The Indy One

[nimblemotors]

Filled in the center area, and after some drama, have the mold.
Here we go to make the first carbon fiber wheel covers, and hopefully not destroy the mold after so many hours of work..

(btw, sure is nice to use the kitchen for car work, might not go over so well once I move in with my fiancee. )

[freebeard]

That looks like a lot of work. Couldn't you just get a Moon disk (or pizza pan) and run around it with an edge roller?

[nimblemotors]

Originally Posted by freebeard

That looks like a lot of work. Couldn't you just get a Moon disk (or pizza pan) and run around it with an edge roller?

Then it wouldn't be carbon fiber.

[nimblemotors]

Came out not too bad. A couple dry spots, forgot to put the resin on first and THEN lay in the cloth. Next one should be all shiny.
Even works on the 14in prius wheels, but you see the edges, which I haven't dressed yet.

[MetroMPG]

Fun!

Considering making these to order? Sell them through the forum. Probably cost more than most ecomodders would be willing to shell out, but I bet you'd get a couple of takers. Because... carbon fiber!

[nimblemotors]

It would be cool to get the ecomodder decal on them in a circular layout along the edge. Might be willing, what you think a reasonable price?
Speedway Motors has the 15in aluminum discs for $20 each..update read the reviews and the $20 version is very thin and easily damaged. The thick ones are $35 each.

Originally Posted by MetroMPG

Fun!

Considering making these to order? Sell them through the forum. Probably cost more than most ecomodders would be willing to shell out, but I bet you'd get a couple of takers. Because... carbon fiber!

[nimblemotors]

Second one, no dry spots, but when I tried to reposition the cloth, which you just can't do once you have resin already in the mold, so the cloth pattern get messed up, and the edges were an issue. Good news is much lighter, smaller coremat and 3/4oz mat on the back. Third time should be the charm.

[nimblemotors]

Might just call this one good enough. The edges are not filled properly.
This time used lighter weight carbon fiber on the back, so its a little lighter and pretty stiff.
I tried using the lighterweight material front and back, but it just doesn't have the same look and was quite flexible.

[nimblemotors]

Check out how I'm attaching the wheel covers.
I took a $3 abs drain pipe plug, trimmed it up and epoxied the male threads to the steel wheel, and the female threads to the wheel cover.

So far looks like it will work.

[nimblemotors]

Have settled on a launch date for the crowdfunding campaign:
Independence Day, July 3, 2015

Yes, we will have a new day of Independence on July 3...not 4, but 3.

I'll be running my own campaign website, and bypass the crowdfunding gatekeepers. They really add no value to the proposition and just get in the way with their limitations.

What I would like to offer for those who want to support the effort at a low dollar amount is the idea of a 'discount coupon' on a complete kit in the future. The real key, a coupon is marketable/transferable. So it will give actual financial rewards for anyone buying in early. For example, a $50 coupon would give you $500 off the current kit price. And so once the campaign ends, that $50 coupon could be worth $500 which you could sell it to someone else for whatever reason.

I appreciate any feedback on this idea.