Mazda 323F GT

Second Dash

Got an idea to create an additional dash beside standard one to mound extra controls and monitor for DVD player. Used fiberglass texture and epoxy glue to create a base. It's not finished yet and still in process:

First of all had to create a matrix for the dash:

Then filled it using fixing foam, cut excess, sand to flat surface.

Then cut fiberglass texture and applied it above the matrix using epoxy glue (don't forget to put some oil on a matrix so you would be able to dissasemble it)

The front panel done using aluminium plate because it will hold a lot of equipment and switches.

It tooks one evening to make a deal with my mam and get her to create a leather cover for this dash and glue it to the base. This is final result so far, not ideal but functional. Rode with it and it's not covering any view from the window and all controls accessible easily.

Electric switches mostly controlling additional devices like amplifiers (permanent switch off in case if I want to use the Head device only), DVD & Monitor (if I wish to listen it without need to switch on the ignition), radar-detector (mounted inside this dash and will be visible), park-tronic, Volt-meter (in ignition off mode to monitor the voltage while listening audio), night mode (like in military aircrafts :) it's switching off all interior lightning stuff and all dash lights etc leaving just few major gauges - it's for the long journeys during the nights). It's also working very impresively to other cars' drivers standing beside you on a trafic lights :) ... when you look at them, then click the switch and all your panel filled by colourfull lights and dashes, poor guys probably think what a f.. are all these for :) And my fav - push button to start the engine with additional ignition switch - decided that paying 50$ is too much for this so did it myself using a wee red button and an additional relay unit.

Also got a foliatech carbon film to cover the panel - pics to folow.

Here is the updated dash, sanded, primed, with new leather trim and switches layout:

Kira aka Aprilia, 2007