Query of the Day: How Did they Make Pole Position Seats?

Phetishboy

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Query of the Day: How Did they Make Pole Position Seats?

You know, in the cockpit? That laminated curve just seems so impossible to me. Seems like the laminate would break before you got it bent this far? Is it flexible cedar underneath or just joined and routed plywood? Me curious.
 
better query....explain to me how you blended your corners you bondo'd into the artwork...i picked up a pp cockpit yesterday that i will resto this summer that needs bondo'ed corners.
 
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That laminated curve just seems so impossible to me. Seems like the laminate would break before you got it bent this far?

Playing with your Pole toys again. Please keep this thread devoted to arcade-related discussion. Or are you just preparing for that Cabaret role again, big boy?!

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You know, in the cockpit? That laminated curve just seems so impossible to me. Seems like the laminate would break before you got it bent this far? Is it flexible cedar underneath or just joined and routed plywood? Me curious.

Something like this, I would imagine:


Obviously in a manufacturing plant you'd have slightly less ad-hoc tools, but otherwise it's pretty much the same process.
 
If you've ever been in a cabinet/countertop shop and watched them bend laminate for countertops, it's pretty quick and easy. they have a large heat press. The press heats the laminate, then bends it into shape. It cools down pretty damn quick.

I went with someone to pick up some laminate they needed bent for a splash-guard on their kitchen countertops, and watched them put the curved bend in. Took about 5 minutes...
 
watched them put the curved bend in

Phet has witnessed this, too. It has nothing to do with countertops, although he has seen it whilst Fritz was gripping a stool. Does that count?
 
I was actually thinking they'd bend the individual sheets of wood, then glue and clamp them to make the 'laminate'. But what modessitt said is probably much easier.

We're talking about the black countertop laminate that covers the seat, like Formica or Wilsonart. That's that part that seemed impossible to bend without breaking. Even with heat, I thought it would be too brittle. Sounds like Mod knows what's up. Wonder if that same shop could produce a whole seat if someone needed one.
 
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