Google AdSense

As you may have noticed, the ads are gone.  Why?  My account was suspended then disabled by Google.  I realize that I am biting the hand that feeds me.  Face it, I was not generating a lot of money from this blog.  So, this blog is once again ad free.

A couple of years ago, I figured I could make some spare dough by signing up with Google AdSense.  I had a few videos on YouTube that was getting a fare amount of views.  Meanwhile, this blog was getting some traffic.  My only goal was to earn about $10 a year to cover the cost of registering this domain name.  Anything extra was just extra, and there was very little extra.  Heck, why not make a little (very little) money on the side, since others are doing the same off my blog?

I think in two years of the program I 'earned' $100, pretty good.  I would check on my daily earnings, it averaged $3-5 a month.  The program does not pay you until you reach $100...so, it can take two years (at least for this site that no one really reads) to reach that goal.  Trust me, no one really reads this blog.

There is one person that I can think of that comes here on a regular basis.  Hey, Marty!  The rest is from Google searches.  There are only a handful, not even a handful, a pinch of reasons one would visit this site.  You were looking for the following:

• Telemarketing information - You received a call from an unknown number, you looked it up on Google, and it brought you here.
• DeLorean information - search for terms like DeLorean Luggage Rack, DeLorean Window Switches, Lowering Front End of DeLorean, DeLorean Car Show, etc., and Google brought you here.
• Nike Air MAG information - I recently wrote about how to spot the differences between real Nike MAG's and the fake ones.  This has become a popular topic, recently.  Again, thanks to a Google search, it lead you here.
• Random reviews - Everyone does reviews, I am no different and definitely no better than anyone else.  Just my honest opinion on certain products and movies, with my sense of humour.
• Random rants - I love going off on a rant and some of you feel the same.  Things like my Zack Syder is a Hack series.  I cannot believe he is doing a Superman/Batman buddy cop film.  Believe me, there will be another part of this series once that movie comes out.  I do have other rants you may be interested in.

As you can see, I am all over the place with my topics.  Hey, this blog is for me.  It just happens that my interests will occasionally cross paths with others.  Believe me, the only reason you are reading this is, you searched one of the terms and it brought you here.  Perhaps you are interested in Google AdSense, or you were lead here because you typed in some DeLorean I  listed above.

Well apparently, there was some 'illegal activity' on my blog.  The ads on this blog were being illegally clicked on, therefore generating money.  Too much money.  My few cents of earnings a day, turned into about $10-20 a day.  That is a huge jump.  Based on the traffic of about 100 views a day, it did not compute with Google.

Long story short, I got an email informing me that my account was suspended.  I had a chance to appeal, so I did.  Upon further review, and I am pretty sure they read my appeal and really looked into it...at the end, I was denied reinstatement.

I am sure there is no way there was a glitch in the mainframe.  We all know that computer glitches and crashed never happen, so it cannot be that, and I have to be at fault.  Heck, who clicks on ads anyway?  Like everyone else, I just ignore them.  So, no more ads.  I will just have to budget the $10 to register my domain.

Gull Wing Vs. Pigeon

Three years ago, I killed a bird with my bike.  Today, I killed another bird.  This time with the DeLorean.  Gull wing - 1, pigeon - 0.

I was driving home and noticed that a pigeon was on the road in front of me.  I was hoping it would see and hear my car coming and fly away.  Instead, it just stared at me with that one eye.  These are stupid birds.  The only hope was that it would safely pass under the car.  Well, since my car is lowered, that was not going to happen.  I felt the bump and saw a puff of feathers in the rear view mirror.  I only hope it was painless.  Oh hey, I have a video of it


Sorry for the bad video.  You can sort of see that it was just sitting there waiting to be hit.  I am totally ruling this as a suicide.  Also, a photo of some feathers under my car.  No blood or other bird parts that I can see, just the two puffs of down feather.

White 'puffs' are feathers from a pigeon

Maybe I will clean the crime scene this weekend and put my air deflector plates back on.  Looks like I will need a 'bird deflector' on my car as well.

