2013 - AusEx (AmEx Replica)

[OzFab]

Well, I couldn't paint but, I had to do something so, I covered the seat components.

I had some 4" foam for the seat & back & 2" for the sides & front piece laying around which I cut some time ago, along with the material which was left over after making the seat & padding for the little princess' kart.

The next thing I did was lay 2 coats of clear satin polyurethane lacquer on the ply then, once they were dry it was simply a matter of stapling it all together...

Let me know if you want mre pics

 

[landuse]

I love the velvet look

 

[souperman000]

The wettest June over there and one of the driest winters up here, that's interesting. But I'm sure you need it because of those huge fires down there. No mudslides I hope?

Seat lookin good!

 

[OzFab]

No mudslides I hope?

One or two minor ones, like a retaining wall collapsing into the neighbours yard...

 

[OzFab]

Typical!

We've had horrible weather for weeks, except the weekend I was out of town visiting my kids & meeting the grandies (there's a couple of pics below). Perfect weather; clear blue skies with temps in the low to mid 20s

What I have been doing lately is polishing the wheels. When I first bought them, the rims were grey (eww) so, I'd always planned to polish them but, it's a loooong slow process...
Step 1. Sand blast with fine media so as not to do too much damage to the rims
Step 2. Wet sand the rims completely with 240
Step 3. Buff the heck out of them with a sisal wheel & mop. This step takes the longest but shows the biggest change
Step 1. High shine polish with a cotton wheel & mop

Tell me which you prefer...

I also scored myself a set of (4) chrome mini valve stems, just to add to the appeal

 

[landuse]

Those rims came up nice and shiny. You must have been polishing those for hours!!

 

[OzFab]

RimS? Only one is polished so far... Like I said

it's a loooong slow process...

There's 4 stages pictured; before, sand blasted, sanded & finished

The more time it takes, the better the finish...

 

[itsid]

Well regarding the price of a set of polished rims (ebay #370612320008 or #321085886781)
I guess, I'd rather buy them instead of spending all those hours.

But hats off to all that patience for sure

'sid

PS I liked the matt grey look .. I'd added a yellow or red pinstripe that's it.

 

[OzFab]

Each to their own I suppose.

I bought the rims cheap which was all I could get for the price at the time but, as previously stated, didn't like the finish, I'm not a fan of flat or matt finishes.

If nothing else, the countless hours of polishing gives me experience...

 

[itsid]

Well those 80 GBP is for a set of four as far as I understand.

Nevermind, as far as the picture tells, you did a good job there,
and if you don't care about those hours of work it's the cheapest way to have really nice looking rims for sure.

'sid

 

[Jay Gould]

If you're counting votes, I like the polished rims better.

 

[OzFab]

Well those 80 GBP is for a set of four as far as I understand.

That equates to $130AU plus $70 for shipping; I paid less than half that for the rims & tyres

 

[itsid]

I understand.
I'm on the same boat P&P breaks my neck on ebay every other time too.

Now, if you don't mind me saying: I like your AusEX no matter what color rims or panne velvet you choose
If my kart comes out half as good as this one I'd be proud.

'sid

 

[OzFab]

Now, if you don't mind me saying: I like your AusEX no matter what color rims or panne velvet you choose
If my kart comes out half as good as this one I'd be proud.

I don't mind at all Thanks

Paint tomorrow

 

[OzFab]

Soon after I got up this morning, My buddy Kurt called me & said "the weather's not lookin' too good"

Seriously? Yesterday, the weather forecast said mostly sunny & temps on the low 20s We decided to press on with the colour but, if it didn't get warm enough, we'd do the clear another day...

I started rubbing the frame on Thursday; a light rub was cutting right through to bare metal. Kurt to the rescue; "Here's some 2 pack hi fill, go throw that at it." After letting the three coats dry overnight, I started rubbing until it got too dark (which wasn't that long after everything else I had going on) & finished this morning.

Base coat: Medium coarse aluminium.
Colour: 2 coats of candy blue tinter (more like tinted thinners) to give a translucent effect & let the metallic shine through. Believe me, the pics (below) don't do it justice...

Oh, it didn't get warm enough but, an hour after we finished:

 

[Jay Gould]

Looks very professional!

 

[itsid]

I looove candy blue!
It looks great, and you painted it outside, I tried that once and I got more dust pollen and insects than paint on my bike... that wasn't working for me at all.

'sid

 

[OzFab]

Looks very professional!

In effect, it is professional; he does airbrush work & I'm a panel beater There's a small sample of his earlier work below

I looove candy blue!
It looks great, and you painted it outside, I tried that once and I got more dust pollen and insects than paint on my bike... that wasn't working for me at all.

'sid

I would've loved to paint it in a booth, maybe then it would've been finished today but, they're a tad expensive so, for lack of a better alternative...

Somehow, we got lucky, not one bug in it

 

[souperman000]

Looks great.

For a cheap booth, one could use an EZ-UP (like the one Fab is using) and put either the factory sides of a tarp around it.

 

[OzFab]

A couple of daylight shots