Looks ok to me, but you really need yo get the whole profile to really know. They need to flow front to back.
Now create the shell with blue painters tape to get a good vision of the shape of the tail. You may find that you want to increase the radius on the upper corners as you move forward toward the cockpit, or that you want to change the shape in another way. Great progress!
Yes jeff I think you are right, it is a little square near the seats, I have made a start on the mock up.
I wonder how it would look if it dropped 1/2 or 3/4" at the first former behind the seat to fair out the line.
it looks perfect! if it were mine, a little half circle as a door to get in. otherwise it is great. after all it's your vision not mine. i have several models of the 35c so i do like them. i have an old kit car book with several of the kits they used to make.
Looks good, aluminum skin over a steel frame sounds good to me. I like the proportions, doesn't look too big on it's own or too small with a person in it, which is important.
If the body can move, even just a slight amount compared to the framework, paint will only slow down the inevitable. You need to insulate between the two. A few years ago I was on a shop tour when the owner showed me a neat little OT aluminum-bodied Italian coupe. It was in after an engine fire. As I recall, the quote for the fire damage was $115k. He then showed me the damage to the bodywork from contact with the steel body framing. The Italians insulated the steel from the aluminum with fiber disks. After enough heat cycles, condensation rotted the fiber disks. After the paint on the framing rubbed off, the two metals came in contact. The quote for fixing the corrosion and dents from the contact was $80K. The kicker here is that insurance paid the $115k, but the corrosion damage was considered 'wear and tear' and thus not covered. The shop was going to insulate between the two with some kind of polymer.
Back home for a week or so from our country place, managed to get my A roadster going for a run around the hills while there, it was back firing and the wolf whistle was pulsing. Stuck exhaust valve, managed to pop it down from the spark plug hole. Now the wolf whistle sounds normal, who would of thought that they could be used to diagnose problems. Back on the speedster, I got some steel tube delivered, I thought I might be able to bend the 50 x 25mm rhs with a plank and rope, no luck, so I went with the multi cuts on the inside. 10 at 200mm apart and 20 at 100mm apart at the tail end. Looks better than I thought it would.
Just found this thread. Looking good! Liking the older vehicles more and more. Just watched a short YT about Duncan Pittaway and his passion for prewar vehicles. Also saw another YT about NDR Bentley specialists. Really incredible people. Says folks are parking their Ferraris etc and purchasing vehicles like Bentleys that they can take anywhere and race. I think there is a resurgence in these vehicles that reflect simpler times which also give the driver a more immersive experience on the road.
Great looking build, reminds me of the process I used for my build. 1930's Style Race Car Build https://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/threads/1930s-style-race-car-build.1266721/
I am afraid mine will not look as nice as yours. Did you use an English wheel and bead roller, what thickness is your aluminium? Brendan
Just in case you weren’t aware. There is a young guy (he just started university 2-3 yrs ago) who built a speedster from scratch including the frame rails. I haven’t checked in on his build in quite some time, but his build skills were incredible for a novice. You never know until you try. https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLAOSTFKtoB9maO-cBAZQCy5vT10cain0i
I’ll also mention that I recently discovered another gifted builder/ fabricator on YT who has some incredible metal working skills. Of all the metal working vids I’ve watched, I find his the most informative and he shows step by step from template development to finished piece. He also admits he is a “novice” with the English wheel, and is still learning which is nice to see. On a rear filler panel for his personal Zephyr project, it took him 4-5 attempts to get the correct curvature and profile before he was satisfied with the fit. https://youtube.com/c/MakeItKustom
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