thymer

iTrader: (5)

This pic gives me wood.

jj_warhorse

The first production NB outer shell was laid up yesterday. I will post pictures of it sitting on a car asap... which should be before the end of next week.

boxxy

eh if they added rear seats it would be ****

jj_warhorse

Cross posted from CR:
Update. Bad news and Good news. Bad news is we have been set back about 3-4 days. Good news is we've only been set back about 3-4 days.
The mold we made had issues with the draft angles \_/ for the 1/4windows as we incorporated the ledge the windows rest on into the most instead of building a separate mold and bonding them in from behind. If the draft angle is too positive, the look bad and wont help window sealing and fit. We tried to make them as close to "neutral" as possible, but they were a little too neutral, and the side "breakaway" sections of the 3 piece mold aren't pulling away as nicely as they should. The first "production top" has become a plug, and the problem has been fixed and a new mold started.
It looks like we'll be modifying the screwed up NB mold for the NA version since the only problem is in the 1/4 windows and we plan on changing those anyway.

Doppelgänger

iTrader: (12)

Yeesh. Sounds like a PITA Jess. But hey, at least you get to take advantage of the mold in the process.

jj_warhorse

This should be the last pre-production prototype. Its a little rough but its past time for an update. The top has sanding scratches, the 1/4 windows are uninstalled, the trick new gas cap lid isnt on the car, the rear window has the protective coating on it... but you will get the picture. It still really needs a rear wrap-around lip spoiler to tie the back end together and clean up the rear corners and balance out the proportions (which look good from side and back but I think need a little work from the 3/4 view.)

glade

iTrader: (2)

Reminds me of a 928...not one of my personal favorites, none the less, well done sir!

jj_warhorse

Yup. Its a bit of bubblebutt right now. The wrap around lip spoiler is going to actually mount to the back face above the lights and plate.... lots of room for improvement to the rear end in that spoiler design. We can always do more then one design as well.

Like I said... keep in mind this is a pieced together pre-production prototype that was pulled from the mold with "issues" that we'll probably modify for the NA version. It was NOT pulled from the new molds.

9671111

iTrader: (10)

those side windows dont flow well with the lines of the car IMO.

jj_warhorse

Bottom of the window line, maybe... but I dont think front and top lines could be any better. I think any awkwardness is in the last 6 or so inches of the back corner along the bottom.

trakhoar

iTrader: (3)

I dont like the multi angle slope..looks like it starts off nice..then changes to a more shallow angle and rises.

jj_warhorse

Maybe it should follow more parallel to the quarter panel and then twards the back turn up with a with a quicker sharper angle?

jj_warhorse

Im having a hard time getting the idea across in these pics, but here is where we are going with the rear end/spoiler. Its going to be quite wide and completely cover the back corners. As I said earlier, it will also be removable and eventually there will be more then one spoiler option, as well as an APR wing. I'm thinking the version to to with the wing will be more like endcaps that blend the corners of the top into the body... similar to whats pictured but with little or no lip. We'll need some professional aero advice before we figure that out.

elesjuan

iTrader: (11)

Is it just dirty, the angle, or me... that back window opening looks like a 3 year old cut the opening??

I'm not really a fan. The drawing looked good, but that prototype doesn't do it for me.

jj_warhorse

You're looking at tape and protective plastic. it really hangs off on the left side.

TurboTim

iTrader: (9)

It looks really fat in the back in the side view. Personally I don't like how the height of the back doesn't flow into the top of the original trunk top line (like the other brand and the OEM fastback), but that's what you were going for. I can't imagine the amount of work that goes into this.

How many do you need to sell of these to turn a profit (to make it worth while to continue development of different versions)?

localtech

iTrader: (4)

Yuck... to this version.

Why can't someone just make a hardtop that looks like the oem top that is just the outside shell basically with a lexan mirror. Along with (Maybe) a rear roof spoiler or something like that. Use aluminum frame to make it strong. **** would be light and cheap compared to the snugtop/oem tops...

jj_warhorse

We're considering taking a step backwards to make few exterior changes. Mainly, the bottom line of the 1/4 windows and the area from the rear window to the back/bottom of the hatch. The good news is this shouldn't affect the interior parts we've made. I'll have more info in a day or two when we decide how much we can practically change at this point.

jj_warhorse

Well, we've already started to make major revisions today, but we are also keeping what we have in case someone wants this design for greater helmet/rollbar clearance, trunkspace ... whatever. Our main glass guy insists that the spoiler will fix the "too tall" proportion issues (I tend to agree with him) and that the current design will have better aerodynamics and helmet/rollbar clearance for the track.
The original wooden buck, and black gelcoat buck shown in the last pictures are both toast, so we have to go back to the first mold taken off the wooden buck/oem top. The issue with this is it does not include all the work we did around the side rollup windows to make the top flush to the glass and eliminate the big "shoulder" behind the window on the OEM top that is perpendicular to airflow, so that must be redone. The slope will be steeper and the tail edge will be closer to stock decklid height... maybe around an inch higher as shown on the original wooden buck. This will obviously blend the rear corners into the body better. 1/4 windows will be more like the "flipped" versions, but probably shorter for appropriate gas filler clearance and bilateral symmetry.
Right now we're scratching our heads deciding what to keep and what we should cut up and glass back together so we're not starting completely from scratch with a new wooden buck. Bottom line... lower sleeker version in the works, just dont expect more then OEM headroom or useable trunk space.

TurboTim

iTrader: (9)

OEM head room is fine. I can't talk for your customers, but it's been fine for me since I've had my car. If I need 'useable' trunk space I drive my subaru.