FUCK YOU, STOP CALLING ME - July 2013

It has been about two weeks since the last call.  About time, I was running out of things to write about.  Ah, you can always count on telemarketers to fuck up your day.  Even though I do not pick up, it still throws a spike strip in front of you...like a fart in the middle of having sex.  Do you acknowledge it?  You could ignore it, but the smell of the telemarketer still lingers on as continue to pound on.

11 July 2013
   310-356-0420   El Segundo, CA - This one was tricky, I am familiar with El Segundo and the areas around it.  Call came in at 7:30PM, not normal business hours.  Pretty tricky.  This could have been a legitimate call.  But thanks to a quick search on Google, we know this is most likely a telemarketer.  Also, not leaving a message is a dead give away that these fuckers are telemarketers.  So, fuck you!

13 July 2013
   918-866-7810  Sparks, OK - Ten o'clock on a  Saturday morning.  Ah, remember the days when Saturday mornings were filled with cereals and cartoons? Those were the days.  You can still get you cereal fix, but unless you have cable, you have little chance of catching an animated show.  Oh, but you can count on a fucking telemarketer to fuck up your morning.  I want my cartoons back, fuck you!

15 July 2013
   480-271-1861  AZ, USA - Funny, to see 'AZ, USA' on the caller ID as there is an Azusa in California.  Of course, I know no one from either Azusa or the entire state of Arizona.  Heck, it has been a while since I have had Arizona Iced Tea.  So, every two days is the pattern?  I should expect a call on the 17th.  But knowing these fuckers, I will get a call tomorrow...and the next day.

   925-420-1428   'East San Francisco Bay Area' - Scratch that comment about getting a call tomorrow.  First call (above) came in at 12:37PM, this call comes in at 12:50PM.  That is thirteen minutes.  I had just finished typing up the above post and reporting the number to the Do Not Call Registery.  Well, we all know that does not do shit. Where was I?  Oh, then this fucking call comes in.  Fuck you!

Update:  If you are reading this because you searched this number, you should know that there are other numbers the telemarketers are using with the 925 area code and 420 prefix.  Click here for the August issue for additional calls from these fuckers.

18 July 2013  
   206-316-0167  WA, USA - Wow, sure has been a while since I have heard from Washington.  Cannot say that it is good to get a call from you.  But, good to know there is still a hub of terrorists in Washington.  If the government is reading this...yes, there is a terrorist cell in Washington in the form of telemarketers.  Shut these fuckers down.  Heck, they are all over the country.  Shut them all down.

23 July 2013
   708-613-2041  IL, USA - I know it is only 7PM on the West Cost, but is is 10PM in Illinois.  What the fuck are you doing up so late calling people?  Get some sleep, you have big day tomorrow.  Better yet, go fuck yourself.

25 July 2013
   310-356-0420   El Segundo, CA - What is this, a repeat caller?  This is awesome.  It has been a while since I have recieved a call from the same number.  Here at my work, where we actually produce something useful and give back to the community, it is Take Your Child To Work Day.  I wonder if these fuck nugget telemarketers have take your spawn to work type thing.  Imagine telling your kid that you call people, people on the Do Not Call Registery, and harrass them.  You are not only conducting illegal activity, but your an asshole.  Your kids must be proud of what you do.  I feel bad for your kids.  Do your kid and the rest of the world a favour, and go fuck yourself.

30 July 2013
    918-866-7810 Sparks, OK - Another return caller for the month.   So, I should get a call from Arizona soon.  Sparks, OK...Sparks, okay?  No, not okay.  Sparks, fuck off, okay?  Yes, fuck right off!

Zack Snyder Is Still A Hack

About two years ago, I wrote about the inability of Zack Synder to make a decent movie.  This post was originally going to be a review of Man of Steel.  Since my last post about Hack Snyder sort of promised a review of Sucker Punch, I will continue the tear down this hack as he has with the Superman franchise.

First, Sucker Punch.  This is what I wrote two years ago:

I have not seen Sucker Punch, but I doubt that even hot chicks in skimpy clothing can even save this.  It just seems like more of the same Snyder-vision with slo-mo action scenes, bad CG, lack of plot movement, etc.  I have to admit, when it comes available to stream, I want to watch this train wreck...just so I can bitch about it.  Maybe even write an in depth review on it.

