Bob C
|
| posted on 11/2/07 at 11:28 PM |
|
|
Gaz - it's got class & I want one!
I hope you can get together with one of the manufacturers to develop this as a body mould to go on a locost chassis - they'd have one customer
here already....
Bob
PS did I say I want an open top/soft-top version - no worries with doors then...
|
|
|
|
|
Steve Lovelock
|
| posted on 12/2/07 at 06:15 AM |
|
|
Gaz, your university course looks fantastic
|
|
|
Gaz 1977
|
| posted on 12/2/07 at 05:53 PM |
|
|
university locost project
well this is where it is at today.
If i could find a company that would be willing to work with me on this and build it full size i will make you a soft top,
 
Rescued attachment ft 34 feb 12.jpg
|
|
|
Gaz 1977
|
| posted on 12/2/07 at 06:00 PM |
|
|
locost design
and from the side.
thanks again for all the comments.
give it another month and i hope it will start to look a bit tasty.
after using clay over the last few days i have come to the decision that it is the perfect way to make air intakes, even mirrors and nose cones.
 
Rescued attachment side feb 12.jpg
|
|
|
Bluemoon
|
| posted on 13/2/07 at 02:10 PM |
|
|
Hi Gaz,
Looks good, just make sure your effort is not lost.If you digitized the shape you could make a buck using the same method as:
http://www.locostbuilders.co.uk/viewthread.php?tid=43112
Even if you don't do it now it will be worth keeping the model!
Where about's is your home town when your not at uni?
Cheers
Dan
[Edited on 13/2/07 by Bluemoon]
|
|
|
timf
|
| posted on 13/2/07 at 02:56 PM |
|
|
with some more work
 
bat
[Edited on 13/2/07 by timf]
[Edited on 13/2/07 by timf]
A prisoner of war is a man who tries to kill you and fails, and then asks you not to kill him."
- Sir Winston S. Churchill, 1952
|
|
|
Gaz 1977
|
| posted on 13/2/07 at 07:20 PM |
|
|
locost exterior design
when the thing is finally finished there is no way i would throw the model away. God knows where i will keep it though.
when i am not at uni i live near Sudbury on the essex/suffolk border. Why?
As for the Batman thing, I don't think it would pass SVA with all the pointy bits!
|
|
|
Gaz 1977
|
| posted on 14/2/07 at 03:51 PM |
|
|
design update
here we go with the latest progress
 
Rescued attachment feb 14 worm.jpg
|
|
|
Gaz 1977
|
| posted on 14/2/07 at 03:53 PM |
|
|
locost design
comments please.
 
