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 Post subject: Rear cover
PostPosted: May 25, 2020, 1:52 am 
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Joined: December 24, 2007, 5:11 am
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Location: Seattle area
Locost Rear Cover
ala benny_toe
In an effort to keep it Locost and within my skill set I opted for a laminated cover molded over a male mold that would be light, easy to construct, and mount. Research pointed to the pink foam insulation from Home Depot for the buck. Have not seen this material anywhere else. Sure it is elsewhere but I can't prove it. Used the pink stuff because the epoxy doesn't eat it. Just to be cautious I painted the foam with latex.
The pink stuff cuts easily, no power tools needed. Laid the appropriate size on top of my rear frame and traced the outline that I needed. Cut it with a hand held saw that held short Sawzall blades. Rounded the edges with medium coarse sandpaper on a board then marked and cut the holes I wanted. Trim, test fit, trim, test fit, etc.
Sure a coping saw was used somewhere in there.
Attachment:
IMG_0358.jpeg

Attachment:
IMG_0361.jpeg



Once satisfied with the fit, the male mold went to a set of saw horses covered with plastic. A neighbor donated a roll of 7 oz cloth that was now surplus to him so I bought a quart of epoxy from a local TAP dealer and started laying it up.
I laid 7 layers of the cloth, letting it set up between layers. and it still was pretty light. Not strong enough to sit on but it will do what it's supposed to. If I were to do another I do think I would try mat. Have never worked with mat and I was afraid it might not pull over the edges. Then trimmed and a test fit. I believe that I trimmed it up with an angle grinder but after 4 years that memory is a little fuzzy. It did separate from the mold with ease. Basic woodworking tools was all I needed.

Attachment:
IMG_0362.jpeg

Attachment:
IMG_0363.jpeg


Tried painting it with red wrinkle paint. Didn’t work. First time using this product and I just couldn’t get it right. Had a good portion of the red vinyl from the dash and roll hoops so I choose to use what I had. Went surprisingly easy. And I like it better than wrinkle paint
Vinyl went on with spray adhesive. Don’t recall which, there are several. One that didn’t work well was Gorilla Glue. 3M has several but you need to pick the right one. They aren’t all alike. And most don’t hold all that well. Opening edges are trimmed with vinyl door edging. Touch of heat helps with the tighter radii as well when stretching the vinyl over the corners.
Attachment:
IMG_0406.jpeg

Attachment:
IMG_0411.jpeg

Gas filler is from Fisheries Supply here in Seattle. Mainly marine but an awesome hardware store.

For attachment I used these. Called quick latches.
Attachment:
qul-ql-25-b_m.jpg


Got interested in the quick latch when I saw one here on the list. They are $25-26 from Jegs or Summit but the ones I bought came direct from the dreaded China and were less then $6. Shipping takes a while but was free.
Cut a 1 1/2” alloy angle for across the front with a latch in the center to hold it on. One latch each in the rear corners. Hold is quite good. The angle has some foam tape under it to keep a touch of pressure. Takes a little push to get it to catch but it holds down any rattling and keeps things tight.

Covered the angle piece with more of the red vinyl (had to buy a yard so I had lots). I like the way it fits in.
Latch is in the middle on the angle. In situ here.
Attachment:
IMG_0656.jpeg


Anchored the studs in each corner. 1/8”X 1” alloy
strips provide support for the studs. Riveted in.
Attachment:
P_20200113_150810_LL.jpg


Finished up in Rear Cover continued.


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 Post subject: Re: Rear cover
PostPosted: May 25, 2020, 7:48 am 
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Joined: September 22, 2005, 8:12 am
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Location: 4AGE in S.E. Michigan
That rear cover is looking good :cheers:
Davew


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 Post subject: Re: Rear cover
PostPosted: May 25, 2020, 9:41 am 
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Location: West Chicago,IL
Looks great :cheers:

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 Post subject: Re: Rear cover
PostPosted: May 25, 2020, 10:56 am 
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Location: Pittsburgh, PA
Great work - turned out really well.

