nigelpugh Posted July 21, 2016 Share Posted July 21, 2016 If your like me, you probably look here more than chitchat, but Daniel French has posted this, so I'm a,so posting it here too.http://uk.caterhamcars.com/sites/default/files/content/assembly_guide_beta_v1.0.pdf Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John Vine Posted July 21, 2016 Share Posted July 21, 2016 Very interesting, and thanks for posting.That's a most imaginative approach. Someone's clearly been to IKEA! When the Beta version is complete, it would be interesting to compare build time for old vs new guides (a sort of usability test).One big bonus is likely to be the ease with which foreign-language versions can be produced (assuming that's the plan).JV Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stridey Posted July 21, 2016 Share Posted July 21, 2016 The importance of a good manual should not be underestimated, I worked for a company in the TV graphics field that won awards for the clarity of their manuals. If your dropping big bucks on stuff the manual is a great selling tool. Caterham need to be congratulated. It looks fab.Mind you, I like the IKEA style ones too. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dorset7 Posted July 22, 2016 Share Posted July 22, 2016 Nigel,It's very well produced and looks like it'll be simple to follow - I hope it reduces the "I've built it wrongly but it's CC fault" complaints we've seen recently on other forums. Might also reduce the delays new builders face on the post build check where so much has to be rectified before IVA (again as we've seen so graphically lately). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mikeo996 Posted July 22, 2016 Share Posted July 22, 2016 Maybe I've built too many IKEA products, but that looks a massive improvement to me; to the point that I almost feel like I could be brave enough to give it a go.If only I had the confidence that, like IKEA, you'd always get the right number of bits and that they would slot together properly. But that's a bit mealy mouthed, it's a big step forwards. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ICJason Posted July 22, 2016 Share Posted July 22, 2016 This looks great! Compared to the current one...Anybody in the know have an ETA for it? My kit is due November so would be amazing! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nigelpugh Posted July 22, 2016 Author Share Posted July 22, 2016 I should reckon you will have access to the full and complete build manual by November, so you will be well sorted for your new build with a shiny new fresh off the press manual too!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Smiffy69 Posted July 25, 2016 Share Posted July 25, 2016 Agreed it looks very good. However, maybe it needs more info in the top tips bit of just general description for each stage. For example in the "old" manual when fitting the track rod ends it would give guidance to how many turns you should apply when fitting these to get a basic setup. Maybe this will come in the V1 release ?When I built mine I found the existing manual perfectly OK for the bits it covered.... the tricky bit was those it did not (No info on how to set up the cooling pipework which was solved by an emailed hand drawn diagram from CC ) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ScottR400D Posted July 25, 2016 Share Posted July 25, 2016 "When I built mine I found the existing manual perfectly OK for the bits it covered.... the tricky bit was those it did not (No info on how to set up the cooling pipework which was solved by an emailed hand drawn diagram from CC ) "I would agree with this. In the case of the cooling, I figured it out, did my own drawing which I scanned and mailed to CC for approval! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tjuniper Posted July 25, 2016 Share Posted July 25, 2016 Wow! I built a 270 R from Sept 2015 to March 2016 and I must admit I found the current manual lacking in many respects. I distinctly remember reading the very first section many times over with my Dad to try and ensure we were putting the spacing washers in correctly - especially when they were a tight fit and as the first job your worried about hurting your pride and joy. This would be a huge improvement, remove much of the doubt and really clarify things. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mucus72 Posted July 25, 2016 Share Posted July 25, 2016 I'm still in build mode at the moment, nearing completion. A lot of me wishes I had access to this IKEA style guide before I started, but a bit of me doesn't. You see I'm already getting that rose tinted spectacles feel about all of the trials and tribulations along the way. It may seem like a weird thing to say, but with each sub-assembly made around twice as hard by having to decipher gibberish, not be able to get hold of Derek, or even reviewing 3 differing views on other build blogs, I fear a little satisfaction and emotional attachment to each sodding bolt will be taken away ;)Before I started the build I was so nervous that I may be left with the odd random bolt and not know where it was missing from. As I exit the build I have so many bolts/washers/nuts left with a little bit of extra spend on some body panels, I think I have all the parts needed to build an Aero7. I fear these new improvements have something to do with Brexit. Bring back complexity and red tape. I was happier there. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Smiffy69 Posted July 26, 2016 Share Posted July 26, 2016 @ScottR400D - maybe they sent me your Drawing ! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paul McKenzie Posted July 27, 2016 Share Posted July 27, 2016 When I built mine in '96, I went down to Dartford and had a tour into the back . I asked one of the fitters about a particular part of the assembly that I'd found tricky and referred to the page in the build manual.His reply 'No idea mate, we all build 'em differently, and none of us use the manual' Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The_ASH Posted July 28, 2016 Share Posted July 28, 2016 A great improvement over the old format, reminds me a lot of the Tamiya r/c car kit build manuals. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nigelpugh Posted July 28, 2016 Author Share Posted July 28, 2016 Great feedback so far, thanks for all the comments.I shall be feeding this info back to Simon at CC, so is there any other comments, or specific requests that anyone would like me to pass on?Thanks in advance. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gloucestershire AR Posted July 28, 2016 Share Posted July 28, 2016 Looks very good. I've not proofread it (we do this professionally so I can't resist usually!) but one minor spot - should be let's (short for 'let us') not lets in the headings please.Can't wait to read the whole thing. Well done CC.Andy Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mucus72 Posted July 28, 2016 Share Posted July 28, 2016 Feedback For Caterham Nigel - one of the current challenges is presenting engine sections for each variation and it's not quite right. They really need to think about ensuring that it's easy to understand which section is for each car variant. Also here are plenty of things that are not even in the build guide currently. Off the top of my head things like 420R oil catch tank extra hole drilled. Or how about remembering to mention that you have to earth the water submarine! Derek must be bored being skied the same stuff over and over again. I would ensure the top 10 things he gets repetitively asked are all in the guide as the tips, a bit like those tip bubbles in the beta excerpt. They would be better integrated into each section, not as a floating few pages up front. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AndrewB Posted July 29, 2016 Share Posted July 29, 2016 I wonder if they could have a simple tick list on the download section where you pick your car (e.g. SV or not), engine (e.g. 360 or 620) and any extras (e.g. spare wheel rack or quick release wheel) and it compiles a single pdf specific to your build. Regardless of the above, the new guide looks fantastic. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ballisticsupersport Posted July 31, 2016 Share Posted July 31, 2016 That looks so much clearer than the old manual. Great to see this sort of investment, well done CC.Makes me want to build another one...Tom Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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