Jason and James, brothers local to this area came over on Sunday for a marathon building event. Those boys aren't slackers, that's for certain! Before they came over I decided to make a to-do list, and to make it just long enough to be a real challenge. We got it all done. Passenger side fleshed out in foam, exhaust system removed and the bodywork reinforced behind that area. Windscreen edge of the bonnet lengthened and re-contoured for better aesthetics, front air dam and bumper designed, foamed and roughed in with plaster. (Sorry James, but after looking at it some more I think I will redesign it, again...) The front bumper/air dam is a very complex area and difficult to design attractively to match the rest of the car.

One of the things we also managed to do was to design a headlamp cover shape that I find very elegant and attractive. In the photo to the left the cover looks very flat and shallow, but if you look at the side view (above) you will notice that there is actually some decent depth to the shape as well. I will be molding the headlamp covers out of acrylic by heating up the acrylic in boiling water and draping it over the bodywork. Then once cooled that piece of acrylic will be pulled off the car, flipped over and the inside of it will be used as a form for yet another piece of acrylic that will be heated by boiling water until floppy and draped into the form. I am hoping that the intermediate acrylic form will be able to withstand the heat from the final piece without deforming.

Hey! Another mention in GRM - This time a reader, Chris Fiaccone writes a letter to the editor. A very complimentary letter! Now I am officially approved by Grassroots Motorsports! I like that! (I have a scan of the published letter that I will be posting soon.) Chris has contacted me via email and I consider him a good friend even though we have never met in person. I seem to be making a lot of friends through this project. Ain't the Internet great? :D I see that Chis is building a BEC locost with a Honda 929 engine. Wow, that will be fun!

 A final photo from the weekend build event. Some happy builders. You're welcome back to the Graber Garage any time!