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I have had the VDP chrome process done on several FRP items.
Results were always poor to good and not very durable. They will, in time peel the chrome deposition right off. Better to use a 2K chrome paint. The VDP process is more expensive.
We have tried to distract smash, even offered to walk up to the shops with him. He's having none of it!
I think hes moved a camp bed into the garden so he can sleep with the car.
However...its at Stoneleigh overnight...if I can only persuade the security there to let me in.
How about mgb - the rear window comes from that so we must be close in size and availability is good.
Maybe use the front use the front bumper on the rear if you the curve might suit
The fronts would need cutting down to quarter bumpers and capping off on the inner ends, while the back one will probably need a section adding to widen it enough to fit. You might just be able to use the discarded section from the front for that though. The whole lot could then be chrome plated for a relatively reasonable price (anyone any idea how much that should cost?)
The ones on Smash's car do look the biz, so it's well worth going the extra mile to add this detail if you can.
Bear in mind the body is not symetrical and also if you're looking at genuine front quarters the mouth aperture is quite different to the real thing....
You would think there would be a market for a front curved pair of bumpers and a 3 piece extendable rear bumper that would fit all of the classic recreations and unusual old looking sports cars that are built and created?
If you can buy mini classic chromed bumpers for £40 each end then surely there is a demand for the bumpers we want which I personally would pay £300 each end?
I'm sure with all the classic cars in the world somewhere on some models(s) there is a perfect solution. We just have to find them...
When we were considering cut and shut existing bumpers at first we looked at the front bumper of the Triumph Stag before going total bespoke build - the tool for the profile was bought specifically for this job.
In one word troublesome! Pretty sure this will be a one off when finished.
The problem has been the relief angles round the mouth and getting a tight fit in the aperture. But the real issue comes when it's highly polished it highlights how none symetrical the mouth is - one side has much more curve (offside) vs the straighter nearside. A highly reflective finish just draws your eye straight to it. The beauty of the GRP mouth is it's thin and flexible so you can just pull it to shape when it's screwed in - you can't do that with 3mm alloy that has a wire rolled edge!!
I think ultimately we may reshape the mouth aperture completely to get some straighter lines in but for now the car will be at Stoneleigh with standard GRP mouth.
I think ultimately we may reshape the mouth aperture completely to get some straighter lines in but for now the car will be at Stoneleigh with standard GRP mouth.[/QUOTE]
Ouch - reshaping the aperture isn't hard but since its painted I wouldn't look forward to the job
...But the real issue comes when it's highly polished it highlights how none symetrical the mouth is - one side has much more curve (offside) vs the straighter nearside...
Smash - I know nothing, but...
I thought that was a feature of the original car?
( I'm sure there was some debate about this on another thread? )
Here is just one example that looks the way you describe.
It would be a real shame if you had to change the grille opening at this stage.
... The problem is when you tell someone it's a replica - if anything looks out of line it just gets tagged a shit replica - no use trying to tell someone that the original mouth was like that, it just looks wrong!...
Quite frankly, anyone who calls your car a s**t replica is simply not worth talking to.
I guess the key is to accept that it doesn't look wrong, it looks hand made.
Remember the original 250 SWB production line didn't look like this.
Personally, I think you will end up with one of the best Tribute cars ever build.
So I hope you keep it long enough to enjoy the great reaction I am sure it will generate.
It's taken 4 months to get this far and there's still a shed load more to do - sadly I get bored quite quick so I think once the paint and grille issues are finished and the seats, wipers and windscreen trim done it'll probably be straight up for sale.
What paint issues smash?
Have you driven it much? I expect lots of people have stopped to talk to you about it.
There will be lots watching when you sell it, it will create a benchmark price for the rest.
