After a year the front swap is finally finished! Sky-gea build: part 30

More work on the Stagea. In this episode we finish up the plug made from the 3D printed mould in the last episode. After that we make a new mould from fiberglass that will handle mass production.
Huge thank you to High Performance Academy for welcoming me on board as a new affiliate! I encourage you to check them out at the link below:
www.hpacademy.com/?c=d518
Be sure to use the coupon code: "TOFU75" for $75 off at checkout!
Enjoy the video.
If you enjoy these videos and want to see more, please consider supporting me on Patreon. I would love to be able to work on builds like these full time and your support helps make that possible. There are heaps of special rewards and behind the scenes posts so please check it out.
/ tofuautoworks
Also feel free to checkout my Instagram where I post regular updates on all of my builds.
/ tofuautoworks
Timestamps:
00:00 - Intro
00:22 - Finishing the bodywork
06:14 - Spraying filler primer
08:29 - Block sanding primer
10:32 - Spraying sealer primer
11:14 - DA sanding
12:13 - Wet sanding
13:11 - Polishing
14:53 - Adding flanges
18:25 - Appling release agent
20:09 - Gelcoat
21:04 - First layer of fiberglass
24:10 - Main fiberglass application
27:20 - Removing the mould
30:40 - Mould wet sanding
31:20 - Mould polishing
33:03 - Completed mould
33:41 - B-roll
34:17 - Outro

[@TofuAutoWorks]

Massive thanks to High Performance Academy for the support. If you've ever been interested in engine building or fabrication or just about anything car related, please check out their courses! www.hpacademy.com/?c=d518 Be sure to use the coupon code: "TOFU75" for $75 off at checkout!

[@hpa101]

Thanks for the shout out 🙌. It's great to have you on board - Markku

[@deadwaterblacksmithing]

So stoked about this post my dude! I sent Taz an email about you and Lauren responded and discussed it with me and said she passed your info to the team. They are always awesome about responding even though I got my certificate of completion from them like 5 years ago. Such an amazing group of people over there so Im glad to see it worked out and you guys were able to team up even if it had nothing to do with the discussions I had with them!!

[@TofuAutoWorks]

@@hpa101 I look forward to what the future brings!

[@TofuAutoWorks]

@@deadwaterblacksmithing It probably helped haha. And whether it was you directly or not, I wouldn't be where I am without all my amazing followers that have been sharing my work and helping me get my name and my builds out there. Thanks for your continued support bro, it all means a lot to me.

[@deadwaterblacksmithing]

@@TofuAutoWorks I will support you until you stop posting videos, and then I will just badger you to make me a hood for my NB2

[@_tooks]

Ahhh another 35 minutes to annoy the missus with the sweet sounds of sanding, lucky she’s a good sport

[@shawnharford]

The trick is to watch it in the garage with the sound up so everyone thinks you’re working hard when you’re actually sitting on your butt with a cold one and a packet of Doritos 😎

[@TheIceholeCanadian]

Years in a fiberglass shop has given me such beautiful PTSD that I can smell and feel this video. Seeing you cutting and sanding with shorts and short sleeves on made me itchy.

[@Sanya_Spray]

😂 вот и у меня тоже самое! Я не представляю как он так умудряется?!?😮

[@TofuAutoWorks]

Hahah yeah, it's always a toss up for me whether I bother sweating like a pig in overalls or if I just have a cold shower to get the fiberglass dust off when I'm done. Some of it is just laziness though lol

[@victordinev5229]

I was working also a long time in a shop where we were doing exactly the thing he was doing here, but for me, it's not itchiness. For some reason, i can smell the epoxy for the carbon vacuum infusion every time when he opens some type of resin 😂😂😂

[@user-ov3nw2yk1y]

Видео с 5d эффектом получается))

[@Sanya_Spray]

@@user-ov3nw2yk1y по работе иногда сталкиваюсь с давно эксплуатируемыми авто одеялами для мотора. От мелкой стекло тканевой крошки после работы все руки горят!

