Quote:
Originally Posted by ERTW
Your "2 part body" is actually called a "composite body", invented by Jaray in the 1930s...
|
I did not know this, thanks I will look it up.
The front part of the bottom section I'd argue is not a brick at all, but the best shape to divert air over he top as 98% of cars and trucks do, but they do it in a less clean manner.
The blunt curve is very much like the green template building just enough pressure to insure adhesion of the air. One thing the real L&M Lola has over the slot car model is eased front corners. I can see myself taking an Xacto blade to the model and doing the same to my front corners.
The rear is not a brick either, minimal area for tail lights and bumper provided. I disagree about the rear wing being out of the airflow, but would have to wind tunnel it to be sure.
I read recently that air moving over the top of the vehicle should be prevented from spilling over to the sides where it will mix with that air-flow and cause turbulence. I did consider building a McLaren ridge (not sure of the correct term for this body rake) into this design but did not want to stray from the main concept. Funny thing is this car is a contemporary to the Lola, so maybe I'm stuck in the 1970's and trying to relive my childhood in some manner.
Tyler/Sven the scale is 2" = 1'-0"
If I build models any larger I will need a larger work area to work in. Right now my studio is turned into a storage area and filled with stuff from my old office. I built this in my living room, much to my wife's disappointment. I do clean up after myself, but the house is a mess for several days during a work frenzy.
.................................................. ........
The material will require a jig to be set up so that everything is square, but no full sized clay body required to cast a mold, and then to hand lay fiberglass or other complex composite methods using foam.
I'm pretty sure I can heat the Monopan to bend it like I did the Coroplast, but I think I can also get the Monopan glass layer unresined, curve it over a buck/form and vacuum bag it into the final form.
Like I said, I used this same thinking (Monopan) in building a hovercraft model (Coroplast - five feet long). The hovercraft would be a 50 foot long patrol hovercraft and is very stealth looking because of the faceted surfaces.