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Spent the whole day stitching the seat backs together, and making the plastic backing pads to fit them to.
It is a much more difficult task than I first thought,
(seems like the story of this build!)
But I am closer to the end of it.
Just about everything I put on the car, I try to plan so that it removes easily,
the rears seats are no exception. Although he alloy curved seat backs will unscrew, (8 million screws) I have mounted the foam on the plastic bits I originally used as a pattern for the alloy.
They are held in by only 4 bolts with wing nuts for ease of removal.
I have to somehow make the leather fit the curve, and then colour it.
I thought I could do all this in two days, but now I don't think so.
It's for painting cars and other things, but usually I use a"proper" leather colouring agent at around 60 or 70 quid,
but this paint was only £5.99.
As I said I did not actually "paint" the leather, but used the paint to colour it. The difference is in the technique used to apply it.
When I sprayed on the paint, I then worked it into the leather with a brush and rag, so the paint does not "sit" on the surface but is absorbed by the leather.
Like you say it has done a good job.
I have so much leather to experiment on, and I did a lot of dyeing before I finally did the seats.
I scratched and scraped with my thumbnail to try to get the colour to come off, but it wouldn't, as it had been absorbed correctly.
Bit of a long winded answer, but hopefully may help!
Scottie, I can see how you would reach the inboard wingnuts to release the seat backs - but how can you possibly get your arm far enough through the centre opening to release those outboard?
Wonder how many others panicked and grabbed for their gas mask when you posted the 'red red red' comment...
Great job on the upholstery btw, it's the one job I (mostly) farmed out to a pro. as my last attempt at trimming left me glued to the inside of a vw beetle.
Thanks Mr T.
I'm having major problems trying to do the seat backs!!
Not even sure if its do-able its that difficult right now!
I'll persevere...........
Check out the American customer car upholstery How To videos. I remember on once showing how to upholster a convex seat back but can find the link. Be ready to watch a lot of dross as well though
Thanks Mr T.
I'm having major problems trying to do the seat backs!!
Not even sure if its do-able its that difficult right now!
I'll persevere...........
Professionals tackled mine by covering the back and sides first, glueing the leather over thin foam, then adding a 'floating' centre section that runs from top to bottom. Hope you can see what I mean from these pics -
And very nice too! I see how they've done it, but I don't think it will help me as I have already stitched up what I want, ( so don't have the option they had)
And I have to make what I already have look half reasonable when its in place!
It will be awkward, but I now know its do-able, which in my case is most of the battle over. Just gotta do it now!
My aim today was to finish the drivers rear seat back.
It proved far too difficult to finish in a day, but I made slow progress.
At least I did move forward. The passengers one will be faster and easier, as I will know exactly what to do, whereas now I am learning as I go, blind leading the blind and all that stuff!
honestly that seat looks brilliant, keep up the great work, you should be very proud of yourself. I will have to buy my of the shelf seats, yours will look very original and period, a hard task to create by any means.
Just lately, Iv'e been having some very sly thoughts about getting my build an Mot.
If I left the windscreen off, I would not need wipers and washers.
They would come after the Mot.
At the moment, it starts and drives, I would need to connect the lights indicators, put the seats (when done) in, along with the seat belts, rig up a tempory working dash, and not much more to actually get an Mot.
It would need a rear numberplate light which is does not have, so this morning I quickly knocked one out, and whacked it on the car, still has filler to be sanded etc, but would not matter for Mot!
I had originally intended to make the plinth out of stainless steel, but this would have been time consuming, difficult and very long winded, so this effort is very much a compromise, it will be part of the bodywork so will end up in BRG.
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