Pops - By all accounts you should be very careful indeed if using 2 pack paint in a domestic setting. :eek:

Sorry to hear your "slammed" set up caused you a few problems, but nice work on the front indicators. :cool:

Good luck, Paul. :)

PS
I'd like to see how far your tail pipes stick out now, as this is my set up.

https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-b...o/DSCF5010.JPG

Paul

http://i1122.photobucket.com/albums/...ps53f563bb.jpg

This was before, will have an after shot this evening....pretty sure yours are already shorter than mine began, must be another difference between Herald and Spitfire

http://i1122.photobucket.com/albums/...s3nakpe92.jpeg

http://i1122.photobucket.com/albums/...sao44mk9e.jpeg

Paul, this is how the exhaust ended up, much happier with this length tail pipe, be aware if you shorten the y piece and pull in the box to reduce length the up turn of the tail pipe increases, this ended up in me rearranging the cut outs in the apron and remodelling the previous work I had done..

Continued rubbing down today removing brush marks from the gel coat, dissapointingly found stress cracks in the front quarter panel, believe this is where the body wraps tight around the framework, gauged out and filled, unexpected but better to find and fix now than after painting
http://i1122.photobucket.com/albums/...sxqxvtiex.jpeg

http://i1122.photobucket.com/albums/...szj9kyf7s.jpeg

Pops - Thanks for the photos, looks like we've ended up with a similar length.

In terms of Spitfire vs. Herald, my exhaust is the standard set up, but there is no room to move the silencer boxes back any further.
( As they would foul the chassis. )

Good luck with the rest of the body work preparation, Paul. :)

Now the nice weather is here and the nights drawing out

http://i1122.photobucket.com/albums/...swolqjhxf.jpeg

Thought I'd take a brake from sanding and filling and spend some time on the cockpit, instruments wired up only to find Tacho was broken so time to fit substitute, problem the new one was smaller diameter then original cut out so some new ideas needed, managed to fit the new Bezzle into the old so although doubled up its functional and fills the hole, starter button fitted and working main beam and indicator light on dash,

http://i1122.photobucket.com/albums/...sfkbhraaz.jpeg

http://i1122.photobucket.com/albums/...shfsmbbi5.jpeg

Sourcing parts over here is a nightmare car carpet ordered from eBay but shipping same cost as purchase☹️

Hope to have etch and primer on soon so I can see where I am with rubbing down, will be a great boost to have the car all one colour even if t is just primer....

Pops - Getting the whole car in primer will make a big difference and is a great boost to morale. :cool:

Good luck, Paul. :)

Glad to see you're back on track. Also been suffering from 'lifegettingintheway-itis' so quite inspiring to see there's a way forward! Will be down your way this Summer - PM me if I can help with any parts transport.

Cheers

Richard

Richard, very good of you to offer thank you, there are a couple of bits I need but will have to wait to see how funds are nearer the time��

At last something to update, was not happy with my rear end something was not right so after a long time planning decided to take the plunge and shape the rear apron cutting it back by about 30mm, recut the exhaust again and made up a shield to go around the pipes. Finally decided to move the number plate light previously stuck directly to the body I thought I would try forming a shroud and mount it on this, this altered the angle thinking I will try and find a red lense to fit and make a third brake light in the centre, overall quite happy with the results and feel it's a bit more pleasing to the eye..

From this

http://i1122.photobucket.com/albums/...ps5847a99c.jpg

To this..

http://i1122.photobucket.com/albums/...shfjmgfyj.jpeg

http://i1122.photobucket.com/albums/...sycfakaco.jpeg

http://i1122.photobucket.com/albums/...se7o90nwe.jpeg

http://i1122.photobucket.com/albums/...serwslfx4.jpeg
Pops

I like that Stewart
But I am biased and it reminds me of my old roadster

http://i1219.photobucket.com/albums/...psz0tikzpz.jpg

Pops - I really like your tail pipe shield. :cool:

And it is good to see your build making regular progress again.

Which reminds me I never replied to your post on the sticky thread. :rolleyes:

Oxford is the one person who I know is still building, but not posting.

Although I'd love to know how other builders are getting on.

Cheers, Paul. :)

Roadster, Paul thanks for the positive comments I'm keen to keep to keep the rear simple much like the roadster
Rubbing down all day today paying the price for being over enthusiastic with the orbital sander as the swirl marks are quite deep and a nightmare to remove. Not sure how deep a mark the high build primer will cover but at the moment 600 wet and dry seems to be the answer but weeks of sanding ahead......��
Pops

I love the tunnelled tail lights Pops , thats a nice touch . Centred exhaust looks cool too ...some nice little features that make all the difference ...

Bodywork is a ball ache ...I hate it ...but it is always very rewarding at the end ...dont bust yourself up about getting it too perfect ...If you look at the genuine cars of the period , not the over restored investments that turn up at Auction , but a day at Goodwood types ...they are not finished to a high standard ...and , in my opinion , look better for it ...

Your right, there's a danger it will never be finished if I don't accept it will never be perfect, think 600 grit finish is too smooth for good adhesion, so have decided to stick at it but not get too hung up on it. Cheers Pops

To break up the boredom of rubbing down managed to form the interior panels and cover them in vinyl, sorry no pictures yet. They are plain flat but fit the overall look in my opinion.
My eBay purchase arrived so made up the third brake light and feel it's going to be fine .....
Real bit of luck finding a lense the right diameter to fit my number plate light.


http://i1122.photobucket.com/albums/...szuxifyhd.jpeg

http://i1122.photobucket.com/albums/...sjxogydpk.jpeg

http://i1122.photobucket.com/albums/...scwhljagy.jpeg

Every little step is one closer to finishing.....Pops

Your 3rd brake light really has a great shape. :cool:

Good luck, Paul. :)

Thanks Paul, was chuffed to find a lense that fitted so well, was a classic Miller bicycle lens in the end, the shape and diameter worked a treat...

Small progress,
Managed to mask off and spray my grill Satin black fit the surround and end blanks to hopefully direct the air flow to my radiator.

http://i1122.photobucket.com/albums/...soq1eduge.jpeg

Had a tinker with the carbs, fitted the trumpets that I've had on the shelf for a while only to find they were slightly smaller than carb inlets, so thought I'd try the Spitfire air box, that's when I found a flaw in my original bulge...

http://i1122.photobucket.com/albums/...ps802735d4.jpg

I hadn't realised it only covered the carb pots and left no room for a filter,
Decided I needed to go larger and thought I'd try a scoop..
Blue peter style cut up a 25 litre container, just to see if it could work

http://i1122.photobucket.com/albums/...s57mdrosi.jpeg

Near enough so cut it to shape and made a mould.
Committed to this new idea, cut off the bulge opened up the bonnet hole and started on the new scoop


http://i1122.photobucket.com/albums/...spuqphwhq.jpeg

Very much work in progress but quite liking the result.

Finally have been trying different ways to secure the bonnet top, ( Dzus fasteners worked ok but not quite right), then I noticed how the original Lancia's bonnet was secured

http://i1122.photobucket.com/albums/...sqbtxzvzh.jpeg

So think I may try two of these

http://i1122.photobucket.com/albums/...ps5uvw1rnq.png

No harm in trying and it's only for securing top as sides lock

Pops

380 grit will cover nicely with the high-build primer. It's the primer you want pretty smooth.