Re: How'd they do it?

Posted by HH56 On 2014/4/4 11:53:20

Wasn't there an article or poster who mentioned the probable use of Kirksite for low volume stamping dies. If so, those would have been cheap to make -- essentially a low melting point alloy that hardens to something like steel.

Don't know a whole lot about casting but imagine they could have made a single oversized hood out of steel or wood to account for any shrinkage and either done a couple of sand castings to make the final form for the Kirksite or maybe being low melting point even poured directly over the steel. Sand was obviously a method of choice since some of the bronze pieces appear to be sand castings.

Once they had that pattern and the form done the Kirksite could be poured and finished off smooth for the stamping die and if it didn't hold up very long, another one made.

I am curious about how they did the longer quarter panels. Articles I've read would seem to indicate it was some sort of metal stretching operation to add the 5 inches in the middle. I believe some modern panel forming is done that way so was Packard so much ahead of the time?