Carbon vinyl

[jakesmith]

Has a bad rep doesn't it. Some of this must come from the Halfords factor, & the fact that wrap is often applied poorly, to crap cars, used excessively, used on things that wouldn't generally be made of carbon like wheels. Also - it is fake and you'd know that... So I get all the arguments against

BUT

What if the top quality stuff was applied by an expert to a part of the car that was normally real carbon like the side blades on an R8. Would it pass for carbon fibre at all, and from what distance? I'm less interested in broad stereotypes as per above, people saying 'it's not real' and 'it's naff' - more down to how convincing it can be made to look if done well & on the right car part?

What about the hydrographic transfer Carbon Fibre

Edited by jakesmith on Tuesday 2nd October 13:22

[dibblecorse]

In the R8 scenario, would probably be convincing from about 30ft away, once any closer it just won't have the depth or character in the weave of real carbon .... then just looks cheap, especially on something the size of an R8 side blade ....

[murphyaj]

I've seen a few different types pre-application and they vary in quality. The worst look pretty obviously fake, but the better ones are much more convincing. For the most realistic (and expensive) versions unless you get up close or touch it I think most people would probably think it was the real thing.

I think the problem these days is that when people see carbon trim their first thought is to wonder if it is real or a wrap, so they are looking for it, which makes them much harder to fool

Edited by murphyaj on Tuesday 2nd October 13:31

[TartanPaint]

I think I'd be tempted to go for matt black instead in the R8 example. You'd get the same look from 30ft (assuming the objective is to create some contrast between the blades and the bodywork), but without the "oh deary me" up close.

[mat205125]

TartanPaint said:

I think I'd be tempted to go for matt black instead in the R8 example. You'd get the same look from 30ft (assuming the objective is to create some contrast between the blades and the bodywork), but without the "oh deary me" up close.

This!

If its carbon, then by all means show it's carbon.

If it's a contrasting colour style that you're after, then paint or wrap it in a colour that could be painted. I'd be more inclined for a dark gunmetal grey metallic, rather than a murder black though!

[Benjarke]

About 5 years ago my dad tried his hand at some wrapping and managed to wrap an entire mk1 MX5 in Carbon Fibre vinyl. The stuff he used was pretty convincing, even felt very similar to the real thing and from a distance the car looked a matt black. I will admit, it did look a tad ridiculous seeing a full carbon bodied MX5 but it was a bit of fun.

After the MX5 he went on to start wrapping those little sandwich vans in orange and black vinyl to look like tigers.

I'll see if I can dig any photos out of the MX5.

[jakesmith]

I’ve bought the car now and it’s black with very dark metallic grey blades, looks awesome! Not sure a wrap is appropriate on such a nice car

[mat205125]

jakesmith said:

I’ve bought the car now and it’s black with very dark metallic grey blades, looks awesome! Not sure a wrap is appropriate on such a nice car

Lovely car, and great choice of colour for the blades ..... were these originally body coloured?