Paulie9fingers Posted June 5, 2020 Share Posted June 5, 2020 Very nice job, it turned out great 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Roger Zimmermann Posted June 10, 2020 Author Share Posted June 10, 2020 As I anticipated, the first cross member is far from easy. I gather all pictures I had which were in relation with that element, just to notice that I had nothing clear showing the underside of the cross member. That part is not a single stamped element; a second thick piece of stamped steel is riveted to the top one. Fortunately, a member from the AACA forum provided good photos from his V-12. Thanks Alex! Many element from the frame were available separately as listed in the parts list. Can you imagine the work required to remove a damage cross member by grinding each rivet, removing the part, adjusting the new one and installing it with new rivets? Anyway, with all the pictures, I could begin. But with what? the front? the rear? I opted with the rear because it represents a rather large single element. With that, I could continue towards the front. What you see, temporarily inserted in the frame, is constituted with 6 pieces silver soldered. I expected to reduce the number of elements by doing the front flange in one piece. After grinding, cutting, hammering, I realized that it's just a no go. Therefore, I cut the front flange (in the front at the picture) and will adapt it and silver solder to the existing sub-assembly. Both pieces of brass soft soldered on the frame are just there to stabilize the frame the time I'm doing the first cross member. 6 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Roger Zimmermann Posted June 15, 2020 Author Share Posted June 15, 2020 The upper part from the front cross member is ready. With the four integrated nuts at the front (they could be for the front fender attachment supports), 13 parts are silver soldered together. Some stampings were done: 2 round ones in the front for the radiator, two indentations at the almost vertical "tower" and 2 further rear for the engine supports. The tools to perform the indentations used much more time than the pressing! Most holes as provided by the factory were done too; of course, the ones for the rivets (more than 20) will be drilled together with the side rails before the definitive assembly. The next task is to do the reinforcement element located under the radiator. This part will be assembled with 4 additional rivets at the upper part, which seems not a lot. I don't know if some welding were performed to attach more securely both parts; mines will be soft soldered, plus the rivets. 5 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paulie9fingers Posted June 15, 2020 Share Posted June 15, 2020 Great job Roger, that looks amazing. How big is that piece overall, can you take a photo with the really big coin. 😉 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Roger Zimmermann Posted June 15, 2020 Author Share Posted June 15, 2020 Thanks Paulie! As usual, I forgot to use the big coin. The error is repaired! 6 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paulie9fingers Posted June 15, 2020 Share Posted June 15, 2020 Thanks Roger, the crossmember looks amazing and being able to gauge the actual size makes it even that much more amazing 2 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mike Macartney Posted June 16, 2020 Share Posted June 16, 2020 (edited) Roger, I have tried looking up what size a quarter dollar is, with no success, please can you let me know the diameter to give me some idea of the size of the chassis? I am still finding your work amazing and enjoyable to read your progress. Mike Edited June 16, 2020 by Mike Macartney spelling of your (see edit history) 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paulie9fingers Posted June 16, 2020 Share Posted June 16, 2020 1 hour ago, Mike Macartney said: Roger, I have tried looking up what size a quarter dollar is, with no success, please can you let me know the diameter to give me some idea of the size of the chassis? I am still finding your work amazing and enjoyable to read you progress. Mike Diameter 24.26 mm (0.955 in) Thickness 1.75 mm (0.069 in) Weight 5.67 gm 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John S. Posted June 16, 2020 Share Posted June 16, 2020 Roger, I have been away from the forum for a week, and, Holy Smokes!!!! The Cadillac chassis is moving along nicely. Very Impressive work as always. Thanks, John 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Roger Zimmermann Posted June 17, 2020 Author Share Posted June 17, 2020 Thanks for the comments! Paulie was quicker than me with the dimensions, as I had an internet connexion issue. John, the next update wil take some time to be published, so you can go away again! 2 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John S. Posted June 19, 2020 Share Posted June 19, 2020 Thank you Roger. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Buicknutty Posted June 21, 2020 Share Posted June 21, 2020 Such amazing work, as always. Keith 2 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Laughing Coyote Posted July 10, 2020 Share Posted July 10, 2020 Hey Roger, Hope you are doing well. Thought I would check to see if you have made any more progress on you chassis. Stay safe. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Roger Zimmermann Posted July 10, 2020 Author Share Posted July 10, 2020 Hi Martin! Thanks for asking, I'm well! I hope it's the same for you and all the reader from this adventure. As usual in June-July, we had our summer vacation in our house in France. We just came back this week; the work on the frame will resume soon when all the paper pile accumulated during that time is over. 5 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Roger Zimmermann Posted July 15, 2020 Author Share Posted July 15, 2020 After some vacation and at the return a lot of paperwork to settle, I could continue with the reinforcement for the first crossmember. I choose a slightly thinner brass for it; as the torsion at the frame never will be a concern! The first pictures are showing the reinforcement alone; the last two are showing that reinforcement installed on the upper part. For the moment, 4 screws are used to assemble both parts; the screws will be replaced with rivets. The next task is to drill the myriad holes for the rivets which are securing the first cross member to the frame. 