American Ethos (2025) Electrathon America Racer

[Functional Artist]

Then, I went off to YouTube University
...ta take a crash course in "Paving with Bricks"

This Herringbone pattern looks pretty kool
...& easy ta do
https://www.youtube.com/shorts/OufbLxgbg8k

 

[Denny]

Missed you too buddy! The voices in my head were not entertaining enough!

 

[Functional Artist]

The "plan" is to remodel & expand my "work area"

So, me & Ducky started off removing the mats & loose gravel

Lookie what we found
...a "sunken" slab of concrete
* Too low to be useful (anymore)
...& too high to just "lay" the bricks on

So, it had ta go
...& it didn't "go out without a fight"

Also had to remove ~4" of gravely dirt too

This revealed
...a cut off fence post, still in concrete
...& a bunch of chunks of concrete
...& some big 'ol tree roots too

I was doin' "double duty" (as you can see, while Ducky was takin' a brake)
...as I was workin' on the floorboard plug
...& doin' this DIY excavation too

So, while the glue was dryin'
...on the plug
...I was diggin'
&
While the foam was expandin'
...inside of the plug
...I was diggin'

Also, my neighbor was having a new "plastic" privacy fence put up (replacing the 30 yr old wooden fence)
...so, I installed a steel "back wall"
...to my work shelter area
...so, I couldn't "F" it up

* I'ma expanding it a bit too
...but, DON'T tell my wife
...as she, doesn't know anything about it

 

[Functional Artist]

Next for the plug was to apply some body filler (This episode brought to you...by Bondo body filler)

Here is the first/rough/base coat of body filler

Kinda like "frosting a cake"
...& here is the other side

* Notice, for sanding, I am using the "remote" work table
...ta help keep the dust & mess (just like with FG) away from my usual work area

So, after sanding
...I applied a second coat
...mainly to the "low spots"
...left from the first coating

Also, applied some body filler to help "round" them bottom junctions

After applying, I used the glass jar to help establish the "rounded" shape, of the fillets

Then, used the glass jar to help sand them "rounded" fillets
...& a sanding block for the flat stuff

Another view of "work in progress"

 

[Functional Artist]

Lots of sandin'
...& roundin'
...ta make this floorboard "plug"
...nice-n-smooth

Then, gave 'er a couple of coats of paint
...ta "seal" everything up

Lefter view

Righter view

Check out the nice-n-rounded "fillets"
...& these "flat" areas (on the sides) will create some nice "ledges"
...ta help "stiffen/strengthen" the structure
...& for securing/mounting the floorboard, to the chassis...too

I rounded these "sharp corners" off pretty goodly...too

Closer up view

 

[Functional Artist]

After excavating most of the dirt (lotta work)
...I added some Pea gravel (more work)

Got 'er mostly smoothed out

I'm gonna try this Herringbone pattern

* Notice, I used a "guide string" ta try-n-keep the "lines" straight

...but, found the "area" I'm working with isn't exactly square
...so, gonna have ta "work it" a bit

** Also, started off in the garage doorway area
...so, the "patio" would be nice-n-even with the garage floor
...&/so, it wouldn't create a "trip hazard"

 

[Denny]

Some of those bricks look longer than others cordin to my eyecrometer. If you leave a gap in between em you can cheat that. Then use the sand with mortar mixed in to lock em together.

 

[Edwin Spangler]

Cant imagine why ducky may need that shovel in his box LOL!

 

[Functional Artist]

Remember when my camera got rained on, a couple of weeks ago?

Well...it seems like the "sound" recording got messed up
...& as such, I made a silent movie

 

[ezcome-ezgo]

Blow some compressed air under there.

 

[Functional Artist]

Let's back up a bit

I gave the "plug" mold (3) coats of the release wax

Then a coat of the PVA (thin plastic barrier)

Then, (1) layer of CSM (chopped strand mat) fiberglass
...& (1) layer of 1708 FG cloth

Another view

Then, (2) more layers of 1708 Bi-Axial fiberglass cloth

* Notice I re-enforced the top flange or "lip"

Got 'er "cracked loose"

...& "she's" off

 

[ezcome-ezgo]

Can you place this new component on the vehicle and show us? My feeble mind is unable to grasp it's purpose.

 

[Functional Artist]

Can you place this new component on the vehicle and show us? My feeble mind is unable to grasp it's purpose.

I sure can

It's a footwell/floorboard
...ta support & protect the driver's feet

Here is a "test fit" on/in the chassis

After I get 'er trimmed up

...the seat should almost "butt" right up to the footwell/floorboard
...as to create an almost continuous "cockpit area"

Nice-n-tight fit

 

[ezcome-ezgo]

Ah I see. Well done.

 

[Denny]

You have the perfect voice for silent movies. I really enjoyed listening to it.

 

[Master Hack]

Wow! When there is no DIYGK things get done!
Now ya need to get with carbon fiber! I wanna see that on the '26 model.

 

[Functional Artist]

Wow! When there is no DIYGK things get done!
Now ya need to get with carbon fiber! I wanna see that on the '26 model.

Hey T,

Yup, movin' right along

IDK about CF...maybe...just maybe

So, I used a straight edge

...ta mark the perimeter, for cuttin'

Just clean up/a little bit off the back (same thing, I always tell my barber)

Then, used the vibratin'/ossilatin' tool

...for trimmin' off the excess

I really like how using this tool, helps to keep the FG "dust down"
...& it's pretty easily cleaned up
...by just brushing it off, into the trash

 

[Functional Artist]

Still workin' on the brick "work floor area"
...in between towing
...& playin' with FG

A little crooked
...but, good-n-solid

Ducky says "Ya need ta have a "border" along this outer edge

I agreed
...&/so, "we" installed a 2 x 6 landscape timber

Still got a "ways" ta go
...but, I ran outta bricks

Gonna have ta go back to the brick pile "store"

 

[ezcome-ezgo]

You have a barber? Most stunning admission yet.

 

[Master Hack]

Carbon fiber is the material of the future! Its not a good idea to build submersable vessels withit, however.