Aeromodability of a VW Bug?

[kach22i]

Originally Posted by gtkid2002

You might want to look at these, I really like the halcyon 2.

Halcyon electric concept car:
Eco Cars: Owl-inspired Halcyon electric concept car offers a silent ride


The designer: Ralph Tayler-Webb
reflexstudio.co.uk

[Frank Lee]

Starting to look like a mini-Aerotech.

[Gerrelt]

Originally Posted by aerohead

Here is an image of the Beetle in Volkswagen's tunnel
Caption should read Smoke-flow Bug photo

Where did you get this version of that image? It's the same as the picture I got (see: picture). But yours looks like the original non-photo shopped version. Seeing the line in the middle of your picture, is it a scan from a book?

(btw, I can see smoke attached to the rear window in your version... )

[kach22i]

Originally Posted by Gerrelt

(btw, I can see smoke attached to the rear window in your version... )

I see the air detaching at the top window trim, although about half the air is sticking nearby until the middle of the window and then it sails away at a specific trajectory.

I measure it at 22-1/2 degrees (approx).

[gtkid2002]

Frank - Ahhh, I've never heard of the Aerotech. I do not want this thing to look like that. Not by a long shot, although maybe the cockpit thing.

Kach - The Halcyon series looks cool, but how would you do any work on i? Something with that flush of body panels must be a pain to work on. I actually really like your original two sketches. Those are something I would love to try.

Now I'm having two hurdles to think of, Glass and doors. A cockpit would be awesome, but the fact that it -must- be glass makes it a bit difficult, and will impact the design. If I could use plex, I'd do it in a heartbeat. The fact that you can't do any work to some glass makes me want to get the glass from another vehicle and fit it, or have a two piece window with the bar going down the middle. I know some places might not agree with that though because it would interfere when the original equipment did not.

[kach22i]

Originally Posted by gtkid2002

........ glass from another vehicle and fit it...

You need to get a better idea of the exact shape you want, then find something close and alter your design to fit.

Not only must you fit people into this form, but you need to consider sight lines and egress/access.

Do a top view, a front view and so forth.

With such a novel shape I suggest working in clay or some 3D modeling program.

You are no where near selecting a windshield in my opinion, not even in the ballpark.

[gtkid2002]

The only reason I'm looking at glass now is to get a feel for what I can afford or what might work. The cockpit would be something I would love to go for, but even from only an hour of searching, I obtained nothing very close. Boat glass and airplane glass are my options.

[Frank Lee]

Not unless you lose a wheel and call it a motorcycle.

[kach22i]

Originally Posted by Frank Lee

Not unless you lose a wheel and call it a motorcycle.

GREAT IDEA.

Examples:
Image: ZAP Alias electric three-wheeler, size: 630 x 340, type: gif, posted on: January 26, 2009, 5:46 am - MotorAuthority


125 MPG 3 Wheeled Diesel Electric Car

[gtkid2002]

Mmm, seems kind of hard to do to a VW frame really. I could see losing an axle and then shortening the other, but that seems fairly complicated, and it would also seem to loose the better ability to drive in the snow. Would be pretty cool though.

Can you imagine the confusion of trying to license a VW bug chassis as a motorcycle though? People at the inspection station would loath you.