SouthernGT Number 18

[Paulbav]

Another evening in the garage... Almost got the rear right corner finished now, just got to drill out some of the holes and pop in the rivnuts then ready to screw it all together. I did nearly make a big mistake though, I had no idea the four lower panels were all meant to be removable and this morning I was quite content in the fact I was going to be Silkaflexing and riveting them all together:shout: Luckily I decided to pop into SouthernGT and ask if I should cut the gear shift hole first, I was quickly informed that all these panels are held together with rivnuts and not glue and rivets! So a very close call and a lot of wasted effort saved:thumbsup:

Anyway here are a few pics....

Note my bit of inspiration that keeps me going :laugh:

 

[Michel]

Trés beau travail !!!

 

[Paulbav]

Got a bit more done over the last couple of weeks, hope to get the rear finished off this week then it's just the front wheel arches and sills to do :smash:

Paul

 

[Michel]

Very neat TUB !!

Keep your good work !!!

 

[Paulbav]

Another solid three hours in the garage last night and the rear is finished, finally starting to resemble a tub :thumbsup: Really quite pleased with it so far and really enjoying the challenge, still lots of time for failure and loosing the will to live with it though :shifty: but so far so good...

Just got to finish the front panels next then on to wiring and pipe work, looking forward to hanging up the ruler and pen for a while!

 

[Paulbav]

Well after another three evenings the front N/S corner is now finished, hoping to get the N/S sill panel fitted this weekend too and then that's one side of the tub finished lost track of time spent on this bit but I can safely say it took a lot of it! I have lost count how many times all of these panels went on and of the chassis, but very pleased with the end result...

Yes I know the fuel tank is premature and will get it the way but it looks so much better there than on the shelf:laugh:

 

[Keith Stafford]

Paul, wow looks great. Do southern supply some or all of the panels pre-cut, how many have you had to make yourself? what thickness of ally are the panels, do you know if it is 1050 or 5252? k

 

[Brett James-McCall]

Loving the BT Baby montior Paul

 

[Stephen Ducker]

Hi Paul,

All your hard graft is paying off, the chassis looks superb !

All the best, Steve

 

[Michel]

Congratulation !!
You did an excellent work on this excellent Kit ! Can wait to watch more on your built

 

[Paulbav]

Thanks for all the positive feedback, first time attempting anything like this so good to know I'm not making a total pigs ear of it....

Good spot on the baby monitor Brett, the only time I'm "officially" allowed to work on the car is when Mrs Paulbav goes out so therefore babysitting at the same time.

 

[Brett James-McCall]

Paul, the build looks excellent, far better and cleaner than mine.

I know how that feels. When I started I had visions of getting the car finished in 4 years. " kids and 2 extensions (that I did most of the work on) later, I am now at double the time and still not finished... oh well, as the wife says, when you open the garage up it's still there

 

[Paulbav]

Paul, the build looks excellent, far better and cleaner than mine.

I know how that feels. When I started I had visions of getting the car finished in 4 years. " kids and 2 extensions (that I did most of the work on) later, I am now at double the time and still not finished... oh well, as the wife says, when you open the garage up it's still there

I feel that pain, I am just finishing off two extensions I have built, again doing most of it bar the brick work myself. Just got a bit of final decorating, fit out an en-suite and gutters and fascias on the rear to do then I am officially finished (for now). Hopefully that will then allow me a bit more time in the garage and a bit more spare cash too, :thumbsup:

 

[Stephen Tonks]

Hi Paul

I think we met up at the British Welcome in St Saturnin this June. The quality of your work and also what Southern GT have supplied seems excellent. Keep up the good work.

Regards

Stephen

 

[Glenn M]

Paul, wow looks great. Do southern supply some or all of the panels pre-cut, how many have you had to make yourself? what thickness of ally are the panels, do you know if it is 1050 or 5252? k

Stavros, the panels all come pre-cut, folded and with any holes needed already made - although not the rivet holes obviously. They are 18 swg NS4, not sure which that equates to.


Paul, it was nice to meet you at Wings&Wheels, your car is coming along well - lovely job. :thumbsup:

Glenn

 

[Ian K]

Stavros, the panels all come pre-cut, folded and with any holes needed already made - although not the rivet holes obviously. They are 18 swg NS4, not sure which that equates to.


Paul, it was nice to meet you at Wings&Wheels, your car is coming along well - lovely job. :thumbsup:

Glenn

IIRC, NS4 is 5251

 

[Paulbav]

Hi Paul

I think we met up at the British Welcome in St Saturnin this June. The quality of your work and also what Southern GT have supplied seems excellent. Keep up the good work.

Regards

Stephen

Hi Stephen,

Thanks and yes we did indeed meet then and what a cracking day it was, after many many years of Le Mans that was the first time I have gone to the GBW and it was one of the highlights of the trip, could not beleive what I had been missing out on all these years....

 

[Paulbav]

Stavros, the panels all come pre-cut, folded and with any holes needed already made - although not the rivet holes obviously. They are 18 swg NS4, not sure which that equates to.


Paul, it was nice to meet you at Wings&Wheels, your car is coming along well - lovely job. :thumbsup:

Glenn

Cheers Glen good to meet you too and also to have a look at your superb car, it certainly gives me something to aim towards:thumbsup:

As I said on the previous page, the panels do indeed come pre-cut and pre-bent and is the reason I am building the car, I feel it may well have been above my ability to to do the sort of compound bends at the size required that SGT produce. In fact I look at some of the panels and it still baffles me how they are made:stunned: that said they certainly do not just fit and I still spend many many hours getting them right:thumbsup:

 

[Paulbav]

Well my OCD got the better of me this evening, the panel gap running along the top of the inner wing has been giving me sleepless nights and despite every one saying I will be the only person that will notice it, it had to go...

So tonight I drilled out the rivets on the top inner panel (including the bastard one at the front that I miss spaced on both sides that has annoyed me for weeks) and cut, filed, fettled and fitted some alloy trim to cover the offending area:thumbsup: looks much better imo and will hopefully ensure a good nights keep tonight:laugh: with added extra bonus of also having correctly spaced rivets. :happy:

 

[Jimmy P]

OCD or not it looks very nice....lots to be proud of. Whats the old saying "if a jobs worth doing....its worth doing it right."