|
Post by kiwicanfly on Apr 2, 2012 21:55:39 GMT
Well after much consideration about whether the money required to build a Rocket could be more sensibly used elswhere and whether, hand on heart, did I really NEED such a toy. I came to the following conclusions - there are way more sensible things to spend the money on and no I don't NEED one. So I made the decision - Sod it I am going to anyway, why conform, life's too short. Paid my deposit last night and got a build slot end of July. Went for the Kit In A Box option. Should hit NZ early September.
|
|
|
Post by kiwicanfly on Apr 16, 2012 7:42:50 GMT
Inspired by Paul(madeye) I too have opened my build diary photographs without the usual chassis/floor combination. What you are looking at is known as "The Condition" otherwise known as a Walker Ride-On mower. When anouncing my intention to build to "her that shall grant permission" the only condition imposed was that I finished the mower first. I wont bore you with all the other "finish the...." jobs that were subsequentially added such as - The shelf in the bathroom The tiling in the bathroom The kitchen pantry doors The gate hinges The ladder The skirting boards The cupboard shelves Kick boards in kitchen ........ ........ ....... ....... Still it gives me something to do whilst waiting for my kit.
|
|
mightylad
Senior
.....Mighty MEV Rocket.....
Posts: 559
|
Post by mightylad on Apr 25, 2012 20:12:50 GMT
Ahhh the 'finish....insert task here.... first' job list i remember that well!! I managed to convince her that i was doing her a favour by spending many a long hour in the garage out of the way while she did her uni work.. But I still, 3 years later, need to finish the bathroom Ol
|
|
|
Post by kiwicanfly on Jun 17, 2012 9:48:25 GMT
Well progress in NZ is not exactly stunning to say the least.
Like it's namesake this kiwi aint flying anywhere at the moment.
The required build application has been put in but as the Technical Committee that's gives the go ahead only meets once a month the application was submitted short on required info due to problems obtaining sufficient technical detail. I am hoping to get a OK on the majority and feedback on what was left out.
Biggest stumbling block was with suspension, in NZ the minimum material size for lower wishbones is 25mm but the rocket uses 21.3mm all round (I thought it was bigger). I am assured this larger can be accommodated though.
However since submitting my application I did finally get to see a kit, it belongs to Stuart Ledingham and we met up with a certifier.
He confirmed that the suspension was under size in section, the inner lower seat belt fixings need to be beefed up, the seat fixing crush tubes need to be welded in and a number of other issues.
The positive (for me at least) was that I can get these attended to by RTR before my kit ships. I also was able to measure the suspension parts and construct accurate drawings which is hopefully all I will need to do to get approval for building.
Amongst other things the drawings are used to check for bump steer issues prior to construction.
I have sent some drawings to RTR to get clarification on a couple of dimensions and hopefully they will be back to me early in the week, however getting stuff out of RTR can drag on due to their workload at the moment.
It is quite frustrating being down here, seeing all the progress being made by others with similar order dates to mine making progress on their builds, well collecting things at least, and I am still in pre-certification mode. Real hard part is knowing that had I managed to obtain the required info I could have had submitted a full application which would probably been approved first time.
Now, unless I am real lucky, I will be at least a month behind schedule as the next approval meeting will not be till early July and two weeks of waiting from that date.
|
|
|
Post by Paul (madeye) on Jun 17, 2012 22:45:12 GMT
well im glad i inspired something at least once, i should have the chassis end of july too so dependant on your shipping time, we should be similar builds as i work away and will only be on the spanners at weekends. unless i talk the wife into letting me take all my leave to build a car...... hmm, not happening i think
|
|
|
Post by kiwicanfly on Aug 4, 2012 7:59:49 GMT
Well the time is nigh - my chassis build begins on Monday with an anticipated shipping date of my whole kit for early September. Still going to take around four weeks to arrive after that :-( After all the hoops I have had to jump through I got a bit disillusioned with it for a while, feeling real excited about it now though as that is behind me and have moved to shopping mode. As I had to detail almost every aspect of the car in advance the theory is that a lot of the unknowns regulation wise are out of the way and the inspector just checks for good practice, also as the inspection process is undertaken during the build I am hoping for no last minute frights on what will pass or not, will be interesting to compare NZ LVVTA with UK IVA process. The shed is now bare and the mower sorted - decided it was not a suitable donor :-) Mind you the wife made me buy more flooring materials today - added it to the list
|
|
|
Post by kiwicanfly on Sept 20, 2012 7:35:25 GMT
So the news is I paid the balance of my account today so shipping is iminent.
