Make your own Half Hood
NickMK - 20/6/11 at 07:18 PM
Here is a photo diary of the half hood I am making for my MK
I started off with some old fabric I had lying around the house to to mock up the initial design
Half Hood Mock up
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Then I made up cutting templates out of MDF for the front and rear panel
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Then started cutting
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Pulling fabric tight marked the inner edge of the windscreen
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Using the front template, cut out and pin
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Added webbing straps to the rear and sides for tensioning the roof
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Test fit prior to sewing. Obviously unable to pull it taught..
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Will post pics of the finished article once all the sewing is complete.
BenB - 20/6/11 at 07:27 PM
I've done something very similar myself. Just got to sew on the back panel. Have you tried getting in / out with the hood on. It's quite
fun! 
I guess if you don't know your passenger well before you get in you will afterwards! Nuzzling crotches, it appears, is obligatory.
stevegough - 20/6/11 at 07:41 PM
Now THAT is a fantastically illustrated post - very well done.....Fozzie - are you there, Fozzie?..... worthy of making this a stickie ?
bilbo - 20/6/11 at 08:14 PM
This is the next job I have planned on the car so this post couldn't have come at a better time. I already have a roll of material in the garage
ready. 
Cheers for this,
Bill
[Edited on 20/6/11 by bilbo]
NickMK - 21/6/11 at 07:22 AM
Thanks for comments. Really tried to make this as useful as poss.
Cost so far including all Hooding, Webbing, Buckles and press studs is £44 and mornings worth of work.
Humbug - 21/6/11 at 07:27 AM
Looking good, Nick. I made myself a half hood with straps, etc. but I started from an old Caterham hood which meant that I already had the windscreen
fittings. How are you planning to attach the hood to the top of the screen frame?
NickMK - 21/6/11 at 07:36 AM
quote:
Originally posted by Humbug
How are you planning to attach the hood to the top of the screen frame?
Black press studs, just like the Caterham.
Irony - 21/6/11 at 10:13 AM
Great detailed post there - I will be at this stage at some point. Thanks
jabbahutt - 21/6/11 at 12:55 PM
What type of material you're using please? and where did you source it from?
It's coming along great
Thanks
NickMK - 21/6/11 at 02:47 PM
quote:
Originally posted by jabbahutt
What type of material you're using please? and where did you source it from?
It's coming along great
Thanks
Standard vinyl car hooding as it will match the side-screens
http://www.fabricuk.com/fabrics.php?fabric_type=416
NickMK - 28/6/11 at 07:57 PM
Right have managed to finish off all the sewing on the hood and now need to just final fit it to the car
Start with fitting the poppers to the front of the hood
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Sewing on a buckles I stole from an old rucksack to the side tensioning straps
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Here all the tensioning straps needed to be attached to the car
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And here is the finished product, Just need to tidy up the straps with some Velcro to stop them flapping
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Just been for a test drive and it works a treat not a single bit of turbulence or wind coming in.
Will just have to wait for it to rain for the real test 
The total cost of this hood was £44
[Edited on 28/6/11 by NickMK]
whitestu - 28/6/11 at 08:39 PM
That's just like my sewing machine!
NickMK - 28/6/11 at 08:56 PM
quote:
Originally posted by whitestu
That's just like my sewing machine!
Its great! I looked up the serial number. It was made in 1891, 120 years old and it produces a fantastic stitch
Humbug - 28/6/11 at 09:27 PM
quote:
Originally posted by whitestu
That's just like my sewing machine!
...and mine! I think mine was 1928 or something.
btw, Nick, have you done a high(er) speed test yet? I found that the top of my roof was pushed in somewhat because the rollbar is higher than the
screen, so I needed a secondary hoop to a point about a foot forward of teh rollbar to keep the hood from dipping down onto my head.
stevegough - 28/6/11 at 10:02 PM
That is a very neat job, you just have to be totally chuffed with the final result?
Inspiration for us all in the true Locost way!
NickMK - 29/6/11 at 12:06 AM
quote:
Originally posted by Humbug
quote:
Originally posted by whitestu
That's just like my sewing machine!
...and mine! I think mine was 1928 or something.
btw, Nick, have you done a high(er) speed test yet? I found that the top of my roof was pushed in somewhat because the rollbar is higher than the
screen, so I needed a secondary hoop to a point about a foot forward of teh rollbar to keep the hood from dipping down onto my head.
I have been up to 70 ;-) and it dips slightly but doesn't touch my head. How did you attach the secondary hoop?
NickMK - 29/6/11 at 12:10 AM
quote:
Originally posted by stevegough
That is a very neat job, you just have to be totally chuffed with the final result?
Inspiration for us all in the true Locost way!
Thank you. Yes very happy with the finished look and even happier with how much it cost me!!
steve m - 29/6/11 at 07:41 AM
That's just like my sewing machine!
And mine, is yours a shuttle or bobbin ?
