Just to give you an idea of just how delicate some of our project are, this is a 84" wing span RC P38 lightning that we plated then painted to the customers specs. Its substrates are fiberglass, plastics, wood and vinyl, all had to look the same when we were finished. We do some interesting projects here but I must admit it looks good on the cobras:D

Ron

[IMG]http://www.clubcobra.com/photopost/d...6MVC-010F1.JPG[/IMG]

Metal,

I build RC aircraft too, and that P-38 is truly a work of art! What did you charge for that?

Only his first born:D

Ron:

Here is yet another question for you and hopefully you will understand what I am talking about....

The engine compartment of my particular ERA has white colored fibreglass panels for the compartment sides. Is it possible to "plate" these panels "in-situ" with the engine in place and the panels attached to the car?

Reason I ask, is it appears to me that these panels are not going to be easy at all to remove from the car to "plate"

Please advise... If you look in my gallery, you will see a picture of the engine that may have a small view of these panels. The firewall is real aluminum and does not need plating.

Thanks

Art are the panels the ones that are along side the radiator hose area, if so I did mine before the engine was installed. I would have to do them off the body, sorry.


Ron

I thought I ought to weigh in, since my hood found it's way into this thread.

What you see in the picture is what you see in real life. I might be a bit biased, but I think it looks terrific. My car has been on the road for about 10 months (and 6,700 miles :D ) and the hood looks as good as when it was first delivered.

Ron took great care of my hood, which was painted before he applied the coating.

I can't say enough good things about the service I got from Ron and the final product.

Metal-morphous,
Have you ever attempted to plate a ready for paint fiberglass body? Most of these cars never get wet anyway. Just thinking, if you can transform a body look like that P-38.........................

Art - if you are referring to the footboxes, you may want to reconsider plating these. The white ERA footboxes are a design detail for which the car is particularly noted, because they are identical to an original in terms of shape, material, and color.

Just my $.02....:)

Hmm........%/

Hi Luke,
Thanks for the comment, however I am talking about the white panels on the side walls of the engine compartment, not the footboxes or fire wall. Thanks.

Metal plating-ERA owners
 

Hi ERA owners:

Considering I am having an ERA built soon (Peter says they plan to start on it in mid May) and therefore there is nothing yet to impede access to variuous body parts, exactly on what , where and why would you have the metal plating done?

Thanks, Mike

Mike this all started about 7 years ago. I was at a car show with my ERA roadster, everything is just perfect, it gleamed and had that great stance that ERAs are know for. I had the hood open to show off some of the chrome and of coarse the mighty 427 engine:D . One of the spectator was looking at my car hard and long and as we all know thats not unusually for cobras, but then he turn to me and said " Nice kit Kar":( I asked him what gives it away and he said it was the paint under the hood. Not only was it just painted but it wasn't very smooth. So that fall when I put the car away for the winter I figured I would just sand and paint the underside of the hood. Then it hit me, I can plate metals to all kinds of subsurfaces and fiberglass was one that we had been plating for years, so I figured that when someone looked around in my engine compartment they would see Big engine, lots of chrome and polished aluminum on it, polished aluminum firewall, polished aluminum engine bay walls and a Aluminum hood, well at least they think its alumunum and because our process is seamless it takes the shape of the scoop area and looks like the metal has been bent perfectly to match the exterior.Since I plated my own hood about 7 years ago I have fooled more people into thinking its an aluminum body cobra. If you think about it, if you own and aluminum body cobra and you have it painted, the only way most people would know it was aluminum is if you tell them. By plating areas of visibility and being discreet about it I now have all the benifits of alumunum and all the benifts of fiberglass. Its really taken off in the last two years so I guess from public response I would say its a winner.


Ron

[IMG]http://www.clubcobra.com/photopost/d...16MVC-011F.JPG [/IMG]
My ERA #148 soon to be a real antique :D

I'd love to utilize some of your services but shipping costs for the parts from/to Hawaii would be cost prohibitive.

Tell you what, why don't you open a branch office out here? You can stay at my place until you get set up. :D

Ernie

After the winter we having here and I mean still having here:CRY: I will be on a plane tonight, now were did you say you lived:cool:

All kidding aside, we do onsite plating, thats how we did some of Jerry's work

Metal Morpheous - seriously - is this of a high enough quality you could do an entire car body? :MECOOL:

Hi Ron:

Very nice Cobra you have.

I am interested and would like you to provide a firm quote based on what should be done and the logistics involved considering that the car is at ERA.

Thank you, Mike

Ernie,

While your car is still here is the time to have that stuff done. Then I won't have to when you let me have it because you can't get it on a boat.

Ron :D

Mike you can call me at the shop and I can fax an estimate to you if you would like.

Luke as for if being a quality product I would say YES. I just finished plating ALL of the custom windows, doors and part to an unbeleivable elevator to a famous comedian that loves porsches. That project ran 3 years. But I dont like to advise people were to use it. Its really up to the individually. Some like alot of it , some dont. I guess you would have to ask your self if you would like to drive aroud in a cobra that had a finish like the plane. Personally that would be too flashy for me..

Just my oppion
Ron

Re: Metal plating-ERA owners
 

Mike - good question. I saw an awesome looking big $$$car last trip to ERA that was being custom fitted with a bunch of upgraded aluminum panels that are basically hand fabricated - around the engine and the trunk compartments. You have a great opportunity before the build, to really upgrade here at what sounds like a lot more reasonable cost than custom-fit alum panels.

You've got some time to decide - ask PP about the car below - I have the s/n written down somewhere but I can't find it. He'll know the car I mean. Sorry for grainy photo quality – it was ultra high speed film.

Oh, about that Mid May start....is that the PP calender?:LOL:

http://www.clubcobra.com/photopost/d...Pretty-med.jpg