Date: Thu, 15 Dec 2005 18:10:10 EST
Reply-To: JordanVw@AOL.COM
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: JordanVw@AOL.COM
Subject: Reproducing vanagon parts. (was: Re: Pzwo foglight kit,
wheel archs, etc. repros
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="US-ASCII"
In a message dated 12/15/05 12:17:39 PM Eastern Standard Time,
inua@CHARTER.NET writes:
> Fact is, without examples, I cannot determine what can be made on the
> machine, Projektzwo foglights, wheel arches, or whatever, much less
> actually reproduce them.
>
> So, if any one has either these two, or any other item that they think
> may make a nice reprocuction for the vanagons, and are willing to part
> with it for a little while, drop me a note to arrange to get it to me.
> Be assured it will be returned in good condition,
>
> I have looked at a lot of pictures of SA grills, Projektzwo foglight
> kits, double fog-light lower grills, and wheel arches, and they all look
> to be reproducible by vacuum forming.However, I have never seen any of
> these first hand, so I am at a disadvantage in making a final
> determination. And of course, if I don't have one in hand I can do
> nothing in the way of reproduction.
>
> If anyone has an interest, let me know.
>
> Regards,
>
> John Rodgers
> 88 GL Driver
>
Truth is, alot of these plastic parts would be simple to repro...injection
mold.. wheel arches, etc..they are a flexible ABS style plastic, as with most
exterior or interior plastic acessories..
but if you go making a mold, are u guaranteed enough interest to even make it
worthwhile financially and timewise to make these parts and make a profit
selling them?
thats the biggest problem there. its not worth John's or anyone elses time
to make these if he/they cannot make a profit on them. to make a mold for
such a limited interest, or a limited run of copies, is not profitable..
and like he said, finding the donors which to make these molds from. alot
of these items are NLA and rare, and arent exactly cheap. who wants to give
up their rare NLA part for using as a donor? those who have them, dont need
them, so they dont want to give them up.
a few months ago i sent (gave) john a 80-84 westy right rear curtain rod
cover - the molded plastic cover that covers the upper curtain track that is
always brittle and cracked on early westys, that is NLA new and nobody is repro-ing
them.
he told me that there wasnt even enough interest from westy owners to even
bother making a mold - that the cost of the materials was more than the limited
interest..
so its really a dead end street i guess.
it will just make those rare and hard to find NLA parts all the more rarer..
chris
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