So that I understood the criteria for 3D scanning, I popped up the road to a company who I thought might be able to scan the half model, mirror the image so that the two sides of the car would be identical, then produce the .dxf files for the CNC router to whizz out the profiles to form the buck. It turned out that this was child's-play and what wasn't possible, hadn't yet been thought of. Scanning capability was as fine as 1 micron, possibly smaller, which meant that new 'old' parts - dents, burrs and scratches included - could be digitized and reproduced in perfect detail; even broken parts could be digitally rebuilt. An interesting extension to this idea was that a complete 3D scan of a rare vehicle would ensure that, after it had been reversed into the gate post, the information to return the damaged area to its original form, would be always available.

As the sun was out, a jolly down the road in this oily-rag 3.5 Jaguar was a treat. Back in the early 60's, I remember 'next-door' often took us to school in a Mk 9; despite the voluminous body, it was a squeeze for 4 children in the back seat.

I'm happier with the front of the model now - just a hint of sharpness on the crown of the wing. It's easy to forget whilst carving away, that the wheel has got to have room to turn inside the wing.

There's still some work to be done sorting out the back - I'm gradually thinning everything down, again bearing in mind the suspension travel.

Following the delivery of a box of shiny bits, there was a bit of fun with Awkward's Mini engine over the weekend. The new ring gear was popped in the wood burner for 15 mins, after which it slipped easily onto the flywheel.

The engine has had a hard life, evidenced by this self-machined keyway extension in the cam sprocket....

... and the pushrods hammering away at the rockers. New oil and water pumps, layshaft gears and rings will see it back to its former self.

Then there's a new mainshaft to be fitted to this Morgan gearbox. The old mainshaft has been out of true maybe since it was built - we couldn't think how it might have been bent other than in the manufacturing process; post machining heat treatment?

I took delivery of this piece of railway line - something no self-respecting panel-beater should be without, I understand. With a bit of cleaning up, it'll be perfect for those jobs where you need a bit of, er, railway line.

And this is what I'm thinking about for one of my Morris Six engines - a Mercedes supercharger. With a Ford T9 5-speed gearbox (acquired in exchange for a couple of aero screens) that set-up should make the Special a good touring car, but with a bit of punch in reserve. I was looking at the cost of bits for the TD21 engine - a rebuild is potentially bankrupting; a set of shells at over £500 is enough to make your eyes water.