Rogviler

Here's a preview of another project I'm working on. I know that Meister makes white face overlays, but I wanted something a little different. And cheaper. After playing around with a few different things I got the idea to base the motif around the Audi logo, which fits perfectly.

This is more or less the final design:



I combined the rings with the colors of the German flag. I was using the German and Ingolstadt coat of arms as stand-ins until I could make fuel and temp symbols, but I really started to like them, so I think I'll use it the way it is for my cars. Plus it would allow it to be used in the UrQ, since those have a pressure gauge instead of a temp gauge.

Here's a rough test I did with just printer paper and the mock-up speedo and tach that I borrowed from Meister's site:



I'd like to make it clear that none of Meister's design was used in my final design. For one thing it was too low of a resolution, but I would never roll like that (stealing someone else's work) and I also wanted a simpler, easier to read look without any of the markings that we all know anyway, like "MPH" and "unleaded fuel only".

I think it's going to work well when it's finalized and printed on vinyl though.

The nice thing is that I did it all as vectors, so it can scale if I need it to and I can change colors easily.

I still can't decide if I want to sell the printed sheets or if I'll just give the digital file away, but I guess that would depend on what kind of interest there is. You never can tell with custom things for Audis and VWs. They either get you praise or death threats.

-Rog

Chase GT

I think you will only get praise for this one. P.s just sell the printed vinyl sheets. I'll buy one.

Rogviler

Hey thanks. The only reason I'm considering selling the sheets is because I can only find the adhesive 8.5x11" vinyl in packs of 50 or 100. I don't plan on owning 50 Audis in my lifetime, as much as I like them.

They certainly wouldn't be very much, maybe two sheets (in case you mess up) for $10 or something. The hardest part is getting the damn cluster apart to install them.

-Rog

Last4KRunning

That is real nice work on the instrument cluster overlays. Good job!

1984cgtturbo

Nice work, I like the Audi rings on the gauges faces.

I did some similar overlays on my CGT a few years back, my brother tweaked them a bit on photoshop and I actually sent the file to Meister to have them print them for me on silver/aluminum vinyl to match the Autometer aux. gauges I have. I think the turned out nicely.

Went with the rounded look, also moved the red 55mph mark to 65mph, and added a 130mph mark to the speedo (in the same size font as the kph numbers).

<img src=https://forums.audiworld.com/picture.php?albumid=21637&pictureid=96910>
<img src=https://forums.audiworld.com/picture.php?albumid=21637&pictureid=96911>

Rogviler

Those look great! I was initially thinking something similar, trying to figure out a way to do round gauges, which is basically how I stumbled into the Audi logo idea, and how I figured that square gauges could be cool too.

So, um, have you ever tested the 130mph mark out?

Thanks everyone for the replies. As soon as I get through some other projects I'll be printing them up for real and we'll see how well I actually did lining everything up...

-Rog

1984cgtturbo

Yes I have tested it out, and actually the trip odometer reset button is the real stopper for the speedo needle. :-)

Rogviler

Heh, awesome.

I finally found some stuff to print these out on. I guess it's a polyester sheet with an adhesive back. It's supposed to be pretty much indestructible, so it should be perfect for the temperature swings that a car experiences.

So I printed out a set and I'm working on the gauge out of my '85 4kq right now, which has the trip computer. This one should be easy. I haven't quite decided what to do about the ones with an analog clock. I hate to interrupt the Audi rings design.

But I'm pretty sure I have the worst-case scenario, as somehow this gauge cluster started to rust and corrode, so getting the needles off and the screws out was fun.

If I don't totally screw it up I'll be posting some more pictures.

-Rog

Rogviler

Well, it got a little hairy at times and I almost broke the temp needle off, but I finally got it all back together:



Obviously I badly need to clean the clear plastic cover...

I'm pretty happy with how it turned out though. The rings are subtle enough that they're not distracting yet you can tell what they are. The only thing I think I'll mess with is to either change out the needles completely or paint them red or black.

I don't think it's quite ready for the masses, as it was more difficult than I'd like it to be for the average person, and the polyester sheets are a little thin so you either have to use a blank one underneath or sand and paint the faces white first. Now, if I had a laser cutter so I could cut out full replacement faces out of metal, THAT would be something.

-Rog

Rogviler

Oh yeah, the black needles make all the difference:



Much better I think.

-Rog