The carbon viper

[samari]

Ok I started a recore thread last year but stopped posting on it because I thought there were enough of them. At this point in my restoration I think I have something a little different that others might be interested in.

I'm a marine tech by trade and so far from a body man that it's funny. The gel on my viper was so cracked up that I was told the best way to redo it was to sand it all off. I did it to the bottom and after all the sanding I didn't want to do it to the top so I thought of doing a wrap. I couldn't think of a cool design other than carbon fiber but I don't like the fake carbon so I figured go to the next level and use real carbon.

I talked to the guys at Express Composites and told them what I was thinking of doing and they weren't sure hoe it would turn out but gave me some pointers. Well it's almost done and it is actually just about how I imagined it would look.

I started by sanding the gel with 240 to get the loose metal flake off then 36 to get a good bite with the new gel.

Then I rolled a layer of black gel over the old stuff. At this time I saw how all the cracks showed up in the new gel.

Once that cured I figured out it would be critical to get the carbon on straight witch was a pain to say the least.

I could only find 50" wide carbon so I used 2" carbon tape on the body line.
The center of the dash is about 52 and 1/2 inches so it's not perfect but close.

The sides with carbon.

I found it hard to cut the carbon until I let it cure and cut it with a cut off wheel on a dremil then peeled up the tape. I then layed the 2" tape up agenst the red so with the clear on it there wouldn't be a bump.

After that I layed the black on the outside. This is what I'm not all that pleased with, it's just too plain.

I cut out the splash well and made a flat deck and covered that in the same gray carbon as the 2" tape. I then rolled enough clear on it so I could sand it and not hit the carbon. At this point I needed some help from a professional and had it sprayed last weekend.


I still need to sand it one more time, then It will get a automotive clear for the uv protection.

All and All I'm pleased with the outcome, heck a mechanic did it in his garage and it was my first time doing anything like it.

[power of one]

samari that is awesome well done what resin did you use to wet it out ? another way to finish carbon is to use surfboard finishing resin pour it on and use a squgee then go through the grades and buff it up have been thinking about doing some more carbon work my self but need to get off my arse .

[XstreamVking]

That is really different and original.... Looks cool.. It's getting harder to come up w/something original. Enuf hard work and determination and anything you can envision is possible. I bet in person it's impressive....Show more pics...

[Alan Power]

That is AWSOME!!!!!!!!!

[transomstand]

That is really original, and very cool. Is it done in epoxy?

I agree with the surfboard resin idea, has UV protection, and can be polished to a mirror finish.

[transomstand]

Another thing you might want to try, is 1/4" pinstripe on the raw edges of the fabric you don't like, should make it much neater.

[Brabender]

Another thing you might want to try, is 1/4" pinstripe on the raw edges of the fabric you don't like, should make it much neater.

Great Idea, and Do it before the last layer of Clear.

Great Job

[RONNIE]

very cool!!

[samari]

Thanks guys, I was a little sceptical about posting it here but I think so far it turned out scream and fly worthy.

I used polyester resin and gel, it's not ment to be structural but it did stiffen it up a bit.

Thanks for the tip on the surfboard resin, I'll look into that tonight.

The boat will be powered by a 2.4 200 with a little help from Nitrox and will mainly be used for drag racing in our club.

[Alan Power]

What did you do with the hull!

I like this a lot!!!!

[oldskier]

Chet, amazing! every time I thought all the cool stuff had already been done....

Betcha got a bulletproof deck too!

[transomstand]

Thanks guys, I was a little sceptical about posting it here but I think so far it turned out scream and fly worthy.

I used polyester resin and gel, it's not ment to be structural but it did stiffen it up a bit.

Thanks for the tip on the surfboard resin, I'll look into that tonight.

The boat will be powered by a 2.4 200 with a little help from Nitrox and will mainly be used for drag racing in our club.

Since you used polyester, you could also use clear gel coat.

[Brabender]

Mix some Duratec clear in w the Clear Gel coat
I Go 50/50

[OFFSHORE GINGER]

Hey guy l@@ks g@@d It sometimes is a real bitch doing Carbon fiber on large areas like that because the fabric has a tendency to stretch and loose its shape as far as looking and being straight . Chet , i really like the red carbon fiber and once again , very nice

[samari]

Mix some Duratec clear in w the Clear Gel coat
I Go 50/50

Thats what I have done so far but I think I still need UV protection.