[jvandyke]

Or possibly print right onto sticker paper if you can get it through your printer.
Heard back from Lenk, they have 'em. Didn't give me final shipped price though so I asked that, now that I'm about 1/3 done with my own. My biggest concern remains what they'd look like over time. I can upload a pdf of all the gauge faces I have when I'm done, others can do with them as they please then. I'm using a publishing program (Pages- a Mac thing) similar to Word. I know, there's probably a MUCH better way to do it but this is what I know.
I can't quite fake the VDO logo either, it's sorta squished. Everything else has been easy so far, just tedious. Pretty much have to build it on top of a scan from the real thing as the "range' for hash marks varies from one to the next and accurate readings would be nice. So far I think I'm keeping everything to with in .25mm or so.

 

[opelenvy]

This is what I was talking about with the vinyl thing. Print out from inkjet printer onto the vinyl sheet. Cut with razor blade. Spray with their waterproof/uv protectant. Stick to the gauge.

http://www.hyaz.com/inkjet waterproof vinyl.html

or

http://www.mcgpaper.com/stickers.html

or some will do it for you for a fee. $$

http://www.contagiousgraphics.com/Stickers/WhiteVinylstickerPricing.html

 

[opelenvy]

Here is more along the lines of what you did.

Go to the very bottom of the page.

http://wps.com/AMC/1970-AMC-Hornet/Jan-Apr2004.html

 

[jvandyke]

Four down, one to go (no pic of the temp/fuel but the computer work is done).
Just the speedo left.
The tach was a pain. Found a decent font for the VDO and others. Numbers aren't a perfect match font wise but pretty close. Even made a passable mini blitz logo. Dang I love white faced gauges. Too bad I can't get the hands off the clock.
Looks like the 25 on the tach got bumped over a bit. Hope I remember to fix that.

 

[opelenvy]

Dang, that looks nice! What kind of paper are you using? Be interesting to see how they look in the car....at night...with the lights on. THAT will be the final test I guess.

 

[MICAH1]

Outstanding Remake!!!

Very good job Vandyke!! Don't forget to clean those edges with a good chrome polish. :arms::arms::arms:

 

[jvandyke]

Yeah, the chrome is crappy. The only part that shows through to the front of the dash is that thin raised strip right around the glass but that is pretty corroded too. That metal is thin (as it is crimped onto the gauge housing) so I guess that lets it erode pretty easy.
After I get this done, I'm going to try and redo the white markings on the rocker switches and stuff. Can you tell I'm avoiding the cold garage?
So far I've only printed test pages on normal paper but am planning on using photo paper and as mild an adhesive as I dare (so I can return to black if I want some day) Some faces can be turned "good side in" then I can glue on the "backside".

PS Heard back from Lenk, no MPH version in white at least. Probably still worth it for the other four faces!

 

[Sparky73]

Would photo paper even work well enough? I would just hate for this to all be done, and a year down the road they start to fade or something! You know Jeff.. if you found something to print on, use a real good ink, maybe you could start selling on eBay? I am positive a LOT of people would be interested. I know there is a ton of people on eBay that are not on this site, and do not know of any resources for any parts, let alone custom made like that

Then again, I'm an ebay freak.. so it's all up to you!

 

[jvandyke]

Would photo paper even work well enough? I would just hate for this to all be done, and a year down the road they start to fade or something! You know Jeff.. if you found something to print on, use a real good ink, maybe you could start selling on eBay? I am positive a LOT of people would be interested. I know there is a ton of people on eBay that are not on this site, and do not know of any resources for any parts, let alone custom made like that

Then again, I'm an ebay freak.. so it's all up to you!

I don't know if photo paper is good enough, or my ink is good enough, or if I should coat it with some sort of protectant. I'll investigate that a bit more. Worst case scenario, got to go back in and redo. Sure wouldn't be the first time I've had to re-do a job! Ebay: not sure there's much of a market for it. Lots of labor aside from making the actual faces which is time consuming enough. My plan is to upload my finished faces on a pdf or something and if anyone wants it, fine, have at it. I'm nervous about all the gauges working properly when I'm done too. Trying to be careful but still taking delicate little things apart leaves lots of room for error.

 

[oldopelguy]

To make it really last forever, Use a laser printer to print the design onto quality clear overhead transparency film or light tint theater lighting gells. Then cut one of these to shape to put behind it and wire it up for your night time illumination instead of the back light. Would certainly bring the old girl a few decades newer in look, anyway.

 

[kma]

I make my gauges in Photoshop 7.0 to Ascona/Manta B. See for example http://www.kma-opeltuning.blogspot.com

Here they are in place


Some other varieties
http://photos1.blogger.com/img/124/5240/640/Opelinstrument.jpg

Scan them and learn to work with that programme and you can do it yourself.

