The project that debuted at this year's CES show was an Alpine demo boat. Designed to show off our new marine product line, it's done in true Alpine demo vehicle style. This month we'll show you part of the motorized amprack, an ABS fabrication project that might give you ideas for your own build. Send questions to techpanel@sourceinterlink.com with Tricks of the Trade in the subject line, and check out stevebrownuniversity.com.
This shot shows one of the motorized ampracks on Alpine's new demo boat in the open position. Each of these holds four Alpine PDX amps and we need to make trim panels for them. To make templates for the amprack trim panels, we used cardboard and a pair of sharp scissors. Each template is test-fitted and trimmed until the shape is just right. Superglue can be used to affix additional cardboard where necessary. The sides of the trim panel that we just cut are temporarily taped in place so that they can be glued together on the amprack. This process keeps the alignment correct on both sides.
The amprack is halfway down and still has no clearance problems. Zip Kicker (otherwise known as accelerator) is sprayed on the wet glue to cure it quickly. The cardboard templates are transferred to 1/4" ABS plastic sheet and cut out using a jigsaw. For a perfect fit, take your time and closely follow the line. Finally, the rack is all the way down and clearance still looks good.
Two more similar braces are glued in place before the whole panel can be removed from the amprack as one piece. This framework is the base for our amplifier trim panels.