Section body buck for Cobra
 

Hi,
I am looking for 3D model or at least the blueprints for FFR Cobra preferably 289 but I would be happy with 427 also. I have found several 3D models but I don't know the design they are taken from so I am not sure how they would fit with FFR chassis.
I would like to use the 3D model to make the section body buck for FFR Cobra and I am hoping to get it as precise as possible so there is minimum need for body corrections required later on.
Thank you
Martin

Martin
That is a big project But it would be very rewarding when you’re finished it.
Back in the 80s I made some moles and body parts for a customer that turned a Fiero into a testarossa he did it buying a good scale model testarossa filling it with Bondo and then slicing it into sections and then projected them on the wall to get his silhouette it was a lot of work but the car came out great.
Fast forward I built a quarter scale 427roadster for a client where he scanned an original car then it was printed in 1/4 scale in a 3-D printer that I finished it off from there getting it ready to make plug to build the car but unfortunately things didn’t work out he passed and that was the end of that project.
I think what would work for you get a 1/8 or 1/24 scale car that is very close to the original shape and have it scanned then you would have a surface of the model that you could scale up to full size and do it ever you want with it whether you made a station every 10 inches assembled it and put foam in it that works we did it for The Shelby series one
The best of luck Tom

Martin: here's a link to my thread on a different forum for building a station buck for a Lambo Miura. You can use a similar approach for a Cobra body and in fact it should be easier because it's a simpler shape. If you have pictures for the bare FFR chassis that can be scaled to full size, I bet you could have the body modeled around them.

Modern-day Miura: seeking buck making information - Page 3 - All MetalShaping

I had a guy create a 3D model from measurements and pics (I'm building a 105% car), he also sliced the model for buck stations, laid the buck stations out on 4' by 8' surfaces and then provided me the CNC cut files for having all the pieces cut out. The guy who did the 3D modeling is very good, does this for a living, and is very reasonably priced. His contact info should be in that thread.

Here's a related build thread for the car. It might give you more context for my thought processes for the station buck.

Modern-day Miura - All MetalShaping

I can also answer questions if you have them. Building a station buck and metal shaping a car body is a big project but i'm finding it very interesting.

Tom: Thank you for the advice Tom. Maybe I could use the smaller version of car to create the buck (fill it with Bondo, slice it and then scale the pieces of buck to the original size). Problem I have is where to get the car or blueprints I could use. There is nobody near me with FFR Cobra and I think FFR doesn’t make small model of their cars either. And if I use some generic model of Cobra even the one corresponding to the original Cobra model I can’t be sure how much it corresponds to the FFR design.
There are some 3D models (some of them maybe even same as the original) I could use them for buck and it would be relatively easy (everything made in PC). But I am worried about the compatibility with FFR. I don’t want to end up with the body which I will have to shorten/protract or to change placement of hood, trunk or door edges.



Joel: Thank you for the suggestions. That could probably work. I will either get the frame and build the buck just from the frame (but I am not sure if I will be able to visualize every detail just from frame) or if there is somebody who could model the car just from the pictures and use it for CNC file I would probably use his services.


Now little OT: I am having problems to log in. Even after first attempt to log in I got the message that I used all my tries to log in and that I have wrong username/password. So I was forced to create new account to get in and I don't know if I will be able to log in to this account once I am log out :D. I hope I won't have to create new account every time I want to write here :D. I was trying to find the solution and there have been similar problems in the past but it doesn't seem someone has solved them.
Do you know if there is something I can do? I was even tried to write to the webmaster so I hope there will be some way out of it.

Martin

What do you want to do? End up with an aluminum body for a FFR? Do you have the frame? Or are you going to order one from them? If this is the case get the body from them also and use it to build your buck. Building a buck can be expensive.

Yes I would like to build the aluminum body for FFR. Maybe I will order the FFR frame (I don't have frame right now). Do you think it would be more expensive to get the 3D model of body for CNC without the body (maybe pay somebody to make 3D model from pictures) than order the FFR body and make the buck from it? It is 5K for the FFR body. I probably woudn't have use for it later and I am not sure if I am able to sell the FFR body afterwards (I am from Europe so there is not much possible customers for the FFR body).
I have to say I was hoping to make the buck without the FFR body (but I was thinking about getting the body also...).

I am scratch building. Chassis body everything. The best advice I can give is get the body. There will be nothing like having the body there to refer to for detail. No matter how much detail your buck has it will need more. A guy with years of experience doing this type work will be able to get by with less detail. Your body building will be a long prosses and you could be driving your Kit car while you build your aluminum body. I take it your haven't done this type work before. PS other have gone this route to make an aluminum body. They will often use a 3 inch hole saw all over the body to check the fit of the panels they make and also so they can clamp the panel on.

OK I will think about it and probably buy the body. Is there some easier and quicker way of making the "buck" with the FFR body? For example is there something I could use to fill up the body with for exaple plaster or something like that (some material which would make the hard surface I could shape the aluminum panels on)?
Yes you are right I don't have experience with making the car body so I would like to make the work easier a little bit.

I think a good start would be to join some of the metal shaping forums. Ask questions and see how others have done it.
Also if you buy the whole kit if you decide that you are not able to get the job done you would have an easier time getting rid of the project.

Wasn't there a school using an FFR body to learn how to shape aluminum? I seem to remember a post somewhere showing the class. Been a few years back.
Larry

There’s a fair amount of info on the FFR site about aluminum bodies. Mr Bruce suggested taking a glass body, turn it upside down and fill it with concrete. Pull it, flip it right side up and start hammering away! Quite a way to make a body buck! He might have something there!
Anyway, you might dig around over there and see what you come up with.
Larry

Not sure you want to use the FFR body. If you are going to the effort to make an alloy body, I'd suggest using a more accurately cast body.

I am thinking about it but I am not sure about the frame if I make body according to original dimensions. The idea was to use FFR body dimensions because then I can use FFR parts which fits FFR frame.
FFR model is more spacious then the original so if I use original body, FFR frame will be too big.
So you are saying scratch build or what do you propose?

Martin I forgot about this site just to go to metalmeet.com If you do not know about it.
you will find out information on building a aluminum 427 body it looks like they use in a factory five body because of the oversize front wheel flares
Tom.