D MENAC 7

Actually the LEDs are easier to put in before the cast with a drill. I have one I tried but it wasn't a good cast because it has taken a long time to cure properly but I did drill it and put an LED in it for a test. It looke rather nice. I'll attempt another one soon. Right now just waiting on molding supplies that hopefully will be here by the end of the week or beginning of next week. I am hoping to show something by next weekend of the first finished set. The CF will need to be standard CF lay up where it is put down with a layer on the outside and then the CF material followed by the remaining resin casting. If I am going to do that and have to charge as such, I want to do it right.

Though not every choice will be available from the very first run, I hope to progress quickly to other options.

I'm keeping track of everyone.

thew

hehe only 2 ...


ohh tell me more about the oil coolers ?
are you makeing a mesh for them?? i am confused

D MENAC 7

So far I am planning on a frame that attaches in the same way the auto RX-8s cover attaches. They made these front ends symetrical in that the same mounting attachements for the right hand side of the oil cooler area is also on the left side. The automatic RX-8 only has one oil cooler so the other side there is a cover. There are a coupld of screw stansions there that this cover mounts to. As I am designing the frame, it will use these same mounting holes.

Below are three pictures. The first pic is from the oil cooler screen DIY thread showing how this member attached his screening to this area. The second pic is what I have designed but does not take into account the way I will have to attach this to the rear of the bumper cover. The last is from the maintenance manual and shows the fog light cover, as they call it, and how to install and remove this piece. This is the piece that will allow me to design how the screen frame will mount.

As far as the material, I lean towards aluminum mesh since it is light strong and can be obtained in bright aluminum or painted trim black.

D MENAC 7

Did a test on a clear one tonight with a blue and a white LED inserted. These photos cannot do it justice as light is one of the most difficult things to photograph. To keep it from being too intense, I used the spot meter function on my camera but in doing so, it also lessens the actual light being reflected in the nether regions of the clear strake.

Here is the blue from the top, blue from the side and white from the top.

robertdot

that's damn cool

himitsu

Hi D, any chance you could finalize the normal aluminium color strakes by end of September? I wanna get my sister who is studying in the us to buy it from you and carry it back home when she returns this september... I live outside the US you see, its such a hassle with payment and delivery.

Dlin23

Hey are u going to have the basic aluminum color? Put me on the list if the price is right for these strakes. I love how the clear ones look with the lights. Great job.

D MENAC 7

Aluminum is one of the first choices I am going to try to make. I am waiting mold and resin supplies. One of the resin supplies I have ordered is made up of 50% aluminum powder and the manufacturer claims they will polish up like aluminum. This I will test next week as soon as it comes in. I have found a very bright chrome paint that is pretty nice looking and I did find a true chrome paint that looks the most promissing. The later is $150 for 8 ozs of paint though. However, I could see the guy who was painting it reflection in the painting process. Now that is really good paint.

RonD-NM

Very nice work I love the leds. If possible can you paint the front of the strike (over the led) to see what it looks like so the light is reflected to the back.

Thanks,
-Ron

D MENAC 7

Thanks for the idea, I think I will gie that a try, maybe fade it back past the LED with a chrome paint. Also, I might think of a design that can be made by drilling very small holes in from the rear. A succession of these holes can form a design of some sorts. These holes will capture the light very well. We will see what I can come up with. I know there was a request for something rather "space ship like" in this thread already and this might suffice the demand. Keep tuned in.

Jump120MPH

I think painting the led and leave a thin strip unpainted on the top of it would look cool.

thew

you are doing great work


What do you do for a living ?

azben

great work, please put me on the list

Photic

sweet stuff. I'm interested as well.

RX-Hawk

I'm definately interested in the oil cooler strakes / mesh.

I already have strakes but the LED style really looks cool. My only
concern is that anyone with the blue lights will probably get into
trouble with the law heh. Is it possible to tie them into the turn
signal and have an amber light in them? Just a thought

canaryrx8

iTrader: (3)

amber led=one heckuva cool looking sidemarker! Any more thoughts about trying to incorporate a rotary symbol somehow, perhaps these items are too small to do that tastefully but it might still make a cool option

D MENAC 7

Short description: A/V Technician. Long version, anything related to Instructional technologies for classrooms, conferences and entertainment. I work at a State University. Been here for 22+ years. Making this stuff will be during my evenings and weekends and I plan to employ my sons to help. (They get slave labor wages to start :D)

D MENAC 7

Anything is possible. However, with LEDs and incadescent turn signals, a balancing resistance mechanism would have to be in line at some point. I know that Autoilumination has them so that you can use the 7440 LED lamps they have in the turn signal rear and front.

D MENAC 7

Possibly but it gets more compicated to design. Like you said, very small and might not be noticeable.

However, I am at some point going to try front and rear rotary accents.

thew

Cool.. I am a I.A.T.S.E Stagehand/ AV tech/ Set Carpenter/Lighting Designer/ Videographer .


I own Creative Productions in Santa Barbara .. Small world...

Saint75

Hey D.. Add me too please..
I love to get me some of those strakes..
you got a good thing going here.. :D

Detroit RX8

I'm definately interested in the oil cooler strakes / mesh. The pics on your car of the fog strakes looks sweet!

rx8spiritR

I Want It In Gun Metal Polished Finish!!!!!!!!!asap!!!!!

D MENAC 7

I hope to be making these available in about a week and a half. Still waiting for mold making supplies.

Though I have found some chrome paint that looks nice, I am still working on that. I have ordered some casting resin that is 50% aluminum and it is supposed to polish up like aluminum. As this all comes together, I will get hold of everyone

Omicron

Hey Dennis, something of note: When you buy your LEDs for the clear ones (which look VERY cool, BTW!), be sure you buy good quality LEDs. I've had a cheap one burn out before (in relatively short order) and it shorted out the electrical system where it was tied in.