Wheel arches under way

Well this does feel good, a bit of progress.
Here are the other 3 wheel arches that thank fully don't need quite as much attention as the front drivers arch does.

 So after sneeking out to the garage a few times yesterday and today, the rear arches are looking much better and quite close to a final fill and working my way through the grades of wet and dry. You may notice that were the arch meets the car I have found some high spots and started to nock them back as well.

 

So yep, really quite pleased with how its shaping up. Just have to keep it up !

This seems like a good point to mention a you tube video that has been really helpful for panel beeting and filling. I thought I knew enough, but it was well worth watching all 12 episodes of this by mercedessource especially as today I was struggling with getting the filler smooth, until I got cold and turned the heater on and also put the filler near the heater. Hay preston it made the filler a bit more runny and went on even better (did dry a bit quicker though). Its always worth remembering that no matter how good you are there is always some one who can do it better/ you can always learn another way.

Probably won't post for a while now until I have finished the arches and started on the rust, which could be a while as I have privet comissions coming up (to help fund the mini) and a big scout camp to help with, so check back here at the end of the month fingures crossed.

The quite before the storm

Well I'm hoping it is the quiet before the storm !! Due to a delay with the log book (big sigh) I have been reluctant to do much work on the mini as we all know what that actually means, spending money.
So to keep the project running in the right direction preperation was unusually at the top of the agenda, as it always makes a job much easier, straight forward and the order of work is forward not "Oh s*#t I really should have done that first".
The rear subframe has been ground back and is painted except for the 2 spots that need welding. Sorting out make shift extraction, a modified floor standing fan with filter. Made a new large wall unit to stop the tools being all over the floor and inside the car. Spent hours on ebay checking going rates of parts and getting depressed at how far away they are from me as no one will post. Listed nearly all my parts ... wow now that is not my normal style, but it's good.
These crates are brilliant for parts, notice the make shift shelf for all my windows, me and breakables don't always get on so up high seemed a good idea for 2 sets of glass.

Oh there has been a tiny physical step forward, the boot is ....almost fully primed. Had to be done, far too much raw metal after the floor was encouraged into a shape that would let a spare wheel into the boot. Will do a picture later

After many sessions the monster dent in the drivers wing is finally out as far as I can with out finishing off the wheel arch. This dent was almost the length of the wing and almost up to the top with a good 1/2" of depth in the centre.

I have got through another dozen Mini World mags. Book marking many a How To and interior ideas.

So with a tube of Tiger Seal now ordered I just need to get some gun wash, well and recieve my new half face dust mask. I can get on with touching up the arches as all of them have had at least small dents, chips or (sigh this is why I am getting tiger seal) cracks. Then its grind my way through the surface rust, so that will be most of the car then. Then prime her up, easy, done by next week!

This is by far the worst arch I have to do. Remember do not lift a car by its arches.

If any one is reading this ? the arches are ...... different, to most other minis out there. As the pictures so far are not that great I can tell you that a previous owner (I think it is likely to be 2 onwers before me) really wanted a smooth finish, as a lot of work has been done besides the de-seaming to smooth the car to a pretty good standard. My self, I am a carpenter/cabinet maker and for this, I do know a bit about sanding shapes and balanced to the eye. The amount of hours invovled to blend the parts especially the wings I really do appreciate. As I have always wanted a mini with wide arches and have always liked modified over concourse (I do like the originals I would just be happier to spend on a better/stronger engine than a original tool kit to complete the car) so for me the almost super smoothed out is too much to fight and you just have to roll with it. AKA the blended arches are staying, I like the idea of the car evolving, as a car goes through different owners they all make there mark. Some times the new owner will remove a mod or add to a mod. With all of this the car evolves in a almost unique way to any other, which is great when there are so many "the same". This made me smile, like a adopted child I have accepted my little mini, warts and all.