On a few of my other partwork models, I have installed carpet where there was none, such as in my DeLorean. Thankfully, Mike Lane Mods has produced a full set of Front Carpets for our Fanhome 1:8 scale Knight Rider K.I.T.T. partwork!

This 17-piece set of scaled and pre-cut carpet is designed to fit the entire main interior floor area of the build. Each piece is backed with a strong adhesive that will last the life of the model. They are best installed during your assembly of Stage 49 and Stage 52.

This carpet is available in three different colors, with the Tan Brown being the best match to the screen-used vehicles. I will be using the Tan Brown on our K.I.T.T. build:

Installation

Mike Lane includes a diagram with these Front Carpets that recommends which order to install them in. A plastic ‘spudger’ tool is also included to help press the carpets into tight spaces. These carpets will be installed per the diagram, starting with Stage 49:

In Stage 49

Step 1

Peel the backing paper from carpet pieces #15 and #16 and stick them onto the Front Interior Panels, as seen here:

In Stage 52

To make this easier, I took a picture of the remaining carpet pieces and included their part numbers:

Step 1

At the front right (passenger-side) footwell of the Interior Floor Panel, test fit carpet piece #1 as shown:

When you understand how it fits, peel the backing paper from the carpet piece and gently set it into place as shown.

I recommend starting at one end of the carpet piece and smoothing it down into place with your finger – this will help eliminate any bubbles or wrinkles:

Step 2

In much the same way, right behind the previous carpet, test fit and secure carpet piece #2 into place as shown.

Make sure all of the holes and openings of the carpet pieces line up to the matching areas of the Interior Floor Panel. While the adhesive backing on these carpets is quite strong, you can carefully peel the pieces up and adjust them as needed. You can also use the mod’s included spudger tool to ensure the edges are well bonded and to tuck the edges down between the different pieces:

Step 3

At the right rear of the previous piece, test fit and secure carpet piece #3 into place as shown.

For the carpet pieces with an angled side bend like this one, line up the large flat part first, then smooth it down over the edge:

Step 4

At the right rear of Interior Floor Panel, test fit and secure carpet piece #4 into place as shown.

Carpet pieces #4 and #9 sit under/behind the rear seats, so do not stress if you don’t get them perfect:

Step 5

At the right rear corner of Interior Floor Panel and next to the previous piece, test fit and secure carpet piece #5 into place as shown:

Step 6

At the front left (driver’s-side) corner of Interior Floor Panel, test fit and secure carpet piece #6 into place as shown.

I accidentally missed installing this #6 piece until I had already put in piece #7. Just make sure to tuck the edges in with the spudger tool:

Step 7

On the left (driver’s-side) of Interior Floor Panel, test fit and secure carpet piece #7 into place as shown.

Again, make sure all of the holes and openings of the carpet pieces line up to the matching areas of the Interior Floor Panel:

Step 8

At the left rear of the previous piece, test fit and secure carpet piece #8 into place as shown:

Step 9

At the left rear of Interior Floor Panel, test fit and secure carpet piece #9 into place as shown:

Step 10

At the left rear corner of Interior Floor Panel, test fit and secure carpet piece #10 into place as shown:

Step 11

At the front center of the Interior Floor Panel, test fit and secure carpet piece #11 into place as shown.

To make sure this carpet piece was placed as best I could, I first cut a center strip out of the backing paper by peeling back both sides and snipping the paper with scissors. Then, I removed the center paper section and put the outside backing paper parts back on (see the first picture of the next step as an example). This allows us to get the center area of this carpet piece aligned correctly before we peel the side papers off and apply the rest of the piece:

Step 12

To the rear of the previous piece, test fit and secure carpet piece #12 into place as shown.

This shows how I removed the center strip of the backing paper for this and the previous step:

Step 13

To the rear of the previous piece, test fit and secure carpet piece #13 into place as shown:

Step 14

At the very front center of the Interior Floor Panel, test fit and secure carpet piece #14 into place as shown:

Step 15

Finally, test fit and secure carpet piece #17 into place as shown.

Make sure this piece is installed on the correct side of this Connecting Plate part. Note the longer rounded mounting tab is on the right:

Thoughts

While the texturing of the stock Interior Floor Panel is actually quite good, adding these Front Carpets brings it to a whole new level. Your eyes pick up the subtle color variations of the fabric and the feel under your fingers is simply superb! I want to give a huge thanks to Mike Lane for producing these to help make our great K.I.T.T. partwork even better.

After this carpet was installed, I went a step further and added Mike’s matching Heel and Toe Pads and Floor Mats as well.