Guess what, hot chicks in skimpy outfits did not and could not save this movie. What the hell was going on in this movie?  This was way too high of a concept for such a crappy movie. Snyder-vision is all over the place, and the whole movie is in sepia tone.  It is just one long overly produced music video.  Everyone pretty much agrees that Sucker Punch sucks.

Again, Synder's stuff is good to look at...but only for the first few minutes.  There is a lot of the same effects and camera tricks.  Once you have seen five minutes of a Snyder film...you have pretty much seen everything in his bag of tricks.

Man of Steel, more like Meh of Steel.  Face it, there are high expectations for this movie.  You have an all star cast and crew.  Then why did it not meet expectations?  Two reasons...Zack Snyder.

One of my major issues (and I have a subscription) with this movie, other than the director, is the camera movement.  There is not a segment, other than the end credits, where the frame is still for more than two seconds.  Damn it, hold the camera still.  You really do not see this amateur camera work in the trailer because of the fast cuts.  But oh...in the movie, you see it.  Two people sitting still having a dialogue, nothing going on around them...and the frame is jiggling like Jell-O, trying to maintain focus and hold the shot.  Hey, it is a big budget movie, invest in a tripod.  This movie can also be seen in 3D...oh great, that must be a joy ride.

I should talk about the positive thing about this movie.  Okay, the performances from most of the actors is above average.  And, I kinda like the structure of how the story was told with flashbacks.  And, the production design is pretty good.  But despite all that, it is ruined by the excessive camera movements.

I was hoping that as a producer, Christopher Nolan would restrain Synder from using Syder-vision.  Well, Krypton is in sepia tone, ugh.  Just cannot help it, can you?  In addition to the shaky cam, the whole movie has that fake film grain filter.  I know this was shot on digital, because...well, it is a Snyder movie and there is over use of CGI, why add the crappy film grain filter?

Wait, I really have to talk about this one scene.  When Zod and gang get sent to Phantom Zone, they are bind and encased in some sort of retraining 'case'.  In the Donner versions, this was beautifully done by retraining the trio in a mirror...awesome!  In Snyder's version, they are encased in dildos.  Yeah, COCKS!  If you know what I am talking about, think back.  It was a swarm of dildos shooting up towards that orifice in space. 

While some of the effects were good, a lot of it was used to overcompensate for the lack of content.  Again, I have to go back to camera movement and framing.  The framing is often too close to the action to follow action.  The battle sequences are too long, there is not enough time in between for the audience to rest and gather themselves for the next epic battle and total destruction.

Speaking of destruction, there is a lot of that, too.  I would say more than any other movie.  There are billions of dollars worth of damage to the city...billions, perhaps even a trillion or two.  Deaths, there are thousands, perhaps a million deaths.  While Superman is try to protect the 10-15 people within a 50 foot radius of him, he is causing severe property damage and death to thousands all around.

Synder does evolve a bit.  Instead of his typical slo-motion action scenes, he made them fast motion...you know, because Kryptonians are faster on Earth.  Whatever.

One more thing I have to point out before I end this.  This movie is ridiculously loud.  Unnecessarily loud.  I can almost guarantee that Man of Steel will be nominated and most likely win the Oscar for "Best Sound Design".  Because we all know that "sound design" means "the loudest".  I found myself plugging my ears during the battle scenes.  Maybe I have sensitive ears, I do frequently carry ear plugs.

Snyder's overuse of camera movement, digital effects, and sound, is used to mask the mediocre movie that Man of Steel is.  Too bad, hard to believe that Superman III and IV, while very cheezy, it in some ways, is better than Man of Steel.  Bryan Singer's Superman Returns is better than Snyder's...of course none of these are anywhere near as good as Richard Donner's vision of Superman.

Zack Snyder is still a hack.  All he does is make multi-million dollar, two hour plus demo reels. Please stop giving this guy big budget films to make.  Let him make music videos and 'fan trailers'...things that are under five minutes...uh, better make it under three minutes.

The Ridge - Kickstarter

My Kickstarter items are slowing coming in.  This week, The Ridge:  Front Pocket Wallet arrived.

The Ridge:  Front Pocket Wallet

Three months ago, I backed this project because I like minimal wallets.  The designers did a great job with a simple yet effective design.  I have to admit that what really won me over was an option to get one in titanium.  As you know, I share a special bond with titanium.

