Carpet options

[Plastic_Passion]

Just wanted to go over some options for carpet/seat/door panel fabric. There are a couple different options to choose from. 

I'll be covering one specific technique I've been using with great results. I will go thru the techniques in order of experience. 

Please feel free to add any techniques you may have. And by all means improve them if you can. I do not take credit for any techniques covered in this post. The pics I've posted in the following context are of my own work. But just the work. Not the idea. 

Without further ado. 

Flocking. Flocking is the material on the strip that touches the windows of your car. The strip at the bottom that runs the length of the door. Its fuzzy like felt. But its flock. And to flock correctly you need a flocking gun. In the scale world you dont need the gun. I have not used flocking, but have seen people flock their cars and they're gorgeous.... usually. 

Embossing powder. Embossing powder is essentially an alternative to flock. I have the least amount of experience with this technique. In all fairness I didnt use exactly embossing powder either. The stuff I used was more like a gritty sand. I applied it over Elmer's white glue. I painted the glue on with a brush and sprinkled(essentially dumped) the powder(sand-ish) over the top waited for it to dry then tapped off the extra. I was okay with this as an experiment. I wouldn't be overly satisfied with this as my finish piece. I'll touch up the spots I missed or was a little lack luster on. The material seems fragile on the tub and too much handling would be certain tragedy. Or rework. Which isnt fun any way you look at it. 

Wouldn't use this method as my go to with the product I used. There are other powders on the market that do look great. 

[Plastic_Passion]

Felt...... goes without saying... cut. Paste. Carpet.... not a huge fan of this but sometimes...meh.... I did a bed carpet in this lightning . It's one of those never going to tow? Going to the show kinda rides.

[Plastic_Passion]

Felt is very readily available and I use (if I use) non self-adhesive. 

[Plastic_Passion]

Next up is the subject I'll cover most. It's the most time consuming and requires the most work. However it provides an edge over the felt. You can keep details if done correctly. 

Cardstock/cardboard. Please note these are NOT the same. Cardstock can be found at an arts store. Hobby lobby. Michaels. Ac moore... ect ect. Make sure it's the same color on both sides.

[Plastic_Passion]

For this you'll need some things. Here is my layout. Modge podge, or Elmer's glue, (Both are acrylic and water washup) a couple different sized brushes, 2 sheets of computer paper, screen, a cheese/veggie grater, scissors, and your cardstock. 

[Plastic_Passion]

I cut up my cardstock and fold it over a few times to give my a rigid piece to grind down. I try to keep my paper at a 45° angle on the grater. Also I use the medium sized holes. The small holes make a mess. You can see the result of this on the following pic of the screen. This is unusable. Its essentially twine. 

[Plastic_Passion]

So using the medium holes and going at a 45° angle in all directions, (Dont have to really press. Let the grater shred the paper. Not your fingers.) You should end up with a decent pile of stuff. The pile shown is made from a cardstock the size shown next to it. 

[Plastic_Passion]

Next paint your modge podge or Elmer's on your part/tub. Work in sections and rinse your brush fairly quickly after. No need to rush for the brush but dont forget it. 

[Plastic_Passion]

If your doing carpet you can just put your screen right over your tub. If doing like seats or doors then I'd suggest a small container. Transfer your shavings from the paper to the screen. Put the part on a fresh sheet of paper. Rub the shavings over the screen. You can push the material down a little with your finger or some other tool. Wait a few for it to dry then tap off the extra on the paper you originally used. This can be recycled for the next section of carpet material. You can always touch up areas too. Just be careful how far you go with the brush and glue. 

[Plastic_Passion]

As I said I work in sections so I'm not racing the glue. Had to make more for the rear deck.

[Plastic_Passion]

You can always mix colors too. I mixed a little black in with red. For this GTX

[Plastic_Passion]

Brought this black and silver to black leather/tan cloth. Sorry the pics aren't great for this.

[DiscoRover007]

Nice write up!  Personally I think the best method is flocking in combination with spray adhesive. You have to mask off the areas you don't want covered which can be a pain but the results are worth in in my opinion. You can patch any mistakes with the white glue method afterwards. But it really delivers a clean and even finish.

 

 

 

 

 

[crazyjim]

I'll stay with Ken's Fuzzy Fur.