Print the gauges on a sélfadhesive sheet (i dont know the word for it in english) We have them here in Sweden in different formats A4 , cd-labels ,
A5 etc. Trade mark Any Label. Then laminate them in plastic so the surface stand against dirt , filthy fingers when assembling. Cut out with a pair of scissors and cut the required holes.

Good Luck I think you will make it!

//Magnus

 

[jvandyke]

I make my gauges in Photoshop 7.0 to Ascona/Manta B. See for example http://www.kma-opeltuning.blogspot.com
Scan them and learn to work with that programme and you can do it yourself.

Print the gauges on a sélfadhesive sheet (i dont know the word for it in english) We have them here in Sweden in different formats A4 , cd-labels ,
A5 etc. Trade mark Any Label. Then laminate them in plastic so the surface stand against dirt , filthy fingers when assembling. Cut out with a pair of scissors and cut the required holes.

Good Luck I think you will make it!

//Magnus

Nice!
Do you stick them to the existing plates then laminate them?
I was thinking of trying the self adhesive paper and over coating with some sort of protective spray, if any such exists.

 

[opelnut_1]

Very nice there Kma. Also intreasted in the applicatin details and how you protect them from UV (sun). Guess I need to dig out a copy of photoshop.

 

[kma]

Nice!
Do you stick them to the existing plates then laminate them?
I was thinking of trying the self adhesive paper and over coating with some sort of protective spray, if any such exists.

I laminate first and then stick them to the existing plates.

Protective spray ?? Never heard of

 

[kma]

Very nice there Kma. Also intreasted in the applicatin details and how you protect them from UV (sun). Guess I need to dig out a copy of photoshop.

Thanks. Maybe you have more sun downthere. I hardly havent noticed any modification at all on my gauge faces. Would there be any modification to the worse I just make some new

Oh I forgot to show you gaugefaces I made for a Rothmans Manta 400 replica
Its only a draft on the picture Some adjustments done after

One can do many funny things with Photoshop

 

[jvandyke]

This is fun. I just finished the speedometer so I'm done creating. Would still like to find the perfect font for the numbers. Looked through dozens yesterday, no luck with perfect match. Strong temptation to do something cute on one, like a picture of your wife or something.......or not.
I've enjoyed trying to duplicate the original as close as possible so even on a pretty close inspection an "expert" will at least pause and say, "wow I didn't know the FACTORY made white gauges", for a second or two at least.
My plan remains to use photo paper and a mild adhesive (probably a spray) preferably something that can be cleaned off if they needed redoing/restoring.

kma:
Do you have experience removing the hands of an Opel clock? I've got a Kienzle and can't tease the hands off to get at the face.

PS number match found! Tw Cen MT regular is darn close!:banana:
PSS replaced pdf with updated numbers, now it matches better
PSS uploaded single page pdf with all gauges on it, might not be perfect, but well, ya get what ya pay for.
PSS redid the final with better font for MPH, UPM RPM

 

[kma]

This is fun. I just finished the speedometer so I'm done creating. Would still like to find the perfect font for the numbers. Looked through dozens yesterday, no luck with perfect match. Strong temptation to do something cute on one, like a picture of your wife or something.......or not.
I've enjoyed trying to duplicate the original as close as possible so even on a pretty close inspection an "expert" will at least pause and say, "wow I didn't know the FACTORY made white gauges", for a second or two at least.
My plan remains to use photo paper and a mild adhesive (probably a spray) preferably something that can be cleaned off if they needed redoing/restoring.

kma:
Do you have experience removing the hands of an Opel clock? I've got a Kienzle and can't tease the hands off to get at the face.

I must say that you have done a great job. Looks great

I have no experience of the clock whatsoever. Sorry

 

[BQS4]

Do you have experience removing the hands of an Opel clock? I've got a Kienzle and can't tease the hands off to get at the face.

Jeff;
If I remember correctly, there should be a slot in the base of the hands that allow them to be pressed onto the center shaft. If you took a jewelers screw driver, you might be able to spread the slot open with the screw driver and lift it off.

 

[Phoenix]

Photoshop is an alright program for doing these but it's pixel (thing dots) based. Illustraitor would be better as it's vector (thing lines) based. You get jagged lines in Photoshop that you don't get in Illustraitor.

 

[opelnut_1]

gauge faces

phoenix you offerin up your services, LOL I would like to see Gt gauge set with a carbonfiber looking back ground. its hard for me to visualize these things an my artistic ability is somewhat lacking.

plus learning another sofware package uggghhh!! although dont have either so when I am ready I hope to enlist the help of someone who is good with illistraitor

Photoshop is an alright program for doing these but it's pixel (thing dots) based. Illustraitor would be better as it's vector (thing lines) based. You get jagged lines in Photoshop that you don't get in Illustraitor.