25-05-2022, 09:03 AM
I built 2 cars with doped fabric bodywork for Austin 7 racing in 1979/80. The Red car and the Black car.
I used Irish linen doped with red tautening dope fiinish painted with household enamel.
My method, as recommended by the bloke at Shoreham airport that sold me the linen and dope was to prime the edges of the plywood with dope and when dry fit fabric and pin in position with dressmaking pins. Approx. 1 1/2 inch overlap, pinked edges.
Once satisfied with with the fit the edges were doped to fix the fabric.
After the edges dried the fabric was doped all over.
The pins were removed and a final coat of dope.
The result when dry was remarkable, drum tight and no wrinkles!
You'll need;
Linen
Dope
Dressmaking scissors
Pinking shears (for edges of fabric)
Dressmaking pins
Brushes etc.
I'd suggest it might be best to make a small test piece first!
I used Irish linen doped with red tautening dope fiinish painted with household enamel.
My method, as recommended by the bloke at Shoreham airport that sold me the linen and dope was to prime the edges of the plywood with dope and when dry fit fabric and pin in position with dressmaking pins. Approx. 1 1/2 inch overlap, pinked edges.
Once satisfied with with the fit the edges were doped to fix the fabric.
After the edges dried the fabric was doped all over.
The pins were removed and a final coat of dope.
The result when dry was remarkable, drum tight and no wrinkles!
You'll need;
Linen
Dope
Dressmaking scissors
Pinking shears (for edges of fabric)
Dressmaking pins
Brushes etc.
I'd suggest it might be best to make a small test piece first!