuck the plastic piece to the block with a few drops of super glue...don't want it coming loose at the wrong time. Forstner bits cut a nice flat bottom hole. It'll take a while to excavate the grill area inside the shell...this is a hard piece of mahogany & if I push my bit too hard it'll overheat & loose it's sharp.

The process is my favorite part, Scott. Happy to be sharing it with you. Something about this car I really like. It's got a really nasty looking attitude. The stance, etc, definitely performance oriented. Really like the wind screens. I'm intrigued by the front differential & the air horns at the grill top & contemplating where they located the radiator & how they're directing adequate air flow to it. What components they're using for the all wheel drive assembly.

Thanks for the pics. I've been reading in Joe Martin's "tabletop machining" for a couple of years in anticipation of adding a mill to my shop. It's informative to see how different pieces are set up in order to achieve the desired end result.

Excellent results, Tim. Any shots of your set-up & procedure?

Thanks, you hit the nail on the head, John! The challenge of learning how to do things that I currently don't know how to do is my entire motivation in this. A lot of trial and error. My pile of scrap metal is growing as I make my mistakes. But, the feeling of accomplishment when I finally get it right...priceless.

Thanks, everyone. Been snowed under with work on the day job. Haven't taken a day off in over 2 weeks, so no time for this. I work for several local pro players taking care of their gear. Everyone's getting stuff ready for their summer tours & schedules. It'll level off here before too much longer & I can get back on the build.

You personify my aspirations in modeling with your work here, Tim The calipers especially are candy to my eyes! Any shots of your setup when they were on the mill?

Sweet!!!

I agree 100% on the time & money thing, Chris.

Lookin real good!!

I worked in body shops for 33 yrs. Evercoat is good product. I think that if you'll stir up the contents of the can the liquids will re-integrate into the material & be usable. When not in use, store the can tightly capped & upside down. BTW, great work!!

What's the current status of the '37?