[@overclocker3164]

my type of ASMR. and i got to watch the video more than once, because i fall asleep once from all sounds and then watch it again for the actual video content. Keep cooking! Love this!

[@lightfoot.2000]

Ülţįmąţə! 🤘😎

[@lightfoot.2000]

Ülţįmąţə! 🤘😎

[@thatmini]

England through to the Euro finals and to top it off a late night ASMR sanding session to relax to 😎 Great work as always!

[@hYd420]

Ha ha ha I love watching your videos man so soothing and yes it’s finally done I’ve been watching you since the beginning

[@hedrives]

I’m with @theiceholecanadian …. You totally give me FRP PTSD doing all this mold and parts work! Decades in the boat and race car body business are far behind me, but I can taste the dust and smell the resin and MEKP when I watch. Total respect for your work ethic AND design skills. If I was not a retiree I’d love to support you through Patreon, but I can’t. Thanks for all you do and share with us.

[@comfort_in_discomfort]

Rubbing alcohol works great on dissolving hot glue very quickly. Maybe a little spritz? I know its a standard method in the PDR world to remove hot glue. Great stuff as always!

[@TofuAutoWorks]

I keep forgetting about the rubbing alcohol! I've used it before and it works great for getting the hot glue off, it would have really helped pull those flanges off here haha. Thanks for the tip!

[@comfort_in_discomfort]

@TofuAutoWorks Maybe for the next one. Your stuff is just awesome.

[@ZoneKei]

Fiber glassing is one of those arts that I'm glad someone else can do haha. Nice work Tofu.

[@OttomanDrifter91]

Can't wait to see the final product! This was truely a journey!

[@ProductofNZ]

Secure your M35s today folks. Not gonna last when these come to market.

[@soopersooper3291]

I have some M35/M45 hi beams projectors I want to use for something, I really like how they look.

[@TofuAutoWorks]

Just another KZbinr about to absolutely destroy the used car prices of another JDM nugget.

[@Hybrid13b]

Such awesome detailed vids. Great work

[@LOKISX]

Awesome work 🎉

[@TofuAutoWorks]

Cheers Loki! Keeping up the grind!

[@Floris_VI]

YESSS LETS GOOO, always so happy to see a new upload you truly have zero missers Also congrats on the sponsor!

[@ModellbauRaschke]

great work ;-)

[@Pafi_703]

My (early 👀) lunch break has a meaning now. I just tell the boss this is work related. Edit: Do you think ceramic coating would work as mould release? My intrusive thoughts would absolutely convince me to try that. 😂

[@TofuAutoWorks]

I haven't tried it but I'm tempted to now. I'm going to do a little experimentation with my sealer in the last 2 moulds I've got left to make for this widebody so I might carry that on and try out even more ideas like that.

[@GR--gm6ge]

お疲れ様です！ 今回はジージア会！ 相変わらずの丁寧な仕事ぷり惚れ惚れしますわ… 近くに居たら毎日でも通いたい笑 今回もお疲れ様でした！

[@ProductofNZ]

Me too.

[@TofuAutoWorks]

このようなコメントをいただくと、いつももっと頑張ろうという気持ちになる。 今はまだ近くに住んでいないけれど、将来はそうなるかもしれない。

[@Ranger.Hefron]

Nice job ❤

[@grassegarage]

the company `MIRKA` needs to sponsor you ASAP

[@HulluJanne]

Yeah. Their Abranet stuff is amazing.

[@TofuAutoWorks]

I agree. I don't think I've seen their brand here though, we've got a pretty limited range.

[@grassegarage]

@@TofuAutoWorks all you need is a good company that helps you out with a lot of new tools. YU DESERVE THAT

[@project_possible]

Don't mind if I do, a mid week upload, I need go hide at work for half an hour. Hope your good brother 🔥

[@TofuAutoWorks]

Always happy to mess with peoples productivity at work! 😂

[@project_possible]

@@TofuAutoWorks always happy to earn and learn from litrally my fave KZbinr, sounds cheesy I know but if it wasn't for you and your channel. I wouldn't have done any of the things I've done to my motor and I thank you for that

[@danromeo6571]

Your work is more than the do it yourselfer. Is this your chosen profession?

