Sanding the worst most boring part of any build but so essential to get it right for the brilliant finish you require good luck I'll be in the same boat eventually!

Deggsy - Hope all goes well with bonding the body shell on. :pray:

As I know that was a key stage in my own build.

All the panel work you have done looks good. :cool:

Good luck, Paul. :)

Well it's done right or wrong the shell is bonded to the frame and there's no way of changing it now next job is bonding the boot floor and figuring out the inner rear wheel arches?

Started on the endplates the front ones are pretty straight forward
[IMG]http://i410.photobucket.com/albums/p...k/DSCF0791.jpg[/IMG]
[IMG]http://i410.photobucket.com/albums/p...k/DSCF0799.jpg[/IMG]
[IMG]http://i410.photobucket.com/albums/p...k/DSCF0800.jpg[/IMG]
bonded and riveted in place
The rear end plates and inner wings are a little more complicated
[IMG]http://i410.photobucket.com/albums/p...k/DSCF0798.jpg[/IMG]
[IMG]http://i410.photobucket.com/albums/p...k/DSCF0796.jpg[/IMG]
[IMGhttp://i410.photobucket.com/albums/p...k/DSCF0801.jpg][/IMG]
I hade to make the rear end plates in two pars too fiddly otherwise?
[IMG]http://i410.photobucket.com/albums/p...k/DSCF0811.jpg[/IMG]
bottom half in place.
top half tomorrow then I'll start on the inner wing 3 panels I think? then the other side after they are sprayed and body guarded.

finished the o/s rear inner wheel arches not very good photos it's a bit tight in there. they need to be painted then I'll start on the other side as soon as I can procure some more alloy sheet I've run out again!
[IMG]http://i410.photobucket.com/albums/p...k/DSCF0815.jpg[/IMG]
[IMG]http://i410.photobucket.com/albums/p...k/DSCF0817.jpg[/IMG]
[IMG]http://i410.photobucket.com/albums/p...k/DSCF0821.jpg[/IMG]
[IMG]http://i410.photobucket.com/albums/p...k/DSCF0820.jpg[/IMG]

I've also sent for some spacers to bring out the rear wheels photos when they arrive a bit

Looking good!
And this reminds me that i've still got to panel-in my front wheelarches at some point :(

Coming on well Degsy!
Reminds me of when I got to that stage!

Not so long now.

Scottie

Slow but sure I hope!

Fitted the rear wheel spacers today 32mm that should worry the bearings? I wonder if anyone makes super duper heavy duty herald bearings Hmmm!
[IMG]http://i410.photobucket.com/albums/p...k/DSCF0822.jpg[/IMG]

Don't worry about the bearings Degsy!
Most of the cars I've ever owned have ended up with 32mm spacers on them, and I've never had any problems, or noticed that the bearings have worn out prematurely.
In fact I've driven hard and fast in some of the cars, and the bearings never ever wore out, and I never needed to change them! My XK has 32mm spacers too!

Scottie good too hear that all being well I'll have no problems with them. I have just arrange a trip to my local metal stockist tomorrow (36 mile round trip) to pick up another sheet of alloy last one I hope?

Get all that ally in there!
It'll look so much better for it!
You can never have too much!!

update
 

The Inner rear wheel arches are now finished.
[IMG]http://i410.photobucket.com/albums/p...k/DSCF0825.jpg[/IMG]
I thought the boot lid wouldn't fit at first but after I trial fitted the seal its looking good though I did have a few problems with the hinges wonderful stuff fibreglass just fill the holes in and try again.
[IMG]http://i410.photobucket.com/albums/p...k/DSCF0826.jpg[/IMG]
I also fitted the upper harness bolts (same problem as the hinges) oops!
[IMG]http://i410.photobucket.com/albums/p...k/DSCF0827.jpg[/IMG]
the doors don't fit at all and will need some serious modifications to the hinges to get them right I think Scottie had the same problem?
[IMGhttp://i410.photobucket.com/albums/p...k/DSCF0829.jpg][/IMG]
[IMGhttp://i410.photobucket.com/albums/p...k/DSCF0830.jpg][/IMG]
[IMG]http://i410.photobucket.com/albums/p...k/DSCF0824.jpg[/IMG]
I can't finish the inner panelling until the doors are fitted correctly as the locks and striker plates need to be fitted first. :humble:

Bloody hell Degsy! Reminds me of my mess!

Mine were well wrong because I lowered the body shell much more than Chris had intended, which threw the hinges miles out.

The hinges actually touched (pushed hard!) on the body inside, so had to be modified several times, but I got there in the end.

Also instead of having just two bolts connecting the doors to the hinge, I used 4, which allowed for more adjustment, but literally took hours and sometimes days to adjust right, and at present the passengers door STILL is not 100 per cent, but with all the hassle, I've learned to live with it. ( does not notice too much)
And opens and closes okay.

All in all, I'm not sure that 4 bolts was the answer to the problem,
but I'm not changing it now.....

If you look back at my build thread, I covered the subject, and had loads of pics, so that may help you. Its really work intensive stuff though. Gotta be done!
Good luck.

The joys of building a special ! I LOVE IT

I know its a bit late now but as there is movement in the body before its bonded on maybe the answer is to temporary bolting the doors securely in the shell so they align up and then bond the shell to the chassis.
Then when bonded unbolt the doors.

I never thought of that too late now though! but thanks' for the suggestion anyway.

Deggsy - First of all, great job on all the panel work you have done lately. :cool:

Then, as far as the doors are concerned, I am sure you will be able to get them to work after a bit of "cutting & shutting.

As I am still amazed how much rebuilding you can do with fibreglass.

Good luck, Paul. :)

Degsy, I forgot to mention earlier that I had to add half and inch on the rear end of my drivers door to get a good panel fit, when I came to fit my doors, so its not just your shell.

