Tim_B
Quarry Creeper
I've never done it myself but I made this idea up myself about two years ago. I'm 98% sure this would work for a soft top look (it wouldn't really be "soft"), I was thinking....
:?:WHAT YOU WILL NEED TO GET THE PROJECT DONE::?:
1) Some sheets of fabric cut to the size you need and of the desired color. (Four 2ft x 2ft squares should be good for a 1/10 - 1/8 scale)
2) Paper Mache Glue. (Look online for a homemade recipe, there are TONS of them)
3 A block of styrofoam or some other sturdy foam of choice. Or a box if you can't seem to find any foam around...:x
4) A foam cutter, Rotory tool or knife to shape the foam and to do the touchups with. (Just becareful if useing a knife!)
5) Favorite paint of choice. (If you can't find some fabric in the color you want)
6) Flat Clearcoat to finish the entire project and seal in the glue/paint.
7) Tape (If using a box)
8) Pipe Cleaners (Optional)
:idea:STEPS FOR THE FOAM VERSION OF THE PROJECT::idea:
STEP 1) Make a solid block foam mockup mold of the soft top
STEP 2) Choose a thicker fabric (or add multiple layers if need be) of your color choice for the soft top
STEP 3) Drape it overtop of the foam and put a few coats of paper mache glue on it (There are tons of paper mache glue recipes online)
STEP 4) Let it sit and cure overnight or for 24 hours (for a full cure depending how heavy you put the glue to it), After about 12 hours you will be able to use it for size reference on the body. Just be careful as it will still be flexable and this could cause the layers of fabric to start coming apart.
STEP 5) When fully cured, Use your cutting tool of choice (I like using rotory tools with a cutting wheel on stuff like this.)and cut it to desired look.
:idea:STEPS FOR THE BOX VERSION OF THE PROJECT:idea:
1) Take the box you are using and Tape some Pipe Cleaners to it to resemble the "Roll Bar Look" if you don't have any tubing.
(I doubled Mine up because they were just a little too thin for my liking and used the 3 bar look)
2) Lay the Wax Paper over the Pipe Cleaners and Box and Tape it down.
Looked like this when it was all taped up.
3) Lay your fabric on top of it and start applying the paper mache paste. I used Olive green for the color choice. Also I would like to point out, If you use the 1 part flour and 5 parts water method for the paste....make sure you don't get in a hurry like I did. You are supposed to boil it for 3 minutes.....I put it on high....yup it burnt to the pan and made a lovely brown color...don't tell the wife;-)
4) Be sure to use your fingers to smooth out the glue and take the excess off. Also get rid of clumps and allows you to feel how much pressure to put on the pipe cleaners to get them to "dent".
5) Do all of the fabric the same way.
6) Let dry for 12 - 24 hours and there you have it.
:idea:FINAL TOUCH::idea:
When completed the glue will have dried clear and you should be able to see the color of fabric showing through the glue.
1) If everything is exactly how you want it (vibrant color showing through) Just grab a rattle can or some other kind and seal it with a flat clearcoat inside and out to lock in the color and waterproof it. I say flat as opposed to gloss so it still looks like fabric and not shiny plastic.
2) If it's not showing through very clearly (no vibrant color), You can always paint it inside and out to seal in the waterbased glue and then use some flat clearcoat.
TIPS:
When laying down the fabric or paper shreds, Make sure to smooth out any bubbles or clumps that may be hiding underneath. Even if it looks like there are no imperfections it's best to smooth it out anyways as this will help get the glue into the fabric and allow for no weak spot of adhesive. Don't worry about loosing the glue you wipe off, As I sometimes say, If it wipes excess of, it was probably too much anyway.
Use some crisco or some other cooking spray in order for the glue not to stick to the foam or just hollow it out, It really depends on how strict you are for that "real look" on the inside.
If you were to make the foam block and then use some roll bar tubing for support I would say it would be pretty stout. (kinda like a 1:1, how it would have the roll/support bars underneath and then the soft top draped overtop of that.)
When it comes to the windows, You would really just wanna "carve" them into the foam where ever you would want them and in whatever style you would want them. I would suggest carving the windows about 1/4 an inch deep, Just enough so that you will have a dent in the fabric when dried. Then just cut the shape you made the window to be and there you go.
For added stiffness, Try this... Put 1 layer of fabric down, slap the glue on it and be sure to get all air bubbles/clumps out, lay down a layer of newspaper shreds, add glue, then fabric and so on for a total of about 5 layers*, 3 fabric and 2 news paper shreds. That should get it tough for you.
*the more layers you add the deeper you will want to make the dents for windows and other details, they might get filled up if you have too many layers.
