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mcdonaldneal
Samba Member
Joined: June 13, 2013
Posts: 2649
Location: Gullane, Scotland
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 Posted: Sat Sep 13, 2014 9:09 am Post subject: |
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| modernbeat wrote: |
| Are the logos molded into the covers? From the single photo you posted it looks like the logos are really separate emblems applied to the covers. It appears the emblems are a lighter white than the darker covers. If that's the case, then just buy new Dormobile covers and reapply the emblems if you want to keep them. |
Ha! This is frustrating because I'm stuck away from home all weekend!
I have scoured my iPad and found a better picture (along with dozens of the top from the other side!)
This shows better how the logo is moulded in to the cover, how the logo IS upside down when the roof is up, how the bolt holes are covered in silicone, how the bolt holes might be assymetrical (which would seem pretty incompetent!) and how they are quite nicely shaped to prevent rainwater getting in through the vent.
I see too how filthy they are underneath the lip! That's what comes of having the vents shut when you wash the bus! 
_________________
1978 marino yellow Bay Dormobile camper
1969 signal orange Karmann Ghia convertible
1976 martini olive Bay Dormobile camper
Stop dead photo links! Post photos to The Samba Gallery! |
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raygreenwood
Samba Member
Joined: November 24, 2008
Posts: 21519
Location: Oklahoma City
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| Posted: Sat Sep 13, 2014 11:07 am Post subject: Re: Dormobile VW logo vent caps. Any links? |
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| asiab3 wrote: |
| raygreenwood wrote: |
| asiab3 wrote: |
| raygreenwood wrote: |
Its probably ABS or PETG. And....being those materials....once they get brittle there is no going back. Yes you can glue them together but you cant fix the cracking sydrome.
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I've had great luck "gluing" ABS plastic with MEK. It's more of a cold plastic weld, or actual chemical fusion of the palstic parts, than a glue.
Apply to mating surfaces, not the exterior of the crack, and hold in place overnight.
Robbie |
Yes....MEK works but one of the butyl based solvents works better. The problem is that once its aged...it, just, keep on cracking and getting worse. ABS has a definate lifespan. Ray |
I have more successful experience with gamma butrolactone, but MEK is hard enough to find these days for home garage use. I have found a UV coat of some kind to be fairly effective in extending the longevity of ABS shape and strength over time, but I have yet to find a coating or chemical that prevents at least some color loss. |
Yes....the exact chemical ....or family of.....that I was referring to . Gamma butralactone is butyl based. You must be in Calipornia.....I can buy MEK at home depot.
A uv inhibiting coating only slows/prevents degradation to the surface from UV...which is a good thing. ...but UV is not the main or only lifespan killer of ABS and other similar plastics.
The main killers are heat and cold alternation and the chemical formula of the plastic itself. It outgasses slowly from the day it was born, slowly releasing plasticizers from voids in the plasric. The more it is stretched with heat during a vacuum forming process....the more stresses it has, the more brittle and the shorter the life.
The best thing you can do for ABS is start with as thick of a sheet as your design will allow that will allow minimum heat for maximum draw in the mold......and then clean it well...and pajnt it with an opaque UV inhibited paint.
All of that being said....ABS has a pretty long outdoor life for the cost. Especially the newer better alloys of it.
I would have new ones formed...get a group buy together and plan it correctly and they should be pretty inexpensive. Just plan to repaint them every 3-5 years and replace them agakn in 15+ years. Ray |
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orchidkombi
Samba Member
Joined: August 21, 2014
Posts: 31
Location: Canberra, Australia
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| Posted: Sat Sep 13, 2014 8:35 pm Post subject: |
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G'day all -
our 1976 Australian Dormobile (Completely stock) does NOT have the VW Logo on the vent covers. That's not to say Dormobile Australia didn't swap to them in 77 or 78, but I think it's more likely that Phil's are actually replacements at some point. I saw one in a shop a long time ago for sale...
I actually have a photo of a straight up pop-top - probably a Sopru or similar Aust. conversion - that has the same cover. And as soon as I work out how to post photos, I'll post it!
Cheers. |
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orchidkombi
Samba Member
Joined: August 21, 2014
Posts: 31
Location: Canberra, Australia
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| Posted: Sat Sep 13, 2014 8:40 pm Post subject: |
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| orchidkombi wrote: |
G'day all -
our 1976 Australian Dormobile (Completely stock) does NOT have the VW Logo on the vent covers. That's not to say Dormobile Australia didn't swap to them in 77 or 78, but I think it's more likely that Phil's are actually replacements at some point. I saw one in a shop a long time ago for sale...
I actually have a photo of a straight up pop-top - probably a Sopru or similar Aust. conversion - that has the same cover. And as soon as I work out how to post photos, I'll post it!
