Classic Alfa Forums

As the title says, if anyone is looking to get some training on panel making, fabrication and TiG welding then I can highly recommend these guys.
I've done the course to try and get some skills into my sometimes agricultural attempts at panel making and they have given me so many tips and hints plus having hands on experience at the art of butt welding TiG without the use of filler rods I can only say it is a brilliant course for anyone thinking of seeing how things should be done.

The courses are open to anyone, you don't need to have any special qualifications to go on them, just a basic understanding of cars and welding although that's not always needed.

The guys on my training week included a Plumber and an Accountant so all walks of life come, albeit they were both classic car nuts.

Friendly atmosphere, the best of the best quality work so you're being taught in the correct way, all tools and Lunch etc provided so just book and turn up.

Not the cheapest maybe but even a tight wad like me can see the value in it.

http://contouracademy.com/

Finished my course there now.

Just a couple of interesting pictures to show the incredible standard of work they produce...remember these are all hand made panels, no pressings...

Jaguar XK front end
XK front A post detail, all hand made pieces joined together
The complete A & B post with sill assembly
Above are just demonstration sections that go to the shows.

This little Austin is in the beginnings of being re-bodied
This is the XK that is destined for a lot of new panels to be made up...

Yep, looks impressive and always good for your mind to learn a bit of someone else's trade I think.

Austin 7 for you next then or the much quicker A35 ?

Looks very good Kev.
I always wanted to do fabrication work, but my college sent me down the paint route instead.
I feel if you can fabricate and weld you have cracked it, you can pick up prep and painting later along the way.

Impressive work there . Very impressive

I want that xk wing on display at home !

Keith, while I dream of being able to make something like that wing, I also dream of that cocktail champagne iso you painted...it wasn't a wasted talent !

Thanks Tim. That is one of my all time favourite colour schemes. Probably why I like Alfa Zoe yellow as well.

Here Kev,
Keeping the fabrication theme going, what do you think to this?
Decided it wasn't fit for Puzzle Post.
All made out of aluminium, then we prep, paint and polish inside then flat and polish the outside.
B@st@#d of a job to do.

that looks amazing, love shiny things. painting the inside must be a real bitch, you must have a small gun for that?

must ask though.....what the hell is it!

Hi Kev, thought you may like it.
Well if I tell you it is about six feet long, it is a piece of designer furniture and that is a lounger !!
We have been involved in these pieces for years. We have done tables, three legged and four. Chairs and short coffee tables. Always in ally and polished with a bright colour inside. Yellow, orange, lime green, Bugatti blue, Ferrari rosso , oh! did do one black one.
Designed by Marc Newson, (Google him) and made by the panel shop who do our metal work Bodylines ( Aston Martin Restorations ).
The early tables were enclosed and were really tricky to paint , and as they were six feet long you could only get up to your shoulder from either end. Used a normal spray gun but adjusted to jet to get to the middle.
Marc's most famous lounger was called the Lockheed .
https://www.google.co.uk/url?sa=t&rct=j ... 6328,d.ZGg


I have done a couple of most of the designs (Pod edition) and thankfully, I think all commissions are now done. They were first done in plastic or glass fibre, then later in Ally.

Sorry mate, are you still awake ??

These have a glass top.
Three leg chair in plastic is in this video. (Another good tune I think) later done in Ally.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dbB-mICjkQM

Impressed

Thanks.

it is mighty impressive