Hello to all who see this! I am Nathan and I run what is known as FezCreations.
I started this project after spending too many summers on track in the Texas heat without proper sun protection & the added benefit of improved aerodynamics. The idea I had was, why bother spending $1,500 on a second-hand hardtop when I could just make my own for less than half of that.
After making a digital model and 1/8" scale mockups, it was time to test fit the full-size pieces on the car to make sure it actually works. To my surprise, the top fit like a glove, all I needed to do was make modifications for it to sit and mate correctly with the front brow and rear window area.
Once I was comfortable with the fitment, it was time to start material testing. Since the top will be spending almost 100% of its time outsite, I had to make sure it could stand up to the elements. ASA is what i decided to use. ASA is UV stable, chemically resistant, impact resistant, and has a high heat tolerance. In order to join the ASA panels, I went through a lot of different methods. Originally, I was using plastic epoxy, fiber tape, and epoxy coating. The epoxy coating looked nice but took a lot of prep time. My final solution was to use plastic epoxy, UV curing resin, and hot staples/plastic welding. This method provides a connection on the edges of the panel and within the panels themselves.
After many kilograms of test tops, I managed to nail down print orientations and panel connections. Now its ready for finishing touches and detailing.
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