Airfix.
As a boy, I was forever making model kits. Planes, boats, cars – you name it. My favourite ( and one I’ve still got) was a super VC10, given to me by the CEO of BOAC back in the sixties. It was made by FROG and has flashing lights at the wingtips, tail fin etc.
These days the lights would be diodes – but this model has bulbs in the body of the plane, and long clear plasitc filaments which take the light to the wingtips , tail and so on. Somewhat like fibre-optics .
So, why am I rabbiting on about plastic kits – well, you don’t get very far without a decent sheet of instructions. And that’s just what you need for rebuilding Aston Martins too.
I am fortunate to have both the factory workshop manual and the parts catalogue for the V8, and a complete car in Malcolm’s garage to compare with.
This week I have taken the advice of my friend Richard from the AMOC and sat down with the parts catalogue and an Excel spreadsheet and have listed every nut, bolt, washer etc etc by size, shape and by area of the car – and the numbers needed. I will now take this list to the nut and bolt shop and so have all new, fully identifiable sets of fixings.