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Learning how to build Lotus Seven replicas...together!
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 Post subject: Re: Plastic Body Panels
PostPosted: September 19, 2017, 5:12 am 
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Joined: May 22, 2017, 7:36 am
Posts: 163
Yeah no problem, will do for sure. As per usual in this project I ordered twice as much as needed, because inevitably i'll f^&k up the first run!


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 Post subject: Re: Plastic Body Panels
PostPosted: September 20, 2017, 7:59 pm 
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Joined: May 22, 2017, 7:36 am
Posts: 163
Here is the stuff, sorry for the ugliness of this post, just in a rush, Works great! Purists may not like it but for the money and ease of use i'm happy with it. It will have more rivets than clekos shown in the pictures. I have some left over if anyone wants a little sample pm me and i'll pop some in the mail, like a 3x3" piece or something.

ImageUntitled by Rolvotus Se7en, on Flickr

ImageUntitled by Rolvotus Se7en, on Flickr

ImageUntitled by Rolvotus Se7en, on Flickr

ImageUntitled by Rolvotus Se7en, on Flickr

ImageUntitled by Rolvotus Se7en, on Flickr

ImageUntitled by Rolvotus Se7en, on Flickr

ImageUntitled by Rolvotus Se7en, on Flickr

ImageUntitled by Rolvotus Se7en, on Flickr

ImageUntitled by Rolvotus Se7en, on Flickr

ImageUntitled by Rolvotus Se7en, on Flickr


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 Post subject: Re: Plastic Body Panels
PostPosted: September 21, 2017, 12:02 pm 
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Joined: October 24, 2008, 2:13 pm
Posts: 5326
Location: Carlsbad, California, USA
Interesting. It will be very interesting to see it when it's all done and fastened, and how it responds to the fastening process. I wonder if it would respond to a heat gun, that is shrink, when it's all done. You could potentially use such a process to tighten up the sheet in certain areas if you needed to do so. It actually looks pretty decent right now.

Thanks for the photos.

Cheers,

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Damn! That front slip angle is way too large and the Ackerman is just a muddle.

Build Log: viewtopic.php?f=35&t=5886


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 Post subject: Re: Plastic Body Panels
PostPosted: September 21, 2017, 12:35 pm 
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Joined: May 22, 2017, 7:36 am
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I might make a small frame this afternoon and attach the plastic to it with rivets and heat it up to see what happens....for science.


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 Post subject: Re: Plastic Body Panels
PostPosted: September 22, 2017, 12:44 pm 
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Joined: October 24, 2008, 2:13 pm
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Location: Carlsbad, California, USA
aidandebradney wrote:
I might make a small frame this afternoon and attach the plastic to it with rivets and heat it up to see what happens....for science.

There you go . . . for science :thmbsup:

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Damn! That front slip angle is way too large and the Ackerman is just a muddle.

Build Log: viewtopic.php?f=35&t=5886


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 Post subject: Re: Plastic Body Panels
PostPosted: September 25, 2017, 8:02 am 
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Joined: May 22, 2017, 7:36 am
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I didn't get chance to build the test frame, but I did notice that with the cold snap we just had (36 degrees) the plastic did seem very rigid and nice and tight, not brittle or stretched, just right. This next week I will be removing everything off the chassis so I can flip it, so it will be interesting to see if the tub stays in form while its off the chassis.


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 Post subject: Re: Plastic Body Panels
PostPosted: September 26, 2017, 9:20 am 
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Joined: May 22, 2017, 7:36 am
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The tub pretty much held its shape once removed from the chassis:

Image


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 Post subject: Re: Plastic Body Panels
PostPosted: October 21, 2017, 2:31 pm 
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Joined: February 2, 2017, 1:02 am
Posts: 70
Location: Illinois
I have a sheet of this stuff in back laying in back of the shop. I used it for an air dam on my stock car as previously suggested. For dirt racing its also good to make small panels that prevent dirt build up in small gaps under the car during a race. Which can add a significant amount of weight. Also seen them used as mud flaps on a dirt car with good results. I'm considering using it for the rear most section of the car under the rear axle.

tl/dr: tough yet pliable, clay and mud doesn't stick to it particularly well.


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 Post subject: Re: Plastic Body Panels
PostPosted: October 22, 2017, 7:35 am 
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Joined: October 6, 2009, 9:29 am
Posts: 7651
Location: Tallahassee, FL (The Center of the Known Universe)
I have a sheet of the same material (in black) that I bought thinking I could use it for body panels and such. That was... Ohhhh... Six or seven years ago. I've used a few bits of it here and there for covers and "filler" bits, nothing major. Most recently, I made the new "topside" fan enclosure out of the plastic and some aluminum angle.
Attachment:
08 15 17 Fan Shroud.jpg
It is quite easy to cut/shape/bend, but doesn't hold the bend unless it's attached to something. PVC conduit, for example. In my experience with it, paint doesn't stick to it very well, nor does adhesive vinyl. YMMV...

:cheers:
JDK

PS- The bulge in that side panel on the shroud bugs me. I almost put another rivet in there yesterday. I also gotta re-route the power steering return hose. It lost its home when I built the fan shroud... Add those to the list. I may never get to that "Completed Builds Showcase" section... :BH: :mrgreen:


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JD, father of Quinn, Son of a... Build Log
Quinn the Slotus:Ford 302 Powered, Mallock-Inspired, Tube Frame, Hillclimb Special
"Gonzo and friends: Last night must have been quite a night. Camelot moments, mechanical marvels, Rustoleum launches, flying squirrels, fru-fru tea cuppers, V8 envy, Ensure catch cans -- and it wasn't even a full moon." -- SeattleTom


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 Post subject: Re: Plastic Body Panels
PostPosted: October 22, 2017, 9:35 pm 
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Joined: February 2, 2017, 1:02 am
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Location: Illinois
aidandebradney wrote:
The tub pretty much held its shape once removed from the chassis:


I really liked the idea of using plastic for the rear tub. Such an easy solution. Too bad they don't make it in British racing green or I'd be all in for a plastic body. :lol:


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 Post subject: Re: Plastic Body Panels
PostPosted: October 23, 2017, 10:14 am 
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Joined: May 22, 2017, 7:36 am
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This is how the tub looks, this is just using the same amount of rivets as I did clecos.

Image

Image


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