Belaero Build Thread, Here we go again! :-)

[Frank Lee]

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[todayican]

Starting to look a bit more like a chassis!

Ill post more pics in a bit, but here is the basic chassis, still need cross braces etc.

Up front you can see the beginnings of the "split" vw beam. Ill run some all thread bar through the top tubes to retain the upper trailing arms.

Still have a lot of support structure to go, but its good to make progress!

[todayican]

well... a bit of a setback, after all the measuring and drawing and redrawing and cutting etc, the clearance for the rear riders legs dont work as they reach around the forward riders butt, need to start over :-(

But...

Ive been toying with the idea of going side by side and using 2 "mini canopies" for each rider (If driving solo, I could remove the passenger canopy and stow it)

I dug this up its called a Sea Lion, Im thinking exactly like this except with:

Riders moved forward 10 to 12"
dual windscreen / enclosures instead of the single windshield
cleaner tail area but with that same taper.

What is the consensus of the look of the car (Yep, im talking to you Frank) :-)

Threw in a 20 Cup to give an idea about the seperate windscreens and "divider" Also

[euromodder]

Originally Posted by todayican

What is the consensus of the look of the car

Consensus, on an internet forum

- Make the tail a bit longer, bringing it closer to the aerotemplate.

- Cover the riders. The weather isn't always going to be nice.

[todayican]

Uh huh, I hear ya on consensus ;-)

Yep, I agree on both points. The body one my version is (literally) me taking the Aero template and applying it to the 2 sides of the car. If I come 10" past the rear of the wheel, we have pointage :-D

On covering, I have a neat idea, I want the cockpit to be super versatile, I have this modular thought where there could be lots of configurations, all easy to implement / change between.

Like 2 windscreens, 2 pods behind the heads but open for the head itself.

driver on the left, passenger windscreen and pod removed and covered with a tonneau.

2 canopy centers to make separate covered canopies.

single canopy that replaces the 2 pods altogether possibly.

This one I like: Ill be doing this steering gearbox to take the steering shaft which comes up the center and moves the wheel to the left for the driver, Id like to rig it so that driving solo, the canopy and pod could be moved to the center and driven from the middle. Lots of tinkering to be done :-)

[Frank Lee]

The open cockpit car isn't all that aero... put a roof on it and it might be good...

I'd put a droopier nose on it but the Avion/Viking aero cars have high noses and claim good aero so who "nose"?

Since I always consider x-winds, I think the boattailing in plan view is too severe. I'd leave more of a horizontal fin for a back end, like Aptera has.

That rear wheel could probably use a spat or maybe even a fairing.

Looks like it would be a fun sized unit tho'.

[todayican]

I agree on every point Frank, ill work out some drawings.

[todayican]

Ok, got a "rough draft" of the model done, still needs sanding filling and to stand way way back lol. Bear in mind, no wheelwells showing because there wont be any :-)

Thoughts?

[Frank Lee]

I would calculate if that much front end width is needed for stability and would narrow it up if at all possible.

I'd also think about how much room I want to have a reasonable degree of comfort inside, and widen the cockpit if need be. I suppose a person could figure it out in real life, in real time, either statically with cardboard sheets while sitting in a car, or dynamically with plexi and go for a drive.

I also think generous fillets tween body and greenhouse would do nothing but good.

[todayican]

I'm not sure the foamie is doing it justice, its measurements are to scale, but it just doesn't look like it. :-(

The body overall including outer wheel covers is only 60" (about the same as a metro) against a 90" wheelbase (a few inches shorter then a metro I believe)

The cockpit is 25" wide at the shoulders (I go about 280 and 5'11" and am 22" across at my widest point)

Yeah, Ive heard the fillet thing a few times, I appreciate the feedback (And on the strakes too) consider them implemented :-)
Tom