Rescued attachment feb 14 ft 34.jpg
|
|
|
andyps
|
| posted on 14/2/07 at 07:09 PM |
|
|
That does look great. I have a question though - any idea of the aero effect of the "channel" behind the front wheel? It appears that just
at the point where most road dirt (and therefore presumably some air) is thrown up from the wheel there is a scoop along the car - would this affect
the aerodynamics at all?
Andy
An expert is someone who knows more and more about less and less
|
|
|
Gaz 1977
|
| posted on 14/2/07 at 10:42 PM |
|
|
locost design
to be honnest, i am not sure but i don't think it we be a problem as it will be removing trapped air from the engine bay.
It must create less lift then clamshell mudguards?
some people say it is a problem, some say its not.
I have herd rumours that there is a small wind tunnel in the engineering department of the uni. So there must be someone there who can give me an
answer. I will try and track someone down to have a look over the model over the next week.
thanks for the comment, i hope we will have an answer soon.
Thanks.
GAZ
|
|
|
Bob C
|
| posted on 14/2/07 at 11:59 PM |
|
|
I'll make a couple of observations -
1) I'm a bit worried about the height of the scuttle & over the front wings (driver's view)
2) the curved 'hole' between front wings & bonnet looks like it would be tough to mould in GRP
3) the waisted in 'side pod' area is a really strong styling feature - sure the aero might not be optimal, but lets face it, it's
never gonna be!! It looks like it's been diluted on the clay model compared to some of the drawings..
The height thing is the main worry for me, i'm quite tall & have a cushioned seat in my locost but am very aware of how low I'm
sitting in the 7 - most folks' eyes will be lower still
Still way cool though!
Bob
[Edited on 15/2/07 by Bob C]
|
|
|
sgraber
|
| posted on 15/2/07 at 12:45 AM |
|
|
Let me start off by saying that I quite like it. It's unusual in that it has an overriding retro style with an edgy, modern feel to it. It would
be hard to make of list of all the things I like because I do like it, so forgive me if I just point out a few petty things that bother me slightly? I
know you won't mind....
The rear wheel feels wimpy and I don't know if it's the arch or the bulk of the paneling above the arch. Maybe it needs a beefier tire?
Bob's comment about the front vent is good, but it doesn't mean that it's not insurmountable. It just means that the mould making
process is going to get very 'expensive'. FYI I debated some of those internal mould components during my build and decided against them
due to cost/complexity issues.
You need to start thinking about glass now, before you finish the clay model. Otherwise you are looking at a project that will be priced out of the
range of anyone remotely interested in the car.
my .03 american cents...
Steve Graber
http://www.grabercars.com/
"Quickness through lightness"
|
|
|
Gaz 1977
|
| posted on 15/2/07 at 09:58 AM |
|
|
locost design
hi guys,
I will try and answer some questions.
first bob.
the scuttle is the same height as a book chassis and the top of the roof is the same height as a roll bar, I am sure that there is enough space to fit
a seat with rails and height adjustment. (well i hope so)
Oh by the way the height of the roof is 44 inches at the mo.
When i started the clay i built up a MDF and blue foam buck with the same exturnal dimentions as a book chassis. With probes and reference to my
scale chassis i am able to judge where key componants are under the clay, for example i know that there is 70mm clearance over the top of the engine
block.
The molding of the front could be broken into seperate parts, if a seperate bonnet was used i could achive the effects of the air intakes.
thanks Bob and keep em comming.
Time for Sgraber.
You are completely right about the rear wings and i will do a few changes. I still have some serious mods to do on the rear in the next couple of days
so keep looking and commenting,
The glass is a bit of an issue at the moment, not sure what road to go down. I was thinking plastic rear and side and a cut down glass screen for the
front.
There is a bit of politics at the Uni at the moment. (different lecturers saying different things) so if anyone has a good answer for the glass issue
i can use it as backup.
Thanks again Guys.
Gaz.
PS. If there is anyone in the newcastle area who fancys a look and a coffee feel free to U2U me.
|
|
|
Rob Palin
|
| posted on 15/2/07 at 10:08 AM |
|
|
quote:
Originally posted by Gaz 1977
to be honnest, i am not sure but i don't think it we be a problem as it will be removing trapped air from the engine bay.
It must create less lift then clamshell mudguards?
some people say it is a problem, some say its not.
I have herd rumours that there is a small wind tunnel in the engineering department of the uni. So there must be someone there who can give me an
answer. I will try and track someone down to have a look over the model over the next week.
thanks for the comment, i hope we will have an answer soon.
Thanks.
GAZ
The scallops will have two main and competing effects:
1/ Assisting the escape of the air which would otherwise build up in the wheelarch (louvres on the upper surface of the arch/fender would also help,
but they have unpopular practical and styling consequences). This will reduce lift.
2/ They will allow some spillage of flow from the side of the car into the underfloor area. This will increase the pressure there and not help the
lift situation (though not generate any additional lift in itself, just reduce the benefit of the low pressure under there). If you are thinking of
having any sort of rear diffuser then you might consider putting some sort of 'running board' along the side to effectively extend the
plane of the floor of the car out to the full width of the body.
That might not be too much of a problem, however, as generally speaking this sort of car doesn't tend to suffer so much from rear lift as it
does from front lift. Typically it is the curved front ends which encourage flow under the front end and into the front wheelarches which is the
biggest culprit (the front wheelarches on a 7 are responsible for 70%+ of the front lift). If styling considerations mean that your bumper/fenders
are all curved (kind of like a GT40's) then lots of air will be rushing into the wheelarch and using louvres or that scallop to help it get back
out will be more important.
|
|
|
Gaz 1977
|
| posted on 15/2/07 at 10:34 AM |
|
|
locost design
thanks Rob.
I like the idea of vents in the top of the arches, that could help with some issues i have with the bonnet styling, I will mock it up and put it on
here.
It wont be today as i have the wonderful task of sitting in the house and waiting for a delivery. BUGGER.
|
|
|
Uphill Racer
|
| posted on 15/2/07 at 08:42 PM |
|
|
The scallops will have two main and competing effects:
1/ Assisting the escape of the air which would otherwise build up in the wheelarch (louvres on the upper surface of the arch/fender would also help,
but they have unpopular practical and styling consequences). This will reduce lift.
2/ They will allow some spillage of flow from the side of the car into the underfloor area. This will increase the pressure there and not help the
lift situation (though not generate any additional lift in itself, just reduce the benefit of the low pressure under there). If you are thinking of
having any sort of rear diffuser then you might consider putting some sort of 'running board' along the side to effectively extend the
plane of the floor of the car out to the full width of the body.
This may not be the way it works, the scallops could create rolling vortices that actually block the flow of air out of the engine bay, but create an
air skirt down the side of the car aiding downforce if a venturi is used. They may also add a large drag factor.
Is the windscreen based an a production unit?
Have you done a mock up of driving position and eye line, as it looks as if eye line is in line with top of windscreen.
Screen pillar is a problem and will produce a blind spot.
As for testing aero properties, fit wool tufts to model,strap it on the roof fo a car and film/ photograph it. (natures wind tunnel)
Looks good in a traditional way. 
|
|
|
Gaz 1977
|
| posted on 16/2/07 at 09:40 AM |
|
|
locost design
some images fro the weekend.
raised rear arch
filled side
bottom edge taken out wider
 
