Building a sidecar hardtop.

[CYBORG]

Hey CYBORG, that's the luggage rack you gave me ...thanks!

so it is. glad it worked out for you. looks good on there

[Track T 2411]

Ah! makes sense. As for the beer, you can get "powered" coolers. Just add an accessory plug!

Todd

[rogue1000]

Last of the 'glass lay-ups today, then it will be fairing, making the fin, and painting...

[Casper]

[rogue1000]

Well, I cut off to much hardtop the other day so today I added some more back..."Measure twice, cut once...". I ordered the undercoat today so I should be able to paint as soon as the weather warms up a bit. There is still fairing and sanding to do...sorry, no pics of my screwups..

[LikeMike64]

Excellent idea and fabrication skills there, Brian!
It will look sharp.

[rcmatt007]

sorry, no pics of my screwups..

but just think of the educational value

[rogue1000]

I was able to get going on the hardtop the last two days after my little back "episode" and got the forward holding tabs epoxied on and ground/sanded,and today cut out the tail fin from some scrap plywood. I ended up making three different ones until I got the size that looked right, and will epoxy it on tomorrow. The plan is to use 'glass with epoxy filets along the sides to strengthen it, and not have to use any fasteners through the top. I'll also take a few more pics tomorrow....I ordered the locking hold-down latches I found on-line, so they should be getting here next week; I hope two will be enough..

[rogue1000]

Here are a few pics from today..
I was trying to straighten out the plywood a little with some bar stock; that is why all the clamps are on the top. The duct tape was keeping it more or less in place.


Tomorrow I will do some sanding and decide if the fin is strong enough or if it needs to be glassed...here is the pup being critical...

[bladredhead]

cool
would be rad to make the fin look like a 60s caddy

glassing part way up it will add a lot of strength. as it sits right now, any horizontal load will put the epoxy in peel loading immediately, which is exactly what you don't want to do to adhesive joints

[rcmatt007]

I think he is trying to get your recipe for baked beans

[rogue1000]

Today I'm going to cut that stupid fin off and go back to the drawing board. I lay awake last night drawing tail fins in my head for too many hours, so today I'll go get some cardboard and make some different shaped ones to tape on and look at...maybe incorporate some tail lights, for sure start higher in front, then follow the curve, up-lift at the tail like a plane with maybe a pair of bullet lights...any ideas?

[Whiskerfish]

59 Caddy style twin fins. Some pics here http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tailfin
and here

[Whiskerfish]

I think it definitely needs two and possibly even a smaller one in the middle? Giving them shape and lighting would be a lot more work but the end result could really be special. Lots of shapes and design possibilities. That Wiki link has about 20 different links to cars of the late 550's and early 60's that had fins

[rogue1000]

Thanks WF, I checked it out and really like the '59 Caddie fins....yeah, maybe three fins; a buddy and I were talking about it today before I wacked the last attempt off with a sawsall. I found some LED bullet lights on-line but will have to wait untill next month to get them...