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Laughing Coyote Posted July 15, 2020 Share Posted July 15, 2020 Hope you had a enjoyable vacation. Looking good as always. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Roger Zimmermann Posted July 15, 2020 Author Share Posted July 15, 2020 Thanks Martin, I cannot complain! 3 weeks with sunshine, but less hot than last year. 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paulie9fingers Posted July 15, 2020 Share Posted July 15, 2020 Very nice work, glad to see you enjoyed your time away. I was actually giddy when I saw that you had posted an update. LOL 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pat Hollingsworth Posted July 15, 2020 Share Posted July 15, 2020 I sure wish it was 'less hot' here, Roger. Heck, I wish I was on vacation! Welcome back Roger. 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Roger Zimmermann Posted July 19, 2020 Author Share Posted July 19, 2020 Before I'm doing the various holes for the front support to the frame, I began the rear supports for the front springs. They will be riveted over the fist cross member; it was a part which could be replaced at that time, therefore it could not be installed between the frame and the cross member. The first picture is from a real car; the second picture is showing the base plate for the support; the upper leg had to be bent in a precise location as it is inserted into the frame like a wedge. This support is also the attachment point for the front brake's cable. 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Roger Zimmermann Posted July 20, 2020 Author Share Posted July 20, 2020 There were some additions made to the LH spring support: the bearing and a fin connecting the upper leg to the bearing. Some minor additions are still needed to complete the first support. When I drilled the 4 holes at each support, I noticed later to my dismay that 3 were at the wrong place, due to a wrong reasoning! I closed the holes and drill new ones at the right place. To continue with the positioning of the support to the frame, I had to disassemble it (once more) because I cannot drill the necessary hole from inside, the other frame rail in on the way. Then, with a lot of R & R, the holes at the frame for the support could be done. When that LH support will be finished, I will do the same on the other side. 5 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paulie9fingers Posted July 20, 2020 Share Posted July 20, 2020 Looking good Roger, we'll just keep that little mistake between us 😉 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John S. Posted July 20, 2020 Share Posted July 20, 2020 Roger, I love your attention to detail. Your work is very impressive. John 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
artmodelman Posted July 21, 2020 Share Posted July 21, 2020 Hi, My name is Jim Keeler and I have written articles for automotive and model car publications since 1961. I am an ex Revell model kit company hobby kit designer and was Product Manager of hobby kits for Aurora Plastics. I’ve been following the construction of your stupendous Continental Mark II and have really enjoyed observing you build your great model car. It’s been of special interest to me because it is one of my all time favorite automobiles. I wanted to ask your permission to do an article for an American model publication. I would like to be able to utilize some your extensive photos of the construction of the Continental model. Would you be interested in such a proposition? I’m contacting you first before I make a presentation to the publication. I am looking forward to the possibility of doing a story on your amazing project. I am located in southern Utah and my email is: artmodelman@gmail.com my mail address is Jim Keeler 1481 south 160 west, Hurricane, Utah 84737 Thank you, Jim Keeler Writer and model builder 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Roger Zimmermann Posted July 21, 2020 Author Share Posted July 21, 2020 hi Jim thanks for asking; I did a reply at your email address. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Roger Zimmermann Posted July 23, 2020 Author Share Posted July 23, 2020 (edited) Both rear supports for the front springs are ready. To facilitate the future assembly of the frame, the supports are soft soldered at the first cross member. All the holes you can see on the side of the cross member are for the rivets. There will be 30 rivets for that assembly, but not all will be effectively riveted because the access at the rear of the rivets is just impossible. I will do now the recess on the frame rails for the front brake cable; I added a picture of the real recess. I could not do it before because the relationship between the recess and the rear supports must be exact. On the real frame, that recess is stamped. I cannot do it that way, it will be a separate element soft soldered. Edited July 24, 2020 by Roger Zimmermann Word added (see edit history) 6 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Roger Zimmermann Posted July 24, 2020 Author Share Posted July 24, 2020 First, I did the aperture in both frame rails and then a modified half cylindrical insert was soft soldered. Not a big deal, but it was needed to have functioning front brakes. I'm going now further to the front with a small reinforcement which will be installed after the first cross member is riveted to the rails. I'm also attaching a picture from that part. 7 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Roger Zimmermann Posted July 26, 2020 Author Share Posted July 26, 2020 Both small reinforcements are done; thee holes for the rivets will be drilled with the rails when it will be time to assemble the whole frame which will happen soon. I also did and soft soldered the large nuts for the front shock absorbers. Two are hidden behind the tower; they had to be attached before the assembly. The rear nuts had to be modified a bit: the rear of the tower should be more vertical. That's the kind of errors which are discovered late and cannot be corrected unless the whole sub-assembly is discarded and a new is made. 7 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paulie9fingers Posted July 27, 2020 Share Posted July 27, 2020 Roger that frame is amazing, even with the "errors" that we wouldn't even be aware of if you hadn't informed us 😉 2 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Buicknutty Posted July 27, 2020 Share Posted July 27, 2020 Wonderful looking and painstaking work, Roger! Keith 2 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Larry Schramm Posted July 27, 2020 Share Posted July 27, 2020 Roger, As usual, your work is beyond the ability to truly express in words. Just fabulous. 