Anyone got info or leads on the above subject? Got a mate who is helping his mate build a small plane and their first attempt at the bubbletop failed so they are looking for build tricks or clues so that their second attempt is more successful. I've read @Moriarity build thread on his Futurian which has some info and there was a Hamber who had also built one but I can't remember his name. My mate actually saw a TV show where they did a bubbletop but he can't remember the name of the show to track it down. Anyway any clues, leads or suggestions would be appreciated.
Aaron aka Plowboy here on the HAMB is probably who you are thinking about. He built a killer bubble top that made it to the ******* mansion, yeah he’s the man, myth and legend I’ve seen some videos about bubble tops being made on YouTube and Aaron’s might have been one of them but I’ve noticed that they have taken a lot of the old content off here lately. look up his build thread and I know he was showing how he did his top.
Check out some sign companies. I worked for one that made big vacuum formed signs. They also used the big oven for forming skylights. Instead of applying vacuum, they would blow in air and stop adding air when it approached the desired height.
Aarons car and others that were built with round bubbles used commercially available pre made bubbles. I made the plywood mold for the bubble on my car because I didn't want one of those round bubbles. and I also made the mold to blow a new top when I restored Roths Road Agent. I initially tried a home made oven in my garage but the heat was not even enough. I ended up taking my molds to a company that did acrylic fabrication to have them blown
depending on the shape your friend is trying to achieve air blowing may not be the answer. When I was helping at the acrylic fab company that blew mine, they showed me how they did airplane canopies. A plaster buck covered in thick felt (so the buck wouldn't leave imprints on the acrylic) have a prewarmed pc of acrylic that if I remember correctly was 3/8 or 1/2 " thick and d**** it over the buck, roll it back into the oven and let gravity do the work. When blowing we shot for a surface temp of 350 degrees that made the plastic kinda rubbery. what temp they used for the d****** process I do not know
Use this as the search for YouTube, can't link the vid url: Creating a Spaceship-Themed Car - Full Custom Garage - S01 E10
How Is That Street Legal on Youtube has done some great fab work that may not fit the standards here. He did a small windscreen and headlight covers at home, not a bubble, but it may help you think outside the box. Look at places that do house or buildings that are unconventional in your area. They often incorporate bubble skylights or windows and will have the contacts for these. Here's a local article about a smaller DIY version, the subject is OT, but covers some of the stuff already mentioned. https://www.streetmachine.com.au/features/diy/how-to-make-your-own-acrylic-bubble-windows
This may have been the show he was trying to remember as he said it was all custom style stuff, top chopping etc. Thanks for that.
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