Noob with a new mx5 Saturn build.

[garyt]

And join us on our Scotland tour

[norton]

Scotland? Jeez I'll be anxious about the end of the let alone the other end of the country!

So, I've ordered the nose cone, bonnet, scuttle and aero screen and whilst I'm waiting for those I'm going to crack on with the side and rear panels. I'm going to make them myself from ally which should be a giggle.

Does anyone here have any techniques for folding sheet ally without buying a metal brake?

[garyt]

lol it's called a sense of adventure .......
I did silverstone in her yee ha ( just make sure you add breakdown to the insurance )
Good luck making the panels I made my side panels from 1.5 steel marked out and cut to shape allowing for the return edges I then got a substantial length of 3x2 oak clamped it in place on the sheet corresponding with the top rail and started dolling along tedious it got there once that was done and the v notch cut to allow the bend I marked the diagonal fox this very technically was done by standing on said oak and pulling the bend by hand back on the frame mark the lower edge and do the return as for the top then make a carboard template for the wishbone mounts feeding rack exits once happy transfer and cut out
Sorry can't help with the back panel
Gary

[norton]

I've been busy today.

[norton]

I'll be starting on the side panels Monday. Hopefully they'll go well. The plan is to vinyl wrap the back and side to match the bodywork vmax is putting together for me.

[SteveH1]

Nice job looks well

[robj]

Nice job you've done there. Looks a lot smoother than I managed.

[norton]

Thanks guys, I'm really pleased with it and looking forward to the side panels now.

[norton]

One side panel is coming along.







I'm a bit stuck on the lower arms rear mounting hole. I was naive in thinking I didn't need to put a fold in the panel where the front most lower rail kicks more inwards than the top rail. I saw various grp panels that didn't but I can't see how that won't interfere with the lower arm. Bawlz.

[voucht]

Hi,
First congratulation for your rear tube: it looks excellent !

Second, as you say, some GRP panels are straight, as mine are. It does not interfere with ther lower wishbone, as the pivot point is 25mm (bottom rail) + 30mm (bracket) = 55mm higher than the lower face of the bottom rail, so it allows a bit of downward movement to the wishbone.

2014-08-07_15-42-02 by Sylvain ROIG, sur Flickr

2014-08-07_16-36-22 by Sylvain ROIG, sur Flickr

The main question for you, is how are you going to attach the front of your rear panel to the bottom rail ? That is also the reason why there is a fold in the book's ally side panels. My GRP panels have a 90° return underneath the panel.

SidePanel-NoDims by Sylvain ROIG, sur Flickr