first road car WIP: Mini Cooper - Roadster Concept

[voyageur]

I really like the idea of a concept roadster :-)
Very nice progress so far!

But if the ride height is going to be like the mock-up it's going to look like a donk car as it sits way too high.

Originally Posted by rallymaster

You should probably modify the wheel arches as on the black (real) one.



Just my

[rallymaster]

Hello voyageur,

Thanks for your kind words, happy to see this idea be a little popular.

you're right, I won't keep body height like that.

I started widering wheel arch (pics page one) and I will add some side skirts and front and rear spoilers to make the car seem lower.

But even with that and according to the pic I posted and you took back just above, I think I will have to cut and sand wheel arch higher...

I started opening the rear wheel arch on the chassis part this evening, but didn't take photos as I went on very slowly this evening (I was watching TV at the same time ) so I wouldn't have interesting pics to show.

I also sanded spokes... seems better, not really for the look but mostly for the place earnt to put brakes inside the wheels !
I put in place an edge inside the wheel on which spokes will come.

after several mock-up I think that best looking is not toi put the spokes too deep inside the wheel, almost at its edge.
spokes design doesn't really match with a deep placement in the wheel.

That may be clearer with pics tomorrow and next update.


Phil

[rallymaster]

Originally Posted by Ferrari TR

Nice project.
How did you cut the tires? Every time I try I make a mess!

Hello,

Ferrari TR, all my apologizes for the delay to answer, I missed your post and left this project sleeping a few days.

To cut the tyre, I used a modelling scalpel; I let it slide on the tyre, making several rounds on it till having a few mm slit; and then I achieve the cut by cutting inside the slit like if it was a big good piece of meat !

I sanded each edges, then glued it with super-glue ("cyanoacrylat" ??)

today I worked a little on the body, I may post some pics later.

I started widering the body and opened more adapted wheel arches.


Bye

Phil

[rallymaster]

here is a new update.

I spent 5 hours correcting wheel arches to make them come higher and enlarging them with plastic card.









mock up with some tyres I still haven't tried and that I Finally will probably use instead of molding some new ones, because they perfectly fit the rim and the extended wheel arch.





then I started working on the rest of the body kit, especially side skirts.









Nothing isn't really online and straight yet, cos' I still have to put the modelling clay coat in which I will scupt the definitive body kit appearance.

It took me 5 hours to build what I show here... very long I think


Thanks for reading
comments welcome

Phil

[sportracer02]

Hi Phil,

this looks good so far. Appearance is better now (great foto, sebastian).

If I may give a hint: I wouldn´t let these widened wheel-arches as they are. Glue a small strip of sheet along the body on the wheel arches and fill the arches to that hight to get a a steeper surface.

I guess you will chop the window-frame ;-))

[rallymaster]

Originally Posted by sportracer02

Hi Phil,

this looks good so far. Appearance is better now (great foto, sebastian).

If I may give a hint: I wouldn´t let these widened wheel-arches as they are. Glue a small strip of sheet along the body on the wheel arches and fill the arches to that hight to get a a steeper surface.

I guess you will chop the window-frame ;-))

Hi Micha,

thanks for your contribution to this thread !

I'm not sure to well undeerstand what your mean but I guessed we're talking about the same thing when you say that and when I say I will form the definitive wheel arch line in modelling clay.

I won't keep a so flat wheel arch (and even not so wide).

this styren structure is only the support for modelling clay which I can't apply directly and which will give the fender their final form and size.


Chopping the window frame wasn't part of my program, it would make me build a new wind screen... I think it's fine like that, as it isn't to big on my opinion...
but I will think about it, now.


thanks for giving your hint


Phil

[voyageur]

Hi Phil,

it starts to look really good :-)
The tires suit the diameter of the wheel arch just perfect. I looking forward to see the progress...

Cheers
SEB

[sportracer02]

Hi,




see the red circle, this is what I and you mean.

Chopping the windscreen shouldn´t be hard, also chopping the windscreen.
In contrary to the photo I´d think about using the upper frame on top of the windscreen.

[rallymaster]

Originally Posted by sportracer02

Hi,



see the red circle, this is what I and you mean.

that's it, right

Originally Posted by sportracer02

Chopping the windscreen shouldn´t be hard, also chopping the windscreen.
In contrary to the photo I´d think about using the upper frame on top of the windscreen.

I would do the same as what you think if I decided to chop the windscreen, but I'm not very enthousiast with window frame shopping idea.
I think it's fine like it is, but maybe, once everything in place concerning body and inside, I would change my mind...
In fact I wouldn't have a seat higher than top of the window, or a driver if there was one who see the road above the window and not through !


Phil

[rallymaster]

today update

the full body kit made of plastic card is in place:










Now modelling clay work can start, firstly with the top of the body (opposite to all that will be under the new plastic body kit):










It will require several coats and a lot of sanding & finishing work to get the new body with correct and proportionnal shape on each side and a smooth looking and texture.


Thanks for reading
Comments welcome

Phil

[zak78]

Wow, the plastic card bodykit is quite impressive! How did you get the final shape for the card used in front?

[white97ex]

superb work thus far. Amazing work roughing out the body kit! What type of putty/clay are you using?

[quadzero]

Wow, nice body work. You sure are taking this little mini to a new level. Looking forward to more.

[rallymaster]

Hello,

thanks guys for your kind words and encouragements.

Originally Posted by zak78

Wow, the plastic card bodykit is quite impressive! How did you get the final shape for the card used in front?

I cut a plastic card sheet larger and longer than the model, then I cut the curved form & right size, and finally I sand till getting a perfect fit...
that easyly takes 2/3 hours by part ! (including glue process and eventual mistake and re-do)

Originally Posted by white97ex

superb work thus far. Amazing work roughing out the body kit! What type of putty/clay are you using?

I'm using a modelling clay hardening in the air, I don't really know a brand as I take the first low cost I find in my favorite do-iy-yourself stores.
Most of the time there are German brands, as I live close to German bordery I suppose...?
By experience, all modelling clay hardening in the air I used give the same result. I think they all are similar.

Originally Posted by quadzero

Wow, nice body work. You sure are taking this little mini to a new level. Looking forward to more.

I really hope so, because according to my first idea the new car shouldn't look too much like the former one.
Really like a concept car !


Thanks again
Update to come


Phil

[rallymaster]

Quick update !

I cleaned the floor and glued the part crossing the central tunnel, on which will come the frame separating cockpit and rear of the car:





I also came back to the engine, putting spark plugs and their wires:
(the wood stick is only there to move the engine without touching it with fingers )








Next update soon, perhaps already this evening.

thanks for reading
comments & critics always welcome

Phil