Nosecone

Thurs.06.03.08. The original number plates have responded well to their recent revamp. The old alloy has a real look of age as does the slightly faded satin black background. The masking of the raised areas, along with several dustings of paint has permitted a serious rubbing down with G3 and ‘T’ cut. A light polish with Diamond Wax has left the surfaces smooth but with a dull vintage gloss. The remaining parts of the boot lining as well as the lid have been prepared, primed and painted to await final assembly. Appropriate stainless nuts and bolts have been purchased from Brabbin and Rudd at an enormous cost of £2.35. The poor guys in the store must dread my walking in because just as I have managed to get my head around metric measurement they tend to deal with Imperial: the result inevitably means that endless boxes of screws, nuts and bolts festoon the serving counter until I decide which I feel may fit the purpose. The shop deals with the trade who tend to buy large quantities of items and naturally because they ‘know’ their ‘own business’ they can quite easily rhyme off exactly what they need. I always remember to thank them for their patience, which usually produces a thin faint smile from the storemen.     

Fri.07.03.08. The definitive, ultimate, comprehensive, detailed, final and complete parts lists for Paddocks, Demon Tweeks and Europa have been compiled, see Saturday 01.03.08

Mon.10.03.08. The orders for the remaining components from Demon Tweeks and Europa have been ordered, they should be despatched today. A much more comprehensive list from Paddocks can be collated tomorrow. Michael has still not finished the door panels and tunnel covers. He thought that we were in no rush for the stuff and he has been ‘mad busy’ with a Rolls fucking Royce.

Chris has begun work on the grill for the nosecone. The intention is to use lightweight diamond patterned aluminium, bought at Stoneleigh in 2006 for £7.00, to create the curved profile. The contour on the bottom edge will be fabricated using 1.5x40mm stainless steel to shape and sandwich the grill which will be bolted in position when the correct form has been achieved. Chris suggests that the meat mesh, so successfully applied under the bonnet, will also be replicated under the nosecone: yet another fine idea.

Over the weekend I bought a ‘Teach yourself Welding’ book. Today I have started to learn the tricky technique using a ‘Mig’ machine. A reel of fluxed metal is fed through the torch, when operated properly (the distance and load being correctly matched to the weld) a seam of weld can be made. This sounds very easy, but it is not.