Mines a shuttle, and i dont relly get on with it, i prefer my Mothers Singer bobin
Nice roof BTW
joemotion - 29/6/11 at 07:56 AM
I'm sure a saw a while back at Stoneleigh a car with a cage and it had a stretched material section just on the top for a sunshade? Anybody done
this? I have an aeroscreen and cage and thought this would look good and save the top of my head in the sun. Not sure of the practicality of it
flapping about though.
NickMK - 29/6/11 at 08:50 AM
quote:
Originally posted by steve m
That's just like my sewing machine!
And mine, is yours a shuttle or bobbin ?
Mines a shuttle, and i dont relly get on with it, i prefer my Mothers Singer bobin
Nice roof BTW
Thanks
Shuttle, it takes a bit of fiddling to load.
NickMK - 29/6/11 at 08:54 AM
quote:
Originally posted by joemotion
I'm sure a saw a while back at Stoneleigh a car with a cage and it had a stretched material section just on the top for a sunshade? Anybody done
this? I have an aeroscreen and cage and thought this would look good and save the top of my head in the sun. Not sure of the practicality of it
flapping about though.
I have just been out in the car with the roof on and it works great as a sunshade! I think I'm going to add some thin bamboo as strengthening
rods to stop the little flapping I get at high speed
NickMK - 30/6/11 at 10:34 AM
Right I have put in a modification to the half hood to stop the dipping in and vibration in the roof at speed.
I started out with bamboo but it was too flexible. Then I spotted a set of my old fibreglass Ski poles
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The pole is attached to the roll bar and front screen
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currently only being held by some popper cup's
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What I am after is Wardrobe Rail cups???? They have a U-shaped cup with press in release bit. So that the bar would just pop in and stay secure.
Does anyone know what they are called and where i could get them? or even have another idea for a quick release system?
Nick
PS. I have tested the above up to100mph (on a Private road) and it works a treat!
YQUSTA - 30/6/11 at 11:32 AM
Rail Supports
HTH
NickMK - 30/6/11 at 12:11 PM
quote:
Originally posted by YQUSTA
Rail Supports
HTH
Brilliant. Thank you!
stevegough - 30/6/11 at 07:02 PM
quote:
Originally posted by NickMK
quote:
Originally posted by YQUSTA
Rail Supports
HTH
Brilliant. Thank you!
Or even 20 SPRING CLIPS TOOL STORAGE TERRY 9MM 3/8' £1.79 PACK | eBay UK
NickMK - 30/6/11 at 07:14 PM
quote:
Originally posted by stevegough
quote:
Originally posted by NickMK
quote:
Originally posted by YQUSTA
Rail Supports
HTH
Brilliant. Thank you!
Or even 20 SPRING CLIPS TOOL STORAGE TERRY 9MM 3/8' £1.79 PACK | eBay UK
Maybe.. Thank you.
Really I want the bar to sit on the inner edge of the roll bar and windscreen and to be able to put some tension into the pole.
So I think the rail supports might work, but would love for them to spring locking mechanism to stop the bar lifting out the top.
I might just have to modify the ones from Screwfix and just add a little tap of sprung steel.
NickMK - 30/6/11 at 07:24 PM
Just finished off adding Velcro to the rear straps, stops them flapping
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stevegough - 30/6/11 at 07:29 PM
quote:
Originally posted by NickMK
Just finished off adding Velcro to the rear straps, stops them flapping
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Could do with something like velcro on the wife's hair!
NickMK - 30/6/11 at 07:45 PM
quote:
Originally posted by stevegough
quote:
Originally posted by NickMK
Just finished off adding Velcro to the rear straps, stops them flapping
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Could do with something like velcro on the wife's hair!
I take it your wife doesn't read this website 
Humbug - 2/7/11 at 04:28 PM
Sorry - only just seen your repy to my question about a hoop, and it looks like you've solved the problem now.
Here is a link to my hood thread, and this is a pic with teh hood on:
The hoop is in three parts and fixes to the roll bar; originally I put some threaded bar into tapped holes. Later I put rivnuts in the roll bar, but
you get the idea.
Simon
NickMK - 26/7/11 at 12:09 PM
The half hood had its first real test a couple of weekends ago.
I drove down to North Devon in the pouring rain, 2 1/2 hour journey M4 then A361 and came out the other end 98% dry
The most impressive bit was that you don't get a single bit of spray coming in from behind and having no back means that there is plenty of
ventilation so no steamy windows
The only water came in from under the Side Screens but have now put a fix in place.
Also I'm glad to see this post has been useful to others
http://locostbuilders.co.uk/forum/4/viewthread.php?tid=158625 Great
job Myke
swanny - 26/7/11 at 12:32 PM
looks great.
as a possible alternative rear fixing we made a loop in the fabric and inserted some 5mm bar across the width of the roof. this was then pulled on by
two straps and provides even tension evenly across the width.
paul