I hope this helps everyone out there. Let me know if anyone tries this, I would LOVE to see the end result. Also, If you do try this and have some helpful tips, Feel free to share them here. "thumbsup"
Thanks
-Tim
:?:WHAT YOU WILL NEED TO GET THE PROJECT DONE::?:
1) Some sheets of fabric cut to the size you need and of the desired color. (Four 2ft x 2ft squares should be good for a 1/10 - 1/8 scale)
2) Paper Mache Glue. (Look online for a homemade recipe, there are TONS of them)
3 A block of styrofoam or some other sturdy foam of choice. Or a box if you can't seem to find any foam around...:x
4) A foam cutter, Rotory tool or knife to shape the foam and to do the touchups with. (Just becareful if useing a knife!)
5) Favorite paint of choice. (If you can't find some fabric in the color you want)
6) Flat Clearcoat to finish the entire project and seal in the glue/paint.
7) Tape (If using a box)
8) Pipe Cleaners (Optional)
:idea:STEPS FOR THE FOAM VERSION OF THE PROJECT::idea:
STEP 1) Make a solid block foam mockup mold of the soft top
STEP 2) Choose a thicker fabric (or add multiple layers if need be) of your color choice for the soft top
STEP 3) Drape it overtop of the foam and put a few coats of paper mache glue on it (There are tons of paper mache glue recipes online)
STEP 4) Let it sit and cure overnight or for 24 hours (for a full cure depending how heavy you put the glue to it), After about 12 hours you will be able to use it for size reference on the body. Just be careful as it will still be flexable and this could cause the layers of fabric to start coming apart.
STEP 5) When fully cured, Use your cutting tool of choice (I like using rotory tools with a cutting wheel on stuff like this.)and cut it to desired look.
:idea:STEPS FOR THE BOX VERSION OF THE PROJECT:idea:
1) Take the box you are using and Tape some Pipe Cleaners to it to resemble the "Roll Bar Look" if you don't have any tubing.
(I doubled Mine up because they were just a little too thin for my liking and used the 3 bar look)
2) Lay the Wax Paper over the Pipe Cleaners and Box and Tape it down.
Looked like this when it was all taped up.
3) Lay your fabric on top of it and start applying the paper mache paste. I used Olive green for the color choice. Also I would like to point out, If you use the 1 part flour and 5 parts water method for the paste....make sure you don't get in a hurry like I did. You are supposed to boil it for 3 minutes.....I put it on high....yup it burnt to the pan and made a lovely brown color...don't tell the wife;-)
4) Be sure to use your fingers to smooth out the glue and take the excess off. Also get rid of clumps and allows you to feel how much pressure to put on the pipe cleaners to get them to "dent".
5) Do all of the fabric the same way.
6) Let dry for 12 - 24 hours and there you have it.
:idea:FINAL TOUCH::idea:
When completed the glue will have dried clear and you should be able to see the color of fabric showing through the glue.
1) If everything is exactly how you want it (vibrant color showing through) Just grab a rattle can or some other kind and seal it with a flat clearcoat inside and out to lock in the color and waterproof it. I say flat as opposed to gloss so it still looks like fabric and not shiny plastic.
2) If it's not showing through very clearly (no vibrant color), You can always paint it inside and out to seal in the waterbased glue and then use some flat clearcoat.
TIPS:
When laying down the fabric or paper shreds, Make sure to smooth out any bubbles or clumps that may be hiding underneath. Even if it looks like there are no imperfections it's best to smooth it out anyways as this will help get the glue into the fabric and allow for no weak spot of adhesive. Don't worry about loosing the glue you wipe off, As I sometimes say, If it wipes excess of, it was probably too much anyway.
Use some crisco or some other cooking spray in order for the glue not to stick to the foam or just hollow it out, It really depends on how strict you are for that "real look" on the inside.
If you were to make the foam block and then use some roll bar tubing for support I would say it would be pretty stout. (kinda like a 1:1, how it would have the roll/support bars underneath and then the soft top draped overtop of that.)
When it comes to the windows, You would really just wanna "carve" them into the foam where ever you would want them and in whatever style you would want them. I would suggest carving the windows about 1/4 an inch deep, Just enough so that you will have a dent in the fabric when dried. Then just cut the shape you made the window to be and there you go.
For added stiffness, Try this... Put 1 layer of fabric down, slap the glue on it and be sure to get all air bubbles/clumps out, lay down a layer of newspaper shreds, add glue, then fabric and so on for a total of about 5 layers*, 3 fabric and 2 news paper shreds. That should get it tough for you.
*the more layers you add the deeper you will want to make the dents for windows and other details, they might get filled up if you have too many layers.
I hope this helps everyone out there. Let me know if anyone tries this, I would LOVE to see the end result. Also, If you do try this and have some helpful tips, Feel free to share them here. "thumbsup"
Thanks
-Tim
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