kb58
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| posted on 24/2/05 at 11:18 PM |
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Project goals and deadlines
This is a continuation of discussion regarding how we handle working on our projects, the drive to complete the project, and whether or not to set
goals and/or deadlines.
As said earlier, if you'r building your own car, you can do whatever you want. OTOH if you're building a car for someone else who's
paid you money, that's totally different... that's business. When money is involved, it often stops being fun....
Bottom line, it needs to stay fun.
[Edited on 2/25/05 by kb58]
Mid-engine Locost - http://www.midlana.com
And the book - http://www.lulu.com/shop/kurt-bilinski/midlana/paperback/product-21330662.html
Kimini - a tube-frame, carbon shell, Honda Prelude VTEC mid-engine Mini: http://www.kimini.com
And its book -
http://www.lulu.com/shop/kurt-bilinski/kimini-how-to-design-and-build-a-mid-engine-sports-car-from-scratch/paperback/product-4858803.html
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niceperson709
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| posted on 25/2/05 at 12:28 AM |
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Apart from finding the cash to buy the big ticket items I think the most important things are do somthing on your project on a regular bassis (daily
is best ) this keeps it away from the dreaded back burner and secondly don't use a ROLLS ROYCE SOLUTION TO A FORD PROBLEM, in other words keep
it simple an elegant.
best wishes
Iain
Best wishes IAIN
life is not the rehearsal , it's the show so don't sit there thinking about it DO IT NOW
http://iainseven.wordpress.com/
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Steve&Steve
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| posted on 25/2/05 at 12:56 AM |
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The most annoying question in the world: How long is it going to take you?
People don't seem to understand that I don't care, it will take as long as it takes! I think if people are ONLY building thier car to get
the end result they are missing out on the real fun. I'm having a go because I like doing it, I like finding out how stuff works and solving
problems (of which there will be many!).
I have hardly done anything yet but my friends have noticed i've cheered up over the last few months. Thats because i've got a great new
hobby which means i'm never without something to do, but neither do I have to do anything if I dont feel like it.
My project is my 'back burner' that's the nature of a hobby as far as I see it.
Whatever your building enjoy it, Steve.
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kb58
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| posted on 25/2/05 at 02:17 AM |
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My brother built an airplane in one year, because he worked on it every day. I just can't work that way. For me, all I get is Sunday
afternoon, one reason why it's taken me nine years!
BUT, doing it all over again, I still wouldn't work on it every day because it would consume too much family time. Life is all about balance,
and while I could force myself to work on it every day, it wouldn't be fun; it would be a job. Working 8hrs every day at my day job, commuting
taking another 90 minutes, eating, sleeping, cleaning, it doesn't leave much time if I'm to give the family attention too.
For me, it simply stops being fun to work on it several hours a day, at least for me. In fact for my style of work, I like to work on it for hours at
a time or not at all, not for just a little while at a time.
Mid-engine Locost - http://www.midlana.com
And the book - http://www.lulu.com/shop/kurt-bilinski/midlana/paperback/product-21330662.html
Kimini - a tube-frame, carbon shell, Honda Prelude VTEC mid-engine Mini: http://www.kimini.com
And its book -
http://www.lulu.com/shop/kurt-bilinski/kimini-how-to-design-and-build-a-mid-engine-sports-car-from-scratch/paperback/product-4858803.html
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Benzine
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| posted on 25/2/05 at 03:17 AM |
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quote:
Originally posted by Steve&Steve
The most annoying question in the world: How long is it going to take you?
Yes! It seems that is the only question I am ever asked  I'm at uni so much I barely get any time back home to work on the car  But 2
weeks at easter is good 
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niceperson709
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| posted on 25/2/05 at 03:35 AM |
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"For me, it simply stops being fun to work on it several hours a day, at least for me. In fact for my style of work, I like to work on it for
hours at a time or not at all, not for just a little while at a time."
Fortunately I do not have to work away from home as I am in the first instance a carer for my children so my do a bit every day stratergy works for me
. I have perused your website Mr KB58 and I am impressed by your project with no road map you have created an awsome car . But i am willing to bet
that even if you don't get in the shop everyday that you ARE working on it in your head , solving the myriad design issues . Any scratch builder
knows it is not just a matter of nose to the grinding wheel the little details that kit builders don't even think about need to be nutted out .
ten minuites of Grinding/ cutting/ drilling/ welding needs hours of thought/ design /research/ inspiration. I bet that you do a lot of that on your 90
minuites of comuting
best wishes
Iain
Best wishes IAIN
life is not the rehearsal , it's the show so don't sit there thinking about it DO IT NOW
http://iainseven.wordpress.com/
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kb58
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| posted on 25/2/05 at 03:59 AM |
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You got that right! My wife would definitely agree...
It's a constant background "companion", and if there isn't something more pressing getting my attention, yes, I'm
thinking about it almost all the time. By the time "work time" comes around I have a pretty good idea of what to do or how to solve the
current issue.
Mid-engine Locost - http://www.midlana.com
And the book - http://www.lulu.com/shop/kurt-bilinski/midlana/paperback/product-21330662.html
Kimini - a tube-frame, carbon shell, Honda Prelude VTEC mid-engine Mini: http://www.kimini.com
And its book -
http://www.lulu.com/shop/kurt-bilinski/kimini-how-to-design-and-build-a-mid-engine-sports-car-from-scratch/paperback/product-4858803.html
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marktigere1
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| posted on 25/2/05 at 08:51 AM |
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I must admit my project has ground to a halt at the moment due to a house move and a distict lack of funds.
