1st Gen Toyota Tundra Aeroshell Build

[Macskyver]

Originally Posted by Joggernot

That is the nicest areocap ever. Thanks for taking us through your build to this point.

Thanks. I am glad you like it.

[Macskyver]

Originally Posted by BamZipPow

Very sharp!

If I recall correctly, yer aero cap should fit my T-100 as well.

Thanks. I think our bed dimensions are slightly different, like 1/2" in length/width, but it would probably fit. I am not sure about the bolts through the stake pockets though.

[Macskyver]

Originally Posted by ctmaybury@yahoo.com

Looks beautiful. Can't wait for highyway mpg report.

Thanks. I'll post MPG numbers as soon as I have them. Lately I have been just doing short distance city driving. Maybe I'll do a mini road trip this weekend or something to get some good data before I fly out of town for Thanksgiving.

[Macskyver]

Originally Posted by NeilBlanchard

Stunning work!

Do you plan on tuft testing it?

Thanks. I was thinking about doing some sort of testing. I am especially curious how the airflow looks at the interface between the cab and the shell. I have never done tuft testing, so I would have to do some research and make sure doing so would be worthwhile. I wonder if there is a wind tunnel in the area I can use.. Also, I wonder if analyzing a model generated with 123D Catch would give halfway legitimate results.

[freebeard]

From what I've seen, 123D Catch will return a model of uniformly small polygons. An economic 3D model will have more/smaller polygons in detailed areas an fewer/bigger in 'flat' areas. You might have to do [multiple] file format conversions.

There will be a tool-chain between data capture and visualization. Don't let that stop you.

tuft testing one side in the vicinity of the gap would be easy and possibly instructive.

[NeilBlanchard]

Originally Posted by Macskyver

Thanks. I was thinking about doing some sort of testing. I am especially curious how the airflow looks at the interface between the cab and the shell. I have never done tuft testing, so I would have to do some research and make sure doing so would be worthwhile. I wonder if there is a wind tunnel in the area I can use.. Also, I wonder if analyzing a model generated with 123D Catch would give halfway legitimate results.

Ecomodder is the place to learn about tuft testing! Tape pieces of yarn onto the surface, and drive in a straight line on a day with still air, and video tape it from another vehicle (without getting too close, to avoid affecting the air flow). Another way is to rig a support strut for the camera, and that avoids the need for a second vehicle.

[freebeard]

Put the 'selfie stick' behind the tufts. Put a red flag on it for visibility

[Macskyver]

You guys have convinced me.. There will be tuft testing sometime in the future, probably after I get back from Thanksgiving. I also started my first mpg tank, so there should be results from that in the not-too-distant future as well.

[dothadance]

dude, yes!! i have to see this thing in real life. i'm up in austin and go to san marcos pretty frequently. i've actually been trying to figure out how to build my "final draft" aerocap for the past week or so and you just led me to the answer

[aerohead]

Originally Posted by Macskyver

Thanks. I was thinking about doing some sort of testing. I am especially curious how the airflow looks at the interface between the cab and the shell. I have never done tuft testing, so I would have to do some research and make sure doing so would be worthwhile. I wonder if there is a wind tunnel in the area I can use.. Also, I wonder if analyzing a model generated with 123D Catch would give halfway legitimate results.

Texas A & M has 5-wind tunnels in College Station.I'm not sure how large a structure can be accepted into the available test sections,but a phone call to the Engineering College could take care of that.