Hemisfear Build

Hemisfear Wrap Up

2007-02-01T12:41:00.000-08:00

Check out the video of the unveiling from SEMA 2006 Featuring Chip Foose and Overhaulin's Chris Jacobs as well as JL Full Throttle's Eric Tscherne. Tscherne described the experience of unveiling Chip's dream machine at an event as large as SEMA as, "amazing, simply amazing". Since SEMA is a closed to the public event, the JLFT Team shot this killer video:

It's Over!

2006-11-08T14:10:00.000-08:00

SEMA was a blast! The JL Full Throttle Hemisfear by Foose Design was a huge hit! The car was probably the single biggest piece of news coming out of the show! We were very privileged to have been a part of it and to help Chip realize his dream of building the ultimate Muscle Car meets Hot Rod with super car technology.

It took over a year for us to get from the stages of talking about it to doing it both in diecast and in full-scale. Chip and the team at Metal Crafters continually allowed us access to the car as it evolved from paper to production. Bill Buma kept us up to date with any major changes as we had started the diecast in November of last year. In order to have the diecast on hand at the show we had to work from sketches and an old quarter scale model Chip had built.

Chip, not satisfied to simply build his original concept from the 90’s, continually revised and improved on the design of the full size car challenging the Full Throttle Design Team and their RC2 counterparts in HK/China to also continually improve the diecast. You’ll see super high tech tail lights and headlights that become jewels for this timeless body shape. You’ll also notice a new style grill that elegantly and aggressively finishes off the nose where a few years ago a simple billet grill might reside.

We had a blast building this super-rod with Chip. Hopefully we will be able to bring something equally as exciting to you next year. In the mea time look out for some of the latest cars from Foose to be miniaturized like is Overlord Ford F100 and a couple of the “other” SEMA cars that were on hand last week. –JLFT ET

Be sure to check out Toys R Us in the next few weeks. This is where the Launch Edition LRG JLFT Hemisfears by Foose, will be available first. There should be 2400 available by Thanksgiving/Dec. 1 or so. The lifesize Hemisfear will be on tour with Championship Autoshows and Mothers will be distributing a large number of the SEMA/Mothers exclusive SM scale models throughout next year. You never know though some might show up near you too.

It's finally Here! Scope out exclusive pics of the JL Full Throttle Hemisfear by Foose Design

2006-10-31T20:21:00.001-08:00

Las Vegas, Nv. (SEMA Show 2006) The JL Full Throttle Team and Chip Foose unveiled Chip's JL Full Throttle Hemisfear to a frenzied crowd. Media from all overthe world along with hundreds of Chip's fans were gathered to watch as Chip pulled the cover back on the JL Full Throttle Hemisfear. Flash bulbs popped and TV crews filmed as Chip Foose along with Chris Jacobs and JL Full Throttle's own Eric Tscherne talked to the crowd about the The Dream, The Concept and bringing them to life in 1 to 1 scale and in LRG and SM scales at the same time. Here are some pics from the show:

The JLFT Hemisfear gets a coat of paint.

2006-10-25T11:02:00.000-07:00

The JL Full Throttle Hemisfear is flying together. We stopped in on Monday to take some pictures while they painted it. We checked back in on Tuesday to take some measuerments for graphics and even more was done. The crew at Metal Crafters is working around the clock to get the car together and finished for SEMA. these guys are pros though so we have no worries. They have fabricated, built, and assembled some of the greatest show cars and concept cars ever built including the original Viper concept, Prowler concept, Copperhead concept and more.

At this stage you'll see that body prep is very importan. Primer is laid down over the body and is being sanded away. if you look closely you'll see a black stripe. it's actually carbon fiber left raw so that the carbon will show through as a graphic.

Here is when the basecoat was laid down. A Silver with a special metal flake is laid down on the body to serve as a base for a special kandy top coat. This style of painting adds depth and shine. It will also allow Chip to finely tune the exact Full Throttle Green we are after.
Here are just a couple shots of the car getting the Full Throttle Green treatment. We snapped these off before we were asked kindly to get out of the way. Time is very tight so we left before we did soemthing to slow the progress. Keep checking back to both the JLFT Hemisfear Build Blog and the JLFT Designer Blog for more info and updates live from SEMA. -JLFT ET

JLFT Hemisfear's One of a Kind Front Spindle!

2006-10-04T17:13:00.000-07:00

Join Leonard McLaughlin, owner of Alpine CNC in Laguna Hills, California as he takes us through the intricate process of building the Hemisfear's front spindles! Leonard has worked with Chip on a number of builds over the years and he is going "FULL BORE" to get these one-of-a-kind fabrications out the door!

Other than the major components of the engine and drive train, the JLFT Hemisfear is a ground-up build!

