Not a master mechanic

[Robert Atkinson 2Participant @robertatkinson2]

Just found a TV program called "Ant Anstead Master Mechanic".

Premise is that ANT (formerly of wheeler-dealers) is buliding a replica Alfa Romeo 158 based on Spider bits. That's fine but the techniques and explanations Anr gives are just plain wrong,
Latest one was tha sliding joit in the drive shaft. which apparently allows for any movement in the engine and gearbox and makes it easier to get the shaft in. No mention of allowing the live axle to go up and down!

And lots of work just appears altready done as if by magic. It's so bad I have to watch it. For a contrast on how to do a special search for "Project Binky" on you tube and prepare to spend a few hours watching it.

Robert G8RPI.

[Robert Atkinson 2Participant @robertatkinson2]

[Ady1Participant @ady1]

I found him quite interesting on wheeler dealers, he did a lot of next level stuff you never saw Ed do

…even though Ed is one of my heroes

[HOWARDTParticipant @howardt]

I find that annoying when you want to see how something is done, when they say what they are going to do then voila done. It is worst than those who show the whole thing with every move, at least then you can fast forward to skip to the next interesting bit. I have watched pieces of some YouTube machinists where they show every tenth of a millimetre cut, when all I am interested in is the setup, perhaps one cut then the final result. Yes I prefer Ed as well.

[Dave HalfordParticipant @davehalford22513]

But then Ed had Paul to do the donkey work, which is probably how the Lotus Elan suspension got fixed on screen while the disc brake heap of corrosion was ignored and magically fixed by the fairies for the sale.

The E type front end repair is another fudge, fitted in primer it'll rust faster than the factory finish ever would. Just don't go out in the rain!

8 weeks of build does not condense into 8hours of programming very well and I guess that applies to all TV shows.

[JasonBModerator @jasonb]

I think it's as much MG based as Alfa which has only donated the engine, gearbox and rear axle, chassis and front end is MG. It's also a lookalike not a replica and he's not saying it is a replica just inspired by the look.

Binky and their other projects are good and I also like the ones by Retropower who do some very good work. The Gordon Murray Mk1 Escort series is worth a watch if you have a day to waste.

[Dave HalfordParticipant @davehalford22513]

Jason,

Followed your link, but got distracted by the drag boats on the righthand side.

[noel shelleyParticipant @noelshelley55608]

What would the teams on Scrapheap challenge do if it wasn't for the tame "expert" and the planted parts to do the challenge . The 2 steam powered cars ! 2 boilers complete with all their fittings AND they just happened to have indate certs with them – YEA !

Or the agricultural engine that was built up in a matter of days, they forgot to mention the weeks and months of prep and work done beforehand ! I gave up watching such things years ago – it just annoyed me that the public were lead to believe that it was all SO easy. Noel

[Robert Atkinson 2Participant @robertatkinson2]

The early ScrapHeap was good as they had a free and and real scrap. They did get told off by the CAA for making a aircraft and flying it though

There was one where they made midget submarines out of aircraft external fuel "drop" tanks. Lots of cutting with angle grinders with dust etc. No masks. Unfortunatly the tanks, used on Hunters, were not the presumed glass-fibre composite, but asbestos phenolic composite. I did email the productino company when it aired but obviously too late by then to do much. I got no reply.

There were concerns over the Shoreham Hunter crash as it was not realised that the tanks were asbestos until much later.

Edited By Robert Atkinson 2 on 04/09/2021 16:06:54

[Howard LewisParticipant @howardlewis46836]

Like so many programmes of this type, they are intended to strike shock and awe into the unknowledgeable.

As Robert says, using angle grinders on unsuitable materials, without taking the proper precautions.

What would they say about many of us, "Making seals against steam under pressure", or artight,," working to less than the thickness of a human hair".

Would the programme makers understand "Excreta Tauri cerebrum vincit"?

Howard

[Nick WheelerParticipant @nickwheeler]

Posted by HOWARDT on 04/09/2021 13:23:59:

I find that annoying when you want to see how something is done, when they say what they are going to do then voila done. It is worst than those who show the whole thing with every move, at least then you can fast forward to skip to the next interesting bit. I have watched pieces of some YouTube machinists where they show every tenth of a millimetre cut, when all I am interested in is the setup, perhaps one cut then the final result. Yes I prefer Ed as well.

Just how many times can you watch someone working a ball of grease into a bearing, welding a seam or prying a suspension arm down to engage a ball joint? Once is enough for me, and I'm interested in the work. They're never going to show the hours of tedious work checking, removing, filing, adjusting, rechecking etc to fit an E-type bonnet(or any other panel) as nobody is going to watch it. Whereas warming up a door hinge and tweaking it back into alignment against a hefty block of wood might merit a minute of screen time. Once.

People who know how to do this stuff are not the intended audience for such shows; they're for Uncle Cyril who has been talking about restoring the MG that's been abandoned in his garage for the last 30 years after it finally failed an MOT.

It's not as if watching someone on the telly block sanding a panel several times to get it ready for paint, or producing a part to within a couple of microns on all dimensions will actually teach you how to do it, all you're getting is a basic demonstration.

The fake costs are the the bit that annoy me most about Wheeler Dealers, which is a show I should have presented – I have government paperwork proving that

[Ady1Participant @ady1]

Posted by JasonB on 04/09/2021 13:44:49:

I think it's as much MG based as Alfa

Reminded me of the old Alfa Romeo Nissan Cherry…..

…..I actually thought about buying one

oh yes

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