66 Ghia dash molding

[tstracy39]

[bluexl]

[bobnorman]

Any news on where to get these? I understand that the billit made ones might no longer be available due to cost, but does anybody know of anyone who makes a cheaper (as in original plastic) version? seems like they would be easy to mould, and could be a good money maker for someone...

If not, then does anyone have any suggestions for a suitable alternative?

Thanks,
Bob

[Disc]

We are is process of restoring a '66 Vert and we need almost complete set. But I'm sure that we will not buy these, so we need to make some Time will tell.
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The glory never gets old, just need new paint.
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Nick

[sputnick60]

[bobnorman]

Wow. That’s a much more high tech/high dollar solution then I was considering. I was thinking about using an original set to make a mould, rather than milling them from CAD.

I figure someone could make a silicone mould and mix and epoxy or similar resin to pour a few of these out. Quite a few years ago I made my own beetle radio knobs using epoxy tinted with ivory paint, though I can’t recall now what I used to make the mould. I realize though that this is more of a one or two-off answer.

At $300+ per set, I’d have to put some thought into it. I’ve got a few years yet before they’ll be needed, but am always looking.

Cheers,
Bob

[c21darrel]

Sets still show up in the classifieds every once in a while.

[bobnorman]

I was thinking about making them using something like this, however , I need a set to use to make the mould...and , if I had a set I wouldn't need to make them now would I!

http://www.smooth-on.com/gallery.php?galleryid=455

[sputnick60]

Hi Bob,
I have a full set LHD but I'm in Australia and my car is RHD. I'm not ready to sell my set just yet. I have extra pieces purchased over the years from adverts in the samba that I might need for this reproduction experiment.

Thanks for offering that mould solution. It looks interesting. On a similar vein, I've seen home injection moulding set ups that could achieve the desired result. I'm going to explore those and other options because the cost needs to come down as evidenced by the underwhelming number of people who have stepped up with interest and money so far.

I have a set of Mr Copello's billet trim that I can use on my car but I should focus on finishing the car and later do research on small volume plastic reproductions and in time replace the aluminium with something more authentic in appearance.

Nicholas
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'66 Karmann Ghia Cabriolet...
'65 Porsche 356C Coupe...
2005 Mecedes Benz C180 Kompressor Estate
Stop dead photo links! Post your photos to The Samba Gallery!

[copellos]

Mike and me have dicussing another run of the dash trim sets...go to the hog site and encourage him to get his butt moving..unless that whole silicone thing worked..snicker snicker. O and china called said fine to make but u have to make 399 thousand sets .for all 8 of the orders mikes gona get..... idiots

[sputnick60]

[hpw]

[bobnorman]

Hey, I thought it was a pretty good idea. They were originally plastic after all, and I have seen plastic parts made from silicone moulds.
Advantage of using moulds rather than milling them, is you get an exact copy of the original part, and i'd say it would be cheaper and probably easier to do.
Just sayin’ it is worth a shot… you know being inventive and improvising, much like the original owners of our cars used to do… nothing wrong with that.

[sputnick60]

i think John was referencing how the chinese who have those ridiculous volume quotas and don't accept piece work. At least that's how I interpret Johns words
_________________
'66 Karmann Ghia Cabriolet...
'65 Porsche 356C Coupe...
2005 Mecedes Benz C180 Kompressor Estate
Stop dead photo links! Post your photos to The Samba Gallery!

[John Moxon]

John Copello has just announced a new batch of his billet 66 Dash trim... for order through Mike at House of Ghia

John's post: http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?p=5809350#5809350
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John.
Judson Supercharger Information on The Samba
My 1958 Shorrock Supercharged Karmann Ghia
Stop dead photo links! Post your photos to The Samba Gallery!

[bobnorman]

So, I made my first attempt at casting a piece of dash trim in urathane from an original piece. It’s not bad for a first attempt, but I learned a lot, so I think the next one will be better. It really wasn't that hard to do. Sorry for the crappy cell pics.

I bought a 66 glovebox door from a Samba member, it had a piece of og dash trim still attached, but it was very fragile and had a few pieces missing from it.

I patched up the missing bits using playdoh, and made a two part cast of it from plaster, which is not the way to go, I’ve got some more appropriate material that I’ll use for the next one.

I put in some stainless screws at the last minute. ..not sure if this is the way to go yet.

Cool that it’s an exact copy, even some of the detail from the og like this number transferred (hard to see in the og).

Painted it up with silver spray , then taped the center and sprayed again with “chrome” spray. As I said, not perfect yet, but not bad for a first time.

I think I’ll cut this piece up, and try to make the other four pieces using photos from here, I can trial fit them to my dash.
Once I’ve got the mould made I’ll be able to make a bunch of these.

[bobnorman]

oh, and Snicker Snicker...

[bobnorman]

So, I decided to try to make the piece between the gauges. I don’t have an original to make a mould, so I decide to make a piece from leftovers from my first test and using pictures here to try to guess the right size and shape. I also don’t have access to the Ghia dash right now, so this is totally “With Guesswork”. Apologies once again for the terrible cell pics.

Looking at the picture in this thread showing the backside of all the trim pieces, I measured the size on screen, averaged top and bottom to allow for the tilt, and came up with 20mm wide x 30mm long, scaled that up using the trim piece I had, it worked out to 33 x 49mm, but I may be off a bit (if someone has some of these handy, I’d much appreciate some exact lengths).

Anyway, I took my best guess at the curve, I’ll find out if I was close when i can get out to the ghia again.

Shaped most of it using some 150 emery paper taped to the radius of a roll of duct tape, then smoothed it out with 600. masking tape roll gave me consistant height for bevel on both ends.

Painted it with silver spray, taped the centre then sprayed the edges “chrome” (didn’t really need to paint this one though)

So, if this one is accurate, I’ll fit some pegs to the back and use it to once again make a mould, then I can cast this one as well...
2 down…

[copellos]

The dash trim sets are finished...these are the 6 piece sets the use the radio plate. House of Ghia has them .john

[Disc]