Another Super 7

[Prostreet]

Awesome Machine work Mark.

[Casey]

it could very well end up as a scratch-built model.

I do not have a real Seven. I thought about it, but went with a Corvette instead.

I see what you did there. Nicely done.

Out of curiosity, how many parts specs do you have memorized or written down for the Sevens? For example, do you have the mill specs/data for the cylinder head on file(?), or are you going on memory...or just going with what feels/looks good at the time?

[crazyrichard]

omg outstanding !!!!!!!!!!

[Len Woodruff]

Very Nice Mark. Going to have it done for GSL? LOL!!

[sportandmiah]

Lovely work my friend. What type of mill and lathe are you using? I have a Sheline but have not used it in a few years (kids).

Looking forward to more progress!

[vintagedragfan]

beautiful work Mark!!

[Deathgoblin]

Very nice. I love to watch scratchbuild projects. I LOVE the wheels.

[Mooneyzs]

Wow.... Nice work Mark. This is going to be one outstanding build.

[vwrabbit]

Fantastic work! What kind of mill do you use? Hope to be able to do this myself some year when wife, $ and time allow.

Tim

[sportandmiah]

Epic. Cannot wait for progress!

[Scale-Master]

Thanks guys! Here are some answers

Well…, I have the degrees for cutting seven facets into round stock memorized… But as for each part, I decide what I am going to make, and how it will fit to the overall model. Then I determine what part(s) need to be made to be the “anchors”. In other terms, parts that can be measured off to make other parts that will fit later.

While I have reference books for the real cars, I am not building this one to be one of them. Instead of building it as if it was a Caterham kit car, I am going for the initial Lotus mentality of making it to match the basic parameters of a Seven, but from raw and repurposed materials.

The original Lotus Sevens were minimalist kit cars. The “kit” was basically a list of (mostly used) mechanical parts to acquire and the specs and directions to build your own frame and body with simple tools and inexpensive materials.

The cam cover was made to fit a BDR head, so I matched the “footprint” and mounting points. When I make the head I’ll just meet those same requirements and make the bottom match the top of a BDR block. Since the mounting points are based on real car parts it should all fit together.

I have no idea when it will be done and am not building it for anything other than my enjoyment and as a challenge to myself, (I guess both are kind of the same). So if I get it done in time for a GSL I don’t know which year it will be…

I proudly use Sherline, and highly recommend their products.

And now back to the program in progress:

Before I could fully finish the shape of the rear of the hood, I needed a cowl piece to mate it to. The cowl is made from the same piece of brass as the hood. Here is the basic shape cut from the sheet.

I hammered over the front edge and reinforced it with solder. Relief cuts were made into that flange to allow the shape to match the hood starting at the top center and working outward.

Then a lip for the hood to sit on was formed and soldered on while shaping it to match the hood.

Another arch was made of brass rod and set inside the lip with solder.

Still a little more work fitting the cowl and hood together, but they are coming along…

[Ace-Garageguy]

Gee willikers. Your parts look like skins for a real 7. Which would be aluminum, of course. Are you going to do a full tube frame in brass?

[Ira]

AMAZING BEAUTIFUL MARK!!!

[Scale-Master]

Square tube frame in brass, yes, that is the plan... But I have other parts I intend to make first.

[Danno]

WOW!

This is gonna be the best box-stock build ever!

Too bad it's not a General Lee.

[Scale-Master]

Doesn't mean I can't put a confederate flag, or at least a union jack on it...

I made some intake horns with mounting flanges so I could mock up/measure the spacing and location of them and the carbs in relation to the hood and determine where to cut the hole in the side of the hood. The intake manifold and carbs are measurements I have, plus I have a few finished Sevens I can measure from too.

[martinfan5]

Vote for the Union Jack

You know Mark, all I can say is wow, you really are the master at this, I would comment a lot more, but I am sure seeing wow all the time would get old , amazing work.

[Art Laski]

Those horns look great, Mark! I'm loving watching this progress.

[MachinistMark]

bloody great machining man. bloody great.

[ScrappyJ]

Simply AMAZING, Mark! You truly are the "ScaleMaster" and an inspiration to so many! It is always a treat to watch your WIP.

[LAone]

Duuude I'm strapped in for the wild ride.

[vintagedragfan]

very nice machining, I can't wait to see more

[Scale-Master]

Thanks guys, I really appreciate the compliments, especially from some of you guys that also impress me with your skills and workmanship.

Before I cut the hole, I made ribs to add some rigidity to the hood and soldered them in. I also did a little more work to true up the fit to the cowl.

Then I cut the hole. Still need to do some surface work, but it is stable now.

[vintagedragfan]

Doesn't Gerry any better than that mark!

[Chuck Most]

Doesn't mean I can't put a confederate flag, or at least a union jack on it...

Or at the very least paint it orange. I don't think I've ever seen one of these (1:1 or model) painted orange, though there might be a compelling reason or two for that...