So a a lot of you will have seen the thread that I was going to give this a go but its all done now and I am quite happy with the result apart from a small error I made but will detail that so you don't have to make my mistake!
Parts I bought:
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/281837583342 (1m black self adhesive) to attach them to the car once completed.
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/121334084451 (black 50 x 53cm) to cover them in to match the roof liner.
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/321891475966 To create the structure of them
Other Parts needed:
A pen, Scissors (decent sharp ones), Duct Tape, Electrical tape, and more of the wooden sticks because 50 isn't enough
but a quick trip to McDonald's for a coffee sorted that out :wink:
So the first step is to take your piece of paper out to the car, and hold it against the gaping hole then using the pen draw around the shape of the template.
NOTE 1) make sure you leave enough of a gap for it to tuck inside the rubber seal on the door side.
Note 2) DO NOT do this step in the dark as you may end up making the covers the size of just the hole not the full recess (ask me how I know) and then your finished product will not look as OE
Cut out the template and will end up with something resembling this, you only need to do one side as you just flip it for the other side.
Step 2 lay all your flat wooden sticks with a little gap in between them (the gap is important at you need this to curve with the shape of the car) try to weed out any overly bent sticks. I used the template above so I knew I had enough lined up.
Step 3 Get your Duct tape and lay a piece over the sticks
Step 4 Flip them over and then on the back draw around your template try to line up the end of the template with the start of one of the sticks to make it easier to cut out and to make sure the curve will be lined up straight, then draw around the template
you will now have something resembling this.
Cut it out carefully using the scissors, (they need to be decent sharp scissors)
Repeat steps 2-4 but this time use the other side of the template to get the mirror image for the other side, you will now have a couple of these beauties
Now test fit the part in the car to make sure it goes in OK (again don't try to do this in the dark) as I found out the cars internal lighting isn't good enough to spot any small errors
Now one of the most complicated bits, this is where you seal the edges and develop the curve, I used black insulating tape ove the cut edges of the wood and cut little flaps to get it to fit over.
Then more duct tape both front and back whilst carefully manipulating the wood to get the perfect shape curve, the tightness of the tape will hold the shape. the tape on the back is important as it gives a good area for the fabric to adhere to. You will now have a couple of these
Now to cover them in fabric
Again the tape on the inside is important as it not only holds the fabric securely you need something for the self adhesive velcro to adhere to
Now back out to the car, cut a soft piece of Velcro to fit the inside of the car
Now measure up the lock cover against it to find the place to fit the hard part of the velcro there
All done just need to fit them!!!
Was very happy with myself until I got into my car this morning and noticed my mistake... SHOCK HORROR look at the gap.
As you can see if I had done it in the daylight I would have noticed the recess and made them fit better, needed to be half an inch taller really.... But it only took about an hour and its only the wooden sticks I need to order as I have plenty of the other materials left so will probably make some more in the future,
For now I am very happy, much better than the gaping holes and even the small gap that it could fit up to is not really noticeable. I may even use some very thin foam on my next attempt to get a soft feel and slightly smoother look but maybe that is taking it a bit too far?
Parts I bought:
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/281837583342 (1m black self adhesive) to attach them to the car once completed.
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/121334084451 (black 50 x 53cm) to cover them in to match the roof liner.
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/321891475966 To create the structure of them
Other Parts needed:
A pen, Scissors (decent sharp ones), Duct Tape, Electrical tape, and more of the wooden sticks because 50 isn't enough
but a quick trip to McDonald's for a coffee sorted that out :wink: So the first step is to take your piece of paper out to the car, and hold it against the gaping hole then using the pen draw around the shape of the template.
NOTE 1) make sure you leave enough of a gap for it to tuck inside the rubber seal on the door side.
Note 2) DO NOT do this step in the dark as you may end up making the covers the size of just the hole not the full recess (ask me how I know) and then your finished product will not look as OE
Cut out the template and will end up with something resembling this, you only need to do one side as you just flip it for the other side.
Step 2 lay all your flat wooden sticks with a little gap in between them (the gap is important at you need this to curve with the shape of the car) try to weed out any overly bent sticks. I used the template above so I knew I had enough lined up.
Step 3 Get your Duct tape and lay a piece over the sticks
Step 4 Flip them over and then on the back draw around your template try to line up the end of the template with the start of one of the sticks to make it easier to cut out and to make sure the curve will be lined up straight, then draw around the template
you will now have something resembling this.
Cut it out carefully using the scissors, (they need to be decent sharp scissors)
Repeat steps 2-4 but this time use the other side of the template to get the mirror image for the other side, you will now have a couple of these beauties
Now test fit the part in the car to make sure it goes in OK (again don't try to do this in the dark) as I found out the cars internal lighting isn't good enough to spot any small errors
Now one of the most complicated bits, this is where you seal the edges and develop the curve, I used black insulating tape ove the cut edges of the wood and cut little flaps to get it to fit over.
Then more duct tape both front and back whilst carefully manipulating the wood to get the perfect shape curve, the tightness of the tape will hold the shape. the tape on the back is important as it gives a good area for the fabric to adhere to. You will now have a couple of these
Now to cover them in fabric
Again the tape on the inside is important as it not only holds the fabric securely you need something for the self adhesive velcro to adhere to
Now back out to the car, cut a soft piece of Velcro to fit the inside of the car
Now measure up the lock cover against it to find the place to fit the hard part of the velcro there
All done just need to fit them!!!
Was very happy with myself until I got into my car this morning and noticed my mistake... SHOCK HORROR look at the gap.
As you can see if I had done it in the daylight I would have noticed the recess and made them fit better, needed to be half an inch taller really.... But it only took about an hour and its only the wooden sticks I need to order as I have plenty of the other materials left so will probably make some more in the future,
For now I am very happy, much better than the gaping holes and even the small gap that it could fit up to is not really noticeable. I may even use some very thin foam on my next attempt to get a soft feel and slightly smoother look but maybe that is taking it a bit too far?
