Board logo

body panels
oadamo - 12/8/07 at 07:22 AM

hi ive been thinking of making my own body panels for the locost that iam building because iam after something diffrent and one off. but how do you go about makeing the moulds to get a good finish and would you need to use a load of body filler over them to get them flat.
or do you just sand the fiber glass. have you got any links for some cheap matt and resins thanks.
adam

Avoneer - 12/8/07 at 07:30 AM

For the time and effort, I wouldn't bother.

For fibreglass etc. use CFS:

http://www.cfsnet.co.uk/

Pat...

nitram38 - 12/8/07 at 07:42 AM

I had no choice but making my own panels and it is a long drawn out affair!
Some of mine were made with mdf and then covered in filler.
If you use foam as a base, then you will need to make sure that your resin or filler is not made of the same material, otherwise it will melt.
You can use polyester foam with styrene based filler and resin and vise versa.
Remember that you will also have to make sure that it will come out of the mold so you may have to make it in several parts.
I made seperate flanges and used mirror screw domes to create a key to relocate the two mold halves afterwards.
You will need several days to make each part from the mold as you will need to let each layer cure (not completely) before starting the next.
It is worthwhile, but can be frustrating to do.
Good Luck!

scotty g - 12/8/07 at 10:10 AM

quote:

You will need several days to make each part from the mold as you will need to let each layer cure (not completely) before starting the next.

You can lay up multiple layers of glass in one hit rather than letting each layer cure before atarting the next.
i regularly lay up 4 layers of 600g CSM in one go, but you have to work quickly.
Cheers.

nitram38 - 12/8/07 at 10:28 AM

I have found that trying to work too quickly and trying to apply too many layers can introduce unwanted air into the fibreglass. Some of my molds were pretty big so trying to do too many layers, might have caused a problem.
You will find your own "pace" with experience.

scotty g - 12/8/07 at 05:05 PM

Thats very true, i've been doing this most of my life now so can usually get quite a good pace going but even the best can get caught out in this hot weather.
if you want a mould to last a long time and make lots of panels from it then its worth making sure you get it right 1st time.
Cheers.

oadamo - 12/8/07 at 05:57 PM

hi thanks for all your help ive been looking about the web but theres a lot of diffrent resins and fiber.ill phone some up tomorrow and have a chat and order some. see how much mess a can make of it lol.
adam