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There are so many tools and techniques. Best to pick one or two and become good (easy to say).I shrink the edge, use a slapper , beat the center on a shot bag, wheel to remove all dents and find I have too much lift (I never learn)

Too true!

Still learning to make panels but here is a little side project that took too long.

First a picture of panel along the cockpit edge with the side trim detail I plan to make with my bead roller. Also a picture of the dies and my bead roller with the handle it came with. As I don't have a seven foot reach there is no way I can accurately follow a line while turning the crank (one man shop). So I had a machine shop make me a hub. Then I rolled a ring and bent some spokes.

It is just tacked together right now but works great.

Show us the tool that made the tool in case we need to make some hula hoops

That's what wives are for, guy! That's a nice hoop though.

It's an unnecessary side project for you perhaps, but there's a setup documented on the Internet that will turn that style bead roller into an electrically operated one with a foot pedal. You can do pretty complex jobs with two hands free to control the work. Let me know if you want me to pass the info on to you (once I find it again - LOL).

Cheers,

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Damn! That front slip angle is way too large and the Ackerman is just a muddle.

Build Log: viewtopic.php?f=35&t=5886

Here is a pic of my cheap HF tube roller. And a pic of the best output I have gotten from it so far I haven't included a pic of the BFH it took to make the spring into a flat ring.

Thanks Lonnie but I thought about electrification and decided it might be a larger job.

I had no idea that Harbor Freight tool made such nice hoops (in the proper hands)
Now I have to buy one.The hard part is picking a new project that will need this tool.
I'm thinking a six foot tall pink flamingo for the front yard.

Cool. Don't forget the BFH or you will never get it right.

Why think so small???The wife will love it...

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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

It has been quite a while since my last post. I have been busy learning to shape panels. It has been slow not helped by taking time off to visit Italy for a little research in early construction methods. And eating of course.

No problem there, but where are all those cool photos of metalshaping history from It-lee? Photos of bowls of pasta don't count!

Cheers,

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Damn! That front slip angle is way too large and the Ackerman is just a muddle.

Build Log: viewtopic.php?f=35&t=5886

Hate to admit it but I didn't take many pics. Mostly parliamo, as they say. I did get some shots of a 250 GTO buck in the Enzo House Museum. It provides huge information about buck construction. To jump to this shape from a few sketches, or even a lot of sketches, reveals real artistry developed over many years. My focus of the trip was to develop some contacts which I did. And eat.

Oops. Forgot to mention we are having a car show here in Mineral Point WI on 23rd of July. It is for INTERESTING cars. To me that means Locost or home built but we will except others. If you have an interest PM me and I will send details. Did I mention God's gift to sports car driver roads we have around here?

Taking a little break from panel forming I started looking at the front end, known as the "mustache" in carrozzeria circles. This is a pretty complicated bit that it occurred to me would be a good subject for a hammer form. In this case:
1) make a pattern
2) take a mold of the pattern using an iron filled epoxy surface with epoxy glass back-up
3) anneal a panel and hammer it into the negative mold shape
4) repeat for the right side

So far I have made the patterns and ordered the epoxy. Things learned:
1) don't use insulating foam from a can for the basic shape. Getting a consistent density is impossible and the stuff is too flexible. I would have used sheet styrofoam but I hate the mess.
2) getting a nice surface using body filler was nearly impossible so I used clay.
3) seeing it correctly modeled resulted in a decision to shorten the nose.

Next stop. Seal the pattern and mold release then build the molds.

Questions and comments always welcome.