[Monty]

P/P, thanks for posting this.  I originally saw it when you responded in a WIP thread, and the novelty of your procedure intrigued me.  Once I saw the pic of the red interior, it made me think you were on to something that someone else might find beneficial.   

[Plastic_Passion]

9 hours ago, DiscoRover007 said:

Nice write up!  Personally I think the best method is flocking in combination with spray adhesive. You have to mask off the areas you don't want covered which can be a pain but the results are worth in in my opinion. You can patch any mistakes with the white glue method afterwards. But it really delivers a clean and even finish.

 

 

 

 

 

I do love the flocked look. I havent done flocking mainly out of laziness I suppose.... I have to order it from somewhere and just havent. 

[Plastic_Passion]

3 hours ago, Monty said:

P/P, thanks for posting this.  I originally saw it when you responded in a WIP thread, and the novelty of your procedure intrigued me.  Once I saw the pic of the red interior, it made me think you were on to something that someone else might find beneficial.   

No problem! It's good to know there are options out there for different looks and different materials to use. 

[Plastic_Passion]

9 hours ago, crazyjim said:

I'll stay with Ken's Fuzzy Fur.

To each their own. 

[OldNYJim]

10 hours ago, DiscoRover007 said:

 

Nice write up!  Personally I think the best method is flocking in combination with spray adhesive. You have to mask off the areas you don't want covered which can be a pain but the results are worth in in my opinion. You can patch any mistakes with the white glue method afterwards. But it really delivers a clean and even finish.

 

That looks really good!

I picked up this self-adhesive sheet of fuzzy whatever-it-is from Michael’s last time I went there to bring home and compare to my flocked and embossing powder efforts at carpet - I think it looks promising!  Not super deep and fluffy looking like felt sheets which don’t look realistic, and a little more carpet-y than some of the embossing powders I’ve tried...I need to try some on an actual build and see how it looks with the other components but it might work out ok I think;

[Plastic_Passion]

32 minutes ago, CabDriver said:

That looks really good!

I picked up this self-adhesive sheet of fuzzy whatever-it-is from Michael’s last time I went there to bring home and compare to my flocked and embossing powder efforts at carpet - I think it looks promising!  Not super deep and fluffy looking like felt sheets which don’t look realistic, and a little more carpet-y than some of the embossing powders I’ve tried...I need to try some on an actual build and see how it looks with the other components but it might work out ok I think;

I used this in my lightning model as a bed rug. Was decent tho seems more like the fabric you'd see on a woofer box generally speaking. The only other thing I didnt really like was how kind of unforgiving it is. Like going around molded in center consoles. 

[OldNYJim]

Just now, Plastic_Passion said:

I used this in my lightning model as a bed rug. Was decent tho seems more like the fabric you'd see on a woofer box generally speaking. The only other thing I didnt really like was how kind of unforgiving it is. Like going around molded in center consoles. 

That is a benefit of flocking and embossing powder, it’s true - no issues in going over trans humps or curved sections or whatever 

[Tom Geiger]

22 hours ago, CabDriver said:

That is a benefit of flocking and embossing powder, it’s true - no issues in going over trans humps or curved sections or whatever 

I’ve had sheets of self adhesive carpet, I believe it was for dollhouses. I avoided using it in cars for the reasons you state. I used the red in my Dodge A100 van

[OldNYJim]

Looks great there Tom!  Nice work!

I kinda liked the idea that I’d have to multi-piece it together like a real one...not sure how much I’ll like that after I try to do it, but I did think it gave an extra little opportunity for an extra little piece of detail that you don’t see every day - carpet seams! ?

Of course, the technique has got to be good or it’ll look like a cat’s breakfast 

[Plastic_Passion]

3 minutes ago, CabDriver said:

Looks great there Tom!  Nice work!

I kinda liked the idea that I’d have to multi-piece it together like a real one...not sure how much I’ll like that after I try to do it, but I did think it gave an extra little opportunity for an extra little piece of detail that you don’t see every day - carpet seams! ?

Of course, the technique has got to be good or it’ll look like a cat’s breakfast 

I love the last line in this!!!! Looks like a cats breakfast lmao halarious ????

[OldNYJim]

I think it’s normally “a dog’s dinner”, but my wife has cat and his breakfast looks disgusting to me so...?‍♂️?