I watched that 5th gear prog where they wrapped up a Metro in chrome vinyl wrap... and it got me thinking...

Now, I'm not even thinking of attempting that but a spur of the moment ebay impulse see's me with a roll of 3d carbon vinyl.

I want to cover the front of the scuttle that has had a fair bit of cleaning up moving various bits off it until theres nothing there but holes! They are covered with variuos stickers just now. I'll repair these holes first (when I figure that bit out) so its nice and flat for the wrap.

A fairly flat piece with a return over the top where the bonnet recess is.

Anyone done any wrapping of this type before can give me a few pointers??

If theres any left over a new steering column shroud is in my thoughts as well.

Bodywork aint my best skill.....

Steve

I tried to do the roof on a mate's integra a while back. He wanted it in matt black. It was a lot harder than it looks, although I suspect it would have been easier if it had been a warm day and we'd had more hands to help stretch the vinyl in the first place. We gave up in the end and left it white!

I've got the instructions that came with the sheet somewhere. If they're of any good I can scan them in?

Chris

[Edited on 2/11/2011 by ChrisW]

Done quite a bit of it on my car. Didn't turn out very well on complex curved surfaces like wings, but on flattish surfaces it's easy. Don't use water and soap, just a hairdryer to stretch gently. Can look good, or look very bad. Some of mine looks decidedly bad, and I'm going to hire someone to do it properly. Even 3M vinyl can be non porous, so those don't look as good, as it takes forever for the inevitable bubbles to disappear. The porous stuff is great. Get the right kind!

quote:

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Originally posted by ChrisW
I tried to do the roof on a mate's integra a while back. He wanted it in matt black. It was a lot harder than it looks, although I suspect it would have been easier if it had been a warm day and we'd had more hands to help stretch the vinyl in the first place. We gave up in the end and left it white!

I've got the instructions that came with the sheet somewhere. If they're of any good I can scan them in?

Chris

[Edited on 2/11/2011 by ChrisW]

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I did bits of car in di noc carbon fibre stuff, found it easy to work, just needed gentle hear for the tighter curves, see piccies below:

http://i1234.photobucket.com/albums/ff406/adrianreeve/dabcd8cd.jpg

http://i1234.photobucket.com/albums/ff406/adrianreeve/88730252.jpg

http://i1234.photobucket.com/albums/ff406/adrianreeve/0881a847.jpg

http://i1234.photobucket.com/albums/ff406/adrianreeve/38711f3b.jpg

http://i1234.photobucket.com/albums/ff406/adrianreeve/cfbdc044.jpg

http://i1234.photobucket.com/albums/ff406/adrianreeve/0597f998.jpg

I really found it nice stuff to play with, you just need patience - its very forgiving if you mess it up, gentle hear will restore it

Cheers

Adrian

Ive not tried it myself but a guy i know does it, getting it right on the car is not the only problem. From what i understand (dont quote me on this) but it also moves i.e. shrinks which needs to be aloud for.

quote:

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Originally posted by adrianreeve
I did bits of car in di noc carbon fibre stuff, found it easy to work, just needed gentle hear for the tighter curves, see piccies below:

http://i1234.photobucket.com/albums/ff406/adrianreeve/dabcd8cd.jpg

http://i1234.photobucket.com/albums/ff406/adrianreeve/88730252.jpg

http://i1234.photobucket.com/albums/ff406/adrianreeve/0881a847.jpg

http://i1234.photobucket.com/albums/ff406/adrianreeve/38711f3b.jpg

http://i1234.photobucket.com/albums/ff406/adrianreeve/cfbdc044.jpg

http://i1234.photobucket.com/albums/ff406/adrianreeve/0597f998.jpg

I really found it nice stuff to play with, you just need patience - its very forgiving if you mess it up, gentle hear will restore it

Cheers

Adrian

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Yeah I was a bit!

Aye, very nice, obviously quite talented unlike myself

I wrapped my whole car (Locost) and I only used the cheap stuff £95 to do the car with quite a bit left over. Work at it and you will get good results the nose was the hardest which took 5 hours.

Hi all, Excuse my butting into this thread, but I too have been thinking about Vinyl covering.

My reason was slightly unusual and I accept perhaps a little contentious.......!!

Fibreglass is relatively heavy, so for the hillclimb Locost I am currently modifying I have been considering
ways of lightening the bodywork.
Drilling large holes in everything is frowned upon these days, BUT how about drilling (with large hole saw)
holes in the bodywork to significantly ligthen it and then covering with Vinyl wrap?

Yes it would look a bit unusual and presumably the Vinyl would "sink" into the holes a bit, but as long
as the scrutineer would accept it then thats all that matters. I would have thought that a reasonable amount of
weight could be saved.

Steve

Surely you might as well just lose the bodywork if you're going that far?

Or just eat a few less pasties.

Yes...fair point!
Before purchasing the Locost I was actually intending to build another Austin Seven special, which would have had
minimilistic bodywork, much like a Shelsley special of old.
I suspect the scrutineers and elegibility commitee might not be best pleased to see a locost with no bodywork!
Although I'm not sure I can see anything in the regs............ Maybe just an engine cover then .

My point was actually serious, I used to own a Fisher Fury which was made with half weight fibreglass body, and I believe
even lighter versions have been made for speed events, but maybe as suggested I am pushing things too far?

Steve

for just the flat sides why not has 1 layer thin flat sheets laid up and rivet them on, apart from linen and dope i dont think youd get any lighter! I have a contact for thin flat sheets if you need to get an idea of weight etc

Get a (smooth) polypro board like a cheap cutting board from ikea.

Drill all the hole you want, big as you like then hold the board over front of the holes making sure its perfectly flush and fiberglass the hole over from behind. Obviously this may seem like you're defeating the object but you're fiberglass repair will obv. be very thin and light - its only purpose to support the vinyl. Scruitineer is now unaware...

Thanks for the ideas....

Sides are currently Aluminium, but I'm thinking of replacing with some very thin gauge.

I'l probably experiment a bit with the fibreglass ideas to see how it looks.

Steve

Adrian

really impressed with how your side panels came out what wrap did you use?
want to do exactly the same on mine