My interest in building a car I hope will never die so if it takes till the year after the year after the year after next, so what!!!
Its my car.
Cheers
Mark
PS. I admire anyone who works on a project for nine years and still enjoys it. Well done Kb58 !!
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David Jenkins
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| posted on 25/2/05 at 08:55 AM |
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I started my car in 1997, had little more than a rolling chassis in 2003, then really knuckled down to get it completed by 2004.
But as Steve said - the building is a major part of the fun, having to learn loads of new stuff and apply it to chunks of metal.
My wife was very philosophical about it - if I'd played golf it would probably have cost more over 7 years, and at least she always knew where I
was!
David
[Edited on 25/2/05 by David Jenkins]
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splitrivet
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| posted on 25/2/05 at 09:54 AM |
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I started in 1996/7, so long ago I cant remember which now,though I did nothing on it for 7 years mainly because at that time the cheapest shockers I
could find were £500 and a raft of other things took my interest.
The main thing that rekindled my interest was this forum.
Besides its a hobby a hobby should be enjoyable when its a chore and you have to do things they are no longer enjoyable.
Just my 2p's worth.
Cheers,
Bob
I used to be a Werewolf but I'm alright nowwoooooooooooooo
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clbarclay
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| posted on 25/2/05 at 11:59 AM |
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I only started building in early jan, though I have been planning since june 04.
Want to get a move on though because my last car became un econmoical to bother with MOTing it. It only got through its last MOT because the tester
found an open packet of wine gums on the back seat when cheacking seat belts.
Estemated time to complete the car has gone up though since I found this forum.
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Aloupol
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| posted on 25/2/05 at 01:11 PM |
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It's intermittent for me. Sometimes it takes all my leisure time, sometimes (as now) I don't realy work on it.
But even in breaks I think I'm "working" on it all the time, including sleeping, solving a lot of little things.
I'm not able to say when it did start, seems I've been thinking of building a car since the mother's belly...
The true design phase began last year, I hope to finish it and drive it one day, impossible to say when.
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Dale
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| posted on 25/2/05 at 01:27 PM |
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If I get 2 hours a week to work on mine I consider that reasonably good. I bought my donor car in the summer of 2003 and started construction in
that Oct. My goal was this spring but I will lucky to get it done by next spring- Aside from ending up with a nice toy it has been a very much
needed distration from reality of day to day grind. The process is rewarding as a hobby but it if had to be done it would be a hell of a job opposed
to a fun thing to do--Also gives me a chance to introduce my little boys to alot of skills that my father taught me.
Dale
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Bob C
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| posted on 25/2/05 at 01:27 PM |
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My project plan is:
1) keep making bits
2) when no more bits left to make, get it SVA'd
3) start making the plane/hovercraft/V8 whatever....
I find I don't want to work when it's dark so winter's a bad time for real progress, but I have been making CAD models of stuff - so
when I build 'em for real they should fit!
On my first car I was held back by funds but this one is down to my time (lack thereof) and sourcing raw materials.
As everyone says, you learn so much useless gen.... I'm sure I'm a terrible bore now!! (like I wasn't always....)
Bob
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Mave
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| posted on 25/2/05 at 04:20 PM |
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The reason why I'd like to see it finished is partly because it is very difficult in Holland to get it on the road (we have to the UK, get it
SVA-ed and registered, import it back to Holland, pay import duties on it, have it tested in Holland again). Rules change, and for sure they
won't change for the best; it will only get more difficult.
That's why I'm hoping to finish it soon. And of course, I'd like to drive it. I've never driven a Seven before, so for all I
know I could hate it!
My deadlines always slide, so I should call them goals. But I definately love the hobby, and am already looking forward to the next
kitcar-project!!!!!
Marcel
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David Jenkins
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| posted on 25/2/05 at 04:33 PM |
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If you fancy a holiday you can drive a Caterham at Silverstone! It's expensive, as you have to pay over £100 for the opportunity to drive 10
laps round the track...
...I did it in a warmed-up Peugeot 306GTi - you don't realise how big that track is until you drive on it (even though you're limited to
half the track). I was doing well over 100mph heading for a big corner, when a British Touring car doing public rides passed me - I felt like getting
out and walking!
David
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dern
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| posted on 25/2/05 at 10:08 PM |
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I find it very difficult to think that far ahead. I try and take into account where other jobs will be affected by the one I'm doing but if I
try and think of the project as a whole it gets a bit overwhelming. I set myself little goals that would take maybe a couple of nights and continue in
that fashion.
Mark
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Miller
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| posted on 27/2/05 at 03:46 AM |
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This summer will be my second year and I hope to complete it by then. To my friends 2 years is a long time to be devoted towards one goal but to me
its a whole series of mini challenges that require special attention and a huge deal of research. Ive researched and read many books about my project
and I bet 10min in the shop really equates to 3hours in a book. As far as deadlines go I like to have a set time in wich id like to get my car done.
Usually "before summer" is the goal for any project at any given time unless its the summer then the answer is "by the end of
winter."
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Danozeman
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| posted on 27/2/05 at 09:20 AM |
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Im building mine for fun with what i hope to be an excellent outcome. I only got my chassis yesterday and have shed loads of bits. Id love to have
it completed for on the road next summer. As its for fun and interest the time taken to build it doesnt really come into it.. Also i started
building my chassis 4 years ago and gave up due to building it outside. I dont plan on spending every night doing it as i like spending time with my
wife of 6 months. (although she could come outside and help.)
Dan
Built the purple peril!! Let the modifications begin!!
http://www.eastangliankitcars.co.uk
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