benny_toe wrote:
I did make mine from the .040 I used for the rest of the body. Like I said earlier I think it's a little flimsy. I would like to re-make it with something somewhat heavier, .050 or even .063. But I don't have the means to bend that thick of material. I think I'll give Racer Al's approach a try and call around sheet metal shops. See what they will do.
The other benefit of using cardboard for patterns of the scuttle front and nose back is that you can save the patterns to make a replacement hood if needed in the future.
The other comment I would make is that it is not all that difficult to make the heavier side panels without a sheet bender.
I cut mine to size and then clamped them to the side of the car frame, the one photo shows them just held in place with squeeze clamps while I lined up the panels.
Once I had them lined up I used a piece of 1x1 tubing (taped on one side with masking tape so I didn't scratch the aluminum).
I clamped the 1x1 to the outside of the car parallel with the 1x1 frame tube using C clamps, clamp tightly.
Then use a firm rubber hammer and it should be rubber, metal one will dent no matter how soft your touch.
Then start at one end and tap the metal edge over the frame working all the way across, just do a small bend over at each time.
Go back and forth from end to end a half dozen or so times and you will have a nice bend as good as a brake.
The rubber hammers are quite often in discount bins for a buck or two.
Use three or four C clamps so that you can move them out of the way slightly as you tap.
I don't have a photo handy of the C clamps but do have one with the squeeze clamps and the finished bend.
The metal will bend very easily.
Al