making fiberglass race tail

[AVR89]

I want to make my own race tail from fiberglass. Not sure which method to use. Any ideas on what would be least complicated for beginner.
Use a race tail that I have for a plug and later cut away or fill in the mold for new design?

[origin8or]

The easier way would be to use your current tail as a base and start modding it to what you want. Body fill it, shape it, and when you're happy, then make the mold. You will have an near impossible time modifying the mold after it's made.

[AVR89]

What about areas that I want to be slimmer than the tail I have? I would have to cut away at the mold, no?

[vfrrider]

Or you can make your own tail a slice at a time with plywood until you have the right shape, even cut and sand it. when its right, cover with a thin layer of bondo and sand smooth. Now you have the master. Wax well and make a fiberglass mold with a seam down the middle for rt and lf molds. Let dry, remove one at a time. smooth and polish and bolt rt and lf back together. Layup fiberglass inside and wait to dry. Unbolt and smooth, paint and install.

Or buy it already done. or adapt the tail from your favorite model with new subframe.

Larry
VFRrider

[mabryusmc]

use a giant block of styrofoam, mold, shape, and shave it into the shape you want. Once you are completely satisfied.... lay the fiberglass over the styrofoam... let cure..... then put an acetone on the styrofoam... it will eat it away and you can sand as you please....

[C-4 (Denmark)]

You will end up spending x2 as much money alteast if you wanna make one yourself, not to mention the wast amount of time, especially for a beginner.
Your best option is to buy a already done race tail, and mod it, saves money, time and braincells.

[Marxist]

Agreed - he's right, it'll take part of your life away that you won't get back and the only thing that you will learn is that your piece of crap tail took too long and cost too much money and is less than half the quality of one you could have bought months ago... (I speak from my own example)...

[varium]

Go the styrofoam(sp?) route.

[C-4 (Denmark)]

Styrofoam limits your choice of resin to Epoxy. Wich also costs more, more difficult to work with and needs to be after heated before being prepped.