Hi guy's..
I'm making a custom guage pod that goes where the idiot pannel is. just posting my progress so far.. I'm failry happy with this, it's my first mould project I have ever done, but this is what I have for about 4 hours or work so far..
once it's totally complete I will cast a negative mould of it (which means I can make alot more )

it's still rough.. if anyone can give me any tips on smoothing Plastaline clay, please!.. I've used the soap technique and it works alright, but not the best.. but I think I'll just have to make it as smooth as I can, then cast one out and sand it untill it's perfect then make a negative from that..

anyways here are the pics, remember that only about 4 hours of work so far and I still have alot more to put in, and yes the back piece will be moulded as well.

 

nice work!!! what size of guages will those fit?

 

Looks good.

 

Nice man, u live in Dirty W huh? been there quite a few times (former londoner myself)

if ur project turns out nice, i'll deffinately be interested in one... an FC can never have too many gauges

 

Looks good man, I like the way you blended the gauge pods into the base, nice touch. If you do make more let us know, I'd be in for one.

 

B-ROB - I believe it's 52mm (the most common one)

Ottoman - yep.. good old windsor, womans moving to toronto this week so I'll probably be there more

everyone elce, thanks for the compliments!

 

man, that looks great. Is this the first time you've sclupted something? and mabye also the first time you've molded it?

You are doing a damn Good job IMO . Keep it up

I'm a moldmaker, and I'll throw you any tips I think will help.

As for smoothing the clay, it'll depend on what type of clay you are using, but most plasticines will smooth out great with a little bit of oil. Use a lightweight oil like linseed oil, or even wd-40. I have used wd-40 for most projects and it works fine. just a bit of oil on your fingers works great. also you can get some aluminum flashing for roof repair, and cut out a scraper with the exact curve you are looking for. This will help you get all 3 gauge pods exactly the same(outer surfaces mind you!) The trick is using the lightest oil you can find, so it soaks in and evaporates, leaving you with a smooth surface and no residue.

I'd suggest testing the oil you will use on a seprate piece of clay, just to make sure it works right. Some oils can make some clays turn to runny goo., and you don't want that happening on your workpiece.

It looks like you are using the Roma Plasticine, but I'm not too sure, as there are so many clays out there.


Keep it up man, and be sure to post pics along the way.

 

looks good man. are you going to finish it up in carbon fiber or just fiberglass.

 

Hey nice work man looks like our 5one5 gauge pods in the group buy section lol
I didnt use clay though i use fiberglass and bondo to make my prototypes i find it easyer to shape and smooth out in the end good luck. Ours fit 60mm and or 2 1/16th too
Mael
5one5Innovations

 

Man Eveybodys on the bandwagon....

I'm making my 4 pod out of balsawood like you make an airplane fuselage (nacells) with bulkheads and stringers, then i'll cover it with fiberglass and filler and paint match it.

 

Bandwagen lol ive been on the wagen over a year so long i call it my car lol

 

So you just cover up your idiot lights? Is that safe?

 

Very nice work, though I wouldnt want to cover up my lights and clock either.

Nice cup coasters....I have the same ones!

 

make another one for me

 

Oni-kyan - I just saw those, they look very nice.. that is actoually the first ones other than mine I have seen.

cezonetheillest - I will just be making them out of fiberglass, but I may send the mould over to a buddy of mine who does CF.. thats IF they turn out nice enough for CF

86FC RX-7 - You'll probably want to relocate the lights somewhere elce..

 

could you relocate it under the stereo, if you have a single din?

 

you could relocate them where ever you want realy just extend the wires in the back and put it where you want man

 

yeah Kevin Landers had the something like this on his vert. He bought it from ebay and if I remember right it was for a 3000gt. I am not a fan on relocating but it looks like you have a good start on things.

 

Actually, to run the wires and /or tubes for the gauges, you'd most likely have to remove the idiot light cluster.. I have a haltech, so the only idiots lights I really care about anyway, are the hatch open, door open and low fuel lights.. I'm going to move them to below the stereo (which has a clock anyway.. )

Here's the skeleton of my 4 gauge.. If i do another it will be three gauge so i can mold it.. the bottom edge of the pods stick out from the idiot light surround, thus giving a negative angle for the mold... IE, you couldn't the part out of the mold once it was made.....

 

nice!!

 

Here was mine. Got it on ebay, just a generic 3" pod, that happened to have matching width dimensions with the stock surround. I just drilled 2 pilot holes in my surround, and bolted this on top of it...took the cluster behind it out, otherwise there'd be NO way to run all the wires to 3 seperate gauges.

Sorry, no closeups, and the car is gone.

 

That vert makes me excited as all hell. If you catch my drift ;o.

Nice work there yo.

 

I saw that ebay pod, and almost bought it.... then winter hit... and decided that I wanted a four gauge pod and knew i'd wouldn't be happy with anything less, so I had to make it myself... as soon as it gets warm enough (above about 65F) I'll be fiberglassing the nacells, and will repost..

I like the guys clay idea too, but that would only be good for a prototype to make a mold.. too heavy.

Like I said, I can't mold mine, so I'll have to make a 3-pod later!!!!

 

thats the plan!

 

Your on the right track, but, you should probably make the break between the nacells less deep.. it will be MUCH easier to get a good part (esp CF) if you don't make the angles between the pods so steep, Ie, fill in the valleys a bit. (besides, it will give it a more organic look!!!)