Well, it is not that different from a stock PT Cruiser radio...

Just wanted say that this looks great and I'll be one of many eagerly waiting for them to go on sale!

I never seen that web site before, to bad it didn't work out.
Anyway, cant wait for the new Polished Fascias to be ready

I may have something to show you fairly shortly then.

We're still in a little bit of a holding pattern, but Brandon told me yesterday that he's been doing a bit of a test with the polishing on one of our blanks. I'll see if I can get him over here for a picture of it ASAP.

Cant wait,

Hey Webroach, any luck with those pics or any news on the progress. As you can tell Im really excited!

Great stuff, keep up the good work, I'll be interested in a couple sets..

Ok, first off, sorry about the lack of updates; school is, to put it simply, kicking my ass (18 credit hours of Japanese and Linguistics courses will do that to you). Also, not much had happened progress-wise.

Brandon just called and said some machine time had opened up at the shop. We're going to try to get in on it, and get the test fascias machined. After we do that, we'll have to make sure everything is right, then we can start taking orders.

I know this sounds like more of the same, and for that I'm genuinely sorry, but it's what I have. We have to make sure everything is 100% correct before asking anyone to exchange money for them.

Below is a (characteristically poor) photo of a very rough test polish Brandon did on one of the fascias. And yes, we both know that's the back he polished. Remember, it was a test. The final polished ones will be muchmore polished, if not simply chromed for simplicity's sake.

Also, I want to thank everyone for their kind words about our work. It's very much appreciated, and it's very encouraging to know people are interested and excited.

Another little bit of good news I forgot to mention is that handles look to be coming along well, and should be available at the same time as the fascias.

Are the mounting screws countersunk in the face, as per the original fascia, or do they project fully on the surface?

cheers

No worries, they'll be completely countersunk. Well, flush with the surface, anyways. That feature has to be machined, as the water-cutting process is unable to do a depth cut. So the holes you see are actually very close to the diameter of the mounting screw shaft.

Webroach, Firstly you dont have to appologize about anything, I think everyone appreciates the work you and your friend put in.
Secondly, the fascia's look awesome, as I said tons of times already, I cant wait for the finished product.

When you first messaged me about this I decided it would be ready when it's ready. I know all about getting busy and how long even labours of love can take. Keep up the good work - looking forward to seeing it installed in my car when it's finally done.

Bruno

Quick machining terminology note: the holes for the socket head cap screws are counterbored, not countersunk. Countersunk means the bottom of the larger diameter hole would not be flat, counterbored means that it will be flat. I'm not trying to be pedantic, but if you tell a machinist countersink that hole, you just might get what you asked for, and then you would not be happy!


-Zeke

Webroach, thats great news. Any info on pricing yet or is it to early to tell?

Sounds good - i'm interested in one too!

Only just found out about this when my emails to 'NewFace' just bounced back. What did happen to that project?

However, with the std button shapes and the apparent support from us users, I hope this will not founder.

My interest would be in plain and black anodised, one of each. Brushed or polished, don't know. Need to see examples.

But what's the latest. Any pics of the finished product, final prices, on-line store, availability schedule?

Wasn't trying to hassle anybody, just excited to find that there's still a possibility of getting some decent fascias. Having waded through 18 pages of this thread I'd rather lost track of what was posted when. As a 'favorite' topic now I'll know when anything is added.

But what did happen to NewFace?

He stopped producing them claiming that he no loger had time for it. He did make a post to that effect instead of just fading away, though, so I don't think that anyone got screwed.

Ok, sort of a frustrating day. We got a lot figured out, but we didn't get to finish the units today. The biggest problem we're facing is the bottons. That's a complicated area on the fascia, and is proving maddeningy difficult to machine. Not impossible, just very difficult. We're going to have to order a special tool to do that area, it looks like. We may also be able to solve the problem via 3-axis water cutting. I'll update people as soon as I can.

Honestly, and I hate to admit this, it would really speed things up if someone were willing to offer up the CAD files of the original fascia / handle, or even just the button area. It would reduce the amount of trial and error we have to go through, and would also be worth a free fascia of that kind hearted person's choice.

But, either way, we'll march onward with this.

Actually, hold that thought. We may be ok. I'll update again as soon as I can, but we may have solved the problem.

The suspense is killing me. I think he's doing it on purpose. J/K

Isn't the process/suspense part of the fun?

Keep us updated, I enjoy these techy soap-operas. Also makes interesting reading long after the fact for someone who joins this late and wants to find out how something "came to be."

Bruno

One thing that occurs to me is how the inside edge is finished, i.e. the surrounding edge of the viewing port? On the OEM fascia this is heavily champfered (I presume to allow a greater viewing angle). Is the intention for these aluminium fascias to be similarly finished?

I think it might also look better that way (i.e. champfered), but if it is really square cut then it will mask some of the screen when viewed from an angle (which is often required in a vehicle).