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Learning how to build Lotus Seven replicas...together!
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 Post subject: Re: The Gecko Project
PostPosted: January 27, 2014, 9:17 am 
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Joined: February 1, 2006, 3:02 am
Posts: 319
Haven't got back to the bottom half of the nosecone yet, but I have rolled both a scuttle and a bonnet, although there's some more trimming and finishing needed for both of them yet.
Image

Plus, I've continued on with my dash development, and have got this far with the panel overlay. It looks better in the flesh, because it's reverse printed on transparency film and isn't being held properly flat in this picture.
Image

Dominic


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 Post subject: Re: The Gecko Project
PostPosted: February 10, 2014, 5:51 am 
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Not much to show for the last few weeks of work. This bit actually photographed OK so I'll put it up. And don't worry, a hole got cut for the tie rod too, I just didn't take another photo :P

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Dominic


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 Post subject: Re: The Gecko Project
PostPosted: February 10, 2014, 7:43 am 
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Joined: August 12, 2012, 6:38 pm
Posts: 1937
Location: worcester county, Massachsetts
OH, I thought you'd incorporated that new wireless steering! I admit I'm mildly disappointed ;-)

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 Post subject: Re: The Gecko Project
PostPosted: February 10, 2014, 10:23 pm 
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Joined: June 21, 2013, 4:11 pm
Posts: 96
OG- I have been trying to find tubing with the blue "weld thru" coating I see on your frame.
Somewhere (that I can't seem to find anymore), on an OzClub or NZ site I think someone mentioned
the coating was to prevent surface rusting while building. After that it's all fuzz and static.
Thanks in advance, and "Dayum!... that's nice!" Good on ya, Mate!
May be in Brisbane in April- Second trip to SE Oz, and I didn't fall off the earth once! Chris :cheers: :lurking:


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 Post subject: Re: The Gecko Project
PostPosted: February 10, 2014, 11:00 pm 
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I didn't know square tubing didn't come with a blue coating until I went overseas!

Growing up in Australia can certainly spoil you and yes, it can lay around your shed for many years without rusting at all so I'm guessing the paint has a bit of sacrificial zinc or nickel in it.


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 Post subject: Re: The Gecko Project
PostPosted: February 11, 2014, 12:54 am 
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Rob, I knew I had to mention the missing hole or someone would have fun with it. I'll get back to you about the wireless option :P

Chris & Mark - I was also amazed when I first saw people online using uncoated steel that was rusting almost in front of their eyes! The only tube you'd usually see here uncoated would be cheap "furniture tube" - light gauges and low quality. That said, the blue-tube isn't as good as it once was. The stuff that was milled locally (probably Palmer or BHP) had a good quality weld-through primer. The latest bits I've bought are probably Chinese made and the coating is basically just blue paint which you need to grind off for decent results. Still better than having it rust in the storage rack though. Given that summer humidity in Brisbane averages 60%, rust on exposed metal is a constant problem.

Chris, if you're in Bris-vegas (as the locals lovingly call it :ack:) in April, drop me a PM on here and we'll have a beer (time permitting).

Dominic


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 Post subject: Re: The Gecko Project
PostPosted: February 11, 2014, 4:56 pm 
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Joined: June 21, 2013, 4:11 pm
Posts: 96
Dom, Will do, as last trip a couple of your countrymen decided to "educate" my palate!
I was amazed; the stuff they sell here in the "Good Ole" really should be poured back
into the horse it was drained from! I was very late developing a taste for beer at all (already
at the decrepit age of 31!), as a result I was for many years a fan of "Oiskey", the Irish
"Water of Life". Even much of what passes for "foreign" beer here is brewed for an "American"
palate- :ack:
As soon as my employer sends me travel info, I'll email you!
Damn fine Sheilas you've got too! Chris :cheers:


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 Post subject: Re: The Gecko Project
PostPosted: February 11, 2014, 7:53 pm 
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Chris,

Glad to hear you've started your education into Australian beer :D I've tried a few American beers and can understand why Australian's often refer to them as "Sex in a canoe" i.e. f*cking close to water! :mrgreen: If time and circumstances permit, we'll go to Archives http://www.archivebeerboutique.com.au/ where they have 400+ different beers on sale :cheers:

Dominic


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 Post subject: Re: The Gecko Project
PostPosted: March 9, 2014, 4:23 am 
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Some updates for the last 4 weeks of effort:

Marked the bonnet to size and formed the bottom edges (this picture was before I'd done the left side which is why it's sagging):
Image

Remade the bottom half of the nosecone and got it (temporarily) joined to the top half for fitting. Still needs its front edge rolled over but I need to modify my forming buck a little for it to fit.

