Mister Towed's Tai Chi build - Page 33

davecymru · #**641** 19th July 2012, 14:21

Looking good! I think that you'll be pleasantly surprised as how comfortable it actually is driving a Spyder, as I was lovely and comfortable for the 1hr 40min drive from mine down to Poole for the 1st Sammio Gathering!

Paul L · #**642** 19th July 2012, 20:40

Looks like it is all coming together nicely Mr T.

Mister Towed · #**643** 19th July 2012, 21:10

Thanks guys, yes, it's starting to look like I might actually finish it this year!

Mister Towed · #**644** 20th July 2012, 15:43

Plan for the day - line the interior with chopped strand matting, stapling it along the top edges to hold it in place. Then lift it up to apply resin beneath, slap a coat of resin on top, forcing it in with a roller and stand back to admire the high quality finish.

SO FAR SO GOOD -

EASY PEASY -

BUGGER.

The reality is, once you start adding the resin the glass mat starts to sag and droop and I quickly started looking like Tutankhamun after a bad day at the embalmers. If I hadn't pulled most of it out and thrown it in a sorry looking heap behind the car I'd have been forever cocooned in resin and mat inside my Spyder like an insect trapped in amber.

After a bit of a rethink on the fibreglass front I decided that doing it a little at a time is a better idea for the novice 'glasser. I have at least managed to blend the 550 dash into the sides today though.

The aim of acheiving a nice, smooth finish ready to paint looks like it's probably beyond me so I'll just do the best job I can and get some side panels made up by a professional trimmer to finish the job.

Sometimes fate just takes over and decides the direction your project will go in

Mister Towed · #**645** 20th July 2012, 16:30

Oh, and I also managed to blend in the rear corners -

phil9 · #**646** 20th July 2012, 18:14

glass work look in very good not long now ..... have a little clip of barrys car on u

tube [sammio spyder]

Mister Towed · #**647** 20th July 2012, 18:51

Looks very good Phil, would be nice to get a video of it on the move from the cockpit though...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4VYRZO0eoUQ

phil9 · #**648** 20th July 2012, 19:01

next step , poss sunday if sun out to play

Mister Towed · #**649** 21st July 2012, 10:05

Just filling in the V627/1 form to re register my Vitesse as a Spyder.

Can anyone tell me if I need to fill in the mileage, and if so, do I use the mileage off the Vitesse speedo that came with the donor, the GT6 speedo that I'm going to fit or the Herald speedo I bought but won't be using because it'll say I'm going 60 when I'm actually doing 78?

And where it says Colour: do I put in the original colour or the colour it's going to be?

Apart from that it looks surprisingly straightforward.

Paul L · #**650** 21st July 2012, 18:51

Thanks for another great tip on the fibre glassing Mr T.

Do you need to bring the car for the inspection, or will they do a site visit?

I'm sure I read somewhere this was possible, but don't know if anyone has actually had them come to their house.

Keep up the good work, Paul.

Mister Towed · #**651** 21st July 2012, 18:59

I'm kind of assuming I'll have to take the car to Peterborough. That's something I should have asked Phil J (as he's had two inspections done already) but haven't got round to yet. Phil, can you advise?

As for the fibreglassing, it's one messy job but it is possible to get good results with patience and practice.

oxford1360 · #**652** 21st July 2012, 20:00

It's all coming together rather nicely. You've got some momentum now.

Roadster · #**653** 22nd July 2012, 05:30

Its looking great Towed
I confess i got in a mess on my first large scale glassing but the learning curve is steep and it gets better quickly.

As for the fate directing the project - i have been unable to progress very quickly due to our "summer" weather - im considering taking it to a bodyshop. Once the roadster is painted i only have the lights to wire and im ready for inspection too.

Mister Towed · #**654** 22nd July 2012, 07:15

Quote:

Originally Posted by Roadster

Its looking great Towed
I confess i got in a mess on my first large scale glassing but the learning curve is steep and it gets better quickly.

As for the fate directing the project - i have been unable to progress very quickly due to our "summer" weather - im considering taking it to a bodyshop. Once the roadster is painted i only have the lights to wire and im ready for inspection too.

Yes, the weather's been a bit of a pi$$er for me too - the light's so much better outside I prefer to wheel it out onto the drive to do the fiddly work.

Good luck wiring the lights and getting it sprayed. Whether you do it yourself or pay a pro I'm sure it'll turn out great. Do you need to have a rebody inspection though? Although you've transformed the look of your MX5 I didn't think you'd changed the layout - it's still a two door convertible after all, albeit one with a different look to the standard car.

Roadster · #**655** 22nd July 2012, 08:52

when i built the blaze (an mgf rebody) it had to be inspected to get its new title on the log book. It sound like a lot of work for nothing but the insurance is cheaper when its considered a kit car

Thank you for your kind words - its tough to get out there some days but when the sun is shining or i see phil and the others taking pics on their jaunts out i get the kick up the arse i need.

Mister Towed · #**656** 22nd July 2012, 09:22

Interesting update for the MGF front end, and what a lovely colour! Nice job.

Mister Towed · #**657** 25th July 2012, 15:59

Trial fitted the lights today having made some plinths out of filler to allow them to sit flush. Please bear in mind that it's very much a work in progress -

I'm happy with the side lights, indicators and the brake light but I think I'll be moving the number plate up so it's central and I may go with led bolts instead of the traditional number plate light unit.

garyh · #**658** 25th July 2012, 16:09

Thats sorted, then. When are going for a blast... obviously within the specified speed limits... 2 more months?

Mister Towed · #**659** 25th July 2012, 18:00

End of September is now the deadline. All I've got left to do is the rebody inspection (aiming for next Thursday), cut off the extraneous bits of chassis, fit the bonnet, prep the body and paint in pure silver, final fit lights instruments and trim and then MOT and away we go! Small matter of work and a family holiday to fit in but I'm confident this deadline is achievable.

davecymru · #**660** 26th July 2012, 08:09

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mister Towed

End of September is now the deadline. All I've got left to do is ......

This sounds scarily familiar!