Diamonite Electrathon America Racer

[Functional Artist]

I re-installed the rear/top section of the mold (on the "plug")

...& the front top section...too

Drilled some 1/4" holes
...& bolted 'em together (1/4" nuts & bolts)

Notice the nice-n-beefy junction

 

[Edwin Spangler]

You make me want to get into FG... I cant imagine how long it would take to get to this level. I should start.

 

[Functional Artist]

You make me want to get into FG... I cant imagine how long it would take to get to this level. I should start.

Wonderful!

Tryin' ta inspire others...is (1) of the main reasons that I do alot of this stuff
...& I really enjoy designin' & makin' & showin' folks how ta do stuff...too
&
I really don't need 20+ karts...either
...but, that's a whole other story

Yes...do it!

Come up with "a plan"
...start a thread
...& show us what ya come up with

 

[Functional Artist]

Flipped 'er over ta work on the other side

More flangette establishers

More fillet(s)

Closer up(per) view of a curved fillet

Closer up(per) view of a junction fillet

* I kinda "got ahead of myself"
...& drilled 1/4" holes along the perimeter flanges
...so, I "ran" a strip of packing/box tape over 'em

Then gave everything a coat of the PVA

 

[Denny]

Cheap old modeling clay works good to seal the flanges too. And it’s easy to remove!

 

[Functional Artist]

Cheap old modeling clay works good to seal the flanges too. And it’s easy to remove!

Hey Denny,

Yup, I've seen clay fillets used in many videos (a lot of "rolling snakes")
...& folks using wax for making fillets too (more rolling of material)

I just figured "shooting" fillet material outta a gun would be quicker & more efficient
...& Latex caulk is really easy to find

I was able to just use my finger (to curve the fillets)
...easily cleans up with plain 'ol soap & water
...only costs ~$2.50 a tube
...& whatever fillet material I use, would be coated with PVA

 

[Functional Artist]

Did anyone notice the big 'ol scratch/gouge in this pic?

Or the sloppiness of this fillet?

Or on this (4) way junction

Well...I have found that many minor/superficial "issues" like these, can/will be filled in/covered up by/with the PVA (barrier cream)
...so, in this situation "good enough outweighs the need to be perfect"

I have also, found that some "issues" can just be "covered up" with plastic packing/box tape
...like this "screw hole"

Had ta cut more FG cloth
CSM "pile" is on the left
1708 "pile" is on the right

Tools

I went ahead & gave (2) non-adjoining sections
...(3) layers of FG cloth

I layed down a layer of CSM first
...& then, layed a couple of layers of the stronger 1708, on top

Left rear

Right front

 

[Functional Artist]

After caulking ALL of the "new" seams ta make fillets
...& taping the bolt holes
...I gave the LAST (2) sections a coat of the PVA

So far I've used about 1/2 gallon of the PVA on this "plug" mold
...& just by "bagging" the cup & brush, I've been able to use them for this whole project

I went thru ALL (3) gallons of the resin that I originally bought for this project
...but, "if" ya remember, I used some of this resin, ta make (2) floorboards
...& (2) mini-hoods, this summer

So, I ordered a couple more gallons

Still had plenty of 1708 FG cloth
...but, the (2) gal package w/30' of 1708 cloth
...wasn't much more than just buying (2) gallons of resin
So now, we gots lots more cloth too

Pre-cut...some more cloth (CSM & 1708)

Mixed up some more resin

Gave the last (2) sections (3) layers...too

 

[Master Hack]

Dang! thats alotta work! Makes my lazy azz want to avoid FG! Scrap tubing, is the material of choice here at MTL!
!

 

[Functional Artist]

Dang! thats alotta work! Makes my lazy azz want to avoid FG! Scrap tubing, is the material of choice here at MTL!
!

Hey T,

I was/have been kinda intimidated (at first)
...but, once ya "wrap your head around it"
...&/then, do it a few times
...it kinda "grows on ya"

All of this was required just ta make the mold
...& its a "good size mold"
...& needed ta be HEAVY DUTY

See why, I did some practice pieces (floorboards & mini-hoods) first
...& DIDN'T make molds for them...just went ahead & made 'em

Now, I should be able ta make a couple of monocoque/bodies "off of/out of it"
...& they should only require a couple of layers overall
...or like, maybe 3 to 4 layers, in certain areas, that may need re-enforcement

I gave ALL (4) sections a couple more layers (5-6 total...just like the top sections)
...&...I'ma finally DONE

More pics
Tail sections

Another view

Flange junction

Closer up(per) view

Other side

 

[Master Hack]

Its that smell, that fiberglass smell, it smells like.... oh shyt who cares what it smell like!
its that buzz, that fiberglass buzz....

 

[Functional Artist]

Trimmed up the rough edges

Then, flipped 'er back over

Drilled out the bolt holes

Removed the nuts & bolts
...&/then, popped the rear top section "back off"

Re-removed the front top section...too

Close up of (1) of the flanges that we created
...& seam/fillet

 

[Functional Artist]

Bottom front sections...popped off of the "plug" mold

Rear sections...too

Attacked 'em with a garden hose...ta clean 'em up (mainly to wash out any PVA &/or fillet (caulk) residue)

 

[ezcome-ezgo]

Now you just need a 6 foot deep hole and a term life policy. You'll be all set.

 

[Functional Artist]

Now you just need a 6 foot deep hole and a term life policy. You'll be all set.

The fastest way to Heaven...is in a Racecar Casket

 

[Functional Artist]

I bolted the (4) bottom sections together

An inside view

Another view

Still doin' some clean up work (ta remove "plug" mold debris)

 

[Functional Artist]

Hey,

Why ya got that saw out? (in the last pic)
...are ya makin' another "plug" for a mold?

Nope!

Does anyone remember, earlier this summer, when I mentioned that I was thinkin' about/planning on, installing a steel roof on my house?
...well, that time, has come

To get started, I took another YouTube How to "crash course"
...this time in "how to install a steel panel roof"?

Then, I purchased
...~100 (1' x 4') wooden boards (firring strips)
...(10) 16' steel panels
...(10) 12' steel panels
...(10) pieces of steel ridge cap
...total ~$1,700.00

*Back story
About 10 years ago I/we did a complete tear off
...& installed a new asphalt shingle roof

They were supposed to be 20 year shingles
...but, after only ~10 years we are having issues
...& can't see/find any visible issues

So, I'm going to "cap" this roof with steel panels
...& it should/hopefully, be good-n-solid for years to come

Step (1) laying down some wood

 

[Denny]

Want to borrow my nail gun?

 

[Functional Artist]

Want to borrow my nail gun?

Hey Denny,

I'm not using many nails on this project
...but, thanks for the offer

To create the strongest foundation
...& gain the highest wind (uplift) resistance
...the 1" x 4" x 8' boards, are screwed down with 2 1/2" deck screws
...driven thru the roofing & wooden sheeting, directly into the rafters
...& NOT just into the plywood sheeting

Also, gonna reduce the amount/number of "holes" in the roof
...by eliminating these POS Aluminum roofing vents

According to the instructions
...to vent the roof, ~2" of the sheeting (&/or any shingles) should be cut away/out
...on each side, of the peak, of the roof
...so, ~4" wide, along the entire ridge line

But I'm not gonna do that just yet
...because with the amount of labor required (mainly by me)
...& the cost (also, supplied by me)
...this project will (have ta) be a spread out
...&/or a continuing "work in progress"

So, I'ma gonna try-n-do-it in "sections"
...& this is the side with a leak

Installed wood in the "old vent holes"
...&/also, covered the areas with some of the roofing (repurposing cap material) that had to come off
...& started installing some of the steel panels too

Closer up(per) view

Got a few more panels "in place"
...then, comes the "screwing"

Lots & lots of screws

 

[Functional Artist]

More progress

A view from "on top"

From the other direction

Lookin' down