So what exactly am I aiming for in my build?
My knowledge is not so great as to be able to build a supercharged masterpiece like Mabbs.
I am aiming for a nice looking build demonstrating good workmanship.
My basic build spec is a 2l engine, black panels, a nice deep red colour for the chassis, probably red on chrome, calipers will be coated the same colour as the chassis.
I have a few tricks under my belt, I am investigating eliminating the mind-numbing tediom of pop riveting the floor in place and hopefully going for a completely different fixing method - to be revealed.
I wanted to use carbon floor pan and panels but have changed my mind on that, however the panels will be neither bare alum nor carbon sheeted - again to be revealed.
I have grabbed a set of the carbon rail covers and rack cover from Mabbs - his fame is such he is now an export supplier.
I will hopefully be using a throttle body set on the engine but not Omex - hovever they will be custom made for me and from the same stable as a set purchased by Greg Murphy, they may also be optomised for looks over performance.
Got a nice set of Momo Corse wheels and a Momo steering wheel in the box.
External RTR exhaust with no cat - not a requirement over here. ;D
Also will be fitting a nice set of Racetech seats.
To help me in my build I have access to a full cnc machine shop and a foundry if required plus the techical know how of a man who made the patterns for the Australian V8 Supercar gearboxes and the gear selector forks for the 911 GT3 Porsche Cup gearboxes. In fact we shipped 50 sets of these only yesterday.
|
|
|
Post by kiwicanfly on Sept 24, 2012 8:02:22 GMT
Hopefully a straight four version of one of these babies will be mine ;D
|
|
|
Post by Paul (madeye) on Sept 24, 2012 20:25:46 GMT
ooooohhhhhh.
pretty!!!
|
|
|
Post by kiwicanfly on Sept 24, 2012 21:49:50 GMT
Yeah and built in-house, well sort of
|
|
|
Post by kiwicanfly on Oct 29, 2012 7:47:49 GMT
As those of you who are following the enthralling game - Where In The World Is......? will know my Rocket Kit managed to tunnel its' way out of the RTR factory in the last few days. Before it escaped however a photo of my baby was snapped, sort of like one of those polaroids you get from hospital when your partners pregnant. Now for those of you thinking of building a Rocket the same question always gets asked - What do I need to build a Rocket. Well everything is there apart from seats and a cat 'cause we don't need them here in NZ. Oh, and a big box of patience of course! There is also something else in the picture unique to my shipment which has not found in anyone else' shipment to date, bet you can't figure it. But if you look closely you might spot it. ;D
|
|
|
Post by Paul (madeye) on Oct 29, 2012 9:31:22 GMT
whos welding on the rollbar??
|
|
|
Post by kiwicanfly on Oct 29, 2012 20:51:24 GMT
;D whos welding on the rollbar?? One of our company welders. Post modified and comments removed due to an case of excess bragging identified by Paul
|
|
|
Post by Paul (madeye) on Oct 30, 2012 12:49:03 GMT
maybe you should mention it
|
|
|
Post by kiwicanfly on Nov 28, 2012 7:26:36 GMT
Well my kit moves slowly onwards, it's track being slowly plotted in my Where in the world thread. But in the meantime I grabbed myself a couple of seats, I can sit in them whilst watching the slow progress of a container ship. Mine are the black version.
|
|