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 Post subject: Re: Rear cover
PostPosted: May 25, 2020, 7:08 pm 
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Joined: February 2, 2017, 1:02 am
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Location: Illinois
What kind of plastic did you use over your mold and did you use anything else for a release agent?


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 Post subject: Re: Rear cover
PostPosted: May 25, 2020, 8:01 pm 
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Joined: March 3, 2006, 10:48 pm
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Location: Shawnee, Ks
Looks great. Now for a hardtop and some doors. Russ

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 Post subject: Re: Rear cover
PostPosted: May 25, 2020, 8:13 pm 
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Thanks Andrew, Dave, Chuck, and Russ.

Russ , a top is up next. Doors may be a way off. They look like they might be tough to make.

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 Post subject: Re: Rear cover
PostPosted: May 25, 2020, 8:46 pm 
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Hate it when that happens. Posted a reply to Cardot and it disappeared.

Again. I needlessly painted the foam buck with latex then covered it with Saran wrap. Nothing sticks to tha stuff. The cover popped off the buck with very little effort.

Should have mentioned poly eats the foam, epoxy doesn't.

Seven layers of cloth resulted in a panel close to 3/32". Self supporting but I wouldn't stack bricks on it.

Hope this helps.

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 Post subject: Re: Rear cover
PostPosted: May 25, 2020, 9:04 pm 
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Joined: February 2, 2017, 1:02 am
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I appreciate the reply. I'm trying to learn all the tricks I can before I try and build anything from fiberglass. Your cover looks excellent!


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 Post subject: Re: Rear cover
PostPosted: May 25, 2020, 11:37 pm 
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Well the cover is about as easy of a project that you can start with. A couple of problems to work out and they weren't hard.
The pink foam stuff works very easy and it's pretty inexpensive.

If I ever try another I do think I'll try mat as opposed to cloth.

Good luck!

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 Post subject: Re: Rear cover
PostPosted: May 26, 2020, 1:09 am 
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Most mats only work with polyester resin. Epoxy does not break down the binders in the mat. It makes a big mess - I found out the hard way.
Layup epoxy/reinforcement in a continuous process as once cured it needs to be sanded well or to have used peel ply as the final layer which is then removed to add more layers. Peel ply is good!

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My build log viewtopic.php?f=36&t=10658&start=0 NOW NAMED =The Wycked 7

My other build log viewtopic.php?f=18&t=15162 The Skayt'R6


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 Post subject: Re: Rear cover
PostPosted: May 26, 2020, 1:39 am 
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Thanks for the tip John! Had never heard that mat takes poly. I would have been pissed.

Peel ply sounds trick. I"ll look into it just in case I'm silly enough to try more of this 'glass stuf.

It was kind of fun.

Cheers!

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 Post subject: Re: Rear cover
PostPosted: May 26, 2020, 10:43 am 
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trialsmangasgas wrote:
Looks great. Now for a hardtop and some doors. Russ

I'll second that plan :cheers:

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“Any suspension will work if you don’t let it.” - Colin Chapman

Visit my ongoing MGB Rustoration log: over HERE

Or my Wankel powered Locost log : over HERE

And don't forget my Cushman Truckster resto Locostusa.com/forums/viewtopic.php?f=36&t=17766


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 Post subject: Re: Rear cover
PostPosted: May 27, 2020, 2:47 am 
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Check with http://www.fiberglasssupply.com/ good people, good advice and in Burlington.

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My build log viewtopic.php?f=36&t=10658&start=0 NOW NAMED =The Wycked 7

My other build log viewtopic.php?f=18&t=15162 The Skayt'R6


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 Post subject: Re: Rear cover
PostPosted: September 14, 2021, 3:34 pm 
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Love the out come of the cover and the outcome. I do indeed plan on trying this when I reach that point. Looks better than tarp cover


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