Mmm...titanium.

I already have and use a minimal or front pocket wallet.  But, this one is in titanium.  It will take a little getting used to as my current wallet is leather, much softer but not as awesome as titanium.  I guess it is no different than carrying a mobile phone.

It will be a few months before my next Kickstarter item arrives.  Hint, it is made of titanium. 

Update:   I have transferred my cards and cash to my Ridge.  Cards fit fine, but a little tight.  Well duh, how else are the cards going to stay in the wallet?  I am curious to see how long the elastics will last.  They look and feel like it will last quite a while.  So, I am not worried there.

Some things I need to get used to, the walled it the same size at a regulation credit card.  For cash, there is a slight speed bump.  On my other wallet, I just fold the bills in half and place in magnetic money clip.  On The Ridge, since it is narrower, I need to tri-fold the bills to they fit within the footprint of the wallet.  That is a 50% increase in thickness of bills.  I do not carry that much cash, so it is not really a problem.  Also, the titanium clip feels like it can spring back and last for a lifetime.

One minor issue I have with the design is, it could be a bit thinner.  Because they used an aluminum liner, it has to be a certain thickness to hold the elastic in place.  My solution, use more titanium.  Yes, I realize that would increase cost.  Like I said, this is minor...and I just want an excuse to have more titanium.  I would like to have had the corners, where the notch is cut out, to be more rounded.  It is a little sharp for an area where your finger needs to access and can potentially damage pockets.  Again, very minor issue.

Overall, the Ridge is an excellent product that is well designed and will last a long time.  Major points to the designers to offer up a titanium version.  I love that titanium.  The option of stainless steel is/was also available...as you know, I love stainless steel, too.

Random Depeche Mode Sightings

Depeche Mode is currently on tour, supporting their new album, Delta Machine.  Today, I saw two random commercials featuring Depeche Mode songs.  Both within about 30 minutes of each other.

This was a surprise from HBO Documentary Films, as it was seen on broadcast TV.  Welcome to My World is the first track off their new album.  Not recognizable to most since it is not a 'classic Depeche Mode hit', but as soon as I heard the opening note...I though it sounded a lot like the intro to Welcome to My World.  It was!  An odd choice, but the song works for the subject of the advertisement. 

Behind the Wheel was featured in this ad for Christian Dior.  I hear the music and immediately recognized the 1987 hit.  The name of the ad campaign is "Secret Garden 2- Versailles"

Looks like Christian Dior is doing a series of "Secret Garden - Versailles" advertisements with Depeche Mode songs.  Part one features Depeche Mode's 1990 hit Enjoy the Silence.  Here is the long version:

DM Trivia:  There is a song by Depeche Mode called My Secret Garden from their 1982 album A Broken Frame.

Keyport Slide 2.0 - Kickstarter

I buy a lot of junk, usually online...stores, auction sites, forums.   Sometime last year, I learned about Kickstarter.  As you know, it can be a great place for getting stuff...especially, if you want something with a bottle opener.  Pretty much every bottling plant uses twist tops.  Why is there more of a need for a bottle opener than ever before?  College kids and hipsters think it is cool.  Whatever.

Keyport Slide 2.0

Anyway, in March, I found a great product to fund.  The Keyport Slide 2.0.  I have always wanted one of these ever since I saw their first version.  I never took the time or money to buy one, for whatever reason, I never pulled the trigger on this...maybe I was busy buying more junk.  Glad I waited, now there is a new and improved version.  The guys at Keyport needed funding for their newest version and went to Kickstarter for help.  I decided, this was the time to get one, and at the same time, help fund it.  Sounds so much cooler to say I funded a project that went to production.

It took about two months, as they had over two thousand orders to sort through, but I got my kit today.

Keyport Kit from Kickstarter Project

Included the kit I ordered is the Keyport case or housing unit, four blades or key blanks, 8GB USB flash drive, and mini LED light.  Yes, there was an option for a bottle opener.

Colours available

The Slide 2.0 is available in white, black, and red.  Red is too...red.  Black just seems like you are trying too hard.  So, I went with white...also, because it looks like a Stormtrooper. 

