longyard
06-14-2012, 08:46 AM
I just got home from taking Wray's 3 day course in Connecticut. Wow! I learned a lot from a real artist-craftsman. Wray's shop is a wonderland in itself and fortunately he has duplicates of most of his heavy tools so that multiple students can work on their skills, or projects, at the same time.
We students learned the "Wray Schelin Method" of panel development which I found easy to understand, and very logical. Using it, a student can create panels in a predictable, repeatable way. One of the students built an EXACT replica of a Harley Sportster tank during the course and welded it together the last day. It wasn't a "free form" Jesse James or Paul, Jr. kinda close sorta tank, but an EXACT replica. Wray's "area and arrangement" concept works every time.
The Pro Shaper shop is full of a variety of classic cars he's working on, including a Mercedes 500K Special, a Rolls-Royce boat tail, and a 1940 Graham. Those cars reminded me of a skeleton hanging up in a medical school's anatomy class-- when the students get stumped go over and look at how the real thing is put together!
I learned so much in a short time and I gained a lot of confidence to continue with my own projects. I now know the difference between "amateur" quality and PROFESSIONAL quality... and how to achieve it.
I've been a metal working video buyer over the years, but nothing beats hands-on instruction. I hope to take Wray' classic car body course in the future.
We students learned the "Wray Schelin Method" of panel development which I found easy to understand, and very logical. Using it, a student can create panels in a predictable, repeatable way. One of the students built an EXACT replica of a Harley Sportster tank during the course and welded it together the last day. It wasn't a "free form" Jesse James or Paul, Jr. kinda close sorta tank, but an EXACT replica. Wray's "area and arrangement" concept works every time.
The Pro Shaper shop is full of a variety of classic cars he's working on, including a Mercedes 500K Special, a Rolls-Royce boat tail, and a 1940 Graham. Those cars reminded me of a skeleton hanging up in a medical school's anatomy class-- when the students get stumped go over and look at how the real thing is put together!
I learned so much in a short time and I gained a lot of confidence to continue with my own projects. I now know the difference between "amateur" quality and PROFESSIONAL quality... and how to achieve it.
I've been a metal working video buyer over the years, but nothing beats hands-on instruction. I hope to take Wray' classic car body course in the future.