current build

jerseymutt · #**181** (**permalink**) 11-21-2011

In the course we were taught to work with both female and male molds. The guy who taught it was an old boat builder and after he stopped building had a boat repair business. He never used mold release wax but used car type waxes like mothers gold but would try to build up layers, sometimes 20 coats. When he did a female mold he would put a garden hose fitting in the mold and then use water pressure to get the part to release from the mold.

Also taught us that are some materials like plastic sheeting that the polyester resin wouldn't stick to and that's what he would have used where you did the foil and I have seen him make a female mold out of kitchen counter formica, held together with a crude frame, wax the interior and pop a boat hull out of it. Fiberglass can be fun to work with if you can take the itching.

Mutt

Hoofhearted · #**182** (**permalink**) 12-30-2011

Finally got Christmas out of the way. I didn't touch the body over Christmas. The usual interruptions plus a water heater that decided to go south. I got the glassing done over the past few days but it was a pain in the ass. The ays were warm enough but as soon as the sun goes down the temp goes with it. Last night I was finishing off some reinforcement on the bottom panel. I needed time so I put a little less catalyst in the resin. With the cold and less catalyst it took forever to gel. This morning it was still tacky so I put it out in the sun and an hour later viola! it gelled.

I pulled it off the mould. Came off cleanly and the aluminum peeled off cleanly as well. As it was a male mould I used it will take some bondo and flattening but its pretty good so it shouldn't take much.

Here's a couple of shots. Sorry for the quality. My garage doesn't cause a lot of jealousy.

By weslake at 2011-12-30

kgdb · #**183** (**permalink**) 12-30-2011

Looks real good man and I really enjoy your work and posts. Keep them coming!

Bonehead9 · #**184** (**permalink**) 12-31-2011

Looks good.

jerseymutt · #**185** (**permalink**) 12-31-2011

Looks great, shouldn't take much fairing at all from the looks in the picture. Some sanding and straight edge will tell. Can't wait to see it mounted on the bike.

Mutt

Hoofhearted · #**186** (**permalink**) 01-03-2012

Between New Years and bowl games I didn't get much done. Some basic trimming and hole location and a bit of filling. Its pretty level so it won't take much more than a skin of bondo to get it nice and flat. Here's a couple of shots. Right now it looks like a beater. But the next photo will be neater.

By weslake at 2012-01-03

Hoofhearted · #**187** (**permalink**) 01-14-2012

My wife loves to decorate for Christmas. No empty flat or vertical surface is safe. "Undecorating" is a pain and I'm usually drafted in to help. This being the case I haven't got much done on the body. Bits here and there. The body is in primer and not too bad. There are a couple of dips that have to be sorted. Today I made the air scoops. I need a good flow of air because as you know a goldfish has more fins than a Weslake cylinder and head. Add in I am going to run an overbored (thin cylinder wall) 546 cc Weslake (as soon as I build it) in the 650cc class I am going to need a good airflow.

A simple form (hard to call it a mould) and viola! you have a scoop. Or in my case two scoops.

The body as it stands

By weslake at 2012-01-08

The air scoop "mould"

By weslake at 2012-01-14

Taped into place for an idea of how it will look. Trim, glass and some bondo and we'll be good to go.

By weslake at 2012-01-14

jerseymutt · #**188** (**permalink**) 01-15-2012

Well you can mount the engine in the side car out in the open air and you don't have to worry about the scoops.

When I took the class on fiber glass boat building the teacher used cardboard all the time to make shapes in glass. If it works, use it - right.

Mutt

Bonehead9 · #**189** (**permalink**) 01-15-2012

Cool stuff. It's gonna look like it's doing 200 just sitting still.

Hoofhearted · #**190** (**permalink**) 01-15-2012

Quote:

Originally Posted by jerseymutt

Well you can mount the engine in the side car out in the open air and you don't have to worry about the scoops.

Mutt

Regretfully the SCTA rules have taken all the innovation out of building a sidecar. One rule states you have to have the engine on a centerline between the front and rear wheels. And the rider has to sit on that centerline as well.

I was planning to work on it this afternoon but its cold (high 40s) and I'm a weenie when it comes to anything under 70 so I'll see how I feel.