Print

Please login or register.
1 Hour 1 Day 1 Week 1 Month Forever
Login with username, password and session length

[HolyCount]

As some might (or might not) know, HN03 and I are building a buggy each, and hopefully won't kill ourselves off roading in the summer  

Anyway --- I have just bought the moulds for an engine cover for it .... trouble is the only stuff I have ever done with fibre glass is using it to cover small holes ..... never "made" anything out of it ....  :-/

Hopefully, as long as I don't knacker the mould I will eventually turn out something along these lines:



BTW -- the reason I now have the mould is that no-one else likes this engine cover (except me) and it was going to be broken up  

[Gaffers]

You will have to start out with the gelcoat and work in shifts depending on the cure time of the resin.  I beleive there are some epoxies and polys out there that you can spray on with the right equipment.  Worth looking into if you want a pro job.

Good luck  

[cem_devecioglu]

Dont know anything about fiberglass..

Car is lovely..and if the engine is a bit strong going to be a joy to drive..

[HolyCount]

Thank you Cem -- that isn't the one I am building --- but the same model --- she should be a lot of fun. Even with a smaller engine as she only weighs in at 550KG  

Gaffers -- what do you recommend as a release agent ?  I have seen carnuba wax used as well as PVA. ?

Have also seen some resinless matting -- which cures in UV -- comes already wetted --- might research that a bit more.

[kris9128]

would it be worth dropping debs a line mate. just a thought

[cem_devecioglu]

Thank you Cem -- that isn't the one I am building --- but the same model --- she should be a lot of fun. Even with a smaller engine as she only weighs in at 550KG  

Gaffers -- what do you recommend as a release agent ?  I have seen carnuba wax used as well as PVA. ?

Have also seen some resinless matting -- which cures in UV -- comes already wetted --- might research that a bit more.

550 Kg  

with a 2 liter engine you can fly  

[HolyCount]

would it be worth dropping debs a line mate. just a thought

Cheers Kris -- good idea  

[Martin_1962]

I wonder if Debs has any more Carbon Fibre?

[Kevin Wood]

550 Kg  

with a 2 liter engine you can fly  

I'd be surprised if it weighs that much, TBH. My Westfield only weighs in at 650kg, and that's in full-on lardy touring around trim with 15" wheels all round, spare wheel, weather gear, tool kit, jack, etc. and RWD gearbox, prop and diff.

.. and with the best part of 200BHP it flies OK.


Kevin

[Gaffers]

I have never actually used moulds before so I think Debs would be best answering that one.  One thing I can say for sure:

-get all the air bubbles out before it kicks
-use a mask, gloves and face mask
-when doing it get ready to sleep only a few hours a time as you layer it up and wait for it to cure.

My only concern with the UV curing is that it will deteriorate slowly in the sun.  There are UV proof gelcoats which you can get, normally for marine use, but that would protect the resin underneath.

[Leomas]

I did lots of fibreglass work on dinghys and the like and can honestly say I'm almost mediocre. It's another one of those tasks where speed and quality are mutually exclusive attributes and I don't have the patience to learn be patient.

[nabsim]

I use this place when I need fibre stuff for my trikes http://www.ecfibreglasssupplies.co.uk/store/all_products.php
They are very quick with delivery and have a few useful guides if you are unsure.

Oh yeah, they do carbon cloth as well if you are feeling flush

Good luck and keep us posted of progress, always like to see something different. Just one question, you say off road, are you not making them road legal, be much more fun?

[HolyCount]

I use this place when I need fibre stuff for my trikes http://www.ecfibreglasssupplies.co.uk/store/all_products.php
They are very quick with delivery and have a few useful guides if you are unsure.

Oh yeah, they do carbon cloth as well if you are feeling flush

Good luck and keep us posted of progress, always like to see something different. Just one question, you say off road, are you not making them road legal, be much more fun?

Cheers Nabsim -- will have a look there. Quite fancy carbon look, but might try the cheaper stuff first  

Yes -- will be making them road legal too --- hopefully will get through SVA before the fees go up at the end of April. Even if they fail then I will have 6 months of summer build time to get them through at the old price !!!!

[Lazydocker]

Debs is definitely your friend here... Haven't seen her on for a few days though so she must be busy doing farm type stuff

I'm sure she'll be along this weekend to share her experience and knowledge

[nabsim]

I use this place when I need fibre stuff for my trikes http://www.ecfibreglasssupplies.co.uk/store/all_products.php
They are very quick with delivery and have a few useful guides if you are unsure.

Oh yeah, they do carbon cloth as well if you are feeling flush

Good luck and keep us posted of progress, always like to see something different. Just one question, you say off road, are you not making them road legal, be much more fun?

Cheers Nabsim -- will have a look there. Quite fancy carbon look, but might try the cheaper stuff first  

Yes -- will be making them road legal too --- hopefully will get through SVA before the fees go up at the end of April. Even if they fail then I will have 6 months of summer build time to get them through at the old price !!!!

I am hoping I have missus's trike ready and SVA'd early next year. Not managed to get anything done on it for ages though cos of rebuilding mine. Keeps you busy though dont it?