After pouring the first cast yesterday, allowing them to cure then sanding and buffing today, here are the first pics of a set on my driver side of my RX-8. This is the aluminum version that will be available very soon.

Is this close enough?

 

Wow.

I will now proceed to kick myself in the a$$ for purchasing the mazda strakes.

That looks GREAT, D Menac.

Have you published prices yet?

--Landon

 

No, since I cannot until I officially become a vendor. However, with a few sales, that will happen very shortly. :D

 

Looking good Dmenac7!! Let us know when they are avaliable for sale!! :o

 

looking great, D

 

You now be, officially, "da man"!

S

 

I second that.

 

Well, I purchased them too and I was kicking myself before now. :D

 

D MENAC 7,

Have you had and success with CF strakes? How about the rotor badges for the front and rear?

 

No, I have not even started on doing anything other than the aluminum or a painted version yet. The CF will come shortly and the rotor accents for the front and rear will be a bit later.

 

looking great !

 

I was asked to post a pic of the strakes side by side with the originals. Here are a couple of pics of them side by side and one of a closer look at one of them. if you look at all three, you will be able to tell which is the real OEM and which is mine. The first pic is with flash, the second is without but with additional lighting and the third is the close up of mine.

 

Eh. Yours is either slightly duller, or the flash hit the stock one harder (or vice versa?). They are close enough that a short inspection at 2AM couldn't tell (much) difference.

Again, looking good.

 

Just a question, sorry if its been answered somewhere before.

Is the paint lasting? I mean does it peel off easily from car shampoo? I use Maguire's shampoo and wax, I wont wax the thing... how about rain water on it...

Of course I wont expect plastic to last as long as metal, anywhere near half that is decent enough for me.

Or any tips on cleaning or maintenance...

 

Yes ... a couple of things to watch out for with these materials is UV light and moisture. UV will destroy them if they are not protected, as will moisture. There should be a complete seal (front/back) of the material with a high grade automotive paint and/or clear. I'd think you also need an adhesion promoter, since they are urethane and most plastics won't hold paint consistently long term without a good adhesion promoter.

And a good wax or polymer would be very beneficial to maintenance...

 

The material it is made from is 50% Polyurethane and 50% Aluminum. The color you see is all the way through the material. You can scratch it and it is still the same color. If in the future something happens whereas you get a chip or a scratch in it, all you would need to do is sand it down and then recoat it with a good clear coat.

This is not a fibergalss resin. It is made of Polyurethane. It will not have problems with weathering. I do coat it with a clear coat seal and I have not had any problems with paint sticking to this material.

 

There is a slight difference between the stock and mock. The stock will polish up to the point where it is almost possible to see a clear image reflected back in them. These you can see reflection in but not as well. You can only get so much out of a 50% aluminum powder. They are also just just a slight shade darker.

This is getting really picky though and you would have to get real close to see a difference. Also, you would have to have a stock one on with a mock one to really see it. There have been times where my son or myself have walked in and looked at what is laying around and thought the one we were looking at is the stock one until we picked it up.

On a side note, these will reduce the weight of your car a few ounces for those of you who are interested in weight reduction. LOL :D

 

Very nice job, I couldn't tell the difference. I'm definitely going to buying a set of these.

 

I'm doing the same thing. I finally bought mine since the rebate was offered - I should have known you'd have these about ready as soon as I paid full price.
BTW - I installed your brake light mod this past weekend - I've already gotten remarks about how it looks - Thanks Dennis!!

 

Cant wait to get them on the car.. wow again hats off to ya!!