Hi
i have been offered a tj locust 7 with a wooden cockpit!
However i presume they mean it is a locost not a locust but i can't find anything out about the company TJ that made it.
Also what are your views on wooden cockpits?
Many thanks
Nick
There are two types of car...
The LocUst and the LocOst.
The LocUst is wooden framed/panelled, the LocOst is not. There are several locusts around. But dont confuse the 2....
David
I take it you've been HERE ?
If they mentioned TJ then indeed they mean locust.
Cheers
G
ah many thanks
you learn something new every day.
Any thoughts on a wooden cockpit?
1: Splinters in yer ar5se, 
2: Wet/dry rot, induced by rain, or...
3: Having to creosote exposed woodwork! 
Although, on 2nd thoughts, Marcos and the Burlington models also used some form of wood. Marine ply for Marcos (a degree of water resistance),
possibly mdf for the other.
ah yeah, i have used marine ply before and is expensive, surely sheet metal wood be stronger and better to work with?
quote:
Originally posted by Noodles
ah yeah, i have used marine ply before and is expensive, surely sheet metal wood be stronger and better to work with?
that is the one i have been offered LOL
In Channel 4's Grand Designs one guy building his dream home put what turned out to be very cheap and nasty ply on his roof and left it
uncovered over night -- it rained and the plys completely delamminated !
Good grade exterior or marine ply (should be little or no difference) is essential,
Funny thing no build diary links from the locust enthusiasts club website --- wonder why tee hee ;-0
Well Robin Hood owners have to have something to look down on.
[Edited on 19/4/05 by britishtrident]
That would make a good donor car. With a chassis off ebay you could be on a winner
still debating if it is worth the price or not!
Any ideas as to value for money.
Also do you think the twin cam 1600 will be nippy?
[Edited on 19/4/05 by Noodles]
quote:
Originally posted by britishtrident
Funny thing no build diary links from the locust enthusiasts club website --- wonder why tee hee ;-0
Well Robin Hood owners have to have something to look down on.
Although I really dislike the entire concept of a ladder chassis and wooden body for the '7 replica, I have to admitt that I've seen some
very pretty Locust builds.
If it's cheap enough it might make a good donor 
I too have seen some very pretty locusts but i have also seen some extremely dire ones as well!! I would suggest however that you do not dismiss the idea, a well built wooden body or chassis using quality marine or exterior ply can be incredibly strong and durable. Morgans still use wooden chassis i believe and some early Marcos' used ply construction and they were just as strong as anything else at the time. Cheers.
quote:
Originally posted by scotty g
I too have seen some very pretty locusts but i have also seen some extremely dire ones as well!! I would suggest however that you do not dismiss the idea, a well built wooden body or chassis using quality marine or exterior ply can be incredibly strong and durable. Morgans still use wooden chassis i believe and some early Marcos' used ply construction and they were just as strong as anything else at the time. Cheers.
Gullwing Marcos ugly ugly !!
http://www.rory.uk.com/Marcos/marcos_racing.htm
Have never seen a locust post accident so i don't know if the shape lends itself to being as strong as some other styles. I apologize for the Morgan comment, my mistake, my area of expertise is GRP and boats in particular. I wonder what the SVA people think of the Locust, anyone know of any passes????
quote:
Originally posted by britishtrident
Gullwing Marcos ugly ugly !!
http://www.rory.uk.com/Marcos/marcos_racing.htm
Having worked in a boat shop in my younger days, I've worked on both wooden and fibreglass boats. the locust concept would be fine for
constructing a plug, from which to pull moulds for fibreglass bodywork.
I personally wouldn't construct a car from wood, you can achieve the same strength with less than half the weight from properly laid glass fibre.
'I wonder what the SVA people think of the Locust, anyone know of any passes????'
Yes, the Locust Enthusiasts site shows a few.
I think its a bit unfair to pick on the locust guys. At the end of the day like any kitcar, they're some well built ones out there. They are only
designed to look like a 7, not necessarily perform like one on a race track. The Locost machines are obviously more specialised - I bet Ron Champion
is surprised at how popular the car has become with people building their own spaceframes. I suppose it has a lot to do with the price of Mig welders
coming down to the same as a Black & Decker jigsaw & workmate
Having spent 40 odd years watching the Sevenish car scene I have been appalled by some of the engineering standards seen in some Seven clones, I was
interested in building a Dutton until I saw what the horrors that lay under the bodywork. The very first Robin Hood looked promising in magazine
photos but again closer examination revealed lack of any real enginnering.
Westfield were the first to offer something to the masses that was both affordable and looked like somebody with some engineering knowledge had
designed it, but mainly due to the cost of fighthing Caterham's lawyers and the effect of the case giving the marque street cred Westfield
prices went up to silly levels.
Locust was a bottom feeder that looked instantly silly and pointless with the publication of the Ron's book .
[Edited on 25/4/05 by britishtrident]
Speaking of Robin Hoods, has anyone here seen their new lightweight, lovely looking thing and amazingly priced so i was seriously thinking of getting one. Luckily a few peoples oppinions scared me off. Everyone seems to be watching it quite nervously, waiting for someone else to take the plunge and buy one in case it falls apart. RH have now said it won't be for sale until the new owners have decided what to do with it. A pitty, it relly does look nice.
Just to stir up the plywood debate:- http://www.rqriley.com/index.html
Whys everyone got such a downer on it?
If the point of our hobby is to be 'alternative' then why knock an alternative idea?
Built right it will make a fine little sportscar albeit not as light or agile as a locOst.
As for crash resistance, would you want to crash in your LocOst??? Nah, thought not. Far better IMHO to avoid crashing in the first place by using the
grey matter out on the tarmac.
Plenty of people knock GRP also. My Citroen ZX (everyday tank) has a plastic hatchback that is the best part of the bodywork by far!