Buggy Panels - revisited

[Herzog]

I'm looking to replace my body panels with some color. The all black scheme I currently have is getting boring.

I would like to find a translucent sheet plastic for a good price, but I want to know what other options I have.

I originally bought my roll plastic from http://www.daymotorsports.com, but they have a limited selection of colors. Is painting this plastic a durable option? Will it crack up? Does it depend on what kind of paint I use?

Ideally, I would like to just find the color I want in plastic without painting. Braden - how did you go about getting your tinted color? Is it painted? I searched your thread, but you never gave us and update.

Is lexan the way to go, or should I stick with the roll plastic?

Thanks in advance.

 

[Caleb]

I'm sure you realize this but the reason I liked the roll plastic is its cheap and when it gets scratched it doesn't show since its solid color...I think painting the panel *could* work if you use the right kind of paint (what kind that is, I don't know...you'd need something that will flex with the panel and not crack or peel). I'm sure this is all stuff you already now so I'll shut-up now (FWIW, I was thinking about going to aluminum panels on mine cause they always seem to look just a little nicer than the plastic...but it does cost quite a bit more)

 

[EZRhino]

I think the idea with clear panels is you paint the inside. That way if they get scratched the paint won't come off.

EZ

 

[I Lean]

I think the idea with clear panels is you paint the inside. That way if they get scratched the paint won't come off.

EZ

Yup, that's what I've got now. .060 polycarbonate painted on the inside--nice and durable, and pretty. It's something like $60 for a 4x8 sheet. Herzog's got it easy, he can use his existing panels as templates.

 

[Herzog]

Yup, that's what I've got now. .060 polycarbonate painted on the inside--nice and durable, and pretty. It's something like $60 for a 4x8 sheet. Herzog's got it easy, he can use his existing panels as templates.

$60 a sheet! I think I paid that much for about 30' of what I have now.

 

[PBandCJ]

I know some people that do the car wrap if you would like to look in to it ....but it will scratch

 

[RockMonkey]

Yeah, I wanted to see how my paint would hold up before I recommended anything. Anyway, this stuff is the shiz http://www.duplicolor.com/products/metalcast.html
get some .060 polycarbonate (yup, it's spendy stuff). I get two panels out of a 4x8 sheet. Then paint the inside with the metalcast spray paint. The metalcast paint is made to be painted over aluminum and it makes it look anodized. It sticks great to poly carbonate. It has not flaked or cracked off anywhere on my panels. It did rub off in a couple spots where it was rubbing against tube, or a mounting tab, or something. It really has held up waaaaay better than I ever thought it would. The only drawback I've found is that spraying large areas it is hard to get it really uniform. Also, it takes a LOT of paint to cover the area. I used on full can on each pody panel. Since I sprayed the paint on the inside, you can really only see the splotchy/uneveness from the inside. From the outside they look good, and you can still see through them wnough to clearly see cones, rocks, trees, and whatnot.

 

[I Lean]

I didn't go for translucent, I just left a clear panel where I wanted to see through. I think it's probably easier to paint a solid color than a transparent one, based on Braden's aforementioned splotchyness.

You can see the clear-ness clearly in the following shots. The side panel is clear in the bottom 1/3 or so, and the entire panels in front of that up to the firewall.

 

[I Lean]

Bringing this back one last time before I let it die....

The Lexan panels are much tougher than the other plastic, harder to destroy. The other stuff is kinda soft, and pretty easy to smash into weird shapes or tear. The polycarbonate will hold it's own against the rocks, at least for a while. It has acted as a nice "skid plate" against my tubes several times.

 

[Herzog]

Bringing this back one last time before I let it die....

The Lexan panels are much tougher than the other plastic, harder to destroy. The other stuff is kinda soft, and pretty easy to smash into weird shapes or tear. The polycarbonate will hold it's own against the rocks, at least for a while. It has acted as a nice "skid plate" against my tubes several times.

I'm almost wanting to go with the polycarbonate, but I might have to stick with polypropylene. Another thing I like about the polycarbonate is that it wont expand (as much as roll plastic) in the sun, making the panels look wavy when mounted with tabs.

polypropylene is just way more affordable for what it is anyways. It's definately one of those "You get what you pay for" situations though.

 

[Herzog]

Just an update...

I decided to go with the roll plastic again for various reason. I went with red this time. Not my favorite color, but I think it looks well on the buggy. Much more defining that all black.

Ignore the messed up R ME on the hood.

 

[Meat_]

Looks good. I like the red better than the black.

 

[Hickey]

R ME? You join the Red Army or sumfin?

 

[Herzog]

R ME? You join the Red Army or sumfin?

Shaddup.

I was experimenting with an exacto knife, masking tape, and black paint. Even the rockymountainextreme.com sticker on my truck is crooked, so why not mess that up too?

 

[Shawn]

Is this what you are using?

http://www.daymotorsports.com/product/137/c/13/

 

[Herzog]

Is this what you are using?

http://www.daymotorsports.com/product/137/c/13/

Yes. Exactly what I'm using.

 

[Shawn]

Yes. Exactly what I'm using.

thanks,