[mickm]

I am sure this topic has been covered previously, can someone please eliberate on how this panel is constructed?
I wan to make simular door panels in my '33 coupe but don't understand the fine art of making these panels.
I thank all who will take their time to help me here

[BOBCRMAN@aol.com]

A backer panel made from luan/masonite/plastic. Design your panel. Cut and glue 1" upholstery foam to it for the thicker portions of the panel. Remove foam from area that sculpture/pleated section will fit. Glue your smooth covering over the foam and attach to main backer, usually staples/glue. Then make up the pleated portion fasten to a light backer and place into the depression left in the sculptured center part. Fasten this section to main panel. Again several ways, from snaps, cleats thru both pieces, staples,glue. Then apply carpet to lower section. Fabricate lower sculptured panel. light backer and foam then material. Fasten over carpet, up to the Pleated section. Fasten to main panel. Then the upper section is made similar to the last one except it has to be pulled over the top of the main backer and fastened on the back at the uppermost part

[mickm]

Thanks Bob, your explaination is very helpful. If I could ask one more question:
In this picture are the arm rest constructed from dense foam and covered per your previous instructions, or should they be built from something different.
I am ready to get back to the interior on my coupe and this has been a metal block for me to this point.
Check my photo gallery for pics of what I have thus far.Any instructions, criticisms or ideas are greatly appreciated.
Thanks again,
Mick

[BOBCRMAN@aol.com]

On something like that I would build the basic sculpture/armrest from laminated plywood and cover with a med dense foam. Armrests tend to function as door pulls too. The wood foundation keeps everything from pulling apart with use.

[kristkustoms]

Originally Posted by BOBCRMAN@aol.com

A backer panel made from luan/masonite/plastic. Design your panel. Cut and glue 1" upholstery foam to it for the thicker portions of the panel. Remove foam from area that sculpture/pleated section will fit. Glue your smooth covering over the foam and attach to main backer, usually staples/glue. Then make up the pleated portion fasten to a light backer and place into the depression left in the sculptured center part. Fasten this section to main panel. Again several ways, from snaps, cleats thru both pieces, staples,glue. Then apply carpet to lower section. Fabricate lower sculptured panel. light backer and foam then material. Fasten over carpet, up to the Pleated section. Fasten to main panel. Then the upper section is made similar to the last one except it has to be pulled over the top of the main backer and fastened on the back at the uppermost part

Pretty close. I actually did the first panel. It is actually built using multiple panels, layered to give effect. One thing to note, it is not 1" foam, i use only 1/4" dense closed cell foam. To me, 1" foam would be way too "puffy" looking. The pleated section is actually on the base of the panel and the other portions are layered over it. They are what i call "hard pleats." To get a real crisp look, there is no foam used, just 2" strips of plastic spaced 1/8" apart. The leather is worked into the cracks to give it the crisp look.

[mickm]

Thanks for the replies guys, they will be great help.
Mickm

[Redhot-30]

Having trouble trying to bind carpet with vinyl. Vinyl does not seem to want to go around corners, even when I clip it in the inside curve.

Maybe we could impose on Krist to do a instructional piece, with pictures, like the fiberglass tutorial he did before. That would be a great help to me and probabally others.

Thanks in advance for your help.

Andy