SketchUp Models of Concept Vehicles

[NeilBlanchard]

Here's the finished draft of the Dolphin SketchUp model:



I'm hoping to hear back from Dave Cloud about how accurate it may or may not be?

[NHRABill]

Very Nice sketch and design


I always had an issue with the tail of these style designs it just doesn't seem like it will work in the real world.

I had an idea to improve and make it more useful tell me what you think about making the tail of the car accordion into itself making it easier to park... If it was electrically controlled that the back tail extends out when it is placed in drive only?

My initial thoughts on solving the tail would be a partial trunk that the tail extends from using a metal frame and a rubber type of material that pushes out

This would make for a very unique design I haven't seen before

Something for you to, play with if you want.

[Cd]

Originally Posted by NHRABill

Very Nice sketch and design




I had an idea to improve and make it more useful tell me what you think about making the tail of the car accordion into itself making it easier to park... If it was electrically controlled that the back tail extends out when it is placed in drive only?

My initial thoughts on solving the tail would be a partial trunk that the tail extends from using a metal frame and a rubber type of material that pushes out

This would make for a very unique design I haven't seen before

Something for you to, play with if you want.

That is a very clever idea ! Thanks for sharing.

[Cd]

Neil, can you subdivide the model any more ?

Nice to see it at this stage of progression.

[NeilBlanchard]

I hope to get back into it and smooth it out more -- there needs to be a radius along the rocker panel; and yes there are several areas that need better smoothing. I'll have to XRef it into DataCAD X3 to measure the frontal area, too.

[some_other_dave]

Originally Posted by NHRABill

... tell me what you think about making the tail of the car accordion into itself making it easier to park...

The "accordion" part doesn't sound good to me. The pleats implied by that would be at least somewhat disruptive to air flow, which is pretty important on a boat-tail.

My thought was that the clear section of the vehicle that we see in the model could be hinged, and simply flip up. Since you'd only be needing to do that at very low speeds, that shouldn't be much of a hit on economy and it won't need to hold up to 65 MPH winds.

The joint could be faired over without too much difficulty, I think, and the construction might be simpler than going with the accordion design.

Just a thought.

-soD

[NeilBlanchard]

Here's a revised version of the aerodynamic pickup cap that is probably better suited to the mid-size pickup it is based on.







The darker area on the back is the face of the previous design.

[Peter7307]

Originally Posted by some_other_dave

Neat cars. I am sure that I don't fit in them, though. They're really really tiny.

-soD

Dave,
with the S600 / 800 it seemed more to be a case of putting it on rather than fitting into it as I remember!

Salesman: So what do you think?
Customer: OK but a little tight around the left instep!

OK an old , old joke but still brings a smile.

Peter.

[NeilBlanchard]

Here's a rough SketchUp model of an "ideal" streamline shape from Hucho:



It is three extrusions (plan, side and front profiles) that are subtracted from each other. I moved the front wheels back and widened the track, and moved the back wheels farther back and narrowed the track.

[freebeard]

Dymaxion Car by Nigel Fitton


A concept car *and* a reverse tricycle