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The hood is shaped and primed, Still needing wet sanding and sealing.
Soon she'll be ready for the mold...and then torn apart like Christmas wrapping paper
PooK

Before Primer

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dpook317@att.net

Yo, Pook-
That last shot, the 3/4 front, is just awesome! What a great lookin piece of work! It looks shark-like, all ya need is a beady black eyeball on the side. (and some big ol' teeth!)

Can you post some pics sometime of the layup work "in progress"? I'm curious as to how you do the seams, i.e. where one piece of 'glass cloth ends and another begins. In reading about this kind of stuff, some folks seem to do "butt" seams and others do "overlap" seams, and some seem to do overlaps and then go back and cut off the lower layer or something... I'm also guessing you lay out the pieces carefully so those seams are on the bottom (non-visible) side of things, right?

I appreciate all the info you've shared on this stuff.

JD "Been sanding styrofoam in the garage" Kemp

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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

I think that's why the nick-name Mako has stuck so well.

In the first pic if you look close you see a very smooth section, Its wax paper fastened at one end then pulled tight over the joint (overlapping e-glass) I take a bondo spreader and smooth the wax paper down, what I "think" happens is that the epoxy pulls towards the wax? or maybe it just fills the voids? because when I lift the wax paper after its cured there is no seam to be seen and very little to be felt. Its not ready for paint by any means but like a custom motorcycle tank build it requires only a skim coat of filler. It does use more epoxy this way and that's weight but its ounces not pounds and it works.

PooK

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dpook317@att.net

Hi Pook-
I've read about peel ply/wax paper in your earlier posts, and in several other places. It sounds like the trick to a good surface. And, if it can make a smooth surface over a lap seam, that's perfect! I can see how a lap seam would be stronger by far than a butt seam, but I was wondering about the "lump" where the seam was. I understand it better now, didn't realize I could squeegee down the seam, make it smooth. Good to know!

The Mako looks good in color. I'm partial to the lime green. It would look especially good with black frame rails, and maybe a black two-tone on the side pod, like the orange and black one. They all look really, really good.

Thank you for (again) sharing the knowledge.
JDK

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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

A bit closer on the hood/nose, I made the cut and pocket for the fuel filler and now I just have about 300hrs of wet sanding and buffing to do
PooK

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dpook317@att.net

Console (ecu/electrical, dry box) is done and Ive started on the side rockers.
The lid for the console is the hood via a foam seal.
PooK

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dpook317@att.net

Left rocker in primer! still so much sanding to finish...oh well
PooK

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dpook317@att.net

A better shot of the rockers.
Ive left a small air gap but fear the e-glass will chew up the paint/powder coat on the frame?
any Ideas? float it? some kind of trim, like door edge?
PooK

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dpook317@att.net

Re: sanding ..

Think of the arm wrestling champs you can win and all that beer

Hey Cheap, long time no talk, How you been?
Ive got it down to wax on wax off now but I'm getting to old for this stuff!
I'm teaching myself to make molds now
wish me luck.
PooK
Have to turn this


Into this


Into this


Then do it all over again


And this is the little part

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dpook317@att.net

The mold is done! now just three or four more to go
I did manage to get the floor pan cut so I could finalize the rockers.
PooK

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dpook317@att.net

Its mold time...what a pain in the butt
Oh well gotta get done.
Check out how that slick sand is holding up to the molds (last pic)...That's wild stuff, thats only egg shell fab (one layer of glass over foam with slick sand for the final shaping)
PooK

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dpook317@att.net

The last mold is almost done! and its about time!
PooK

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dpook317@att.net

Pre fitting the fire walls and motor guard before she leave for powder coating

PooK

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dpook317@att.net

Ready for paint? Is the chassis fully welded? In this picture the heat-affected zones on those chassis tubes make it appear they're only tacked.

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Midlana book: Build this mid-engine Locost!, http://midlana.com/stuff/book/
Kimini book: Designing mid-engine cars using FWD drivetrains
Both available from https://www.lulu.com/