Framework for Body Skin

[jansens]

I used formers made from MDF and various clamps and a vice making mine.



And this was the block of wood I used.



End result was this. The sheet steel down the side was all done by hand. The flared holes were hand hammered over a block of wood with a hole drilled through it that I had used a router on the edge to give me the curve. You can buy punch and flare tools of course but that worked fine and is cheap!



This was my first go so I think this is a viable method for a beginner. Took some trial and error but steel tube is cheap. Mess a piece up and it's easy to chop it out, grind it back and try again. I also probably have too much tube there. I did remove some bits before skinning. After skinning it we saw that a lot of the tubing wasn't really needed. A wired aluminium edge is pretty strong and rigid by itself. I didn't really need a tube all the around the cockpit opening.

My next car (not an Austin) needs timber framing. Have no idea where I can source suitable ash here in NZ yet.

Simon