At last today I completed my fitting of a rear blind project and I am very satisfied.
First of all thanks to all those who gave me great advise and guidance on my original thread that gave me the confidence to carry it out and not sit back and think I could do without that blind with the summer almost here.
http://www.omegaowners.com/forum/index.php?topic=139172.0I did much preparation, and went through plans A, B & C!
The first plan A was to cover the acquired rear shelf in a lovely fake leather finish, but after spending £50 in total, including special heat resistant auto interior glue, I had a failure. The final finish was very disappointing due to my inability to properly position and smooth out the material before the instant glue grabbed it! Result; creases where I didn't want them.
Plan B was to dye the acquired shelf in a matching colour to my interior. After using £60 of specialist spray dye, the colour still did not match my Omega's interior to my satisfaction. Result; decided not to fit it.
Plan C was based on the original advice by EMD, and to cut my existing shelf to take a blind unit. So, with some nervousness I planned that course of action. The following pictures explain what I had to do for anyone else thinking of undertaking this type of project:
Original parcel shelf underside showing where Vx extended the stiffening moulding over where the blind would sit:
The shelf after removal of much of the stiffening to create space for the blind (amazingly I saw clear evidence of where the shelf had originally been pressed for a blind to be installed with clear circles where the fixings would normally be:
The blind fitted using the salvage studs from the acquired shelf:
Blind fitted with metal strips, painted to match, that cover the tops of the studs I fitted and provide additional stiffening. Maybe a bit unsightly, but a necessary evil. to cover those studs and provide a really great straight edge to the blind mounting:
The final stage with blind fitted and working You do not see the stiffening metal plates, and all is colour co-ordinated: