Carbon Fibre skinning of Can Am dash

[bobbyj]

Folks has anyone tried to skin the dash area with carbon fibre? I thought it might be a bit different to the standard leather etc... I am still pre-fitting body (have been for ages but partly down to illness/injury and work). I have ordered a started skinning kit from Carbon Mods: http://www.carbonmods.co.uk/Products/Carbon-Fibre-...
this is so I can have a go at doing the wing mirrors first to see how much I would be taking on. I have considered the 3M sheets (and had a good look at the front of a couple of the factory cars at the open day that have it on the front splitter -



This is a nice add on but clearly need to get the main build sorted!!!

Any thoughts?

Cheers

[bobbyj]

P.S. If anyone is in the Newcastle area happy for you to call in and chew the cud....

[Steve_D]

If you skin the dash you will get huge reflections off the dash and onto the windscreen.
Dark and matt is what you need. You could possibly finish the carbon matt but it would likely defeat the object of having the carbon.

Steve

[356Speedster]

I've used a CarbonMods skinning kit and it's very tricky to get right. I think doing the dash panel would need a lot of prior experience to get it right and if it doesn't come out perfectly I don't think you'd be able to remove it from the GRP, so it could be a very risky strategy. The mirrors will be fairly straight forwards, really you need to try something a bit bigger before you try the dash.

[hedgefinder]

flock, leather or suede with carbon accents maybe...

[UltimaCH]

A nice colourful tartan perhaps for those in the North over the border? That would look very original

[hedgefinder]

UltimaCH said:

A nice colourful tartan perhaps for those in the North over the border? That would look very original

hes in Newcastle not Scotland...

[Storer]

hedgefinder said:

hes in Newcastle not Scotland...

Well then it has to be cotton.

If it's good enough to wear just one layer, in the form of a "Tee" shirt, in mid winter then it should be fine for the dash!!!!!!!


Paul


PS. Sorry, I just couldn't help myself using the old stereotype.
Have a go. If it doesn't work you can always do something else.
The front splitter will get damaged so beware of spending too much on it.

[hedgefinder]

Storer said:

Well then it has to be cotton.

If it's good enough to wear just one layer, in the form of a "Tee" shirt, in mid winter then it should be fine for the dash!!!!!!!


Paul


PS. Sorry, I just couldn't help myself using the old stereotype.
Have a go. If it doesn't work you can always do something else.
The front splitter will get damaged so beware of spending too much on it.

I still go out in a t shirt in sub zero temperatures - its the law!
Were not soft southerners wearing fleeces everywhere..

[738 driver]

Easy to do with paint and finish with whatever lacquer (gloss, satin or matt)you like.. once prepped, Black and silver paints used with toolbox liner (from your local poundstore) will give you a super carbon effect finish in ten mins... lacquer as needed...... its a doddle and not expensive... the carbon finish sellers are having a big party out of their carbonite customers. All been done 20+ years ago.

^ Not to confuse with structural or functional Carbon moulds which should be light and stiff (although carbon is a more brittle moulded material) ...two clearly different animals, a carbon finish or carbon item .
IMHO the carbon cloth is so expensive it should only be moulded with epoxy resins, poly or vinylester defeat the object and are a wasted exercise.... its like mixing Rolls Royce trim with a Montego !

Edited by 738 driver on Wednesday 15th August 08:12

[andygtt]

Steve_D said:

If you skin the dash you will get huge reflections off the dash and onto the windscreen.
Dark and matt is what you need. You could possibly finish the carbon matt but it would likely defeat the object of having the carbon.

Steve

Listen to the words of wisdom from Steve.... ive been playing with carbon a huge amount lately and made a dash pod from carbon to fit on my new leather dash and in some sunlights it can be very dazzling... the ultima dash done the same would be horrific IMHO.

BTW stuff from carbon mods (which is an alias for easycomposites) is the nuts.... using their products and advice I managed to take a mould of my new modfied noble rear clip and pull a full very stiff vac bagged clip that weighed under 9kgs!!!

also made some nice carbon Ultima side pods for a friends red canam

[GTR-TT]

You want the dash to be as matt as possible. A carbon fiber dash is almost the worst possible. You will get mirror effects from the sun and the dashboard will be clearly seen as a reflection in the wind screen. In a car like Ultima you need your vision without distractions. I tested a Supra with full carbon dash and it was horrible. It looked cool in the garage though... Don't go there!

Black flock is the best. Otherwise alcantara.

IM(not so)HO

[V8Dom]

Steve_D said:

If you skin the dash you will get huge reflections off the dash and onto the windscreen.
Dark and matt is what you need. You could possibly finish the carbon matt but it would likely defeat the object of having the carbon.

Steve

Listen to Steve.....Dont cover in carbon.. looks nice but only good as a trailer queen, unless you have redesigned the dash so its not flat.
Dom

[bobbyj]

Thanks for all for the tips. Looks like mirrors only! Will probably go for matt paint finish or alcantara on the dash. Cheers.