Irony
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| posted on 4/5/11 at 12:53 PM |
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Anyone tried to make a bespoke curved screen
Even though I am no way near my IVA I am thinking about post IVA projects for the car. I guess I wouldn't be building a car if I wasn't a
dreamer.
I am going to put the Viento through the IVA windscreenless and then at some future date build a screen for it. I work quite closely with a plastics
suppliers and the MD has been in the trade for years. He gave me the idea. I plan to create a curved bespoke wrap around windscreen to go on the
Viento. I will do this by creating a wooden mould that is the shape of the windscreen, then lie a sheet of 10mm polycarbonate over the mould and
heating the whole thing up in a large metal box so the plastic begins to droop around the shape of the mould. When gravity has done its work I should
be left with a curve bit of polycarbonate which I can trim and shape to the desired measurements. I then plan to have two metal uprights laser cut
for each side and a central support as well. The rest be supported by some sort of U-shape rubber trim, which is just really used to keep out wind
and rain. I realise that the polycarbonate will probably need repolishing but I can do that no worries. I can also cover the poly in a clear vinyl
to add damage and shattering protection.
I am imagining a screen at rakish angle and a cool shape. Anyone have any thoughts on this? Impossible? Not worth it or just plain naff?
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russbost
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| posted on 4/5/11 at 01:02 PM |
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Not done anything quite that ambitious but managed to make a curved screen for the Furore using 4mm polycarb, a bit of heat & free forming, worked
a treat!
I no longer run Furore Products or Furore Cars Ltd, but would still highly recommend them for Acewell dashes, projector headlights, dominator
headlights, indicators, mirrors etc, best prices in the UK! Take a look at http://www.furoreproducts.co.uk/ or find more parts on Ebay, user names
furoreltd & furoreproducts, discounts available for LCB users.
Don't forget Stainless Steel Braided brake hoses, made to your exact requirements in any of around 16 colours.
http://shop.ebay.co.uk/furoreproducts/m.html?_dmd=1&_ipg=50&_sop=12&_rdc=1
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NOTE:This user is registered as a LocostBuilders trader and may offer commercial services to other users
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Bluemoon
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| posted on 4/5/11 at 01:05 PM |
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Possible, but you can't use wipers on the screen as it will scratch, so fine if you don't use it in the rain.. As you can't have
wipers you must remove for MOT.
As to the method it should work, it is one method used for forming polycarbonate, most polycarbonate suppliers datasheets will tell you how to do it.
The trouble is the price of the ploycarb and how many times you need to try to perfect the method and get a good one!
Dan
[Edited on 4/5/11 by Bluemoon]
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Irony
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| posted on 4/5/11 at 01:08 PM |
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I bent some 4mm the other day using a mould and a blow torch for some curved panels in the greenhouse. Worked a treat until I got a bit carried away
and set one on fire. hehe. Still worked though
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Irony
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| posted on 4/5/11 at 01:12 PM |
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quote:
Originally posted by Bluemoon
Possible, but you can't use wipers on the screen as it will scratch, so fine if you don't use it in the rain.. As you can't have
wipers you must remove for MOT.
Dan
[Edited on 4/5/11 by Bluemoon]
Kinda hoping to avoid the whole wiper issue to be honest - I don't intend on driving in the rain hopefully but no doubt it will be impossible to
avoid
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contaminated
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| posted on 4/5/11 at 01:15 PM |
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quote:
Originally posted by Irony
quote:
Originally posted by Bluemoon
Possible, but you can't use wipers on the screen as it will scratch, so fine if you don't use it in the rain.. As you can't have
wipers you must remove for MOT.
Dan
[Edited on 4/5/11 by Bluemoon]
Kinda hoping to avoid the whole wiper issue to be honest - I don't intend on driving in the rain hopefully but no doubt it will be impossible to
avoid
That's why you need to consider how high the screen is and whether you will be able to peer over it. If you can't and you have no wipers
you are in for a dodgy drive home at some stage - like when I used to run a screen and the wipers packed up 
Tiger Super Six Independent
www.southernkitcars.com
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Chippy
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| posted on 4/5/11 at 01:25 PM |
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Guy I know built a curved screen or his Robin Hood from an MG one used the side suports, and then had the glass cut down to fit. Looks very smart. HTH
Ray
To make a car go faster, just add lightness. Colin Chapman - OR - fit a bigger engine. Chippy
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RazMan
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| posted on 4/5/11 at 03:48 PM |
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I got one made by Pilkington Glass along with some side windows too (all curved)
I made a buck by forming some 4mm Lexan over some 'ribs' and gluing the whole lot together with epoxy. It worked really well and the glass
came back faithful to the buck's shape.
Be aware that it was not a Locost experience though 
Cheers,
Raz
When thinking outside the box doesn't work any more, it's time to build a new box
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Johneturbo
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| posted on 4/5/11 at 03:54 PM |
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Can you not use RainX or whatever it's called so the water beads off, if you got cought out in the rain
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Mal
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| posted on 4/5/11 at 04:45 PM |
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I got a curved screen for the car I built by having a production Escort laminated front screen cut down t othe size of a template I supplied.
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Rod Ends
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| posted on 4/5/11 at 07:23 PM |
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Very recently, in one of the Classic Car mags. there was an article about a company that made custom screens.
Unfortunately, the company went bust as the mag. went to press.
Not sure if they survived or have been resurrected.
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