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Thursday, January 5, 2012

Body - Comes out of the Mould

I have just received pics from Robin and Lynda at Koop de Glass of the Coupe body coming out of the mould.

Pretty cool! Here are the pics they sent through, but first......you might remember the process.......The shiny black finish in the photo below is the surface that the fibreglass was to be laid up onto. Before this happened though it was coated with a releasing agent so that the fibreglass body didn't stick to the mould. You can also see in this photo a bit of grey towards the back.....that is the finished colour of the body being brushed on to the mould. It seems weird that it went on first and that it was being brushed on, but what happens is that finish (gelcoat) is making contact with the the very smooth and shiny mould so it will come out looking smooth and shiny like that too. Any brush marks will be on the underside where the fibreglass will be layered. Now with all that in mind.....here comes the finished product.


In these first two pics the body is still in the mould about to be released.



The first part of the mould is unbolted and carefully pulled away from the new body. You will recall the release agent that was applied will help to ensure the new fibreglass didn't bond with the mould.


Small wedges are tapped in between the mould halves to ease away from the body.


You can really see the body now.....lookin' good.



Not far to go now!


And here she is in all her glory! Wow it looks great!


Back inside to try fitting her up on a chassis.




I have to say I am pretty pleased and I am looking forward to the Kumeu Classic Car and Hot Rod Festival where I will get to see the body in person for the first time.....and also get to bring it home. Thanks Robin and Lynda its looking good and I can't wait. Only 16 sleeps!

5 comments:

  1. You sound like a big kid:-) It's going to look great!!

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  2. Cant beat progress Col.

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  3. How exciting...I remember those days well as it starts to finaly look like a car. Keep up the good work!!

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  4. Cheers Kevin! Cat wait to take a cutter to it. The body is standard height so is a long way from the finished lines. That said it will very much be a case of look, measure, mark then, look and measure again before any cutter goes near it. Can't beat the old saying of measure twice and cut once.

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