lexan chassis protector?

[g13092]

Hey gang, anyone ever make a chassis protector out of lexan sheet? I was thinking of using an old tub to form a "under tray". The idea would be to allow some parking lot bashing of one of my cars without adding new scratches.

I'm skeptical of the chassis protection sheets you get at tower. To be honest, I've never held one in my hand, so I have no real basis for my skepticism. Are these things good enough that I shouldn't mess with forming some lexan?

If I do proceed with this, I suppose I'd put it in the oven upside down so the lexan drapes around the edges a bit. The other idea would be to blast it with a heat gun. Thoughts?

[Eau Rouge]

What kind of chassis? Shouldn't be too hard to make one, and no heat necessary.

I made one out of .030" lexan for a BJ4 worlds that I had just tracing the chassis on the sheet, and drawing tabs to fold up around the edges. I used a $30 bench bending brake to fold the lexan without using any heat. Very easy and it looked super cool when painted to match.

[adam lancia]

The AE chassis protector sheet is awesome stuff, very tough. If you have a dirt bike shop near you, ask them for clear number plate protector film. It's either the same or very similar to the AE stuff and you get a few sheets for what one sheet of the AE stuff costs (depending on where you go of course).

[shodog]

I made a protector out of some .030 fiberglass and it works killer

[a01butal]

Shodog, how is the fiberglass undertray held on? Did you just use longer screws and run through
the stock holes? I can't see where the screws are so I wondering. Thanks

[adam lancia]

Looks to me like he adhered it on with an adhesive.

[shodog]

3M makes a double stick tape called VHB which is essentially just the sticky part of tape so it's about .005" thick and keeps the fiberglass plate secured

[Eau Rouge]

JConcepts/Associated sold that chassis protector, and I used it on the bottom of a Losi JRXS-R on asphalt and it worked very well. Comes off easily, too.



Looks like there are more than a few really nice options for protecting the bottom of a chassis from the elements.

[g13092]

Cool ideas, guys. Thanks! I may try all three.

Doug, that tray does look cool painted to match! I figured lexan wouldn't take a 'fold' the way you might do on a brake, that it would become a stress point that would easily tear. Where'd you get the brake?

[Eau Rouge]

Northern Tools has a nice 16" brake that I use. Lots of guys use this one for bending up EDM modifieds and Sprint car wings. No stress at all. Works perfectly.

[Tadracket]

I have a vintage lexan under tray for the gold pan. I was thinking of re-proing it. If there is enough interest, I'll try to mold it this weekend.

[RichieRich]

I found an A&L one a while back for the RC10. I traded it for something, I don't remember. It was pretty cool though.