Flashlines (4)

Saturday 17th December

Just started having a think about what needs doing next and have decided to try fitting the boot. This way the back end will be pretty much finished.

So we remove the bubble wrap from the boot lid and my heart sinks... the edge finish is dreadful and will need - you guessed it - lots more flashline preparation. Hoping when I come to do the bonnet that wont be as bad but Im scared to look :(

In fact the edges of the boot lid are so bad I've had to get the dremel out

Flashlines (3)

Saturday 17th December

Haven't updated my blog for a while as I've been struggling to find time to work on the Cobra so there  hasn't been much to say!!!

Spent a few hours this week working on flashlines again and I think I'm pretty much done now...

All external body side flashlines have now been removed using Stanley Blade Scraper and then rubbed down with wet n dry paper. Started with 400 grit and have worked through 800, 1200, 2000 and final rub down with 2500 ready for polishing.

As reported previously, had some trouble getting the flashlines smooth in the radiused areas but my co-builder, Ali, found a 'tear-drop' sanding block on eBay which is especially designed for the purpose and it has worked really well.

Have also removed flashlines around rear bulkhead and that leaves front bulkhead and some internal flashlines to sort out - but these can wait til the new year.

Flashlines (2)

Tuesday 29th November

Update on flashline removal...

All external body flashlines now removed with stanley blade and rubbed down using 400/800/1200 grit wet n dry paper ready for final preparation and polishing.

Both rear arches and N/S/F arch also ready for final preparation and polishing.

Was interesting to compare before and after shots of N/S/R arch and quarter panel (see photo)

 

In the end, I have to say that so far flashline removal hasn't been the pain I thought it would be. Still a little bit of tidying up to do in the tight radiuses (ie. around arches, headlamps, etc) and have the O/S/F arch to prepare but all in all solid progress and will soon be cutting and drilling holes - now THAT will be scary. Think I read somewhere... "measure twice and cut once" - good advice I suspect :)

Flashlines

Sunday 6th November

Now this is something I was worrying about...

Having read so many other blogs and having seen the car arrive with ragged wheel arches that cut our hands to ribbons when lifting the shell out of the van I was seriously worried that the very first stage of my build was going to run into complications

Ragged wheel arch and rear quarter flashline

Using a stanley blade in a window scraper attachment and a small hand file, I removed the excess flashing and burrs on the wheel on and rear quarter.

Then, armed with 400, 800 and 1200 grit wet n dry paper and a rubber sanding block, I set to work on the rubbing down process.

After a couple of hours of work with light fading, I hung up my tools for the day feeling pretty satisfied. It wasn't until I was able to reinspect my handiwork in natural light that I could see further rubbing down would be required (there was still the subtle hint of a mould line showing near the arch and between the rear light cluster and the boot lid opening).