Cosmetic Details

Tues.20.11.07. Another slow start today, on the back of the Beaujolais run, has meant that I have only achieved the most basic of progress. Nigel has not touched the remaining wings, bonnet and nose cone but again he promises to have all the panels painted by the weekend, (monkeys flying out of my butt and arses at the Pier head spring to mind).

John Ostick has rebuilt the clocks; he proposes after three days of test to send them back totally refurbished. The two ‘clocks’ apparently belong to the 50’s/60’s era and were the last to contain original ‘Smiths’ movements. After the 70’s Smiths abandoned manufacturing the movements because of serious production problems and relied upon VDO of Italy or Veglia of France. The ‘later’ mechanism proved to be intact but the external case was damaged and needed to be replaced by the earlier model. To initiate the movement the external knob operates the time setting once this has been returned the wheel becomes engaged allowing the clock to function. The entire piece requires negative earth powered by a ‘dynamo’ which subsequently provides the necessary DC currant.

Michael has re-covered the Spitfire seats he now awaits the modified gearbox tunnel cover as well as the reduced door panels: the upper curve on the panels needs to be dropped by 10mm so that the cockpit trim fits flush. Michael has also suggested that the carpet is purchased directly from ‘Coverdale Carpets’ of Hindley Green. Joanne, Coverdale’s very helpful assistant, recommended two samples both of which incorporate the essential rigid hessian backing. The car will need 6 square metres x 60 inches wide at either a cost of £11.50p for ‘Deluxe Hessian backed’ or £18.50p for ‘80/20 Wool Rolls Royce’ quality. Practically, the ‘man made’ fibre would be the sensible option but the woollen variety has the greater subtlety of colour with a slightly denser pile. But, vitally, if we are also to remain faithful to the authentic retro ‘intention’ then a natural fibre would be more appropriate, because, like the leather trim and the stained timber the carpet would ‘weather, distress and fade’ collectively. Given, also, that we have rarely been logical about any aspect of the project I suspect that the ‘impractical, richer’ choice will win the day.  

Whilst on the Beaujolais trip Chris has been carefully planning the layout of the instruments that will be located in the engine compartment. He has been obsessively occupied with this task for the best part of a month initially meticulously laying out the potential tracks using masking tape, string and wire to ensure that all of these ‘functional’ resources are placed in such positions that they not only operate properly but also promote the aesthetic appearance of the engine bay. The spacing between the parts, the beaded rubber trim, the sheathed copper wiring clips together with the stainless steel screw heads all combine to affect the presentation of the overall image. Each day has witnessed another small step that adds to the whole; this process will continue until the finished compartment eventually displays grace, balance and coherence.