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#Post#: 6216--------------------------------------------------
is your car body skinned in aluminium?
By: Tinworm Date: April 2, 2022, 4:59 pm
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I have been astonished by the quality of finish on lots of
people's cyclekarts and been amazed to note that some really
terrific results can be achieved without any aluminium sheet, so
can I ask, have you finished your bodywork in aluminium or ply -
or what?
If aluminium, how thick was it and where's the best source? I
think I will get mine cut lengthways - as my kart, luckily, has
a consistent height.
Can we get anything thinner than 0.9mm? (It doesn't need to be
strong in my case, as it will be over a decent frame).
If not aluminium, what? And how did you get a great finish
without it?
#Post#: 6218--------------------------------------------------
Re: is your car body skinned in aluminium?
By: jim Date: April 3, 2022, 12:17 am
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I used 1.2mm aluminium and got it from ASC as I have an account
but they are usually quite expensive.
#Post#: 6219--------------------------------------------------
Re: is your car body skinned in aluminium?
By: StefanN Date: April 3, 2022, 1:26 am
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The Bugatti is skinned in ply, flexi-ply and fibreglass. Not
sure it’s got the great finish you’re talking about but where
it’s got a better finish, it’s because I filled the grain of the
wood with high build primer and sanding.
I got a sheet of aluminium from a small local company that makes
bespoke boxes and enclosures - I just phoned them up, explained
I was after some ali for a hobby and they sold it on with a
small mark up.
#Post#: 6221--------------------------------------------------
Re: is your car body skinned in aluminium?
By: Tinworm Date: April 3, 2022, 3:58 am
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[quote author=StefanN link=topic=822.msg6219#msg6219
date=1648967197]
The Bugatti is skinned in ply, flexi-ply and fibreglass. Not
sure it’s got the great finish you’re talking about .
[/quote]
Yours was the one I wanted to see most and when I did I thought
it was terrific, and a great example of what can be done without
tricky curves.
#Post#: 6222--------------------------------------------------
Re: is your car body skinned in aluminium?
By: Tinworm Date: April 3, 2022, 3:59 am
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[quote author=jim link=topic=822.msg6218#msg6218
date=1648963075]
I used 1.2mm aluminium and got it from ASC as I have an account
but they are usually quite expensive.
[/quote]
now I am wondering if 0.9 is too flimsy, but as I say, it isn't
structural.
#Post#: 6224--------------------------------------------------
Re: is your car body skinned in aluminium?
By: Mark Under Date: April 3, 2022, 4:09 am
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I used 1mm Aluminium on mine. I think much thinner and it would
be difficult to work with,
The state you buy it in has a lot to do with how easy it is to
form, it’s worth looking for annealed.
Aalco supply by the sheet and are one of the largest suppliers
of Ali in the country.
#Post#: 6225--------------------------------------------------
Re: is your car body skinned in aluminium?
By: Tinworm Date: April 3, 2022, 4:19 am
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[quote author=Mark Under link=topic=822.msg6224#msg6224
date=1648976961]
I used 1mm Aluminium on mine. I think much thinner and it would
be difficult to work with,
The state you buy it in has a lot to do with how easy it is to
form, it’s worth looking for annealed.
Aalco supply by the sheet and are one of the largest suppliers
of Ali in the country.
[/quote]
Very useful points! Right, looking for annealed, definitely, and
take your point about workability. Thanks
#Post#: 6226--------------------------------------------------
Re: is your car body skinned in aluminium?
By: peterL Date: April 3, 2022, 4:45 am
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For flat panels, and ones with single curvature I'm using second
hand Dibond, a sign making material. It's a composite of two
thin aluminium layers which sandwich a plastic core. I have 2mm
and 3mm, and if you can find it second hand, it's cheap.
I paid about £35 for two 8 x 4 sheets, but I did have to drive
70 miles to Nottingham to collect them.
[attach=1]
[attach=2]
[attach=3]
The only problem I have found with it so far is the inability to
put louvres in it,
[attach=4]
so I am going to have to resort to some sort of fakery.
Peter
#Post#: 6227--------------------------------------------------
Re: is your car body skinned in aluminium?
By: synthpunk Date: April 3, 2022, 5:35 am
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Coming from a model steam boat background, Ive been toying with
the idea of doing some of mine (the bonnet) in tinplate. In the
boat club we have various 5 foot long, nearly 100 year old
steamers made of such exotica as bully beef tins and baby
formula tins. Luckily I drink industrial amounts of coffee at
work, so I’ve been saving the large catering sizes of coffee
cans we get that in.
We shall see….
#Post#: 6239--------------------------------------------------
Re: is your car body skinned in aluminium?
By: David F-R Date: April 4, 2022, 2:38 am
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I notice in the US, they seem to use a lot of 1.5mm 'aluminum'
for their bodies.
Is that because it's easier to get hold of, or needed for the
structural strength?
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