Author Topic: A car for Brooklands. J G Parry Thomas Flatiron  (Read 1081 times)

RhysN

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A car for Brooklands. J G Parry Thomas Flatiron
« on: 27 Jun 21, 11:45 am »
A little history first.
Before I immigrated to the UK in 2016 I had an exploratory trip in 2015 (via Tieton) to see if we really wanted to come and live here. One of the visits I paid was to Brooklands where I met with some senior staff and we discussed whether Cyclekarts might be allowed. They were enthusiastic, especially if some were inspired by the cars that ran there way back when.
Subsequently I met with Wes Raynor of Mardave radio controlled cars, who had also built the Darracq T700. He and Bill Alexander were, to my knowledge the first builders of Cyclekarts in the UK. Wes was very keen on doing something at Brooklands, so again I contacted them. Although the circle of known Cyclekarts was small they were keen, but asked if we could delay until there was a viable group.
Thanks to Graham Appleyard and Stefan this long dreamed event is taking place.
One of my dreams for Brooklands has always been a Parry Thomas "Flatiron", or as he called it "Thomas Special 2", as the event is the 95th Anniversary it seemed only right to me that I should now do a build of his car. He had 3 entered for the event 95 years ago, only 2 were finished (in the week leading up to the event). As might be expected they did not do overly well, midfield at best, largely due to a lack of testing it's thought.
Sadly he perished when Babs crashed (no it's now proven he was not decapitated by the chain). That meant the cars were never to really get the fine development they deserved, although they later were seen as good cars.
On to my build.
This is being built as a plywood monocoque, very limited steel. The main body as in the photos is 9 mm ply (£23). Initially it was going to be limited to 2400 mm long (as per the original Stevenson suggestion on length) with the tail truncated some, but as Adrian paid a rush visit the other day it as his first comment was that it looked wrong, I will be making an extension to more correct the long tail look. He we are 3 days in, front axle done and ready to bolt in, rear axle made up and almost ready, 4 wheels  (thanks Adrian) prepared and ready.

The task today is to progress the body top at the front, How to do this has been a sticking point for a long time. Current method is to laminate in fibreglass the round edges and bond to a top, wait and see! (At least I know how to fibreglass!) I can't add the horizontal bulkhead nor the verticals, I'm out of epoxy till Tuesday otherwise the structure would be complete today!
« Last Edit: 18 Jul 21, 08:02 pm by RhysN »
We must avoid torturing our brains with false problems, it occupies but it can annoy. In jest!

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Marek.Z.N

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Re: A car for Brooklands.
« Reply #1 on: 27 Jun 21, 12:26 pm »
Very exciting indeed Rhys!!! Fast progress too. Brooklands is going to be great event. I need to speed up my kart for that as I believe a Delage 15-S-8 won the first grand prix there. An interesting car to try and replicate and a good back story. Keep us updated!

RhysN

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Re: A car for Brooklands.
« Reply #2 on: 27 Jun 21, 02:14 pm »
To be clear, not REPLICATE, inspired by! Yes, the first winner is the Delage gifted to the museum.
Well to be polite today has been a bit of a "Hands up". I over bent the mould for the side rolls, and then ran out of polyester as well. I need to redo the rolls. Bugger.
Must be time to start the humps!
« Last Edit: 27 Jun 21, 02:17 pm by RhysN »
We must avoid torturing our brains with false problems, it occupies but it can annoy. In jest!

RhysN

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Re: A car for Brooklands.
« Reply #3 on: 28 Jun 21, 05:57 pm »
Well, I woke to the news this morning that I'm self isolating again, as this time it's my daughter in law that has tested positive, and we had a gathering last Tuesday. That does give me time in the shed, but I can't go out to gather materials, even when it's planned for collection.
Epoxy arrived, so the bottom seam of the tub is done, as is the axle mounting area. That's all done with laminations of biaxial glassfibre, and triaxial around the axle positions.
I made a start on hacking foam for the rear deck too.
Yes photos for proof will be forthcoming tomorrow.
We must avoid torturing our brains with false problems, it occupies but it can annoy. In jest!

RhysN

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Re: A car for Brooklands.
« Reply #4 on: 29 Jun 21, 06:11 pm »
More stuff bonded in, and a front "fairing" made. 
Next step is to mount the entire front end.
There are complications! Right now I have to self isolate until midnight Saturday. My daughter-in-law tested positive so as we had a gathering last week we are on the "don't leave the property" rules. I will run out of epoxy brushes!
Also the working space in "Grumpy's Garage is limited, The 1934 Morgan and 72 Peugeot 404 estate projects use up most so all I have is about a metre by 3. Neither of those can be moved. Yes, tight, but at least I'm showing you don't need a big workshop to build a cyclekart :)
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RhysN