I suppose we all build in different ways, on different chassis and frames, and the body shells flex and warp accordingly.
Pain in the bum, but it has to be addressed!

Scottie\Paul I agree with what you say I am slowly building up the courage to cut the hinges. carrying on with some more panelling in the mean time photos to follow.

That's the spirit Degsy!

I would suggest not cutting the hinge right through, but like I did, cut it in from top and bottom so the hinge is still attached
by a thin strip in the middle, that way it can be levered and bent
in the desired direction, and the door can be bolted back on for checks before welding.

Scottie I was thinking along the same lines though I will have to cut here
[IMG]http://i410.photobucket.com/albums/p...k/DSCF0832.jpg[/IMG]
almost to the bottom then twist it up tack it and see if it fits probably several times.
the issue is that due to a total lack of planning it will have to be done in situ now the body is on I can't get the hinges off the frame.
[IMG]http://i410.photobucket.com/albums/p...k/DSCF0835.jpg[/IMG]
so whilst building up my courage I have been making some of the panelling around the doors.
[IMG]http://i410.photobucket.com/albums/p...k/DSCF0834.jpg[/IMG]
[IMG]http://i410.photobucket.com/albums/p...k/DSCF0833.jpg[/IMG]
[IMGhttp://i410.photobucket.com/albums/p...k/DSCF0836.jpg][/IMG]
This should keep me busy for some time.:doh:

Yeah, see what you mean, I was lucky in that I was able to remove the hinges from my car after body bonding, (although it was really time-consuming and fiddly)

Had you considered maybe cutting the hinge bolts off to get the hinge out, then putting new bolts in from below and the nut on top? Perhaps an option to ease things.

Or, you could do a "Paul" on the body, and cut a hole to get to the top nut, then glass it back in afterwards?

Keep posting!

Well I cut the first one in situ and cut too far :cry: it fell of it made lining it up a bit harder but worked out ok.
[IMG]http://i410.photobucket.com/albums/p...k/DSCF0837.jpg[/IMG]
The spacers are glued on temporarily to get an idea of wot's needed.
[IMG]http://i410.photobucket.com/albums/p...k/DSCF0843.jpg[/IMG]
[IMG]http://i410.photobucket.com/albums/p...DSCF0844_1.jpg[/IMG]
four 2mm spacers fitted and it's just about there
[IMG]http://i410.photobucket.com/albums/p...k/DSCF0841.jpg[/IMG]
[IMG]http://i410.photobucket.com/albums/p...k/DSCF0842.jpg[/IMG]
pretty close eh! Now for the other side :juggle: won't be for a while though as I have to get my seven ready for the road and then there's Stoneleigh next week end :whoo:

Theres something incredibly sexy about the side profile and door shape on a D type isn't there ?
All the rivet detail and aero styling is just gorgeous ...

I think that's what drew me to the kit in the first place and I'm adding lot's more rivets I won't know what to do with myself?

riveting post :sorry:

Well done Degsy!

You seem to have done in a short time what it took me ages to do, and my passengers bloody door is still not right!

Deggsy - Great job on the door alignment. :cool:

Thanks guys one down one to go.

Sorry I didn't get to meet you guys and girls at Stoneleigh but I was only there for two hours when I had a call saying my mum had fallen over and was being taken into hospital so had to rush home she's broken her arm and hip . So all work has stopped on the car for the foreseeable future.

Sorry to hear that

Sorry to hear your news, but the good thing with a build is they can wait and be dabbled with at whatever pace you choose. All the best

Deggsy - Car vs. mum = No contest.

Hope she makes a full recovery.

Take care, Paul.

update
 

I have managed to get the occasional hour on the car mostly small fiddly jobs
[IMG]http://i410.photobucket.com/albums/p...k/DSCF0853.jpg[/IMG]
making the panels around the door.
[IMG]http://i410.photobucket.com/albums/p...k/DSCF0855.jpg[/IMG]
very fiddly to make this end panel after 4 attempts to fit it on the inside I gave up and fitted it on the out side I will have to use filler to make it flush with the body doh! I then realised that when panelled in I wouldn't be able to access the rear of it to fit the lock striker pin double doh! plan c . turn it into storage space.
[IMG]http://i410.photobucket.com/albums/p...k/DSCF0854.jpg[/IMG]
[IMG]http://i410.photobucket.com/albums/p...k/DSCF0857.jpg[/IMG]
[IMG]http://i410.photobucket.com/albums/p...k/DSCF0858.jpg[/IMG]
[IMGhttp://i410.photobucket.com/albums/p...k/DSCF0852.jpg][/IMG]
the other side
[IMG]http://i410.photobucket.com/albums/p...k/DSCF0859.jpg[/IMG]
I have also cut and welded the passenger door hinge jur a matter of lining it up now.

Nice one Degsy! I can sympathise with you on theses panels, as I had similar but worse problems making my complicated rain chanels!

Rain channels? RAIN CHANELS noooo aaaaagh

Deggsy - Your panel work looks great. :cool:

How did you get the "indent" around the hole you cut in the storage panel?

Good luck, Paul. :)

PS
Regarding the rain channels...

When I was building a rain channel & drain holes for my boot lid, someone pointed out that there was a still big hole in the middle of my car where the roof should be. :rolleyes:

:icon_wink:

Paul
I used a Joddler Can't get the link to work but if you type in Joddler in eBay you'll see what they are best to get one with a hole punch as well. I think I'll give the rain channels a miss and use the moulded stick on seals instead.

Chris sent me a pair of rear indicator light pods today which I asked him to make for me.
[IMG]http://i410.photobucket.com/albums/p...k/DSCF0862.jpg[/IMG]
Lovely Jubly :nod: