CraigRX8

Heres my attempt

buy cheap gauge pod. mark it up how you want.


cut off sides



cut


start fibreglassing. dont forget to rub down.



fill in with p38 easy sand, or any body filler







i got time to do a lil work on it today.

So i got it rubbed down, 60 grit, 120 grit, 320 wet and dry, then 600 grit. dont go any higher as you need the 2k or hi build primer to stick. once this is applied you can rub it down with 800, then 1200, then 1500.

so i got my plastic filler primer on.

just one coat so i can see where needs more filler

Rotr8

iTrader: (2)

looks good, try one of those wrinkle coats so it might match the texture of the interior

CraigRX8

havent seen that, got a link to the stuff

shakeyourbrakes

iTrader: (4)

hey give flat black primer a try..i sprayed my lotek pod with it awhile back after trying all kinds of color combos and it came out a perfect match to the interior once it dried

SiLVeRE8

iTrader: (8)

nice work! have you ever think of painting it gloss black? i painted mine gloss black and loving it

CraigRX8

poast up some pics

SiLVeRE8

iTrader: (8)

heres the link to my thread

https://www.rx8club.com/showthread.p...ighlight=gauge

firebirdude

iTrader: (3)

Isn't it facing the wrong way?
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CraigRX8

no my car is rhd

cmr333

if you want a texture get a heat gun and a satin black spray can. hold the can about 11 " away from what your spraying and point the heat gun at an angle to what your spraying. this will create a dry spray effect and give it somwhat of a texture.

nvrfalter

iTrader: (1)

piano black FTW. looks real nice dude.

Rotr8

iTrader: (2)

saw this stuf in AutoZone last week, they didnt have flat black but just pick any color and then sray it with flat black


http://www.thewinningfinish.com/plas...=WrinkleFinish

http://www.google.com/products?hl=en...num=4&ct=title

CraigRX8

is there a paint code for piano black. wrinle paint wont work, it would need to be vinyl paint. wrinkle paint will wrinkle and non of the dash is wrinkled

nvrfalter

iTrader: (1)

its just gloss black really.

SiLVeRE8

iTrader: (8)

well i forgot what the paint code was but its called jet black. and i think any gloss black with match

05rex8

iTrader: (7)

I use this stuff at work all the time, works great

Texture Coating

Duplicates the original finish on plastic bumpers, instrument panels, dashes, consoles and other textured plastic and vinyl parts. May be topcoated with FLEXIBLE BUMPER COATER, COLOR COAT or most refinish materials. No priming required.

http://www.tcpglobal.com/autobodydep...emno=SEM+39854

cmr333

+1 thats good ****..the satin black paint i did my pod with is from sem

CraigRX8

ok got the finger out....

drying infront of the oven on under 80oF





Everthing was really smooth id say ive spend in excess of 7 hours rubbing this thing down.

First of 3 coats of paint, then leaving it for 24 hours before lacquering it

firebirdude

iTrader: (3)

Forming looks great. Still a little early to make a call on the finish..... but awesome job so far!

Jedi54

iTrader: (7)

wow, awesome work so far! can't wait to see the finished product.

seikx8

Congratulations on the DIY gauge pod, it looks way better than mine

if you do flat black, DO NOT use clear coat. If you do the piano black, you might want to paint the air vent as well to match the entire center section.

Here is mine latest version with plain flat black, didn't do a good job of smoothing out the edges (was impatience):


And this is my first version with semi-gloss piano black, interior color matching is way off:

nuke0907

iTrader: (2)

seikx8, do you have any pics from the top and back of the pod?

CraigRX8

Thanks, btw first pic looks a pretty good match. did you use a textured coat first?

cmr333

looks pretty good dude. its always nice to come up with somthing other people dont have for mad cheap.

Ross_Dawg

iTrader: (2)

lookin' good... I wish I had the time/patience to do custom work like this