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Roger Zimmermann Posted July 29, 2020 Author Share Posted July 29, 2020 Lately, I'm trying to do on the frame rails all what I can before the definitive assembly. The holes for the engine support, steering gear and idle lever for the shock absorbers are all done; even if I don't have the precise location, those holes should be more or less at their correct place. There is also another small part added: the bracket for the hood fastener at the front; after the assembly, it would not have been possible riveting that small part to the frame rail. Another check at the lose parts and the assembly will begin! 6 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Roger Zimmermann Posted August 1, 2020 Author Share Posted August 1, 2020 The cross members # 1, # 3 and # 4 have been soft soldered on the RH side rail. The small reinforcement at the front is also soldered but the holes for the rivets not yet done. I could rivet # 1 and # 4; the rivets for the # 3 will be fake because I should do about one tool for one rivet and the chance that the outcome will be good is far from garanteed. The rivets will simply be pushed into the holes and soft soldered. The other side is hardly visible. I'm adding a picture showing most of the tools I need to rivet the cross members. I will do now the same treatment with the LH side rail. The last cross member will be installed next. As I stated earlier, the cross member # 2 will be done and adapted to the powertrain/frame once the engine & transmission are done. 5 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paulie9fingers Posted August 3, 2020 Share Posted August 3, 2020 Roger were these tools fabricated for this project or did you have them left from other projects. Do you keep any of the tools you make in case you need them for something in the future ? It's looking great. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Roger Zimmermann Posted August 3, 2020 Author Share Posted August 3, 2020 On my previous models, riveting was minor: the blades for the cooling fan and maybe some on the frame for the Mark II. At that time, it was easy: two bits of bras with a half-moon recess and a hammer. Here, it's more complex because for most rivets due to the configuration. Therefore, the tools you saw were done for the task. However, it's not a big deal, most tools are done with scrap material and don't take a long time to be usable. I will probably do more or adapt existing ones to rivet the last cross member. Depending of what the tools are, I'm keeping them or use the material for another task. During the years, I kept most tools I did and finally, I'm never using them again. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paulie9fingers Posted August 3, 2020 Share Posted August 3, 2020 Roger as is usually the case, you know as soon as you don't keep a tool you've made you will need it again LOL 😉 2 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John S. Posted August 6, 2020 Share Posted August 6, 2020 Roger, your work is so impressive . I love how the chassis is coming together. I enjoy all your post. John 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Roger Zimmermann Posted August 10, 2020 Author Share Posted August 10, 2020 With the exception of the #2 cross member, the frame is technically finished. Of course, there will be some holes to be drilled for various accessories. As I wrote some time ago, the location of the #2 crossmember is depending from the end of the transmission as the cross member is supporting it. As you can see, all rivets are in place, some are just soft soldered to the frame as creating a tool specific for each rivet is a waste of resources. Initially I had 200 rivets. When the second cross member will be finished, I will have just 22 left! If I'm comparing the frames I did for my other models, the one for the V-16 is twisting easily. Sure, when the missing crossmember will added, that tendency will be reduced. This could also be the reason why the rear of the engine has supports attached at the frame, plus the ones at the end of the transmission. Those multiple engine/transmission cushions were probably also a help to add some torsional rigidity as on the V-16, the second crossmember is located about in the middle of the frame. What's next? I think it's now a good opportunity to begin the engine, it's will be so easy to do! 7 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mike Macartney Posted August 10, 2020 Share Posted August 10, 2020 1 hour ago, Roger Zimmermann said: . . . . Initially I had 200 rivets. When the second cross member will be finished, I will have just 22 left! OK Roger - how many ended up on the floor? 🙂 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Roger Zimmermann Posted August 10, 2020 Author Share Posted August 10, 2020 Some, Mike, some! Most of them were back to the work table; I did not find one or two! 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Create an account or sign in to comment
You need to be a member in order to leave a comment
Create an account
Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!
Register a new accountSign in
Already have an account? Sign in here.
Sign In Now