IS IT SNOWING ALREADY???

2006-09-27T16:32:00.000-07:00

Nope, that's not snow! It's actually tiny carbon fiber flakes floating in the air from nearby JLFT Hemisfear panel sanding! I couldn't see any "dust" and it took me a while to figure it out.

As you can see, the muscle-hot rod is really coming along and body is being prepped for assembly. The engine has to be mounted to the chassis. Check out the massive roof window - a perfect fit. One thing about 3D engineering, it enables the fit to have incredibly tight tolerances.

The pace is picking up and it's time to get out of the way of the builders!

Countdown to SEMA!:MetalCrafter's George Gaffaglio and crews go FULL THROTTLE!

2006-09-15T10:39:00.000-07:00

The countdown to the SEMA has begun! The heat is on for the crews of JLFT and MetalCrafters as we prepare for the co-launch of the actual JL FT Hemisfear and the diecast versions in SM and LRG scale! Hear George Gaffoglio, CEO of the super-secret, world-renowend concept autombile builder, MetalCrafters, talks about how his crew is building this amazing Foose car.
You'll see the the progress being made on the car and what Chip Foose has to say about the deadline!

Carbon Fiber to the Max!

2006-09-05T17:10:00.000-07:00

With the JL Full Throttle Hemisfear SEMA launch just eight weeks away, the crew at MetalCrafters is going FULL THROTTLE to be ready for the world premier unveiling. You'll see in next weeks photos how the fiber patterns match up in certain panels as they meet one another. Why? It's all about the design details - no matter how small - that Chip builds into his custom vehicles.

JLFT HEMISFEAR SUSPENSION: One on One with John Hotchkis!

2006-08-28T14:41:00.000-07:00

How do you control a 600 hp engine installed in a 2000 lb. hot rod? A well-designed suspension system is one of the keys! Learn how The Hotchkis Automotive group is creating the suspension for Foose’s JL FULL THROTTLE HEMISFEAR - soon to be unveiled at SEMA 2006! These suspension experts have the experience to make sure every foot-pound of torque that a big powerplant puts out will makes its way to the street!

Watch for the world premier unveiling of Foose’s latest creation in 1:1 scale and in the JLFT Diecast in SM and LRG collector scales at the 2006 SEMA Show in Las Vegas!

Foose & Overhaulin’ crew check out the latest from JL FULL THROTTLE

2006-08-13T10:38:00.000-07:00

Chip’s a real busy guy. But during a recent break from the Hemisfear build and an Overhaulin’ episode (sorry, I can’t tell you which car is being worked on… just yet), Foose and crew took the time to check out the latest from the JLFT line.

Talk about being under the microscope! The Overhaulin’ guys lived THROUGH the real deal and remember just about every detail from every Overhaulin’ car ever built! We were up for the challenge because guess what? WE’VE been on set for talking to the builders and taking plenty of photos to make sure our sculptors got the details right.

The result? Under their critical eye, we passed the test BIG TIME. The crew was psyched with the entire line of FOOSE DESIGN and the OVERHAULIN’ cars. All the memories and stories of the many long and sometimes 20-hour days came back to the crew as they held the diecast in their hands and rolled the cars on Foose’s worktable. These guys and women were truly touched by the moment….

Hey, it’s all in the details, and the Overhaulin’ team of builders has played a big part in getting those details RIGHT in the JLFT line!

Thanks team!

From the Ground Up: The building of the JL FULL THROTTLE Hemisfear designed by Chip Foose!

2006-07-28T16:02:00.000-07:00

While the 1:1 JL Full Throttle Hemisfear comes together, our team is working with Foose AND Metalcrafters in creating the JL Full Throttle Collector Diecast of this AWESOME ride! We're posting the progress we've filmed on location at super-secret Metalcrafters in Fountain Valley, CA.

There, Foose's sketches are being turned into 3D computer files from the wheels up to create just about every part - other than the engine and transaxle - for the various partners to manufacture. It's an amazing build and the JLFT is in the thick of it to bring you the JLFT Hemisfear in both Small and Large collector scales. Look for them at your nearest retailer in Noivember, 2006!

JLFT Hemisfear Suspension Notes....

2006-07-17T17:30:00.000-07:00

7/13/6

John Hotchkis, owner of Hotchkis Performance, and his two engineers are creating the Hemisfear’s high-performance suspension. The front and rear suspension is based on an A-ARM design (commonly referred to as a “double wishbone) as specified by Foose. Aero tubing or “slipstream” tubing which has an aerodynamic oval shape is used for the control arms.

