Commercially-produced rear wheel skirts

[freebeard]

You want to see fender skirts?

Fourtitude.com - Fender Skirts: Sometimes They Work, Other Times Not So Much...

How often can you turn out different part numbers? You can count me in for a set for the Beetle, but it would be best if I can save up for 30-60 days.

I would be proud to wear a set to the NW bug-Run in Woodburn in late May. I'd even put you URL or OR code in the rear quarter window just above them.

[SCNTN]

Originally Posted by freebeard

I took liberties with your mockup. The two changes I made were to align a groove with the step in the body panel, and drop the lip to align with the reverse step lower down. The curve at the front and rear would move up and out, for tire clearance.

Like I said, I'm an amateur at Photoshop. The original image was a jpg, which I imported as a layer, modified, and exported as png.

I had considered trying to follow that line down the body on the Sonoma, but not sure how it would work since it rises with the wheel arch. We're planning on creating contours only when they are necessary to match the vehicle. A perfect example of this is my SC. Flat skirts would look like junk.



In reality, using plastics for near-flat skirts may require some type of inset or ribbing in the design to add rigidity. Either that, or we'll have to step up from .080 to .125. We're aiming for that sweet spot of being flexible enough to take a hit from a shopping buggy, yet stiff enough not to flex at 70mph.

[Chisel86]

Beetle skirts are still available.

[Chisel86]

Beetle Skirts

[Chisel86]

TheSamba.com :: VW Classifieds - Fender Skirts

TheSamba.com :: VW Classifieds - FOXCRAFT SKIRTS , Available now !!

http://www.glass-action.com/bug.html#skirts

One of these shows the mounting method as well.

[Flakbadger]

Wanna make a set for a Toyota Yaris? I'm getting a pretty hefty tax return soon... Plastic would be *****in'

[Sven7]

The main thing we learn from the fender skirt forum threads is that if a car wasn't designed to have them, they usually don't work too well and you have to try harder to fit them into the existing styling.

Be especially careful of the cars that really accent the rear wheels- I'm talking about the blue S2000 photoshop as well as GMC Sonomas! Skirts tend to lengthen the car and continue body lines so I'd suggest trying to visually either lessen that Sonoma arch or make it more prominent with a semi-circular undercut. Just rambling at this point... but I think it's important to look at what the skirt will do before you go head-first into building one.

I did a few Lincoln Personal Luxury Coupe sketches a couple years back and they happen to have skirts...


Of course, the more recent Town Car mini-project left them out.

[freebeard]

SCNTN -- The SC needs that crease extended through the middle, but doesn't have a raised lip like your truck and it has a nice radius. . That's a good opportunity.


Chisel86 -- I see prices like $140-200 for fiberglass and $550 for metal. I am encouraging the O.P. because of the ABS construction and $80 price point.

Sven7 -- Your Lincoln reminds me of the VW LX-1. Maybe it's the color. I like the faired-in Continental kit.

[SCNTN]

Just a quick update...

The molds for the 3rd-gen S-10/Sonoma are done, we're trying to get the temp just right for forming. ABS is a little trickier than we thought... been through two 4x8 sheets already with moderate success. We also had to build an oven to pre-bake the ABS to release the moisture prior to forming. It has been a learning experience to say the least. HIPS is much easier, but will not stand up to automotive and outdoor use. Pics to follow...

[freebeard]

SCNTN -- Any updates?

Our local recycler has ABS sheets for cheap. It looks like they're intended for restroom walls or something. I'm thinking some ribs bonded on the back to add a slight curvature and a heavy coat of primer to fill the surface texture and I could roll my own.