Keyport side plats

One of the options was to have coloured side plates.  You have your default colours, matching the main body or you can add a little flare with blue, green, black, or fuschia.  While these were tempting, I want black ones, they were also an extra $3.99 a pair.  You know how cheap I am.  They were also just coloured plates with a Keyport logo.  If I was going to pay $4 for it, I would want something more 'customized' than just a colour difference.  The solution?

Custom side plates with DMC logo

I made my own side plates.  Of course, I would have to customize with something.  Oh, I know...a DMC logo, duh.  As soon as I got my kit, I took measurements and made them.  A few hours later, they were printed out on the machine...for FREE!  I painted these with SEM Trim Black.

Painted custom side plates

There is one more small piece I need to change.  The nodes come in black, green, yellow, red, white, and blue.  I am not a big fan of the green one, so using some nail polish I bought, I will paint it silver.  Oh yeah, I bought some nail polish.  Why?  I needed to touch up some paint chips on my wheels.  Yeah, I colour matched the nail polish to DeLorean wheels. 

Close up of nodes and custom side plate

Awesome, looks something a Stormtrooper would carry.  Although, I cannot think of a reason for a Stromtrooper to use keys.  Seems like everything in Imperial ships and space stations are accessed by push button and proximity.  Anyway, I will do a quick review once I get the keys cut and I have had time to test it out.

So far, I have funded four projects on Kickstarter.  This is the first one to arrive, and only took about two months.  My package/kit was $79, pretty good price as their first version with the same blade options would have been about $100.  I will write up new posts as I receive items from the other projects.  I think this one was a success for everyone involved.

If you want to get yourself one, head over to mykeyport.com.  Looks like you can only order V1.0 for now, I am sure V2.0 will be available soon.

Keyport in the ignition

 Update:   I went to my local locksmith and had my keys cut.  I installed the blanks into the holder and tried it out.  They keys work and the unit is strong enough to take the torque of turning a tough lock on a old door.  The only thing I had to get used to was the holder, as it is a little bulkier than a normal key body.  Actually, it give you a better grip and easier to torque the lock.

The buttons lock in open and closed positions.  A light press on the spring loaded button releases the lock and the blanks slide out much smoother than I thought it would.  The compact size is a big plus, it takes up less real estate in your pocket.  Also, the keys do not dangle and jingle.

I only have a couple of minor complaints on the Slide 2.0, they are really minor.  I think the body could be about a quarter inch shorter.  Maybe I have short keys.  When they are all the way in, I feel there is too much room to from the tip of the longest key to the end of the unit.  In contrast, I think the when the keys are in the closed position should be locked a quarter inch forward.  I feel the buttons are a bit too far back in the closed position to comfortably access.  Again, these are really minor issues.

When I really began to study the design of the entire system, I noticed that there was a lot of thought into it.  The Slide 2.0 is a great design. 

FUCK YOU, STOP CALLING ME - June 2013

Have some fun with telemarketers

Well, last month's entry on telemarketers was a hit.  Apparently, there were a over a thousand of you out there that received calls from the same assholes that called me.  That puts last month's post in the top five most views of all time for this blog.  I hope you have enjoyed my brief rants.  Thanks to those who took the time to leave comments.

My cousin sent me the picture above.  But unfortunately, most calls are automated, there is rarely a human on the other end.

Anyway, new month...new calls. 

6 June 2013
   989-624-8438  MI, USA  D-Day.  I say we all storm into a telemarketing firm like it was Normandy in 1944.  I have been saying all along, telemarketers are terrorists...we should declare war on them.  What better day than today?  Fuck these guys.  Our drones against their robo-dialers.

12 June 2013
   801-877-5855  Provo, UT  Fucking Utah?  I guess ski season is over, they have nothing better to do.  Not like they can go out drinking.  Although, I have to admit that the Salt Lake City area is really clean.  Provo, on the other hand, and I have no idea where it is and I am too lazy to look it up, is a shit town.  I am solely basing that theory on the infestation of at least one telemarketer in their shit town.  So, have one of your wives from the clan disrobe your magical undergarments...and go fuck yourself.

This is also a return caller from February 2013.

