@marlinjack posted:...Sounds Right! I like your ideal of 2 central spines as there is no center interference to the Review Mirror I'll borrow that Idea if OK.
I'm drawing up 7-8 Slats, Wide and Overlapping .090" Thick.
Thanks for the Ideas.
I'm Good with Tapers, Angles and French Curves.
Marlin
I actually enjoy getting involved in complex projects. In the case of these louvres I have remade them several times.
Some MIGHT say, well build a template first. I suppose that the first run through with aluminum WAS the template. As it turns out, the template needs to be made from the materials you want the finished product to be.
Building it from plywood or cardboard does not show the details needed to fasten the aluminum together.
I actually wanted them to be hinged like on the Boss Mustangs but the roof spoiler complicated that into a no can do thing.
They do present issues as to how to clean beneath them.
.060, .080, .090", doesn't matter too much but you need to fold the ends down so the temper of the aluminum is important and soft aluminum is the way to go. Otherwise you will break it when you bend it.
One of the complications is that likely you will put the slat in a vise to bend it. That will give you a straight bend but the reality is that is really should have a slight curve to it.
As far as the support splines, those I made from 3/4" x 3/4" x 1/8" aluminum extrusions.
The complication there is that is not really a straight line, it has crown to it. So one of the variations anyone is going to notice from one manufacturer to another is if the slats lie flat or if they have a rise to them in the center AND how that changes from the center to the top and the bottom slats.
When carpenters are setting the long joist of the floor or the roof, they sight down the joist and put the curve up. They call that crowning the beam.
Ironically when you construct the splines, you are creating the crown in them to compliment the curve in the decklid.
My slats are 4-1/2" wide. After initially cutting them out of a 48 x 96" sheet of aluminum, second run through, I just bought the slats precut.
The only issue with that is/was, the shear used by the supplier tends to roll the edge slightly. The supplier didn't match the roll on all of them and some had a roll up and a roll down on the same slat.
That also nexes the possibility of using black anodized materials since you would have unfinished edges.
This gets as complicated as you want it to be.
This is where I was talking about what it really costs to build a nice set. It's up there.
I doubt that Mind Train would cost only a few hundred dollars now.
This will keep you busy for quite some time Marlin but you don't want to be in the shop at 110° building these. You are on your own as to determine how much clearance to build into the ends for the aluminum expansion and contraction. Tight is not going to be good.
I would add in closing, it is actually quite a bit simpler to do a high precision competition valve job by comparison but then you would actually have to have done both to comprehend that? Best of luck in your endeavor...and no I won't build any for anyone else, so don't ask.
There are too many "2nd Amendment" enthusiasts that don't mind making their views very explicit and don't necessarily exude confidence in others that they have the necessary patience to not press for quick results. Just sayin'.