[@TofuAutoWorks]

I've slowly turned this from my side hobby into my main job over the years.

[@C-Lint]

Hoping the next part of the build is a big wang!

[@blksrsil]

The final stage approaches... can't wait for the VR38 swap lol

[@Keasbeysknight]

About passed out 5 times watching. Well done sir! My kind of ASMR content

[@jonaspaula3786]

Estou ansioso para ver o resultado final. Aprendo muito com seus vídeos.

[@3v1lmind]

After so much effort and technic to resch perfection with both of these cars are you gonna dailly use them when they are done????? some vlogs cruising maybe? 😊😊😊😊

[@TofuAutoWorks]

This one is designed to be a tow vehicle that I'll use to take all my other builds around. It's a v6 so it's a little too thirsty to just drive as a daily though haha

[@luisgustavowakasugi7635]

Parabéns pelo trabalho !!!

[@j.a.therollingman9216]

Making fine ass molds to only make one body kit for your personal Stagea? Or are you going to sell those, I mean if people are gonna do the same GTR conversion to their Stageas? Love the videos btw🔥

[@TofuAutoWorks]

I'll be making these kits for sale as soon as the rest of the moulds are done. I've already got a dozen or so people on the waiting list, a handful of them have even started sourcing GTR bumpers and bonnets for the conversion.

[@j.a.therollingman9216]

@@TofuAutoWorks Glad to hear that. I was thinking that it's a shit ton of work for only one bodykit. Put Im glad people are buying this from you. Your work is awesome

[@gregorylee6568]

You should turn Tim's office into merch. Buy a heater, screen press, hire a couple guys, etc, and make all the money off your merch instead of a cut.

[@TofuAutoWorks]

Who? I barely even have space for my own office lol. And those guys would have to be happy getting paid in instant ramen because I only sell like 2 - 3 t shirts a month and a few stickers 😂

[@victormartins3847]

Ansioso pelo resultado final do carro.. O primeiro vídeo foi há mais de 2 anos.. 🇧🇷🇧🇷

[@ademsalihyuksel7402]

Very nice moulding :) what is yours application yellow resin name on last layer?

[@justboliwastaken]

love your work man, i follow u since you finished the fastback miata, and i always wondered if its hard to fabricate a functional hardtop from scratch. I'm in the east europe and hardtops here are rare and expensive, i bought a miata and i tought i could fabricate one. i would start playing with fiberglass but on smaller parts first like the trunk or a fender, but will a hardtop be hard to make?

[@ekoxhaust]

🤤

[@yaboireedy2.0]

What paint guns do you use?

[@TofuAutoWorks]

Just my starter 1.0, 1.4 and 1.8mm HVLP set I got as an apprentice at a paintshop and then an additional 3.0mm gun specially for spraying thick gelcoat. Nothing too fancy.

[@joeg1980]

👌

[@A2zlightwheels]

I just cant grasp the need for the "bolt" "holes" or indents if its a all one piece 🤔 woudlnt it have made for a cleaner oem ish part? Or do you like the visual representation of them ?

[@TofuAutoWorks]

@A2zlightwheels It's purely so that they match the rear. If the front were all clean and OEM looking then the rears would look out of place.

[@A2zlightwheels]

@@TofuAutoWorks that makes sense. I missed the bigger picture , as they say. Can't wait to see it fully done 🙌

[@user-xe5tf4gy4w]

Привет. Мужик ты крут как всегда. Вот смотрю на тебя и понимаю что у тебя не только путь как у самурая но и цель и это очень здорово👍 P.s. Ты смотивировал меня на воскрешение моего проекта по автомобилю Альфа Ромео 156. Мотор уже собран, и авто начало движение своим ходом. Дальше внешка, обвес, выхлоп.

