sgraber
|
| posted on 26/5/04 at 02:45 PM |
|
|
Thanks James, that's very kind. 
The body was designed in 3DS Max. It is not something I use everyday. It is indeed very difficult to use (IMHO). Problem 1 is visualization of 3d
objects in 2d space. You have a perspective view, but it's just not the same as seeing it in the flesh. Circles, squares, and other straight
geometric objects are simple, it's when you move into polymorphic shapes that it gets hard.
I am creating the body plug like the hull of a boat, except upside down. Outlines of the body are cut out of wood at predetermined distances and the
gaps are to be filled with foam and hot-wire carved to shape. Then the entire structure is coated with drywall plaster, shaped again (and again) and
filled with hi-fill Kilz primer. (insert much work and pain here) (Please see Alan Bertwistles website for a complete and very nice description of the
filling, priming process.) Once the hull is finished, it is coated multiple times with carnuba wax and release agent and a mold is made of the body.
(insert much work and pain here).
That's it!
I'm getting ready to print the outlines taken from my 3D model this week sometime. So this weekend may see more progress... 
Graber
Steve Graber
http://www.grabercars.com/
"Quickness through lightness"
|
|
|
|
|
Jeffers_S13
|
| posted on 26/5/04 at 03:21 PM |
|
|
This is exactly the process described in one of the books I bought from Amazon 'Fiberglass and Composite Materials' by Forbes D. Aird and
seems to be the most common/only way people use.
The author created a plug with pre-cut cross-section shaped pieces of wood and then filled the gaps with styro-foam and expanding foam. You may be
interested to know (or probably already do ) that car bodyfiller is a prefered choice as opposed to the plaster for creating the surface to lay up
the mould onto.
I seemed to hit a wall when looking for information on this whole process and this was the only book that covered it in 'reasonable'
detail. I would still like to know more and see pictures of moulds etc as it the book doesnt really give the detail Id like, I have a few other books
that have similar content but not quite as many pictures (I like pictures...) The Tiger Avon book also shows some good pictures of the moulds and the
re-enforcements layed into them.
Have you made plugs or taken moulds before ?
My major concern is the creation of the moulds, if they stick to the plug...well I wouldnt even want to consider the consequences. All that hard
finishing work would need to be redone 
I hope all goes well, Im looking forward to seeing how it goes and have my fingers crossed for you !
James
|
|
|
Alan B
|
| posted on 26/5/04 at 03:37 PM |
|
|
James, did you check out my site?
Lot of info. there... (good and bad..LOL)
click for my site
Alan B
|
|
|
Jeffers_S13
|
| posted on 26/5/04 at 03:48 PM |
|
|
quote:
Originally posted by Alan B
James, did you check out my site?
Lot of info. there... (good and bad..LOL)
click for my site
Alan B
Aha ! no, I didnt realise it was you he meant ! I definately will do though, after work of course... 
Thanks
James
|
|
|
Alan B
|
| posted on 26/5/04 at 04:04 PM |
|
|
...of course...
|
|
|
Jeffers_S13
|
| posted on 26/5/04 at 05:43 PM |
|
|
Wow, that is one comprehensive site 
Why did I buy these books...!? Dont know how I managed to miss your site when trauling google for making bodywork and moulds etc.
This is exactly what I have been looking for, I havent read it all yet, I will be reading it bit by bit. The bodywork bit is very interesting, from
quickly reading through it (for the last 1.5 hrs...) I get the impression you used to live in the UK (?), its excellent the way you also provide good
UK equivalents of stuff you use, a lot of books (which all seem to be of US origin) never do this, making it a pain to work out what they mean.
You should publish this as a book as its very very comprehensive and is just what potential builders want to read, far more so than any others
available (that I have seen) I havent read the other areas of your site yet but I will get round to it at some point !
James
|
|
|
Alan B
|
| posted on 26/5/04 at 06:27 PM |
|
|
Thank you so much....
Nice to have one's efforts appreciated.
It may make into a book one day...
Yep, I'm from Preston originally.....trying to write for US and UK readers at the same time is challenging....LOL
I have about another 2000 pictures that didn't make the site yet...ask Steve...
Keep watching...but just take it as one guy's idea of what to do, rather than a definitive guide to the right way...
My techniques have money saving VERY much in mind.....
|
|
|
Miller
|
| posted on 29/5/04 at 01:24 AM |
|
|
Look alot like a toyota celica or MR2. The talilight in the pic look just like celica taillights so if you like that look then there ya go. Loks great
I wish I had the ability to do 3d rendering and all that fun stuff.
|
|
|
