New Prototype Kit Car...

[BladeX1]

Hey everyone… thanks for the support on this. Yeah I am definitely not trying to advertize here, the car is nowhere near ready for that yet. I am not sure why he chose that snippet to suggest that I was advertizing, as I was simply trying to say that the project has become pretty technical for your typical home kit car build. Nothing is set in stone yet… I am trying to make it as simple as possible.

My main goal is to share my experience… when I started this project I found it difficult to find information on how to do something like this. So I made a commitment to myself to share what I learn so that others would be inspired to do the same. There are so many great designs that I see by non professional artists and I want to show that anyone can do this.

…anyway, I should have a new video up soon starting the foam process.

PS… and Yelp I am from Texas. Yeehhaaww!!...

- Neal

[andygtt]

To be fair I don't think he was suggesting anything underhand was being done only asking a question.... I've often wondered what the line is as well but I think as long as it isn't blatent and the people on the relevant forum are happy and interested it all goo.

As I said I'm very interested in seeing progress so keep it coming.

[Stevie Mojo]

You're probably right Andy but sometimes things just don't need to be asked if you know what I mean. I say even if somebody is getting a bit of free publicity then good luck to em, especially if its for such an interesting car.

[Paul Drawmer]

andygtt said:

To be fair I don't think he was suggesting anything underhand was being done only asking a question.... I've often wondered what the line is as well but I think as long as it isn't blatent and the people on the relevant forum are happy and interested it all goo.

As I said I'm very interested in seeing progress so keep it coming.

Stevie Mojo said:

You're probably right Andy but sometimes things just don't need to be asked if you know what I mean. I say even if somebody is getting a bit of free publicity then good luck to em, especially if its for such an interesting car.

Well, having read your comments I find myself questioning my motive for asking the question in the first place.

Partly because to me it does look like a fair amount of 'puff', but as andygtt says I also wondered how others saw it, and mostly there's a fair amount of positive interest.

On the other hand; I think the car is fugly. I admit there's a huge amount of really brave effort going into it, and that should be applauded. Now that it's become a commercial project I do think it's relevant to ask if it needs the free advertising.

I'm not complaining because I could do better, I'm certain I can't. But I do know of another one-man scratch built project that in my opinion is a much better car. Yet isn't in the public domain because the engineer developing it chooses to expose it to a limited audience until it all works right. There are a lot of guys slaving away in their garages on this sort of stuff. They are all adding to the rich vein of creativity that is the kit car world.

In this case, I'm being partisan. I just don't like it that much. Sorry.

Edited by Paul Drawmer on Thursday 12th June 21:04

[andygtt]

Thats what I like about this guy posting up... the fact that its there for all to see.

I also know of some quite frankly stunning projects that blokes are scratch building in there garage (try a complete autoclave carbon tubbed GT car!) that put every kit I have ever seen to shame, but thats just it they are not public and it took me ages to get the network to uncover these people.

[BladeX1]

Paul,

I respect your opinion… this car is not for everyone and your not going to hurt my feelings if you don’t like it. The images at the beginning of this thread are probably more puff than the current design. But over the months it’s come along way and I have learned a tremendous amount from this project.

Although I do plan to sell and market this car (which I had always intended to do even when it was going to be a full kit car) it was my goal from the start to share the information and development process. I want others can learn from it and also to develop relationships with people trying to do the same thing.

One thing that continues to bother me is that there are people out there building these cars (such as your friend) and they keep everything secrete and are afraid of someone steeling their design or ideas. Then one day they release it to the public and hope to sell one for some ridiculous price. Now I’m not suggesting that this is your friend’s intention, it’s just the common strategy these days. And it seems everyone is so focused on making the next supercar… no one seems to just build a nice sports car anymore that’s affordable.

I decided to do it differently and make my project public and show the whole process from starting in a garage at my house, to getting attention on the web and moving into a real facility and maybe next picking up sponsor or funding who knows. So far I have funded this project 100% and will continue until it’s completed. Anyway my point is that I simply want to make it public from start to finish I don’t believe anyone has attempted this and this is the YouTube era so why not right?...

You can call it marketing but I will call it following my dream.

PS. Here is part two of the video… I will have another one today or tomorrow.

http://videos.streetfire.net/video/Building-the-Ba...

- Neal

[BladeX1]

Hello everyone…. I have uploaded another video. Me and my partner finished up the front (still in rough form) and began work on top of the hood. We did a lot in a few hours and I stayed late to finish out some details. I was major tired and my arms felt like wet noodles. This video is a little longer and I talk and explain more details about the car at the end. This is my first video project like this so I will work on not repeating the same words over and over but my brain was fried and I was probably dehydrated due to the heat and snorting foam. This weekend I will try to get a few different camera angels so you can see more detailed action… lol.

Anyway hope you enjoy… let me know what you think.

http://videos.streetfire.net/video/Building-the-Ba...

Edited by BladeX1 on Saturday 14th June 01:03

[RetroWheels]

This will be a stunning looking car when it's finished , ticks all the right boxes , big assed V8 in a good looking, rear wheel drive, lightweight shell - a Classic format

It's fascinating to see this project evolving , the car is really coming to shape.
Hats off to you for not only designing and building the car, but also letting us watch it develop.

With regard to the advertising comments...

So what if this thread helps publicise the Blade ? The ongoing story is an excellent contribution to PistonHeads.

This is the sort of topic should be welcomed with open arms , the stuff that PistonHeads used to be all about ...

Thinking back ,im sure this used to be a website for those interested in fast cars .


.

[M400 NBL]

RetroWheels said:

Thinking back ,im sure this used to be a website for those interested in fast cars .


