Overlay Panels for a Car Project #3: Finalizing the Shapes

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Lazyman suggested I should verify my form shapes by checking an inverse of the forms against the car profile. This gave me a chance to try out the tiling option on my CNC (another Lazyman suggestion). 
 
I cut the first part of the profile.


Then I shift the part and finish the cut.


I cut 3 profiles and checked them.

 
The first 2 are the back of the door and the middle. The shape is quite a good fit. The gap was 1/16” at the widest. The 3rd shape is near the front of the door. The one had a shape mismatch of just over 1/8”. I figure that one is worth tweaking. 
 
To fix it I measure the errors at several points along this curve and adjust the shape in my spreadsheet. 
 
Another detail I need is to understand the shape around the fenders, door handle and side marker light. Paper templates work well here. 
 
I’ve got pictures of the templates for the front fender. The last step is to trim the bottom of the template to match the bottom of the door.

 
Here is a picture of the finished template for the door handle.

 
And here are all the templates for the side.

 
Now I can cut the forms out. I’ve got about 35 hours into the project so far. 

10 Comments

Making progress.  Still wondering where you are going with this project.  

--Nathan, TX. Hire the lazy man. He may not do as much work but that's because he will find a better way.

Maybe it's me and / or maybe it's because I'm reading this at 6 AM, but I'm still scratching my head on this project.
I think you are going to make this VW a "Woodie". But it also occurs to me that you are going to make a full scale duplicate model.
I've reread the installments on this and I'm still a confused old man, but I'm sticking with you on this & future posts. Looking forward to the next installment.



im with ya OT ! just following along trying not to get lost myself 😂

working with my hands is a joy,it gives me a sense of fulfillment,somthing so many seek and so few find.-SAM MALOOF.

Thanks for the comments!
I'm being a bit coy about where this is going - as long as it's fun for everyone to try and figure it out.
I actually thought the last picture would have given it away.
Lemme guess.
You are covering a VW with wood so you can leave it outside and get a neat, fuzzy green carpet of moss.
Beats paint, is organic, and will have that "shadizzle" that is really hot right now!
Looking good!

Cheers, Jim ........................ Variety is the spice of life...............Learn something new every day

Not a modern beetle but still inspirational.

--Nathan, TX. Hire the lazy man. He may not do as much work but that's because he will find a better way.

at first i thought, splint has it !!!!!! but probably closer to nathans guess 🤔

working with my hands is a joy,it gives me a sense of fulfillment,somthing so many seek and so few find.-SAM MALOOF.

Incredible amount of work. Really good Steve!!
That's impressive Nathan, but I'm not that ambitious 😁.
Actually, I'm not as ambitious enough to do the version in OldTool's comment.
And - Splint, it will live in the garage - except when I'm driving it.