I appologize in advance to anyone who feels that this post belongs in the appearance/misc, but I was denied the authority to start a post in that catagory for reasons unknown.

This is my first fiberglass project ever. I though I'd show everybody here on H-T.
I decided to make a gauge bezel for behind the steering wheel of my civic Eg. I do not like the "pillar style" gauge bezels, and found nothing else that appealed to me in the aftermarket. I decided that I would begin another small project; one of very many.

I bought the fiberglass, epoxy resin, gloves, and a couple masks for health's sake.
I cut up an old "autozone pillar style" bezel for the pod shape, then used cardboard and masking tape to blend the pods into the existing backing plate behind my steering wheel. Once I formed the shape I wanted, I went ahead and started fiberglassing, sticky... but fun. Here was the result.



I let it dry, and sanded the hell out of it. I actually had to modify it more inorder to make it fit my car. I cut the back of the bezel and re fiberglassed inorder to smooth it out. (Note: Fiberglassing a straight edge is a F#$#$% BI#$%.)

Once I had the final shape, I sanded more, and then some more, then a little more, decreasing the grit size every time. I was happy with the shape of my bezel. I went to home-depot and picket up some paint. I chose a rock textured-like paint, similar to underbody coat. I primed the bezel with a nice heavy coat, then applied the "rock." Heres what it looked like.




I installed the gauges, and installed the bezel into my car.





The paint I chose perfectly blended away any mistakes, giving it a professional look. I really like how it came out; however, i dont think I am going to use it. It is a little more "eye catching" than I want it to be, and my goal in to have a fast low profile car. But I though I'd share this with someone.

Any comments or questions are welcome. Thnks for looking.

 

Ive never liked that style, but I do say it turned out very well.
Good job

 

Good job on the custom bezel. It sorta looks like mickey mouse is peepin at you. Its cool though.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by [civic &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">]It sorta looks like mickey mouse is peepin at you.</TD></TR></TABLE>

I thought frog. Look at the pic of the wheel straight on...you'll see it

 

I like gauges to be low profile. I dont like them to be visible from outside the car. I decided not to use this bezel. I guess that it was a good fiberglass expereince for me though. Maybe Ill sell it on ebay .

I decided that I am am going to buy the eg console and do something with that.

 

u should have done it a different color, that one looks like a rock but to a diy

 

you could make a living selling those on ebay....

today's random thought--- I want your cluster

 

Ha, nice thought. Who knows, If i can somehow creates a molding for it, mass produce, and sell over ebay, I coud in fact make a liveing.
I can even sell giant "12 pod ricer clusters," paint them red and yellow.
Well, I may actually give it some thought, thnks

 

Frogger works too.

 

Wow. Thats a pretty damn good job!

 

are you selling that one? since your not going to use it?

 

seriously you could sell those $60/pop, once you have a mold it's relatively easy. Then charge $10 s+h, sell two a day and you have yourself a nice little income.....

 

I could sell this one. I may just try to make a mold out of it though. This one might need some more modifications though. The steering whel rubs the gauges a little bit. I did not compensate for the 10mm that the gauges pertrude. I have not seen this type of cluster for civics. I may actually consider mass producting these. Who knows, it may catch on. How would I make a mold? What material doesnt adhere to epoxy? Maybe tin foil, then sand it off... I guess, any suggestions.

 

thats a great job, ive always wanted to mess with fiberglass, but too lazy.
you should sell it for 1 dollar, and have shipping and handleing be 75 dollars, haha

such trickery

 

looks pretty kool

 

does it replace the top portion of the steering column cover?

 

Not bad looking! I agree, go with another color like all black. Also invest in 2 screws for your cluster panel...its hanging!

 

haha lol on the mickey mouse joke... lol but yeah good job on da custom bezal.. looks pro work

 

DIY

I would love to FG some stuff, but not sure what to do.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Soccerking3000 &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">does it replace the top portion of the steering column cover?</TD></TR></TABLE>

Yes, it does replace the top cover. I actually fiberglassed the pods into the cover, rounded the edges, and sanded to perfection. With the top cover as the base, it is a perfect fit.

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Nova_Dust &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">DIY
I would love to FG some stuff, but not sure what to do.
</TD></TR></TABLE>

It is very easy, just time consuming. I think you should buy the materials from autozone for $15, and screw around with it. It is a lot of fun.

 

I have been waiting for someone to maufacture something like that. I really like how that came out..if you could make a mold and get some ABS plastic injected into it, you could make some cash on EBAY...

I would buy one myself if it was ABS plastic... very nice handiwork

 

Looks good. I would buy one.

 

What did you spray that with fleck-stone?

 

They look like boobies.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by litterbox &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">They look like boobies.</TD></TR></TABLE>

I'm not really sure thats a bad thing....

To the original poster, good job