March has been a busy month as Ryan continues to develop the skill set he needs as part of his apprenticeship at Creative Classics.
A task undertaken this month by Ryan was to produce a bonnet for an Alfa GTA specifically for track racing. Weight and strength are even more important than when trying to be first past the chequered flag. This was the first lightweight bonnet Ryan has done.
One skill required for this is jig chasing and takes time to develop. An understanding is required for how metal stretches and can be formed to match the design.
Ryan needed to learn how metal is set back so it fits perfectly when fitted. This is where the art and science of metal work come together. It’s as much about technical ability and the tradesman touch for knowing what is right.
This Alfa GTA is for racing, a special requirement for the bonnet was to place flanged holes on the frame of the bonnet to gain additional strength.
Ryan took the project from the beginning, understanding the requirement, creating the drawings to the finished completed, lightweight racing bonnet.
The frame of the bonnet was formed and chased on an Obo resin tool, which had been CNC cut, reverse engineered from the original part. This is very much behind all the work that Creative Classics do to keep to the original design and manufactures specification as much as possible.
The outer skin was wheeled on an old English wheeling machine, working, pushing and forming the metal as it would have been on the car when it was originally manufactured.
The finished bonnet was a perfect fit and met the specification our client wanted. A job well done. March 2013
About Ryan
Ryan is 18 and now into his second year of his four year apprenticeship. He is creative and enjoys the manufacturing process. He studies one day per week at City College, Coventry as part of his NVQ.
Creative Classics are committed to keeping the skills alive that artisans of the past had when they created such iconic motorcars like the Alpha GTA.
