painting

 Having been away from the project for well over a year, when I returned to it I found it had a lot of surface rust, so this week I have been arresting that and laying down a base coat for whatever comes next. In the case of the part of the chassis that shows and the engine bay, I will be doing a scrumble coat to create a faux wood effect. The original was ash. The top wood rim of the cockpit will be stained to match.

I have been talking to Copilot about the best ways to achieve that.

A Doctor in the house

I am now a Doctor (PhD), so with that heavy burden of work out of the way, (and just as soon as the bathroom fitting, which I have been promising Lucy I'd do, is also done), I should be able to get the Bédélia finished. I know that Dad, if nobody else, is very keen to see it done.

More to come.

Been over a year

 So, it has been over a year since I did anything on this project. My dad is the only one who seems to have noticed, and it is the one project that he is most keen on me finishing. And I'd really like to - and intend to, once my thesis is submitted, imminently.

I noticed it today, increasingly surrounded by life and new tools etc in the shed - a shed which started empty but for this car!

wiring the cockpit leading edge

The shape of the front dash on the rear scuttle is replicated on the front dash of the front scuttle on the original, so I made a template using my rear scuttle and scribed the lines on to my front scuttle, then cut the shape, leaving a margin for a wire edge.

In traditional wire edge forming methods, a wire or metal strip is placed along the edge of the sheet metal panel. The panel is then folded over the wire, creating a double-layered edge. The wire or metal strip acts as a reinforcement and helps to maintain the shape of the fold. It also gives a pleasing, soft-form shape and means that it can be handled without a risk of being cut.

I was taught this by the legendary Geoff Moss's apprentice about ten years ago and have never before had occasion to use if in anger. On tight bends it was necessary to both stretch and shrink the aluminium, which made it a bit tricky. I got one tiny tear, which was a shame, but I couldn't anneal the material because the wire I used was plastic coated. On the whole, not bad for a first attempt at the method.

In the photo below, the shape of the front cockpit pretty faithfully reproduces the original's

The front scuttle of the original, 1910 (above)

The wire edge is most apparent in the photo below. Sitting in the cockpit, I was relieved to find that my hands had plenty of clearance and that the wire edge meant that my hands never rub against anything sharp. The steering wheel is discreetly shrouded, so that the rear driver's steering wheel will be the only one seen.

Chuffed to bits

 I am absolutely chuffed to bits. I posted a photo from my last entry on here, on the Cyclekarts GB page on Facebook, and so far had 891 likes (incl 86 LOVES and 20 WOWs). And even better, I got some very pleasing comments and praise from people I very much admire, like leading lights in the American scene, Steve Vinson, Dennis Thomas and Davis Dupaquier, and the prolific and very inspiring Kelly Wood. An especially exciting response came from Adrian Ward, who built that amazing replica of a Jappic!

Also very exciting is that I've heard from someone who has driven a Bédélia, knows someone who has one and says he will introduce us!

[numbers updated]

scuttle trim and fit

 

A bit of restful R&R in the workshop today,
after a late night finishing some writing for a meeting tomorrow.

Trimmed and fitted my top scuttle. It is getting there.

I wish that tank didn't look quite so much like a knob!
It is bound to get lots of comment.

The back of the scuttle will be trimmed to look just like the back of the rear one, then will be trimmed with beading for marginal safety, mainly against cut fingers (or necks!)

Kingcobra Commission

 Well, here's a turn up! The restorers of  a Kingcobra aeroplane in France have seen my blog and asked if I can wheel panels for their aeroplane! They are going to fly me over with my wheel anvils etc and put me up, wine and dine me and put me to work.

By SDASM Archives - King Cobra Bell P-63A 42-638871,
Public Domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=38857790

Scuttle 3 - fitting the transition panel

 

Eyeing the arc to decide where to stretch it.

Yesterday this was a flat sheet of aluminium. Now it is arced in both directions.

Adjusting the panel (stretching different areas with the wheeling machine) until finally it fits the arc of the front transition panel.

Flat front (transition panel) fitted to scuttle (At times like this I wish I had some clecos) using dome-headed M5 bolts.

Trimming begins.

Scuttle, part two

 I was being optimistic if I thought I'd finish the scuttle in just a few hours! Have just locked up and it isn't finished yet. But I am very pleased with the progress, nonetheless. I have made a nose section for it, which will blend the tank into the scuttle.

Note the flat section between tank and scuttle, here.

Next time I will finish stretching the front, then trim, drill and rivet that transition section.

Front scuttle fabrication

 

This morning I started the front scuttle. This is the first ever wheeling I have done for a project.  Previously, I have only ever done exercises. I am pleased with progress so far. It should only take a few hours to finish the part.

Folies

 

Graphics by Andrew Boulton

I have been talking to fellow cyclekarter Andrew Boulton, a graphic designer, about wanting a Folies Bergere style logo for the Bédélia and he has been playing with the idea. The car, the French archetypal cyclecar, was designed and built in Paris in 1910 (home of the legendary music-hall) and is regarded by many as a folly - a mad idea.

Also, speaking sentimentally, my late mother's cottage was known as Little Follies, so in a small way this will be a tribute to her. I know she would have approved.

trailer mods

My wonderful trailer was designed for a slightly shorter load than I need it for. The boat-back of my cyclekart sticks out 6" beyond its rear wheels. It will be accommodated in an extension box which I fitted to the trailer today.

What I designed comes in two parts, which I fabricated in my workshop:

1 A wooden box made of scrap ply.
2 A steel frame made with 20mm angle iron, with tabs for securing the box. 

Today I cut the front steel strap, cut a hole in the front, mounted my angle iron frame through the hole and bolted the box to it.

in-place but not fitted

I ran out of time at the hangar today, so need to go back to finish bolting and sealing the unit. But for now I am really pleased with how this went.

One final thing to be done after fully securing the box will be making a steel strap to continue the line around the front, but this will simply be an aesthetic detail.