From concept to reality

[Roadster]

The visit to Chris's a few weeks back has refocused me on the build.
I have an idea for the rear lights that incorporates fog and reverse lamp.

I was going for 4 x 100mm lamps in the rear, partly to match the 4 lamps up front.
I have since revised this to just 2 round lamps, they will still be tinted with red led halos as per my earlier mock ups.
The lower recesses that no longer need to accept lamps will now be my exhaust cut outs.
Similar look to the original plan but with the added trick detail.
This also has the added bonus of uncluttering the rear diffuser.



Up front the price of aftermarket headlamps are falling so I will probably take advantage of these. Tinted units with projector beam tie in the design of the rear lamp units.

I have chosen a discrete bonnet vent in the same location as the original.
I don't for one minute believe the Z3 will overheat without it. after all the Z3 was not designed and built in Germany but instead it was penned in the California studio and built in the States.

Im not sure on the front grille, I like the idea of black vertical bars but im not sure the sketch does them justice.

Im also mocking up headrest fairings. I intend to secure these to the roll over hoops and they should clear the roof in both its up and down position.

December is almost here and my build slot in Chris's busy schedule is getting closer.

[Roadster]

I wasn't happy with the way the grille was illustrated
I still like the vertical elements but they were too obvious.



I decided to try a rear spoiler and I colour coded the mirrors and the head rest fairings.
The front looks better the spoiler I will mock up in real.

I really liked Chris's Kobra.
Classic shape but with the up to date road racer theme

[zagmad]

I wouldn't mind doing a concept build. But mine would probably based on a mk2 mx5. Id like to try an Alfa concept using panels from a gta . Theirs a company that does fibreglass panels . Bonnet and wings boot and roof. Grills etc.

[Roadster]

I realised today as I was sketching that the design has evolved along way from the original sketch.

However all my previous sketches I hadn't tried to make the picture realistic.
The wheels had always been to big , the stance was not practical and even the proportions were off.

So with the majority of the details now finalised and the phase for it to leap off the page fast approaching, I sat down and tried to depict it closer to the final product.




I show the latest pic next to one of the original concept sketches.



For those of you that are familiar with Chris's skills you can see the shape emerging.

[Roadster]

After getting the scale and details right on the front, i decided to give the rear another go.
The windscreen height is more realistic and the proportions fit the z3 better
The fiat wing mirrors have now been added.

The deliveries from Hong Kong arrived, more leds and diffuser rings to play with.
The rear lights now look like this, all four functions in a 110mm round unit.



So whats it look like when the tail lights and brake lights are lit i here you cry

[DSG4ME]

Just to give you a bit of inspiration....



Honda SFR racing

[zagmad]

Nice ......lights....

[garyh]

looks like Koi, coming up to feed...

[Roadster]

Originally Posted by garyh

looks like Koi, coming up to feed...

Agreed and from the side it is no better

[WorldClassAccident]

[Roadster]

[QUOTE=DSG4ME;73292]Just to give you a bit of inspiration....






How about this British sports car company that's no longer with us

[Paul L]

Roadster - It will be interesting to see how close your sketches end up being to the final car.

Has a date been set for the next round of cutting & shutting?

Good luck, Paul.

PS
That X-Bow that WCA posted earlier reminds me of a Transformer.

[Roadster]

I hope to pop down there next week
I don't know how Chris's schedule has been with his Mum in hospital.

I plan not to get in the way but I want to do some more on the rear diffuser and I have a huge hole saw which I would like to cut the apertures for the lamps and exhausts.

Im confident that the front will move along fast once its turn comes.

The deadline I have set for a fully finished model is Stoneleigh 2016.
So maybe we can get a small group of us to meet near the M1 and head up together

I don't know how close it will be to the sketches, they have changed a fair bit since the original idea. As long as the main elements remain I will be content.

[Roadster]

A long day
31/2 hours down to the "Dream factory"
As ever Chris and Dan were hard at it.
More 250 swb's in various stages and a few other rods and sods here and there.

It doesn't matter how much I sketch the real thing has far more shape than you can imagine.
Im not complaining, I love the huge hunches over the rear wheels but measuring twice cut once doesn't work here. I measured countless times from various datum points and finally I got brave and started cutting.



The lamps are going to fitted in their bezels from behind which will allow for alignment and the join will be invisible.



The rear diffuser is coming together, some bonding and blending and we should be close.
The weather and traffic means it was a horrendous 6 hour trip home

I have been wasting many hours choosing and then re choosing a colour for the beast.
It may be a more modern interpretation but I still love candy type finishes as per the blue Kobra that's getting a lot of attention



At the moment I think I have a favourite - but surprisingly its not paint

Check out this vid
https://youtu.be/f_HbhZoPbZE

[wolfie]

Nice colour - didn't that chap behind the wheel used to be in ZZ top ?

[DSG4ME]

With Plasti Dip you can get a very good paint finish without spending too much money. You can even do it yourself fairly easily.

[Roadster]

Originally Posted by DSG4ME

With Plasti Dip you can get a very good paint finish without spending too much money. You can even do it yourself fairly easily.

I have painted most of my cars
I have used cellulose, synthetic based and 2k on the buggy.

But I have been watching plastidip for a while now as the tri coat and specialist finishes look more forgiving than the 2k.
Especially as I don't have a workshop.

They have been experimenting with pigments and candys and the clearcoats are now at a point where it should look ok under the lights at Stoneleigh

[Paul L]

To avoid cross posting...

Originally Posted by Roadster

Don't forget mine Paul

I stopped posting pics as mine has been quietly evolving in the background.
It started out db4 zagatoish - to my ever changing sketch - to a exp10 inspired - the latest incarnation.

We want photos damn you!

[Roadster]

Originally Posted by Paul L

To avoid cross posting...



We want photos damn you!

You had to go back a long way to find this
Of course I have pictures

But im not ready to share yet as my photshop skills are still lacking
DSG has helped me visualize and I can't thank him enough for his time.

I have reverted to cutting and pasting (not on a computer but with a scapel)

The buck is slowly coming together at the workshop and in my front room.
It is still very much a Z300s based shape albeit with an up to date twist.

[Paul L]

Originally Posted by Roadster

...You had to go back a long way to find this...

You can run, but you can't hide.

Jokes aside, I thought of you when I first saw this build thread on a US forum I use.

So I hope you find it interesting.

http://www.ffcars.com/forums/146-oth...ing-shape.html

Good luck, Paul.