Thread: 1930s Jaguar Sports Coupe WIP

This one should be very interesting. I am looking forward to seeing it progress.
Cheers Elderly

Taken a seat

The wheels are now completed. They're waiting for their knock-on hubs. I have put a new photos on the noticeboard he keeps near the bench to provide inspiration, and to see how the finished vehicle should look.

I think it's a handy thing because the plan itself is often fairly bland, and you don't necessarily get a good impression of what you're working towards. I added more photos of SS Jags to my database, including close ups of things like interior and dash.

The dash is totally different from the simplified version shown on the plans. The real one was composed of two curved elements holding different gauges and the switches (which Jags had heaps of when the SS developed into the XK series). It'll be interesting to see how David decides to do the dash when the time comes.

Cheers
LiliB

G'Day "LiliB",
I nearly missed the post, it's under "scale models" .
Anys ways I'm here for the ride.
Thanks for the WIP photos.
I'll be looking forward to some fancy details from a top toymaker [modeler] craftsman.
Cheers, Crowie

The SS has been a favourite replica car among kit car builders arround the world, with a range of repro accuracy from near spot on to abysmal. The accurate replicas use hand made replica chassis and bodywork, with 50's Jag drive trains and would pass muster until judged by Jag experts. Then there are the f/g bodies on other chassis with front mounted 4 and 6 cylinder drive trains that pass the 20ft test, then the various units that drop onto a VW Beetle chassis/floorpan/drivetrain that might pass at 50+ft with the sewing machine motor stopped.

The picture of the plans model attached appears to be a reasonable model of the VW floorpan variant.

The wheels look quite good in your pics. Hope you both enjoy working on your model.

Incidently the SS cars are not Jags, the company name changed from SS Cars (or very similar) to Jaguar prior to WW2 due to the potential for association with the Nazi SS. The company originators produced Swallow Sidecars, and when they developed the first cars, the car branch was called SS cars as an abreviation from Swallow Sidecars.

Yes you're right Mal, I've taken a smack on the hand. I knew they were Swallows, but forgot. I hadn't thought of them on a VW, or indeed any other chassis. I'll be looking askance at them the next time I see one at a Motor Show.

Yes, Crowie, we've been shifted to Scale Modelling by our moderators. (Not before time ). Next step might be to put us into a separate big letters forum , MODELS, so people can find us.


Cheers
LiliB

No smack intended, it was a point of information not a
criticism. I have a lot of odd background info stored in the salt mine of my brain, and very little talent for making finely detailed things from wood ( ie I am a smart (a***d) hacker) and would not criticise someone for making something that I couldn't.

VW pan and mechanicals were very popular in late 60s and 70s as a basis for backyard custom builds because the original body could lift off the chassis/floorplan in a couple of hours leaving a complete drivavble base for a new body. Beach buggies, SS's, GT40's, prewar Bentley sports cars, T model Fords were common mods, none remotely like the originals.

Hi again Mal

I'm not touchy at all and was by no means offended.

I love to have information from all kinds of sources. It's interesting to see just how the backyard brigade may have used the humble volksie to build up treasures.

As I said, I'll be getting David to look at the underneath of lots of treasures like the SS to see if they're the real McCoy or not. Chances are I've seen replicas without even knowing that that's what they are.

The only thing is, perhaps my photos in my little database might be compromised in terms of originality if they're replicas. I'm not quite old enough to have seen the real thing, and neither is David.

Cheers
LiliB

Awesome stuff, as always. You two sure make a formidable team, one a master craftsman, the other a thorough researcher and master detailer.

Hi everyone

Well the wheels and knock on hubs are finished. Pictures will be taken tomorrow and posted. Production will be slow in the next few weeks. David is away with work for a number of weeks, but he's retiring in July so the production line will speed up greatly after that.

I thought these two machines might interest some of you. I bought a couple of new 'toys' for the workshop - A Proxxon Micro Bandsaw and Micro Drop Saw. They're both beautifully engineered and I'm really looking forward to what can be done with them. I find it irritating that when David uses the Dremel, the wood will often burn. It makes it hard to finish up to the standard I would like to see.

So I'm hoping that where he wants to trim just a smidgin he can use either the mitre saw or the bandsaw.He can carve a 'micron' off wood with the drop saw and showed me the tiniest little timber curl, like fine timber laminate.

I'm trying to get him interested in intarsia, and the bandsaw will be marvellous for that. It can turn a circle 'on a sixpence' It's like having an all wheel drive WRX after having a little conventional front wheel drive. Will corner like a dream.

If you want to know about the details of his new little machines you can look up the specifications on My Tool Shop - Proxxon - Bench Top Machines.The little bandsaw is engineered just like it's bigger Metabo cousin. These little things are mighty costly but worth every penny I reckon. You're paying for the engineering and precision.

I nearly get heart failure when I watch him using the big bandsaw to make model bits. The little one doesn't even scare ME. I even used it at the weekend.

Wow, LiliB, You were ring about "pretty penny",
though not too bad for quality tools.
$340 for the circular saw & $490 for the bandsaw.
Plus a heap more tools.
Cheers, Crowie

Hi Crowie
They're horribly expensive and David wouldn't buy them himself because they are so dear. However, I look upon good tools as an investment. You will always get good money back on quality tools if you want to get rid of them.
But aren't they just gorgeous. It's a good thing for him, that i love good tools!!! lol

Originally Posted by LiliB

Hi Crowie
They're horribly expensive and David wouldn't buy them himself because they are so dear. However, I look upon good tools as an investment. You will always get good money back on quality tools if you want to get rid of them.
But aren't they just gorgeous. It's a good thing for him, that i love good tools!!! lol

Every blokes dream,
A great wife who loves goods tools and shed time.

Hi everyone

The wheels are finished, but still on their little holders, waiting for several more coats of clear. This finishing is David's job, and he has opted to use oil based, not water based like I use. So he'll have to be patient in between coats.

The knock-on hubs have been done, and although the wheels will probably look good, I would like to see David perhaps try a lighter coloured timber like tassie oak for the next set.

Red gum is very variable in colour and can be pinky red or very dark reddish brown. This lot took up a very dark hue once the clear went on.

I would 'kill' to get some decent quality toothpicks (or finished thin wood) for the spokes. The American ones that you can buy are made from such lovely wood. I think it might be something like beech, and that's something I will have to pursue. The Chinese toothpicks are made from some particularly foul material.

Perhaps I can make contact with an American who can send me some better quality ones from USA. I live in hope here.!!! These are the little things that drive my perfectionist's heart to distraction. The wheels are so time-consuming to make, that they deserve to be made of top notch material.

Anyhow Cheers for now
LiliB