[Cat]

all done on the door card front

 

[Cat]

i have countless photos of this build, but these are just a snap shot of the majority of it.

hope you enjoy seeing it finished as much as i do

 

[Cat]

it was meant to displaying at the car shows last year, needless to say it didn't happen

 

[Cat]

 

[Cat]

i hope you've enjoyed this weeks update

 

[GlenAnderson]

Smashing. Really good to see. Thanks for sharing.

 

[Cat]

Smashing. Really good to see. Thanks for sharing.

glad you are enjoying it. this is what i've been working on today

got a lot more diamonds to stitch

 

[Cat]

Hello

on this weeks installment i have decided to completely change what i was going to put and go with this job that came up in my photo memories. The Ford Zodiac dashboard!

it's a year today since i started this job and i have to say that it has been the most challenging job to date, but one that i feel very proud to say 'i did that!'

it was worth all the tantrums and swearing at inanimate objects in my workshop :lol:

 

[Cat]

it was full of cracks and the plates underneath were rusty.

 

[Cat]

you gotta love an onion board

i learnt all about body filler when i did my city and guilds in classic car restoration many years back. i never thought i would actually end up using the skills i learnt on upholstery!

 

[Cat]

filler work just about there.

it is a very time consuming process, but it's so worth taking the extra time.

i was always told at college, when you are checking if it's smooth, run your non dominant hand over it, as you can feel more with this hand.

it's so true and something that i still do to this day

 

[Cat]

i had the metal bars underneath shot blasted and powder coated before glueing them back on, it makes such a difference.

the dash is now filled, cleaned and prepped ready for stage 2

 

[Cat]

next step is templating out of special sheeting. it's an incredibly lengthy process, but because there are so many curves in this thing, you can't simply roll the vinyl over the top, it just doesn't work (believe me, i tried :lol

 

[Cat]

once happy with the template, i then cut it all out again with seam allowances to make sure it all fits, stitch it together, then unpick it all and use it to mark out the vinyl pieces.

this was me having a moment thinking what had i done and that i couldn't do it.

i have some awesome friends in the trimming world and they helped me get through this.

i thought i would show this as i think we all have moments like this when we think, fu#k it. then we get over them and move on

 

[Cat]

all stitched up ready for glue

 

[Cat]

all geared up ready to glue :lol:

i always wear a mask when glueing. i use a strong high temp contact adhesive which stinks. if i don't wear a mask i get a head ache.

only thing is, i seem to have a habit of making a cup of tea and going to drink it when i have just put my mask on :lol:

 

[Cat]

i managed to get the groves back in using heat from a hairdryer and a wooden coffee stirrer stick (i shouldn't be telling you all the trade secrets really )

 

[Cat]

this is a finished and pre cut duo.

i love how the french seams turned out.

 

[Cat]

back view of the dash.

hope you like this weeks instalment

 

[Brian Burrows]

back view of the dash.

hope you like this weeks instalment

Ace!

There's a new user in Aircooled Mech Tech asking about bus interiors, Cat - perhaps you can give them some advice.

Thanks in advance.