.

Blimey, you've got a good memory!

[BladeX1]

Ok here is another video… part three of the foaming process. Eric and I spent about 13 hours on Saturday working non stop on the side fenders. The design is starting to take shape now, but there is still a lot of detailing to do and we probably will not do that until the all the foam is in place and generally shaped. I start this video talking about the Cobra that I referred too in the last episode of this build. I also changed the camera angles a little. Enjoy… and feel free to ask questions.


http://videos.streetfire.net/video/Building-the-Ba...

- Neal

[Averroes]

For some reason it reminds me of the Sabino B3. Very nice car Blade, good luck

I wish i could have seen this thread before so i could give my little advice on the headlamps. I think the car has a classy luck to it but the headlamps look too "contemporary" for the rest of the car, but even then cant wait to see the finished article

[andygtt]

loved the video.... certainly more work going on in your garage than in mine, especially the cleaning bit lol.

keep up the good work.

[Badger V8]

BladeX1 said:

Ok here is another video… part three of the foaming process. Eric and I spent about 13 hours on Saturday working non stop on the side fenders. The design is starting to take shape now, but there is still a lot of detailing to do and we probably will not do that until the all the foam is in place and generally shaped. I start this video talking about the Cobra that I referred too in the last episode of this build. I also changed the camera angles a little. Enjoy… and feel free to ask questions.


http://videos.streetfire.net/video/Building-the-Ba...

- Neal

These timelapse videos are nearly as spectacular as the car!

Keep 'em coming.

[Sidney Sideways]

BladeX1 said:

Paul,

I respect your opinion… this car is not for everyone and your not going to hurt my feelings if you don’t like it. The images at the beginning of this thread are probably more puff than the current design. But over the months it’s come along way and I have learned a tremendous amount from this project.

Although I do plan to sell and market this car (which I had always intended to do even when it was going to be a full kit car) it was my goal from the start to share the information and development process. I want others can learn from it and also to develop relationships with people trying to do the same thing.

One thing that continues to bother me is that there are people out there building these cars (such as your friend) and they keep everything secrete and are afraid of someone steeling their design or ideas. Then one day they release it to the public and hope to sell one for some ridiculous price. Now I’m not suggesting that this is your friend’s intention, it’s just the common strategy these days. And it seems everyone is so focused on making the next supercar… no one seems to just build a nice sports car anymore that’s affordable.

I decided to do it differently and make my project public and show the whole process from starting in a garage at my house, to getting attention on the web and moving into a real facility and maybe next picking up sponsor or funding who knows. So far I have funded this project 100% and will continue until it’s completed. Anyway my point is that I simply want to make it public from start to finish I don’t believe anyone has attempted this and this is the YouTube era so why not right?...

You can call it marketing but I will call it following my dream.

PS. Here is part two of the video… I will have another one today or tomorrow.

http://videos.streetfire.net/video/Building-the-Ba...

- Neal

Great progress Neal - keep it up. I've not checked into this forum for about a month and was chuffed to see you're making such good progress. I will also severely discipline myself and make sure I check in more often.

The comments about advertising are all well and good and (dare I say it?), could be valid, (if a little "brutally worded"!), but I wonder how many similar detractors there would be if the same thread was started by Herr Porsche / Audi / BMW etc? Probably a few, but I would hope they would be far outnumbered by others who would feel grateful to be allowed an insight into a process we know so little about, but that produces vehicles we are supposed to be passionate for (insert your own comments about what PH "used to be" here.....!)

I think the fact that the topic is being kept alive by interaction from other PH members expressing their support and interest, rather than endless "BUMPS" from the OP shows that it's exactly what we want to see.... (well I do anyway!)If there are other people doing it another way and not shouting about it on the internet, that's up to them, but it could also be part of the reason their projects struggle. If nothing else, coming onto websites like this one and receiving some support may make the long, hard, lonely days a bit more bearable!

I say, enjoy it for what it is - a new project/concept in the early stages of it's birth. Don't worry about free advertising until Neal's on here posting up list prices an options costs (I guess we're some way off that stage yet Neal..?!)

I look forward to watching things develop and wish you continued success - certainly more than similar ventures seem to get over this side of the pond.

Steve

[fuoriserie]

Keep it up Neal, great video and looking forward to your next one.

Ciao
Italo

Edited by fuoriserie on Tuesday 15th July 21:27

[BladeX1]

Hey guys,

Thanks for the encouraging words… we are moving quickly on all this and have some big things in the works. Right now me and my partner heads are spinning from all the attention and opportunities that are presenting them selves. So we are working like mad men… I have posted more videos below, some of which you have probably already seen I think the last one I posted was part 4…


Video 1: Building the Forms for body buck.
http://videos.streetfire.net/video/Building-the-Ba...

Video 2: Foam Process.
http://videos.streetfire.net/video/Building-the-Ba...

Video 3: Foaming part 2
http://videos.streetfire.net/video/Building-the-Ba...

Video 4: Building the Bailey Blade part 4 – Foaming part 3
http://videos.streetfire.net/video/Building-the-Ba...

Video 5: Building the Bailey Blade part 5 – Foaming part 4
http://videos.streetfire.net/video/Building-the-Ba...

Video 6: Building the Bailey Blade part 6 – Foaming part 5
http://videos.streetfire.net/video/Building-the-Ba...

Video 7: Building the Bailey Blade part 7 – Foaming part 6
http://videos.streetfire.net/video/Building-the-Ba...

Video 8: Building the Bailey Blade part 8 – Foaming part 7
http://videos.streetfire.net/video/Building-the-Ba...

- Neal