21 June 2013
   601-389-1457   MS, USA  Mississippi?  Hey, remember when you were in elementary school and you would randomly spell Mississippi?  Maybe a teacher taught it to you.  Most likely, it was some class clown that started it in class and it was all the rage at recess.  You know "M-I-S-S-I-S-S-I-P-P-I", you would kinda sing it in the playground, sometimes whilst skipping rope.  It was a fun state to spell.  Heck, I cannot type or write it without singing it in my head.   Ah, those where the days...days without fucking telemarketers calling you.  Fuck you!

23 June 2013
   740-368-0299   Delaware, OH.  On a fucking Sunday?  Who fucking calls on a Sunday?  How dare you disrespect the Lord's day...and by 'the Lord', I totally mean Lord Vader?   May the Lord (Vader, that is) strike down upon thee as he did to Alderaan.  Delaware, Ohio....well, which is it?  Fucking Delaware or fucking Ohio?    It would be pretty awesome if there was a universal Force choke hold on these fuckers. 

Tinting DeLorean Windows - Part II, Leave It To The Professionals

After attempting and failing to windows myself, I called the pros.  Apparently, most places like to complete the job within two hours.  Because of the complex doors and shape of windows, the first place I called declined based on the labour involved.  They had done work on some of my co-workers' cars.  So, I contacted Best Tinting as their site and Yelp shows that they have worked on exotic cars.  Surely if they can handle a Lamborghini, McLaren, or Ferrari, they can handle a DeLorean. The initial quoted price was $210, but after realizing it was a DeLorean, they came back with $455 due to the extra time and work involved.

I set up a GoPro camera and used a handheld to document the process.  The GoPro snapped a shot every 60 seconds.  Unfortunately, it shut off about half way through the process.  Maybe it has an auto shut off after two hours.  I am still experimenting with it, so must not have the settings right.

Driver's side window was done first

The appointment was set for 1PM, they got here a little after that and started examining the car.  They would start with the large door windows and work their way around.  I went with a light tint on the front.  My concerns are with UV and heat, and not with style.  I have enough style with the car itself.  Yeah, I said it.

Trimming the film

They make it look so easy.  All this time I thought the stuff on YouTube was CGI.  Watching the guy measure and cut the film to size was magical.

Squeegeeing out the bubbles

Pretty amazing to watch these guys work.  If Mr Rogers was alive today, you can bet there would be a video of this on Picture Picture.  At least a neighbourhood visit to local window tinting place.

Final touches on driver's side window

You can see from the pictures how little room there was for him to maneuver.  Does not help to have the circle turning thing in the way, at least the other side does not have one.

Laying out the film on passenger window

The first window took them about 40 minutes to install.  I can see how this job would not fit in to a two hour...wait for it...window.  This is going to take a while.

On to the passenger side.  This took a little less time.  Still, that odd shaped window is a lot to handle, even for a professional.

More squeegee

These guys are really meticulous, notice the tarp placed inside the cabin to keep the interior from getting too wet from over spray.

Using a heat gun to get the bubbles out

As the film curves with the glass, it forms little darts. To get rid of them, a heat gun is used to shrink the film and help form it to the compound curves of the glass.  I could be wrong, but I think heating the glass also helps the adhesive stick to the glass better.

Tarps in the interior

 While he was fine tuning the fit of the film, he would occasionally need to trim excess film.  He would not make more than 3-4 cuts before snapping off the blade to get a new edge.  At one point, he was making one cut and breaking off the blade. This is total opposite of me when I was in school, where I would use one X-Acto blade per semester.  I would use sandpaper to sharpen my blades.  Pro tip:  If you use 200 grit sandpaper long enough, it turns into 600 grit.  Hey, design school is expensive, you save where/when you can save.  I built the model for my Senior Thesis project entirely out of other people's scrap pieces.

Driver's side toll both window

Once the large door windows were done, they worked on the toll both windows.  Since they were already on the passenger side, they did that first.  Again, making it look easy.

Measuring and cutting tint film for the small window

One of the difficulties of the windows is, the toll booth window does not go straight up and down.  It goes a forward and down.  The front corner of the window is at a sharp angle.  This makes it hard to tuck in that last last part into the sill.  I encountered this problem three times before I gave up.  On most cars, the windows go up and down, and usually have a squared edge.  Oh, and they do not have gull wing doors.