According to John Hotchkis “This is a race car suspension built for the street. It’s engineered from the ground up by our team to harness the enormous amount of horsepower, yet provide exceptional handling qualities”. Another handling challenge for Hotchkis is Hemisfear’s lightweight carbon fiber body and mid-engine design, plus Foose’s styling hallmark to hide all brake lines. Sleek styling is a key component of the Hemisfear and the front suspension utilizes in-board shock design, to hide the shocks inside the body, while conventional outboard shock placement is utilized in the rear. John is set to have the prototypes manufactured by next week for Chip’s approval.

Few performance suspension firms can actually engineer and manufacture suspension components to this degree. It’s what sets Hotchis Performance apart from all the rest. Interestingly, John Hotchkis is also a graduate of Art Center College of Design, located in Pasadena, CA, which is where Chip Foose graduated with a degree in transportation design.

- JLFT Team

Foose Partners Join the JLFT Hemisfear Build

2006-07-17T17:27:00.000-07:00

7/6/06

Baer Brake is custom making the calipers. The calipers are monster-sized 6 piston design. They'll be able to stop a freight train on a dime.

Pirelli is contributing the tires: Front: 245-40 X 18, Rear: 335- 30 X 20. Based on super-high performance Pirelli ZERO Rosso tire. The tires will likely feature a custom design tread pattern.

MHT is creating the wheels, possibly in 5 different styles.

Exhaust: Al Noes at Stainless Works in Chagrin Falls OH will be creating the stainless steel exhaust system.

-JLFT Team

JLFT Hemisfear gets a BAD A*S HEMI

2006-07-17T16:13:00.000-07:00

6/21/06

The engine is getting an upgrade to Dodge’s new 6.1 liter Hemi. Horsepower is being pushed with a Hilborne injection system. Chip is looking at this setup to deliver 600+ horsepower with over 550 ft. lb. of torque (efficency measurement of applied power). This nearly doubles the torque of today's average "production" V-8.

Hang on tight!

Stamped Steel Takes a Back Seat

2006-07-17T15:42:00.000-07:00

6/14/06

Did I mention that the body on this bad boy is carbon fiber? Isn’t Chip a metal guy? Yes he is, but his decision to build the body using carbon fiber came about after meeting with MetalCrafters custom car builders in Fountain Valley, Caif. More on MetalCrafters later. It became clear late last year that MetalCrafters was extremely interested in building the JLFT Hemisfear. They are masters at creating carbon fiber bodies and have created concept cars for the big three, Ferrari and race cars for John Force among others.

Working with carbon fiber is tricky and expensive, but the time to completion and resulting body lightness are well worth it when high performance is on the table. Chip decided to go with carbon fiber for this build and most likely, future custom builds. The JLFT Hemisfear body has now been molded out of foam and coated to enable easy viewing of how the shape reflects light. Chip made slight curve changes to heighten the way the light plays off the surface. Stone sculptors do a similar process so they can see imperfections and how light reflects off of thier large work of art in progress. Unpolished stone sculptures look dull and lifeless. When stone is sprayed with water, these chalky surfaces "gloss up" and come to life, revealing the true form and shape. Any imperfections can be corrected before going to the final sanding and polishing. Same for the JLFT Hemisfear body.

- JLFT Team

RC2 is the MAIN SPONSOR of the JLFT Hemisfear Build

2006-07-17T14:56:00.000-07:00

6/7/06

We had heard that Chip had always wanted to build the Hemisfear. After speaking to Chip about the car and how it blended classic hot rod styling with today's performance technology, our parent company, RC2, sponsored the JLFT Hemisfear build to make Chip Foose's dream car a reality. The Full Throttle team and Chip will hold a World Premier of both the real car and the Full Throttle diecast JLFT Hemisfear replicas in both small and large collector scales at the 2006 SEMA in Las Vegas. Stay tuned for more info on this.

I can’t wait to drive the car. At 500+ hp and a vehicle weight of 2400 lbs, this is going to be one fast ride. Frame rails are complete, tubing is being worked for correct engine position. This mid-engine rod will utilize a modified BMW transaxle, due to the transaxel size and fit with the Hemisfear's dimensions and fit with the Dodge Hemi engine.

- JLFT Team

Building the JL Full Throttle Hemisfear

2006-07-17T14:53:00.000-07:00

6/1/06

I want to bring you up to speed on the progress being made on the JL FULL THROTTLE Hemisfear being designed by Chip Foose. Our Huntington Beach FT design team is replicating this awesome, high-performance roadster in both JL Full Throttle Large and Small Scales.

The building of this incredible ride has been a fascinating process. The design has been on Chip’s drawing board as part of his senior thesis design while he was attending Art Center College of Design in Pasadena, CA. This is his dream car that was never made. Until now.

I'll continue to update you all the way through the final stages of the build. Also look for video of the build as it progresses on our JLFullThrottle.com website as well as still shots.

It's going to be an awesome ride!

- JL Full Throttle Team
SoCal