John Bonnett

The clamps have now been removed and the rear quarter light panels tacked to the back panel. All is now ready for the final TIG weld to make the assembly one.

Both rear quarter light panels have now been etch primed on the inside followed by top coat and they are now safely bonded on to the steel frame. It is so easy to damage panels that are just lying around in the workshop so it's always a relief once they are fitted. This applies most of all to the roof panel that i really wouldn't want to repeat in a hurry.

The rear wings in common with most of the aluminium panels are made up of several sub-panels which are gas welded and metal finished to make a complete wing. The wing itself is built on a station buck which is not a former against which a part is beaten but more a pattern to check that the panel is the correct shape. The buck is made from 12mm Birch plywood and is reversible so that it can be used on both sides. In order to achieve a really sharp return this piece of the wing is made separately. It is formed by first folding to form an L section and then shrunk and stretched to shape it to match the body. The following picture shows it formed and trial fitted.

I've been finishing the rear quarter light panels in preparation for bonding them both to the steel shell and the side roof flanges. The roof itself is held on in much the same way as on the GT6 but of course on the steel car it is spot welded down the rain gutter rather than bonded with an epoxy adhesive. I'm really impressed with the adhesive and totally confident that the joint will never come apart. Hopefully more pictures later in the week.

The project is really moving on at a pace and the back panel is now bonded to the shell and tack welded to the tailgate panel. With the overlap gone between the two adjoining panels, the shape of the rear of the car is much more evident.

PM sent John