Final touches on small window

At this point, my GoPro shut off.  Luckily, I have my Sony.  Speaking of failure...he had to do the driver's side toll booth window three times before he got it right.  This first time, he cut the film a little short and did not cover the front edge. Second time, there was a small piece of film trapped between.  The third time was perfect.  See, not that easy.  Now, I do not feel so bad.

Forming the film to the rear glass

I went with a darker tint in the rear, and this is purely for style.  This also seems to be the easier of the windows to work on for a DeLorean...except you have to reach over the rear fascia and around the C-pillar and louver struts to get into the corners.

Aligning the film to rear windows

They used a different technique to form the film to the glass.  First heating and using a squeegee with the film with backing on the outside, then again on the inside with the backing removed.  Both sides were done fairly quickly compared the the ones on the doors.  Again, a lot of care was taken as tarps were used on the engine cover to keep water out.

Check out my messy garage

You can see how dark the windows are using the white sheet as reference.  The last window to tackle is the back window.  This too, was tricky as is wraps around at the ends and has defrost lines.  While cleaning the window, he noticed that the defrost elements were beginning to chip.  Since the window is so close to the engine, the heat from the engine prevents the window from ever fogging up.  Very few DeLorean owners use their rear window defrost.

They even remove their shoes before entering the car

After four hours, they were done.  I have to say, these guys were very professional.  I would recommend them to anyone in the area in need of a tint job.  Not only do they do a great job, they immediately redo any window if there is a problem.  They clean up as they go, no scrap piece of film ever hit the floor and wipe everything down.  Bonus for DeLorean owners, they wipe body panels with the grain.  My windows have never been this clean...should have had them clean my windshield.  They even removed their shoes before entering the car. 

I also recommend having your windows tinted to protect your interior, especially if you do any outdoor driving during the day.  Take it from me, unless you really know what you are doing, have a professionals do it.

Update:  I made a GIF of the GoPro photos.

 

Tinting DeLorean Windows - Part I, Fail

For a while now, I have wanted my windows tinted.  Exposure to UV has damaged a lot of car interiors.  I have seen to many outdoor/abandoned DeLorean interiors with sun damage.  My car is garaged, but when driving or parked outside, it is exposed to the sun.  Heck, I sometimes have a car cover on when parked in the garage.

While I do have a dash cover and custom windshield shade, my side windows offer virtually no protection from damaging rays.  In addition to the UV, I want to keep out the heat.  My other car has tinted windows and it is no where as hot as the DeLorean after a full day of sunbathing.

Laying out the shapes of the windows using paper templates

I attempted to do this myself, did some research and watched some videos.  Seems simple, but it is not...you can see where this is going.  As you know, the DeLorean has some goofy windows.  Measuring the windows is quite the task.  I tried doing it the traditional way using the tint film to measure and cut.  That did not work for me.  They make it look so easy on YouTube.  Instead of wasting more film, I measured with paper templates.

Cutting out tint film

Using the paper templates, I cut out each piece from the rolls of tint film I bought.  Half a roll was wasted in my first attempt to measure, so I got another roll.  Believe it or not, measuring and cutting was the easy part of the process.  I am very good with a blade and free hand cutting.  Some say I am a legend with an X-Acto blade...there are stories of young designer that would cut paper, card stock, and foam core so fast that the blade would be hot when he was done.

Ready for some more failure?  Applying the film to glass is not easy as I found out first hand.  Because of the gull winged doors, you pretty much have to work with the doors closed and sitting inside the cabin.  With a normal car, you can just swing the door open and work.  Working with the doors up is not ideal.  Although there is a reasonable amount of room inside a DeLorean, there really is not much room when you are trying to install tint film.  Like most cars, the interiors are designed for driving and passenging (is that a word?), and not working on windows.

I made several attempts at tinting the windows myself.  After the fourth time, I ran out of film and patience.  I just could not get the results I wanted, and I did not want to buy another roll of tint film just to see it go into the bin.  So, after some more research and getting into a hot car, I got a professional to do it.

Go to Part II to see how it is suppose to be done.