I actually enjoy welding. I'm not as good as I was because my eyes are getting worse and my hands are not as steady. Just another thing that breaks my heart about getting old. I was DOD aircraft certified TIG welder for 9 1/2 years.

I use a '''reader" or cheater lens in my helmet. Helps a BUNCH for focusing up close.

I bought these 1.5 diopter safety glasses. They work great under a welding helmet!

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0...?ie=UTF8&psc=1

...aaaaand back on track, fender done! Onto the cowl and driver's side fender. I won't join up the fender to the nose just yet. That'll happen once I get the chassis done. And with that, I'll be building my own chassis to replicate the original. I mean, heck. I've done this much might as well go the whole way and make a complete mess of it!:biggthumpup:

I've made two contacts that have helped me immensely on this project. Next week I'll be headed to Philly to visit with one and tour a shop that is restoring one right now. I'll also get a chance to meet the owner which will be a wonderful opportunity for me. The gentleman setting this up has restored five 507s and his notes are invaluable. The other contact is the one supplying me with scanned parts files from his previously owned 507 that I'm using to print the parts.

I also had the front and side grilles 3D printed and the fit is surprisingly not that far off. Remember, my buck is made from a 1/18th scale model sized up. Amazing it's so accurate!

I'm learning more and more about metal shaping and it's so friggin fun! I'm going to make another body out of Aluminum next after the steel one is done. I mean, why not? What else do I have to do besides get a 62 Vette mechanically sound as a driver for someone and do basically all the metal work on a 280SL Pagoda next month. Pffllppppp.... Easy.:hmmm::no:

Cheers
Dave

That's so cool!

Wicked !

That IS really cool, Dave. When is the English wheel coming, to roll all the bumps out ?

Wow!! That is looking great! I'm just gonna just stay on this thread and keep refreshing it for the next year. That way I don't miss anything!! :laugh:

Thanks, guys! The English wheel is out, and the bottom of the fender shows better results than the top. :cool2: I primed it too early so I don’t want to go back while primed and run it through the wheel. No bueno! The opposite side will come out better now that I’m getting the hang of it. Still an immense amount of learning to do. It’s so much fun beating the crap out of metal and forming something. Sort of relieves day to day stresses of the breakdown of society!:p:p:p;)

Up next is the cowl panel and windshield mount area followed by the driver’s side fender. Gotta go fly a trip so more updates next week with the visit to a real 507! :burnout: Hopefully this thread is giving guys inspiration to try something they might not think they can succeed at. After all, frustration keeps you young….and humble!:tongue::biggthumpup:

Cheers
SuperDave

----Amazing progress, Dave. That Beemer will be awesome!.....Bill S