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 Posted 5/2/2020 11:09:19 AM |
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Supreme Being
 
Last Login: 4/6/2024 5:28:59 PM
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| Just an FYI, The Driver's side is now preped and ready for Fiberglass to make a mold of that side. No pic because it's pretty much the same as the other side only reversed.
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| Posted 5/8/2020 1:21:12 PM |
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Supreme Being
Last Login: 4/6/2024 5:28:59 PM
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Driver side front bottom mold now complete. I know you only can see the backside of the mold from these pics but I don't want to remove the mold yet because the flanges need to line up with the next mold.
And here is a pic of the top. You can see the flanges I'm talking about extending from the side edge.
Now it's time to start the prep work on the top section pictured above. That's starting to get exciting. Thinking about doing it as one large piece but I'm just a little concerned about the helicopter lift points in the front that are pretty deep and may cause a separation problem.
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| Posted 5/8/2020 7:28:18 PM |
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Has NO LIFE!!
Last Login: 12/4/2023 11:08:55 PM
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hey sly,
Love your workmanship and attention to detail.
How did you acquire the impressive level of your fiberglass working skills?
Have you previously built other fiberglass projects? vertigo
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| Posted 5/9/2020 11:06:29 AM |
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Supreme Being
Last Login: 4/6/2024 5:28:59 PM
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Have you previously built other fiberglass projects? Nothing of this size or quite this elaborate. I have done some repairs on boats and such things in my life. Fiberglass is pretty simple but I'm no expert for sure.
btw, did a little body work today on fixing the center of the air intake pictured above and evening out the milling grooves on the wheel flairs. Wheel flairs are looking great but still some work to do on that air intake. Every model that I've done that air intake has given me trouble.
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| Posted 5/29/2020 1:05:40 PM |
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Supreme Being
Last Login: 4/6/2024 5:28:59 PM
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Well it's been a while so I thought I had better post and update.
My method for preparing the plug is step one, Use body filler putty to repair any large gaps or anomalies in the plug form. Step two is to use a thinner version of body filler putty to smooth out the shape. Step three is to use a finishing putty like "easy sand" to make a nice smooth, even surface. Then I can do the prep work to make a mold. That involves putting on flanges if needed, waxing everything, and putting on a separating agent.
This is the front top section with stage one and most of stage two completed. I will post again when stage three is complete.
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| Posted 5/31/2020 7:20:47 PM |
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Supreme Being
Last Login: 4/6/2024 5:28:59 PM
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Little bit of a problem today. In an earlier post I stated a concern that the front helicopter lift points might be too deep and cause a mold separation problem. Since it's a part of the body that will just be cut out and a metal box inserted, I thought I could just fill the space with resin and leave about .25" of space. Everything went great...………… until I taped one of the fills to se if it was set yet.
Ooops, the foam under the epoxy resin I had sealed it with had melted with the heat leaving only the thin layer of epoxy resin to hold it up. It's a pretty easy fix so not a big problem.
Besides that, the driver side of the front section is basically completed. I need to do a little more work on the passenger side, then mate it to the rear half to make sure everything is going to line up, attach the flange dividers, and it will be ready for fiberglass.
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| Posted 6/10/2020 4:14:04 PM |
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Supreme Being
Last Login: 4/6/2024 5:28:59 PM
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Just a quick progress report:
Finally finished the body work on the front half of the main body. The procedure I used took way too much effort to produce anything close to a satisfactory result. On the rear half I have an idea for a different approach that might be quicker with less work. Worth a try.
Today I installed the flanges. Next couple of days will be applying the sealing clay, waxing, and then applying the mold separating coating. This weekend should be doing the fiberglass. 
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| Posted 6/10/2020 5:09:15 PM |
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What would Alfred say?
Last Login: 9/13/2022 4:03:58 AM
Posts: 195,
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Hey Sly,
Have you thought about using drywall joint compound for the basic fill? Super easy to spread and sand. Just dont lay to thick as it shrinks a bit. I use it on plug work prior to sealing for mold fab and to smooth mold joints prior to mold tape application on the seams. And it’s super cheap too...
Try an area - you’ll thank me 😎
Zeus
Bat-what?.....Na, it’s just an oversized badass big black car (with optional machine guns)
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| Posted 6/10/2020 5:52:28 PM |
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Supreme Being
Last Login: 4/6/2024 5:28:59 PM
Posts: 1,684,
Visits: 5,334
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Yes, I have tried it. Results I have had with it have not been good. It's OK in small bits but cracks if applied too thickly as you note. The big trick with any body work is to use as little filler as possible so as not to change the shape of the model.
Plus, I am not able to leave my molds in one place, I have to move them around. Body putty is more solid.
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| Posted 6/13/2020 6:33:23 PM |
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Supreme Being
Last Login: 4/6/2024 5:28:59 PM
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Visits: 5,334
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Put on flanges, two coats of mold release wax applied, two coats of mold release coating as well. (It's green so that's why it has a green tint now.) Used quarter inch fiberglass strands in the resin to make a slurry to get into the cut lines and any sharp corners. Sorry for the shadow.
Laying the first layer of 1.5 oz fiberglass mat. This is a big piece so the chance of problems is great.
Need to put on a second layer of mat, reinforce some edges, and add strengthening supports.
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