The Ottotest is here!

After some wait I have recieved my new scantool. The Ottotest by Blue Streak electronics. I have been using the Blue Streak BDM scanner and have been quite happy. I actually got a chance to test drive this scanner last May and was really not impressed. Since then Blue Streak has done a ton of updating and I have been monitoring the updates. I feel confident that this tool by far will be the best "bang for the buck" scanner. The shortfalls of this scanner is it's European specific coverage. Since I really don't delve into European diagnostics that much, save the ocassional Volkswagen this fits my needs perfectly. The upsides are many. One being that this is also a J-2534 tool which will allow me to flash vehicles.

The scanner consists of a VCI that plugs into the data link and a tablet PC. You can connect the two via usb or wifi wireless. It is updated via the internet along with online feedback from user to engineers to make the tool better. I always like to test new equipment on my own vehicles and get comfortable with them before using them out in the field. I really don't want to learn the tool thoroughly when it is on someone else's dime. Some of the highlights with this unit is it's ability to configure GM Body Control Modules. No other tool other than the GM Tech2 will do this.  Another nice feature is DTC health check. This is where it will scan all the modules in a vehicle and report if there any codes and also clear all in one step. I am sure there will be a steep learning curve here. It is a Windows based operating system that uses a touch stylus so I am not totally clueless. I had a little problem setting up the wifi and customer service was very helpful and got me going.
In the coming weeks I hope to show some the highlights of this tool. 

1989 Toyota Camry

This comes from one of my best customers I will call him Mr. H. Customer complaint is battery goes dead after a couple of days. A new battery and a new alternator has already been installed. So lets do some testing.

A quick check of the charging system tells me no issues here.
Lets check for a drain properly with an ammeter in series with one of the battery cables.

Here we have a 121 milliamp drain. After letting it time out for 20 minutes it stayed the same. Time to put our thinking caps on. I am fairly famaliar with these vehicles. I worked on enough of them throughout the years. Experience has taught me that this type of drain is in memory circuits. Likely suspects are the factory clock and the radio. Over time these circuits draw more than when they were brand new. So we pull the Cig fuse in the interior fuse panel that powers the cigarette lighter and the clock.

Now we are getting somewhere. Rule of thumb on drains is 50 milliamps or less. We are at 40 milliamps here. Acceptable, but a car this age it should be lower. So I pull the radio memory fuse and.........

17 milliamps. That is more like it. I advise Mr. H about what I found. We agree leave the cig fuse out and keep the radio fuse in. This way they can still enjoy their tunes.
A little knowledge goes a long way with these problems. Having dealt with these cars over the years you kind of get a feel for them......

Great Western Auto Jumble 2011 Report

Otto Walker Board Track Racer

(Oil on Board)

Currently for sale Contact me for sales mrtnsquires@googlemail.com

Prints are also available to order.

'32 dry lake racer

oil on board (work in progress)

This piece was done as a demonstration piece over the weekend. Based on a photo graph from the Don Montgomery Scrapbook.

A few more hours and it will be done.

Roy Clarke's Replica of his 50's F1 Stock Car

(as seen in the Audi advert)

Roy Clarke was at the show and was definitely a Stock Car addict and a lovely guy to boot.

After chatting with him about heritage stock car racing I'm going to make every effort to try and make it to one of the BRISCA Heritage Race meets this year. For more info on Heritage Stock Car Racing please visit this website:

http://www.briscaf1heritage.com/

Roy Clarke's Replica of his F2 Stock Car.

Currently driven by his son Darren Clarke.

The ford display also had a nice range of old fords as well as newer stuff.

A nice little show all round.

The Footman James 2nd Great Western Autojumble Saturday 12th & Sunday 13th February 2011

I will be displaying work and running a painting demonstration this coming weekend (Saturday 12th & Sunday 13th February 2011) at The Footman James 2nd Great Western Autojumble:

Stall 28

Royal Bath and West Showground BA4 6QN

Open 9.30 - 4.00 each day

On sale will be original artwork as well as prints and postcards. 10% discount will also be offered on commissions taken on the day.

The show’s centrepiece is a special display in the main hall, focusing on 100 years of Ford. It will feature some 20 clubs, showing more than 50 Fords; from an early Model T through to Fiestas and a GT40 replica.

More info can bee seen here:

http://www.bccsl.co.uk/

More Dry Lake Racer Studies

Ken Lindley (Lancers) modified 1946

Water Colour Study on Bristol Board

Ken Lindley (Lancers) modified 1946. Earned 4th Place in the SCTA Individual Points Championship while recording a 128.93mph. The Racecar grill is from a 1936 Pontaic.

Esau Thun's (Albata) 1932 pre war roadster in 1941

Water Colour Study on Bristol Board

Esau Thun's (Albata) 1932 pre war roadster in 1941. A Good example of the pre war roadster stance.

Both studies are based upon original photos from Don Montgomery's "Old Hot Rods Scrapbook"

www.montgomeryhotrodbooks.com

Water colour studies of early dry lake racers

Watercolour on Bristol Board

In 1938 Ernie McAfee (90 MPH Club) recorded the fastest speed at an SCTA meet at 137.41 mph. It had a Winifield flathead on a four cylinder Ford engine.

Watercolour on Bristol Board

Here is Charles Beck's (Centuries Streamliner..With Four-cylinder power the little streamliner took first place at the August 1942 SCTA meet with a 131.96 mph speed. Note the wheel covers from a World War I Jenny Airplane.

Here are two quick watercolour studies based on photographs taken from the Don Montgomery book "Old Hot Rods Scrap Book"

More info on Dons amazing books can be seen at his site:
www.montgomeryhotrodbooks.com

2010 Catalogue

I'm please to announce that my 2010 catalogue is now available to view and download here:

http://www.scribd.com/doc/44599067

It features all my currently available artwork and prints, as well as highlights of this years commissions and the commission price list. So if your stuck for an original Christmas present or even just fancy treating yourself you might find what your looking for in the catalogue. If you don't find what you want why not order a commission.

Go on it's Christmas!!