[@TofuAutoWorks]

This is so awesome to hear dude! Good luck with your project! Это здорово слышать, чувак! Удачи в твоем проекте!

[@emansuela_real]

What's the paste product you use on the tight corners?

[@TofuAutoWorks]

West Systems 413 mixed with polyester resin

[@Pure.Racing]

when you rip the mold off. is it fragile.. like can it break while taking it off or no?

[@TofuAutoWorks]

If you put too much gelcoat on and it pools in the sharp corners, then it can chip off as the gelcoat is brittle. But as long as you design the mould to avoid sharp edges then the moulds are incredibly strong. The fiberglass on them will almost never crack

[@mayumiandhiroyasu]

😄👌👍

[@j.d.8593]

Idk if you're open to suggestions and trying new products, but i'll give it a try, there is a Polyester Primer from a company called Evercoat that has a guide coat "built" into it, it sprays pink but when you sand it turns grey to reveal high a low spots, it is called Evercoat Optex Super Build, i would like to see you play with that a bit, of course, that is if you can even find it in your country and if you can justify buying it.

[@TofuAutoWorks]

The annoying part is there are actually a few evercoat products that I really wanted to try but as you guessed we have a pretty limited range here in NZ and a lot of them are classed as hazardous chemicals so importing them isn't possible. The stuff I've got gets the job done but yeah I do get a bit jealous of all the better options there are elsewhere

[@j.d.8593]

@@TofuAutoWorks Yeah, that's what i expected, that sucks, Evercoat has some really cool stuff, but sometimes you have to work with what you can get.

[@J27M]

Evercoat make some great products I use bodyian 2k primer and it cures a darker grey

[@bluelady350z]

Was schätzt du wird das nachpolieren mit 2000er Schmirgel an abtrag haben? Dadurch werden die formen irgendwann in den maß verändert oder

[@TofuAutoWorks]

Sanding with 2000 and above wont really remove any material unless you use a machine sander but it will round over any sharp edges which is actually preferable with moulds.

[@masterfabricator]

air helps release moulds try it....

[@TofuAutoWorks]

37 seconds seems pretty good to me... I didn't even make it around all of the flanges before it popped out. But in seriousness, yes I have tried air and in my experience at least for my moulds, it does nothing. Great for big flat panels like bonnets and roofs and boat hulls though. Thanks for the tip.

[@DIY-rr8md]

1st......nice

[@Nikolay_Pikalov]

Если вы сразу делаете модель широких крыльев, то зачем делать эти переходы и отверстия как будто на крыло приделано расширение?

[@adilsonmonteiro1394]

Sempre a mesma coisa , passa para outra peça . Ja estas a mais de 1 ano a fazer isso.

[@JustRobertCZE]

Sky-gea? wasnt it Sta-GTR? cuz i dont see a Skyline in that :D

[@TofuAutoWorks]

Changed it to fit naming conventions. R35 front on an M35 rear. Sta-GTR would mean a stag front on the R35 rear. Skygeas are already a common thing going all the way back to the hako skyline front on a WC34 so even if it's not technically a skyline, it still fits in that family. But if you want a technically correct name call it the RM35.

[@nostreamavailable9090]

Nissan should have made this, why do manufacturers always miss fantastic opportunities

[@BorisBIELECKI]

What ? It's not sunday .... are you OK ? Should we warn the authorities ?

[@TofuAutoWorks]

Tell them to bring snacks

[@soopersooper3291]

I’m not in a good place for a relationship rn

[@E9JMX]

Skygea build>>>>>>kick in the balls>>>>>cybermx5

[@hofferjh]

You keep making the same thing when are you gonna be finished with the car

[@extremecaliber2662]

It's part of the process, the labor to make something of quality doesn't magically happen without this

[@MuShinnen]

When he's done.

[@Streetkunt]

Someone asked me that about my car. My reply was (and is), never. It's an ongoing process that constantly evolves.