TOPIC:

Starting to feel like the Karate Kid with this FRP plate...


But Mr. Miyagi won't let me stop until it's looking awesome.
Which means it gets up to the point where it's almost no fun anymore.
And quite a bit beyond that...

Ah yes, "Right circle, left circle"

Man, that was a lot of work. But it's starting to look like it should now...
I counted the amount of sandpaper - leading to the conclusion that I took off eight layers on each side.
And that is only the first part of the job, with the crudest sheets...
Finer sanding has also been done - 280 wet and 600 wet. Maybe do one more with 1000.
After that it's polishing time!

Edou wrote:

...
After that it's polishing time!...

"Wax on, wax off"

That's more like it... I purposely used the flash 'cause FRP usually looks weak, even when photographed without.
Just gotta do the sides on the rear of the undercowl :


Vintage FRP can have a glassy white look on the surface, which triggers my polishing instict...
Like on this picture, a few overhauls ago :


Looks so much better when it's really black...

Mmm... I now notice that the holes in the TBG undercowl don't line up with the chassis plate.
Looking at the edges, I think the lexan shrunk a bit... not very happy about that.

Edou wrote:

Mmm... I now notice that the holes in the TBG undercowl don't line up with the chassis plate.
Looking at the edges, I think the lexan shrunk a bit... not very happy about that.

My Bigpig body was like that - width was't really a problem but it's too short, meaning the roof doesn't sit flat

I'm sure the "shrinking" comes from making their vacform plugs directly from the inside of Tamiya shells & not putting an extra bit of thickness on, like you're supposed to.

I'm gonna run this one anyway so I'll figure something out...
But it's a bit disappointing to (probably) have to make two extra holes.
Gotta say I like Tamiya lexan a lot better. That's always a satisfying job to do.
This is giving me all sorts of trouble. And a compromise on the result.

Got my own anodising process going for colouring the aluminium shock towers on the upcoming Manta Ray build.
All the spare parts will lead to another complete chassis...


I need to get some proper dye but the inkish stuff I used this time also works. Be it light and a bit purple.
But at least it's a result!


The one for the rear is in the acid bath right now...