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Re: A car for Brooklands.
« Reply #5 on: 30 Jun 21, 10:26 pm »
Today I was bit distracted as I had some real work (from home) and did another task for the Beast of Hinckley. I did make up all the bits to mount the front springs, axle and such. First error discovered, but easily corrected as the holes for the tie rods are in the wrong place. They are now re cut and fillers for the wrong holes made.
If I could go out the gate I would be mounting the engine and rear axle tomorrow.
« Last Edit: 03 Jul 21, 07:14 pm by RhysN »
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RhysN

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Re: A car for Brooklands.
« Reply #6 on: 01 Jul 21, 05:56 am »
Nobody has asked, but.. Why choose this method of construction?
My first CK was built in the true Stevenson method. Plywood "tub" with steel rails bolted on the outside to fasten things to, and was very stiff. When I first went to Tieton I was immensely impressed by many of the builds, the ones with a chassis and body bolted on didn't impress me as it was very easy to see the structure twisting. One very impressive car was the "Blower Bentley", totally 6 mm plywood with only very small pieces of 16 gauge where loads had to be spread. On return to NZ I started my Austin 7 build,  for the "Great Austin 7 build off" www.cyclekartclub.com › forum › the-great-austin-seven-cyclekart-build-off. As with a number of my builds I had a visitor who asked if I would sell it, and yet another of my unfinished projects left me. I don't know what happened to it, although someone did say it was on display hanging from a wall somewhere as "art".
I have tried all sorts of methods, in the case of the Flatiron it's because I had under 7 weeks from start to the deadline event, I can do this quickly, I don't weld, it's light, stiff and I can do a bit at a time between work tasks (technically I work 5 days, 4 hours per day but I'll answer phones, emails and such 24/7 to keep the business as efficient as I can).
I'm not saying it's the only method, but in this case with the large cross sectional area it's one that should work for me. If it breaks after Brooklands so be it, it's only being built primarily for the one event.
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RhysN

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Re: A car for Brooklands.
« Reply #7 on: 03 Jul 21, 05:22 pm »
Front end all mounted and working today. Yes the springing method is a bit odd. There are reasons, ask if you want to know!
We must avoid torturing our brains with false problems, it occupies but it can annoy. In jest!

Marek.Z.N

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Re: A car for Brooklands.
« Reply #8 on: 04 Jul 21, 11:31 am »
For driving upside down ;) ? Tell us...

RhysN

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Re: A car for Brooklands.
« Reply #9 on: 04 Jul 21, 11:46 am »
At least somebody asked Marek, I was wondering if it was worth posting anything!
The springs are mounted that way (reverse arch) to get them low enough. The shackles are at the front, I moved them from the rear mount as when I flexed the springs I noted decreasing castor. As I will start with not a huge amount the castor was going to neutral, or maybe negative, and I don't fancy shopping trolley steering characteristics.
If it gets the car running for Brooklands, "Ittledo"
This car is being built from "stuff" I had here which nobody wanted. (Reasons of cost and to be able to move ahead, hence the axle which was built for the unfinished Napier.)
As you can see the space issue is dominant. I now need to turn it round to work on the motor and rear axle installation, I have no idea at all how I'm going to get it out of "Grumpy's Garage" except dismantle almost totally then re-assemble elsewhere.
We must avoid torturing our brains with false problems, it occupies but it can annoy. In jest!

Marek.Z.N

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Re: A car for Brooklands.
« Reply #10 on: 04 Jul 21, 02:57 pm »
Is there a reason the centre of the axle bends down in a v the way it does? I am assuming its how it looked on the inspiration car of the Napier you were talking about to get out of the way of a starter handle or something like that?

RhysN

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Re: A car for Brooklands.
« Reply #11 on: 04 Jul 21, 05:28 pm »
You got it one Marek. The original Napier looked pretty much like that.
A later thought! If this was going to be a car for more than the one day it would get a revision of the front suspension. At this point it's specifically for August 7th 2021.
« Last Edit: 04 Jul 21, 08:05 pm by RhysN »
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RhysN

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Re: A car for Brooklands.
« Reply #12 on: 05 Jul 21, 01:54 pm »
Lunchtime from work I got this ready for paint.
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RhysN

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Re: A car for Brooklands.
« Reply #13 on: 07 Jul 21, 06:06 pm »
Update as of today. I have a month till it has to be on site.
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RhysN

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Re: A car for Brooklands.
« Reply #14 on: 13 Jul 21, 08:25 am »
I've made progress on the bodywork. The front is, so far, a skin of very thin ply (thanks Adrian) which will soon be coated with a layer of fine weave glass cloth. Obviously the front needs trimming and the fairing hump in front of the dash being made.
The nose piece should have the mould taken off in the next 2 days to make a fibreglass version, the Jelutong one is heavier than needs be, and not as aesthetic as I want.
The left hand side of the cockpit opening is now ready to attach, 1.2 alloy with a wired edge. Only really 1.2 because I have some spare bits, and one was the right size. If I was buying in it would be 0.9 mm. I had to anneal it (1000 grade) to bend it round the handy former (light pole outside my back gate).
Also in the photos showing my work space for this thing, says he donning the hair shirt.
We must avoid torturing our brains with false problems, it occupies but it can annoy. In jest!