[This message has been edited by Sofa King (edited 03-06-2010).]

quote Originally posted by revin: You should "up" your glassing skills more.

UPDATES!

Lots of good stuff!

I'll start with the simple stuff first. I was trying to track down a squeak in the center console when I found a considerable amount of surface rust - well... that's unacceptable!


After a quick pass with some steel wool and shot paint


And then installed - good as new - the funny thing... I never did track down that dam squeak!


I went ahead a created a new panel for the new radio console


After about 15-20 minutes I removed the waxpaper. The panel was no longer tacky but I knew the glass had not cured yet. I wanted to conduct a test. I took the foam core template, laid it on the panel and then sprayed primer to create an outline


I then removed the foam core template. Now I knew exactly where to cut. The reason I'm doing this is to see how easy it will be to create panels and minimize cutting and sanding


I then took the straight edge and a razor and began cutting - it was like cutting butter






I did this twice and the radio console sides were finished!


Quick glimpse of what's to come


On to the door panel! After sanding and sanding and sanding and glassing and glassing, etc... I've realized during the this build that I have been applying fiberglass, in some cases, WRONG. I was cutting either the fiberglass mat or cloth to fit whatever shape and then trying to get the glass to fit around curves, edges, etc... It always ended up the same - air bubbles, wasting lots of fiberglass etc... I then remembered Archie's Miura build and there was a picture of the door panel - they were using smaller pieces of the glass mat that had been pulled apart - NOT CUT. I decided to try this and it worked - I learned something new! The pulled pieces easily fit the curves and contours and reduced the air bubbles. This allowed to move forward - check it out! But first...

As you know, I'm trying to create a door panel that has both a painted surface and vinyl covered surface. I finally figured out how to do both. This is the look I'm going for


After laying the template for the top piece that will be covered with vinyl, I took the trusty Dremel and carved out what will become the vinyl covered part of the top of the door panel


This was actually a lot of fun. I painted it to help me get a better idea


Standing back


I then flipped the door panel over and sanded the backside to prep for glassing


I then covered this area with packing tape - the tape keeps the fiberglass from sticking. Why am I doing this?


Using the method of glassing that I just described, I applied several layers of the pulled glass






One more


Once the resin and fiberglass cured I popped the form out - this was after some light sanding


Another


Now that I had a mold of the inner part of the door panel, I then very carefully removed / cut the upper shape from the door panel


I then took the mold I created and put it back into its original place


Another


Up close - this piece creates an area for me to mount the piece I removed after it will get a nice layer of vinyl. Make sense?


I then primed the door panel and began to fill holes


With the piece in place - it fits perfectly! The pulled pieces of glass made ALL the difference in the world


This is where I am with the radio console - I SHOULD have a basic shape by Sunday afternoon - lets hope!


That's it for now

[This message has been edited by Sofa King (edited 03-06-2010).]

quote Originally posted by Tony Kania: I will have to find it, but Katatak spoke the exact same words. "But, if I do the work myself.......it is a lot cheaper. Honey? Honey? Are you listening?" Yeah, I just better "ask" for forgiveness.

Just remember though... if you do get caught... you "have" to apologize, look oblivious, but APOLOGIZE... and be sincere - DON'T ACT sinere... BE sincere. Then a nite of dinner and flowers might be in order (not for you - but for her). This is a must for the "forgivness" to work. It's difficult... the things we must sacrifce just to propel our hobbies. It tough... but someone has to do it...

[This message has been edited by Sofa King (edited 03-06-2010).]