I'm planning on trying to make my own pan for my buggy. It's an old Flexi bug designed by P.L. ( I think ) The model with the canted back wheels.
Does anyone have spec's and or tips for a pan ???
Sounds like I'll use puck board as a material.
Some dimensions and a pattern are what I need.

I need one of those, tore my seat going over flints.

Pea, look here for UK source...

http://www.ripsbellypans.co.uk/

Yeh they don't make them for my buggy. On ebay it says they might fit other buggies that aren't comp ones, don't wonna buy one and find out it doesn't.

I was thinking about stitching leather to the bottom, that'd stop rips pretty well i think but it wouldn't help my butt :\

I build my own belly pans.Use large sheet of paper first to make template and if You like it transfer this on thin 1/16 or 2mm sheet of plexi glass.Attach by zip ties and existing screws and nuts on the buggy.Make sure to drill the holes not to large and about 1'' from edge,so it will stay on buggy for a long time.
Cheers.

I can tell you that leather work very well. If you have a local leather store (like Tandy Leather), I'd recommend looking for a double shoulder of 7-8 oz vegtan leather. Put the grain (smooth) side down, and the flesh (rough) side up. If you want to make it extra resilient you coat the grain side with beeswax. (Using double boilers to heat the bees wax without burning it and a disposable brush to paint it on.) This will also harden the leather and make it a bit more resilient as well as waterproof. (if you coat both sides)

I haven't done this for a buggy belly pan, but I have made pieces of armor this way.

If you'd like more details I'd be happy to provide them.

Another idea for materials is a large plastic garbage can, or plastic 50 gal drum. They very in size from 1/8" to over 1/4" think and should offer very good protection without much weight. You might have to cut the thicker stuff with a jigsaw, the thiner stuff cuts well with tin snips. You can form it to a specific shape by heating and bending the plastic, when it cools it will retain it's shape. The easiest ways heat the plastic is with either a heat gun (like a hair dryer on steroids, a normal hairdryer doesn't get hot enough) or with a pluming torch. Make sure to keep the heat moving around so that you don't melt or burn the plastic.

Poster board works as a good cheap template material. Unless it's heavy, weight paper is harder to work with because it's very floppy and tears easily. I always try to use a template materal that approximates the same characteristics as my final material. Mockups and templates are the key to making things fit well.

Start with a big enough piece to cover the entire bottom of your buggy, or tape together several if need be. Fold it down the middle, the unfold it an aline the crease with the center of your buggy. Make your first rough mark on one side of the template only, and make it a bit big on purpose. It's easy to take away than to add more on. Then cut along your rough mark, fold it in half and cut out the other side, this way your pattern remains symmetrical. Test fit it on your buggy, trim as needed and repeat process until you have a good template to work from.

just food for thought.

-chip

Using construction paper sounds like a great idea. How much wider than my rails should I be making my pattern. I can see the basic shape from previous posts.

Well, when you sit in your buggy, what is the verticle distance from the highest point on your side rails to the lowest point on yout seat? Multipli that distance by 2 and add to the width of your side-rails. That'd be a good starting point.

standard construction paper is a bit prone to tearing, I'd advise going to your local art supply store and getting some thin poster board, usually under a buck for a 30x40" sheet. I also use 'chip board' allot, which is a rough brown solid cardboard and even cheaper. Either one would stand up better to the folding, bending, taping etc that's involved in getting the pattern correct.

-chip

Thanks Chip.
I think I can start giving it a go.
I think I need the pan to help stay dry as much as a bumper. Our best local spot is called mud bay. Right now the tide doesn't stay out long and the beach stays wet. Last weekend I was creating my own sand storm with the wet stuff getting into everything. Messsssy .
Any ideas on splash gaurds for my back tires ? ( besides the 5 gallon / fender bucket set-up )

Check this post out and ask maybe they will ship it to You http://community.flexifoil.com/showthread.php?t=112463

I have a large sheet of perspex but i think if i hit a rock it'd just shatter. I might just get some leather, drill some holes in a strip of perspex and stitch it to the inside of the leather to give more strength to the parts most needed. Some bendable metal would be better though.

Interesting... I was toying with using some brushed aluminium veneer we have lying around for my 1st stab. I thought it may tear easy hitting something sharp though. . Considered maybe an extra strip to protect the privates.

What about a sheet of carbon fibre? No idea how you're supposed to work with it though. I can get that pretty cheap

first of all lets stop and think why we want a belly pan.
1. stop hard object from tearing us a new a**hole.
2. help keep us dry and not all bruised up
3 stop the axle from hanging up on rocks, stumps etc, glides over them now
Leather sucks up water and it will give you some limit on penetration but not diminishing the impact. ( yea explain to your buddies why you walk like that)
Aluminum is light although not really very bendable but it can be cast, welded etc. The big down side to buggies is the fact it sticks to rocks like glue.
Jet boats that run the rivers have a layer of HDPE attached to the bottom of their boats so it slides over rocks and sand bars etc.
Use HDPE, around here call puck board usually comes in white or black.
Just like they said make a pattern, and then another one and keep fitting them till you get what you want.
You can add decals or whatever you like. A sheet 4x8 about $35 Canadian money.
Cheers

'Please turn me over if you can read this' <- that's off robot wars! Don't think it's that easy to find HDPE sheet for sale in england .

Wolf, where did you get yours, did you make it, do you sell them, can i buy one?

Google hdpe plastic uk and i found 20+ sources for it in the UK...........aj

look under GE Polymer products, its real cheap at thirty dollars Canadian and make three for the Flexi anyway. What kind of buggy do you have?
Have you tried making a pattern?
Let me know?
Cheers

Actually that saying came from the Mud Bogging Racers along time ago and you see it everywhere now.
If you can read it, please check to make sure I'm not there....lol

Would you care to give me a link? I must be being slow. All i can find for that search is plastics products, tubing, bottles etc.

try this one
http://www.geplastics.com

I was reading about this home made belly pan. They said it looked like it was made out of a dustbin and even though it was designed for flexifoil buggies, it'll probably fit on most Peter L bugs.

Just buy a dustbin and some buckles.

Pete

Hey I was thinking a crazy karpet would make an excelent pan and is very cheap too. I think I saw one for under 5 cad. Just a thought hope it helps.
A

I just finished my new belly.Check this out http://www.flickr.com/photos/slawek2006/400340558/in/set-720...

Is that made out of HDPE? And what's this? http://www.flickr.com/photos/slawek2006/140102552/in/set-720... a seatbelt?

It's made of clear 2mm plexi glass.Graphics are on reverse side so You can't scratch it as it's smooth on the bottom,yeah it is my 3 point seat belt to strap in.

...And we know yer a buggy jumper, 'cuz why else would a belly pan have graphics under the buggy? (Unless you're WolfWolfee looking for someone to turn you over...)

krumly

He's just jealous cause He don't have one or can't jump

Going to make two new ones with lots of graphics, just to keep out of trouble.:singing:
One for the Skypilot bunch, got some cool decals coming and the other Boon Dock Saint..
Cheers