Cheers. |
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orchidkombi
Samba Member
Joined: August 21, 2014
Posts: 31
Location: Canberra, Australia
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| Posted: Sat Sep 13, 2014 8:52 pm Post subject: |
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Here's some photos of our 1976 Australian-converted (under licence) Dormobile. The vent covers are original, and are opaque, glossy white plastic. No VW logo, and I have not seen any other Aussie Dormobiles with VW logos. But they could be out there!
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notchboy
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Joined: April 27, 2002
Posts: 22462
Location: Escondido CA
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mcdonaldneal
Samba Member
Joined: June 13, 2013
Posts: 2649
Location: Gullane, Scotland
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mcdonaldneal
Samba Member
Joined: June 13, 2013
Posts: 2649
Location: Gullane, Scotland
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orchidkombi
Samba Member
Joined: August 21, 2014
Posts: 31
Location: Canberra, Australia
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| Posted: Sun Sep 14, 2014 12:12 am Post subject: |
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| orchidkombi wrote: |
| orchidkombi wrote: |
G'day all -
our 1976 Australian Dormobile (Completely stock) does NOT have the VW Logo on the vent covers. That's not to say Dormobile Australia didn't swap to them in 77 or 78, but I think it's more likely that Phil's are actually replacements at some point. I saw one in a shop a long time ago for sale...
I actually have a photo of a straight up pop-top - probably a Sopru or similar Aust. conversion - that has the same cover. And as soon as I work out how to post photos, I'll post it!
Cheers. |
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(For the record, this van was manufactured 1/75, so those vents were in use at that time.) |
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orchidkombi
Samba Member
Joined: August 21, 2014
Posts: 31
Location: Canberra, Australia
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| Posted: Sun Sep 14, 2014 12:15 am Post subject: |
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| mcdonaldneal wrote: |
Aha! I knew I could rely on the budding Aussie Dormobile expert!
Thanks to Orchidkombi, and I've found another Sopru with very similar caps, so almost certainly answers where ours came from!
Now the question is, what to do about them...
I do quite like them myself, so I might have a think about the refurb/ reproducing options. |
Ah... but this is your chance to move CLOSER to stock, rather than further away!  Keep the old ones in your garage and find some old Dormobile ones... or splash out on newbies. |
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orchidkombi
Samba Member
Joined: August 21, 2014
Posts: 31
Location: Canberra, Australia
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| Posted: Sun Sep 14, 2014 12:28 am Post subject: |
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Looking again at this photo, it's becoming clearer that you've got replacement vents - they're way bigger than the vent aperture. On our Dormobile, it's a much more snug fit, with rounded corners matching the rounded rectangular opening. |
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orchidkombi
Samba Member
Joined: August 21, 2014
Posts: 31
Location: Canberra, Australia
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| Posted: Sun Sep 14, 2014 12:58 am Post subject: |
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| They fit more like this... |
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raygreenwood
Samba Member
Joined: November 24, 2008
Posts: 21519
Location: Oklahoma City
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| Posted: Sun Sep 14, 2014 7:11 am Post subject: |
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| orchidkombi wrote: |
| They fit more like this... |
The white, opaque glossy ones.....are actually what polycarbonate looks like when vacuum formed.....which would support what Dormobile said they were made of as was noted.
Of course its impossible to tell from a picture.....but the whitish flat textured ones with vw logo look like ABS or similar.
If you want to have these molded.....here is how to get started:
1. Find a company that vacuum forms molded advertising letters and signs for businesses. There should be more than a few. These are the kind of 3D large scale molded letters you find on businesses that are back lit at night and have metal bands around the perimeter.
You are not just looking for a dealer of stock molded letters and numbers. You want the companies that mold custom signs.
2. Most of these companies in this day and age use one brand or another of industrial curfkng table like Zund, Kongsburg or Roland. You can search those on youtube to see some spectacular action videos. These tools do plotting, knife cutting, routering and laser cutting with plug and play tools.
Materials for the vacuum forming forms for short runs can include high temp foamed plastic, shaped cut from blocks of cast plaster or aluminum or wood. It just depends on how many parts it has to make and how long it needs to last. Typically for high runs you might make a plaster mold in negative and cast high temp silicone to make a positive.
Thats a bit more work and more expensive.
But...wood may do for what you want.
3. Either bring a very good condition part for them to scan (if they have this capability...some do)....and there will be a charge for this .....or bring them a decent part to look at and find someone to render the part in CAD. Make sure you measure both a part and the part on the bus it mates to. Ask the molding company first about part edge radius and what their router can handle.
The display/sign company can do the CAD work for you but again...may be a hefty charge.
4. Tell them what you want to do with this part (outdoor, minimum 5 years, color/finish etc.) and let them recommended the material.
5. It will take them about 30 minutes to rout out the form or buck. It will take just a little while longer to set up for vacuum forming.
Ray |
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mcdonaldneal
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Joined: June 13, 2013
Posts: 2649
Location: Gullane, Scotland
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