Codi

And if anything will show a flaw, it's Alclad. Shows how good your prep really was Chris. Cheers, Tim

Hi, I finally got the dirtmodeler chrome bracket on that I received recently and think it thoroughly completes the wheelie bar. Comments welcome. Cheers Now it's time to move on to complete the back end of the frame.

Just stumbled across your thread Andy. Glad I finally did and will be following along like many others. Great build you've got going and your fabrication skills are something to see. Cheers, Tim

Dwayne, your trailer is shaping up VERY nicely. I like the design and how you've executed it so far. It's obvious you have a plan on how to approach your builds and it will be fun to watch your progress. Dave (comp1839) is probably the best source on this forum for the info you're seeking and his advice is invaluable. Cheers, Tim

Dwayne, do you have any links or posts of previous builds you've done? Cheers, Tim

Nice job Ray. I'm curious how your new casting supplies work out for you too. Cheers

Appreciated it guys. Chris, look up the Nickel plate eletro plating kit, it doesn't have the copper solution (which you don't need to get started) and it's $36.99 too! Ray, I'm nuts, not insane. I've used on all my builds R & B Motion Rod Ends. They're some things that just aren't worth taking the time to make and his machined Rod Ends are of the best quality. Cheers

Kevin, you are surely to be commended for the cleanliness of your execution on this project. That is an impressive amount of fabrication you're doing and yet the build looks spotless & flawless in every way. This will look very sharp when it's done I've no doubt. Thanks for sharing the cutter pic you posted. I'll have to locate one of those and give it a try myself. Cheers, Tim

John, thank you for the compliment and taking the time to check out my other builds....as few as they may be. Chris, best thing is to do a "bing" search for "caswell $49.99 nickel plate / copper kit......you should get the link to their site you need. I must admit, of all the vendor websites I go to, theirs is one of the worst to navigate. Great product, 1999 era website (search wise). As mentioned, did the bars over today. Here they are in their proper scale. The real 1:1 bars, for those interested are 1.6" in diameter. They are not glued together as you see them and the couple of support brackets have yet to be affixed....but here they are. Cheers, Tim

Thanks Ray.....it's just the way I was raised and the way I am. Here's a pic and you can see the difference between the original and what I'm fabbing as we speak. Cheers, Tim

Michael - its frail looking because I made it the wrong dimension. I thought the same thing when I put them on the car but accepted it was right. It took me about 90 minutes to finally find the CORRECT diameter that the real thing is made from.....my bars are 25% too narrow. I'm re-doing the whole thing. Thankfully I have the materials on hand (won't have to re-make the wheelie wheel and housing) and more importantly the KNOWLEDGE on the dimensions (length of tubes etc.) and how to fab down solid. I suspect I can get em' remade in little more than a day. I KNOW they'll look more appropriate then. Silly what a few tenths of a millimeter mean huh but I won't compromise on their accuracy.........so......... Chris - the kit you're seeking is the $49.99 nickel plating kit from caswell. be sure to read their directions and try some of the tips I've shared here on the best way to get decent results.....at least from what I've learned thru experience. Cheers

One more small horizontal bar to add and some beautiful chrome dirtmodeler brackets and these are done. They're not glued together yet but you'll get the idea. I strongly dislike making wheelie bars btw. This 3 bar unit fought me every which way. It was without a doubt the most aggravating thing I've made to date for this build. And that's saying alot. Thanks for letting me vent a little bit. Cheers, tim

Chris, thank you for taking the time to document your design and fabrication of the latch assembly. At this point though, I wouldn't have expected anything less. Sorry, but you set the bar higher for yourself each and every time. Keep jumping my friend. It's fun to watch!! Tim

That last pic does justice to your build. Looks real Tyrone. Cheers, tim

Brad, I'm sure those wheels only added to your anxiousness to get to the next step of this build. Jim did right by your build with the front rims. Bet you can see your vision of the car in totality now. Can't wait for you to share it. Cheers, Tim

Joe, I liked your Dart....but I REALLY love this build. Will look for your next pics after the dreaded wash, rinse repeat of bodywork schtick. You described the process all too well. Cheers, Tim

Thanks Ray. spent the better part of the day not getting much built but working on how to consistently drilll out tiny 1.2mm rod. Carbon fiber is a bugger as it splinters due to its makeup and you have to be perfectly on center since the rod is so tiny. Finally, after 4 hours of trial and error (I'm nothing if not persistent, my wife would say stubborn) and came upon a method that works v. well. It was worth it in my estimation as I like the look of the parts I've fabbed so far and how they look together. In between my experimentation I also came across a better looking brace design for them that I like and I'm changing that aspect of the design as well. The CF rod won't require decals as it's the perfect finish and look (should be right?) as it is. Tomorrow I hope to make some serious headway to get these rascals done sooner than later. Someday I'll look back on this build as the one that I learned the most from....I think. Cheers, Tim

VERY SLICK Chris. I'll be sure to check out the 2nd video as well. Thanks for posting it and showing us how it works. Cheers

Let the fun begin.

Fascinating subject Kevin. Your eye for detail on this build is just amazing. Looking forward to your next update. Cheers, Tim

Ray, I really appreciate the way your sharing and documenting this process, as well as your panel beating. I look forward to your updates and will be sure to link this thread once I see your results for future reference to attempt this as well. Again, big thanks, a pic and comment from you is priceless. Best of luck with your "experiments", I've no doubt they'll garner great results. Tim

Thanks fellas, and as usual Joe...very funny.....disturbing........but funny. Ray - I mock this rascal up a bunch which took me half an hour just to locate the axle and x-brace again so I could fab the wheelie bars. I'm anxious as well to assemble all the components once I complete the rear of the chassis and I'll be sure to share. I DO enjoy having the time to think ahead on certain things as I'm going to use a different design of bracket I've been mulling over to attach the wing to the chassis. That's one advantage to being such a s-l-o-w builder. The CF rod showed up yesterday so now I can get on with finishing the wheelie bars. It's tedious drilling out 1.2mm rod with a #74 bit but I don't expect any issues. I'm expecting an order from dirtmodeler as well for some brackets that I want to use but I can at least get these made and add the brackets at the end. Cheers

THAT is so cool looking Joe. It's very obvious you're a "glass half full" kinda guy. Will most certainly follow along as you tear into this one. Cheers, Tim

Wayne, you absolutely NAILED the stance and overall look on this build. I love the early funny cars and can't wait to get to a 71' Mustang some time next year. Your car looks just like they did back in the day......which IMO was the very best era of drag racing. Certainly will be following along. Cheers, Tim

Started the wheelie bars. The piece you see respresents a chromoly piece that attaches to the bottom of the axle 4 link brackets. The design is one I saw of a recent pic of the JEGS promod vette. It's triangular and combines carbon fiber and chromoly. I have CF rod on the way (the RC car and plane industry has it) and I'm going to make mine the same. I do have some 3D CF decals that I might apply to the tubes as well but I have to see how thin I can cut them. The tubes will be 1.2mm to replicate the real thing. The housing for the wheelie wheel itself is a modified dirt modeler piece. I'm going to nickel plate that bracket as well as the one in brass that I fabbed in these two pics. I polished the rear end as well in preparation for attaching some nickel brackets from futurattraction. Cheers