Image

Image

Dominic


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 Post subject: Re: The Gecko Project
PostPosted: March 9, 2014, 10:43 am 
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Joined: October 6, 2009, 9:29 am
Posts: 7651
Location: Tallahassee, FL (The Center of the Known Universe)
The shape of that nose is just intriguing... Can't wait to see the finished version!
:cheers:
JDK

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JD, father of Quinn, Son of a... Build Log
Quinn the Slotus:Ford 302 Powered, Mallock-Inspired, Tube Frame, Hillclimb Special
"Gonzo and friends: Last night must have been quite a night. Camelot moments, mechanical marvels, Rustoleum launches, flying squirrels, fru-fru tea cuppers, V8 envy, Ensure catch cans -- and it wasn't even a full moon." -- SeattleTom


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 Post subject: Re: The Gecko Project
PostPosted: March 10, 2014, 1:49 am 
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Joined: June 21, 2013, 4:11 pm
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Oz- see you are moving on! JD said it - can't wait to see how this finishes!
On a completely other note- 400 freakin' different beers! A couple of local mates decided to "educate" the colonial boy! Six beers (ya'll don't have any of that silly 3.2 crap, no siree!) and I needed evacuation! But is was great! Still don't have much more than "1st part on May" to work with, but I'll let you know! Chris :cheers:


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 Post subject: Re: The Gecko Project
PostPosted: March 10, 2014, 7:10 am 
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GonzoRacer wrote:
The shape of that nose is just intriguing... Can't wait to see the finished version!
Me neither :P

Seriously though, it's odd seeing shapes that have mostly just been in my head or maybe bad (very bad) sketches turning into 3-dimensional reality in front of me. Now that I'm nearly finished the metalwork phase I'm actually starting to enjoy it. Caught myself thinking about "the next build" the other day :shock: Should probably finish this one first :BH:

More after the next weekend probably.....


Dominic


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 Post subject: Re: The Gecko Project
PostPosted: March 11, 2014, 9:27 am 
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Joined: February 1, 2006, 3:02 am
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Got a bit done tonight. Having trimmed the wooden buck down enough (just) I squeezed the bottom half of the nosecone over it, marked, removed, trimmed, re-fitted, and then hammered the edge over. Having done that, I could turn to my "What's an easy way of reinforcing this edge and making sure it's got a nice profile" solution a.k.a. a length of 16mm (that's about 5/8") ali tube :) Some pie-cuts in the corners (which will get a visit from Mr TIG) and Robert's your mother's brother.
Image

Need to get another bit of tube because I only grabbed enough to try the idea and was a little surprised how well it went :P so only got this far tonight:
Image

Don't worry - there's a mitigation process in the planning as well to address the Whale Shark (©, ®, and TM) look of the front :shock:

More on Thursday night (probably).


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 Post subject: Re: The Gecko Project
PostPosted: March 11, 2014, 7:58 pm 
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Joined: February 19, 2014, 4:27 pm
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Location: Vancouver WA
I like the whale shark look....looks hungry!


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 Post subject: Re: The Gecko Project
PostPosted: March 12, 2014, 10:11 pm 
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Location: Tallahassee, FL (The Center of the Known Universe)
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the Whale Shark (©, ®, and TM) look of the front

I'm sure glad you cleared that up, explaining it was supposed to look like a whale shark. For a while there, I though you were building a Mitsubishi!


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JD, father of Quinn, Son of a... Build Log
Quinn the Slotus:Ford 302 Powered, Mallock-Inspired, Tube Frame, Hillclimb Special
"Gonzo and friends: Last night must have been quite a night. Camelot moments, mechanical marvels, Rustoleum launches, flying squirrels, fru-fru tea cuppers, V8 envy, Ensure catch cans -- and it wasn't even a full moon." -- SeattleTom


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