I used the trial version kit of smooth on plastic's , now that I know how it reacts I'll be getting more of the stuff and some black tint to redo my dash bezels in black plastic so the spray chromer will have 1 less step to do when he sprys my bezels again for me. I want an A/C bezel with no radio and 2 power outlets (cigarette lighter) openings, plus I'm thinking of the intelletronix digital dash and don't want to just make a metal plate and screw it to the dash. I'm going to make a clay master the digital dash will sit in and flow into the heater/radio bezel like it was made for it (hopefully) then make a mold of that and cast it in black plastic too!
if I could only afford that 9-10 k for the spray chrome machine I'd be in heaven! can ya say custome chromed dash board! yeah!:cheers:
it'll be a little expensive for me to do since it's just a "one off " unless someone needs one like that or I just make a stock looking part and it looks/works good. then I might sell a couple. but I NEED the parts so I'm making them for me first and then others if they want em.
for example that first mold of this piece cost me 35 bucks and I will have to do another. (another 35) that's more than what some others were asking for the good used piece (50 bucks) BUT after the second mold is made to perfect the shape and hide the repair joint it will be just the cost of the plastic after that. so for both my convertibles it'l be cheaper AND I'll have a mold to be able to make another if I break either of mine.
nobody I know makes dash bezels for the 66 dart and it's hard getting hold of good radio bezels of any type that haven't been hacked. so I'll be making mine up as a precaution of damaging mine or weathering it.
later on I'll get a 65 64 63 radio /heater bezel and those STUPID defroster vents (that are overpriced like you would not believe 49 bucks for 2 pieces of plastic yeah right!) I'd pay 15 apiece if I had to but 25 apiece just ain't gonna happen. and see if people need them recast. I'm looking for the metal inserts that go into the radio bezel for the knob holes. I think I have found something that'll work so it doesn't break out so that's a plus. and the nuts that go onto the defroster vents I'm still looking for. I want to cast then vents with the 2 1/2-2 adapter already on it so you can use (cheaper in cost)aftermarket or junkyard hoses if you want to.
there is so many possibilities of making those/any type of parts it isn't funny.
Nobody makes many of our early A parts. if I can coral enough good parts to cast I might be able to sell em (or at least make em for me) all the plastic cast parts for the early A's that we need made. the hard part is getting a good part and paying a decent price for it first!
so far I have in the works
the top switch cover you are looking at right now. (almost done and ready to go.
convertible rear top side panels (that thin plastic piece the at covers the edges of the panel and the top boot covers and snaps to) black or white ABS or styrene. molds are almost ready for an epoxy coating and solid mounting to take to the vacuformer guy and have a test run made of (actually all 4 pieces. 2 outer skins and 2 inner covers sort of z shaped) I forgot to take a pic of the inner piece.
the inner piece that makes the top of the rear side panel on convertibles look good and hides the lift cylinders from the top looking down . done in black color.
and of course the radio bezels in different configurations.
I'm going for the A/C radio delete(gt style), radio and heater delete (gt style), A/C radio (gt style). heater/radio (gt style). you get the drift all the ones you find hacked up. cast in black so the spray chromer has less work to do for me (cheaper I like that)
kick panels with 4in round speaker kickouts to clear the drivers side (so far) fresh air vent), passengers side mold will be done in july hopefully)
then it's test fitting time on mine! this is the first pic before having to move it down 1 1/2 inch and out to clear the fresh air vent door.
Waiting on vacuformer guy to get the test pieces done and see if they fit!
mounting cup for my1966 dart all 4 stop/turn/tail LED tail light conversion kit(it works but you have to hot glue it) I want to make the total kit plug and play with out hot glue if I can. fronts too! (vacuformer molds again waiting on the vacuformer guy)
replacement bezels for my rear tail lights (this is gonna be EXPENSIVE!!!!) or maybe not if I don't try to cast or billet it . I have an idea about that.
I'm going to cast a new top plate for the wife's 66 dart console out of plastic and then spray chroming it to see what kind of durability I can get out of that. plus I can customize it with a cup holder and power plugs . (she wants 2 and lighted at that like the caliber but I can't see a way of getting 2 in there to look good!)
GAH!!! too many irons in the fire right now that's for sure!
at this rate I'll never get my car done! I'll always be putting on and taking off parts! !@#$%#$%:banghead:
