Scratch building a classic muscle car.

[fractalign]

This is how it looks, I will not begin this side until I have finished the wheel arches on the first side, but I thought it would be good to see how it shaped up.

[fractalign]

The other task was to add the rocker panel, to do this a 2mm thick a strip of styrene was added at the bottom. The window area has been marked for removal. This will be a tricky task but its necessary because I will need to have the window area exactly the same for the other side. Once i have removed this area, I can use this side as a template for the other side to trace in the window area.

Edited July 8, 2014 by fractalign

[fractalign]

Although not very clear the final image shows the contour of the sides, each end tapers in slightly. Next task will be removing the window area.

[fractalign]

Hey Guys.

I did some more today. The first thing was to mark the holes where the window area was removed.

[fractalign]

The hardest part with removing the window area was not cutting into the A and C pillar. I wanted to retain the windscreen pillar to keep the strength in the roof. Wood working tools are perfect solution.

[fractalign]

After using the angle grinder along top and bottom edges, a few hard taps with the with the mallet at either end knocked out the

piece.

few hard taps with a mallet finished the job on the front and rear pillars.

Edited July 9, 2014 by fractalign

[fractalign]

Next task is the channels. I took a template from the leading edge of the of the 1:1 door to check the contour. Anyway on the right of side which is actually the top of the door there is a quarter round channel the runs from the cowl all the way up to there rear drip rail.

Edited July 10, 2014 by fractalign

[David G.]

You've got my attention.

David G.

[fractalign]

To recreate the channel, a piece of 4.5 millimetre round tubing was cut in half. The pencil marking is for the next cut so that the tubing is quartered.

[fractalign]

The last shot shows how the channel will look when attached. The image in the background shows a full size door skin, this is how the channel should look in mine, once its finished. Next task will be getting the channel attached.

[Byron5150]

Looking great so far that is an awesome car, I recently seen one at a car show.

And its amazing to see how you can a build a body from scratch, I've never tried it nor do I think I would be successful.

[fractalign]

You might surprise yourself, if you look at enough On the Workbench posts you pickup things very quickly.

[microwheel]

This is one interesting build. I try to take time to keep up with what your doing. I love the fact that your scratch building every peice of this project. And it really is starting to take shape.

[fractalign]

Well I am trying to, what I can't scratch build I will modify to suit.

Anyway I would like to thank all you guys for your encouragement, every bit helps !

[fractalign]

Hey Guys.

I got a little bit more done tonight. The main thing was installing the channel, I realised this would have to be in two stages because the taper along the side where the door meets the quarter panel is the same as the taper on the edge.

[fractalign]

I also did a bit of work on the door frames. These had me stumped for days but in the end I decided to use two lengths of half round, one 1mm and the other 2mm. The 2mm pace was turned around with the flat side facing out. The 1mm piece was then glued into it with the round side facing out.

These were then cut to the length of the B pillar.

[fractalign]

I realised that the roof area was still too thick for the pillar to fit so the final task for the night was to cut the excess area.

Here is the result, the windscreen frame was tidied up as well. Next task now that i have cleaned up the inside of the the front part of the roof area will be to repeat this process with the other side.

[TFchronos]

Very nice craftsmanship.

[fractalign]

Hey Guys.

I did a little bit more tonight. The first task was to clean up the rear pillar. By doing this I was ready for the next big task. Up until now I have left the other side more or less untouched.

[fractalign]

With the roof on the first side refined enough, the next task was to peg and glue the other side in place. The other side was sanded down to match the roof contour of the first side. Both need to be mirror images. With the two halves still glued in place I began work on cutting out the window area as well.

[Scalper]

Wow... that is alot of work.. good stuff so far

[fractalign]

This time I used just the modelling knife, even the holes on the curved parts were done with the blade. I rotated the knife like a drill bit to remove these areas, I then used the blunt edge to scribe out the rest of the area.

[fractalign]

And here is the result, next up will be the completion of the seam line. This will be most challenging part of this build by a long shot.

[Custom Mike]

Robert, this is a massive undertaking, but it looks like you've got a great plan so far, I feel like my stuff is pretty tame compared to something like this, I've got a long way to go before I try to scratch build a body like you and Jeremy Jon are doing!

[fractalign]

Hey Mike.

You might be surprised to find my modelling skills are pretty average. As far as undertakings go you only have to look at what other guys have put up over the years to get ideas for a scratch built project. If you look at what these have done, you might pick it up faster than you think.