Stretching along the bottom edge reduced the radius and it now follows the window template sitting underneath.

 

Also fixed the gutter line profile at the same time showing both were cut and folded correctly in relation to each other.

 

Yet one more dimension to check before moving onto the next fold. This is the only fold that is not a compound one and needs to be perfectly straight along the back of it as the inner window frame, which holds the runner for the flat glass, sits against it and inside pinch weld seal. As usual, the tipping on a curve has induced an additional curve in the other plane where didn't want one!

 

To straighten it, it has to be stretched right along the tipped fold line, well out of reach of the stretcher. Rather than trying to hammer all the way along evenly, I tilted the lower flat anvil/roller by putting a shim under one side of the axle. This will allow me to stretch right at the fold on the edge, rather than right across the whole flat surface of the anvil.

 

I did most of the stretching right along the fold and slowly decreased the amount of passes working away from it. It brought the piece straight again without affecting the profile of the gutter and window lines.

 

Now finally I can do the next fold which will turn the flange vertically again. This fold has to be flush at the B pillar width but 8mm-5/16" in at the C pillar, as that Hinge pillar does not have an outside seal there. This profile will follow the body template, but will need to also follow the gutter line template once tipped as well.

 

With the piece upside down in this shot, you can see how follows the body profile, it was then also made to follow the gutter line in the other direction, using the shrinker/stretcher.

 

Last fold was to tip it one more time to go back over the top of the doors finally with a 5mm-5/16" gap above tham! As soon as I did though it removed all the arc I had put into it to follow the gutter line after the last fold! Drew about 8mm-5/16 out in the middle. Cannot use a shrinker/stretcher to get this back either as the last fold prevents that.

 

So I used my trick of using the tig as a focused controlled heat source along the opposite fold which will make it shrink as it cools naturally after first expending while hot. A few places I went too slow and over shrunk it, so either stretched that heat line a bit or shrank it on the opposite side to pull it back some. Now it follows the template once again.

 

I then could mitre the corners to fit it in place for a test fit against the main gutter line template that I have clamped in position. I noticed it wasn't following the template along the top like it should though, (out of view in this shot).

 

Placed the two halves of the same template back against each other only to discover the thinner one that I had been doing all the corrections against, had changed shape in the moist air we been having recently!

 

So back to heating and shrinking, or stretching over a stake with a hammer until both folds of the gutter line followed the wide template! Of coarse in doing so it often affected the curve in the other direction too, so that had to be kept in check as well. Now you can see where a simple looking piece can take so damn long, and this is only the first of eight of them, as each outer piece has an inner one that backs against it above each door as well.

 

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