20-08-2019, 01:23 PM
Hi All
A bit of an update.
The ply sides have been glued, removed from the car and sanded (to remove copies quantities of glue that oozed out when the sides were bent!). The sides have been re-fixed and three layers of 3.6mm ply bent individually (using a heat gun and water) to form the scuttle top. This has been glued and forms a quite strong laminated hoop across the front of the car. I've also spent some time "playing" with the double curvature rear section. It too will have three layers of 3.6 ply laminated. So far I've got the first layer in place and already its quite strong. It has been a bit fiddly cutting and bending the sections but I think the end result is OK.
Given the strength of the "shell" and being mindful of Ian's comments regarding ply thickness I don't think I'll need an external skin of thin ply. The fabric should easily span across the holes I will cut in the ply. I will probably put a very thin (2mm) ply skin inside the cockpit of the car for cosmetic reasons.
The pic shows the car to date with the outline of the door. I'm hoping to be able to remove the body shell without the subframe to fit the fabric covering. So once the door has been cut I will need some temporary support bars at the top of door height.
Cheers
Howard
A bit of an update.
The ply sides have been glued, removed from the car and sanded (to remove copies quantities of glue that oozed out when the sides were bent!). The sides have been re-fixed and three layers of 3.6mm ply bent individually (using a heat gun and water) to form the scuttle top. This has been glued and forms a quite strong laminated hoop across the front of the car. I've also spent some time "playing" with the double curvature rear section. It too will have three layers of 3.6 ply laminated. So far I've got the first layer in place and already its quite strong. It has been a bit fiddly cutting and bending the sections but I think the end result is OK.
Given the strength of the "shell" and being mindful of Ian's comments regarding ply thickness I don't think I'll need an external skin of thin ply. The fabric should easily span across the holes I will cut in the ply. I will probably put a very thin (2mm) ply skin inside the cockpit of the car for cosmetic reasons.
The pic shows the car to date with the outline of the door. I'm hoping to be able to remove the body shell without the subframe to fit the fabric covering. So once the door has been cut I will need some temporary support bars at the top of door height.
Cheers
Howard