Chapter 44: Headrest fairing and license plate cover

Ever since I was young, I have been attracted to the looks of headrest fairings. I didn’t even know what the correct name for them was, but if you look at doodles from way back, you will see them on my drawings…..

About 40 years ago…..

So, It was time to give it a try. The verdict is still out whether it is the right move for the roadster now that I am here, but what the hell! I have a grinder if I don’t like it.

Getting used to the idea in cardboard

Make a paper pattern that conforms to the uneven slopes and cut out of 20#

Bend it over a log

Provide a stiffener and place to mount a front piece

Work the compound curves with hammer/dolly/log/English wheel

Try on for size and profile

Tack it down!

Now, I will make a piece to go across the front to stiffen it and provide a mounting surface for a headrest pad which will snap in place in the front. Will leave an opening in the piece that I could slide stuff inside when the pad is unsnapped (secret compartment!)

Something like this!

In my wanderings, I bought the remains of a 38′ Stude just before it went off for crushing. One of the things I saved was the very Deco license plate light. This had the light shining upwards to the license which sat above.

I rebuilt mine to shine downwards. To make the assembly look cleaner on the very curved surface I needed some type of fairing/nacelle thing to cover the mounting area.

Paper first!

Steel next!

Now that everything tacked in about the right place I can unbolt the works and finish weld/grind the boat tail up on saw horses…