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Post by qdos on Dec 12, 2014 6:28:07 GMT
Looking forward to seeing what you do with the dash Roger I to like to see things blend in with a design rather than being a collection of bolted on parts
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Post by erik on Dec 12, 2014 19:20:03 GMT
Hi Roger! I'm loooking forward to see the additional mods you planned  You both still keep amazing me LOL!! Not sure if it is a good thing to blend in the windscreen into the front piece. I think the original concept (Eco-exo) makes great use of the steering bar+screen. With the Exo-r its less functional but still it looks good tough the bracketry takes some time to get sturdy. However, Sometimes I think I'd dig the Exo better as the-R  Good luck! Erik |
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Post by roger32849 on Dec 15, 2014 2:27:06 GMT
Kelvin and Erik Thanks for your interest, I am working on a dash design that blends to the bonnet with no side openings. It will be a separate piece leaving the bonnet original. Since I used a 2008 donor scooter I am utilizing the clocks, windscreen,and clock housing and front dash trim from the same year donor. It has been difficult to land on a suitable design. I believe I have something that will not only clean up the edginess and also present a smooth transition from the dash to the bonnet. I would really like to do away with the ABS plastic cowl trim and do an overlay with carbon fiber. As I enter this information, the epoxy is drying on today's efforts. I will let it set up all day tomorrow and do some rough fitment and sanding. Cab-a-sil or Silica filler mixed with epoxy needs to be applied to the low spots to smooth out the contours. I really had to rough up the ABS so I hope the epoxy sticks to it. I will be posting pictures in the next couple of weeks. I will be doing a video as well. There is a problem using the 2007 and newer clock set. The clocks contour upward  ?at the bottom while the main dash support on the frame contours downward ? this makes for a large gap at the extreme right and left edges between the clocks and the dash bar. I hope I can use the space to my advantage as a mounting area for my Emergency Stop switch, stereo amp power switch, Dealer mode switch and a momentary brake light override switch*. (*for starting while not seated inside the drivers compartment) That's about all there is for now... I will be posting pics soon. Roger Worcester, Massachusetts |
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Post by erik on Dec 15, 2014 16:33:37 GMT
There is a problem using the 2007 and newer clock set. The clocks contour upward ?at the bottom while the main dash support on the frame contours downward ? this makes for a large gap at the extreme right and left edges between the clocks and the dash bar. That's about all there is for now... I will be posting pics soon. Roger Worcester, Massachusetts Hehe, The dahs design would be a better match when it's mounted under the front bonnet, If you'd bin the steering column Looking forward to your pics! br, Erik |
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Post by roger32849 on Dec 15, 2014 22:11:32 GMT
But Erik,you would have to be a dyslexic person with inverted vision to read the clocks.. LOL
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Post by roger32849 on Dec 16, 2014 20:40:51 GMT
link  link  link  link  I keep looking at the dash and think.."It's coming along Okay" The clocks fit into it and the general shape is conforming to the bonnet contour.... but!!!!!! Something just doesn't look right. Before I invest any more time into this housing, I am going to leave it perched on the Eco-Exo to study a bit. Perhaps some bit of inspiration will strike me, or then again, maybe some elves will work on it. After all, "Tis the season". I know, I am being elfish and should ask the forum readers for their opinion(s). Of course the elf thing was just an idea. Here is what I am seriously thinking. It is too tall and way to wide at the front. I can re-design the width, but the height is something that cannot be lowered by much. The gauges are sitting on the steering column support. Perhaps if I just narrowed it and cleaned up the busy front it would help. Plan 2: This calls for trashing the gauges, and the OEM housing and starting over. I would keep the windscreen, and make a mold for a housing that would accommodate it..... and.... new gauges... aftermarket ones possibly from Koso or Acewell for example. Flush mount them into a low profile 1/4" thick low profile, arched, section of aluminum mated to the newly cast housing. Brainstorming here...I figured I would share my thoughts on getting this thing together. It is winter and I have a few months to experiment. Roger Worcester, Massachusetts
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Post by erik on Dec 18, 2014 18:51:06 GMT
But Erik,you would have to be a dyslexic person with inverted vision to read the clocks.. LOL Had to read this 3 times :S Binning the oem dash seems like a big challenge. Not sure if you can find all data which is displayed on the dash in an alternative gauge. Like this it doesn't look wrong at all. take some time to clear your head greets! Erik |
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Post by roger32849 on Dec 18, 2014 19:41:29 GMT
Sorry about the dyslexic entry. It was my way of saying I would have to stand on my head to read the gauges if they were placed beneath the dash. Then everything would be backward and inverted.. of course if I were Dyslexic with inverted vision, it would appear to be normal..... it was a reach...
Roger
Worcester, Massachusetts
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Post by erik on Dec 18, 2014 21:50:54 GMT
I'm normal but got lost in translation so had to disect and compute in parts . We use different grammar over here in the Netherlands with little similaritys but English words do integrate in our Dutch language. It's a similar barrier like English vs Spanish capito? Anyway, are you planning lost foam method for the dash or are you going to mould it in negative and lay up a new one from scratch? |
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Post by roger32849 on Dec 19, 2014 0:28:22 GMT
I re-read Kelvin entries and something sort of hit me. Keeping it within the design of the trike and not a collection of bolted on parts. I spent the last two days looking at American, British, Euro and Japanese gauge designs. I even checked out British sports cars like MG and Triumph along with Corvette and Audi. I came to the conclusion there is no wrong way to make a dash panel.... From the early 427 Cobras with reverse speedometer to the latest and greatest stuff there is. I decided to "simplify" the design. I will be Making a couple of sample designs then deciding which way I want to go after I give each a try. If this works then it would save a LOT of fabrication time trying to mate, match and modify OEM stuff to fit a custom trike. That's it for now....
Pictures in about a week.. maybe two.
Roger
Worcester, Massachusetts
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Post by roger32849 on Dec 19, 2014 0:37:01 GMT
Erik
I will answer your question as soon as I know for sure which way I want to go. The design I have in mind will be clean and slick.... no clutter, no bolted on parts and no mating modified OEM pieces to the project. Think of the early Rover 3500 sedans with their very clean and uncluttered dash panel. Perhaps you will know where I am headed if you look at a photo of one on the internet.
Best regards
Roger
Worcester, Massachusetts
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Post by erik on Dec 19, 2014 5:40:24 GMT
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Post by qdos on Dec 19, 2014 6:19:32 GMT
Or this?  or this?  The beauty of kits is that you can build them the way you like things to be to suit you. Personally I do try to get things to work with the overall theme of things but as I say a kit gives you your own canvas |
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Post by erik on Dec 19, 2014 22:22:56 GMT
Canvas... Velorex |
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Post by roger32849 on Dec 21, 2014 0:37:38 GMT
Erik:
What you hit on was 100% correct. I pointed out the old Rover as a classic car with a very plain dash panel. Function over form. I lived in the UK for 4 years and drove a Rover 2000. It was (at the time) one of the nicest cars I ever owned. I enjoyed the ease of maintenance, the interior was leather, and of course the instrument panel was a cluster of gauges placed inside a box and mounted on a shelf. Great function, not fancy but reliable.
Rover set a good theme to follow. Just keep things simple. That's what I am doing with my dash. I am going to keep it simple and easy to build. As I said, give me some time to work out the details and design. I will be posting pictures after the holidays..
Roger
Worcester, Massachusetts
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You both still keep amazing me LOL!!
?at the bottom while the main dash support on the frame contours downward 