Rescued attachment 16 feb 34.jpg
|
|
|
Gaz 1977
|
| posted on 16/2/07 at 09:45 AM |
|
|
locost design
as far as the eyeline is concerned i think it is ok. the seats sit lower in the car then you might think.
Imagine the high point of the roof being the top of a roll bar. the view should be no different then a normal locost.
thanks
GAZ
 
Rescued attachment 16 feb side.jpg
|
|
|
Rob Palin
|
| posted on 16/2/07 at 09:48 AM |
|
|
If the outboard edge of the sill is sharp then you will get vortices rolling up along that edge regardless of it's lateral position. With the
front of the sill angled inwards, as part of the scallop, it is quite possible that the low pressure at the core of the vortices would act on the
underside of the car and enhance downforce - very much like an inverted delta wing.
I 'm not sure how that vortex formation would block flow out of the wheelarch though - isn't it too low and further inboard?. Can you
give a bit more detail?
[Edited on 16/2/07 by Rob Palin]
|
|
|
Gaz 1977
|
| posted on 16/2/07 at 09:53 AM |
|
|
locost design
The top of the front screen can always be raised or moved futher into the roof, if you know what i meen.
the screen will be a simple shape (a gradual curve in both directions so i imagine it to be cut from an existing screen.
thanks again for all the help.
GAZ
 
Rescued attachment 16 feb ft.jpg
|
|
|
macnab
|
| posted on 16/2/07 at 11:32 AM |
|
|
Hmm, not ugly but I'd do a few changes
1) windscreen min 1/4 longer
2) Reduce front pillar thickness, a lot
3) Include a Diablo cutout to the lower front door window line to improve visibility.
4) Make the bonnet more pointed, looks like a big tongue in the last pic.
5) In one of the drawings the rear area was much smaller and lighter, that I liked a lot the model looks very fat from behind
6) Front lights look to hidden for the SVA, I was wondering where they even were till I saw the front view.
7) The doors are going to be very thick, doubt they will hinge out, gullwings might end up very heavy with such a large lower door. Maclaren butterfly
hinges might be the solution.
Oh and I love the sculptured roof, very classy.
Understand I'm not trying to be negative in any way; you're doing very well. Just a few observations based on my personal tastes...
|
|
|
macnab
|
| posted on 16/2/07 at 12:14 PM |
|
|
ok before I get accused of just criticizing here's my suggestion of how the front might look, bairing in mind I've only got ms paintbox on
my work machine.
[Edited on 16/2/07 by macnab]
|
|
|
Tralfaz
|
| posted on 16/2/07 at 02:14 PM |
|
|
I think you could raise the roofline slightly and thereby extend the windscreen/sidewindows a bit without detracting from the shape.
Brian
Ps The typical, only a quickie in paint/refinement required disclaimer applies
[img][/img]
|
|
|
stevebubs
|
| posted on 16/2/07 at 03:32 PM |
|
|
http://www.thekitcarworkshop.co.uk/page31.html
|
|
|
