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Post by carlyd on Feb 4, 2019 17:06:04 GMT
The problem with perspex is scratching. I would need wiper blades and they would scratch it to death.
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Post by casesensitive on Feb 5, 2019 16:52:20 GMT
Can't you use perspex ? I know that the messerschmitt used a perspex bubble for the roof & front screen, maybe a nice cheaper alternative. yeah, but we all saw what a gifted professional mechanic/engineer did to that...
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Post by casesensitive on Feb 5, 2019 16:57:38 GMT
While planning my chassis I am trying to find a glass windscreen which I can design the chassis around, rather than design and build the chassis then have to have a bespoke screen made (at £6k for a bespoke screen it's too much). So my question to you is are you aware of any existing windscreen which is approx 1200mm wide and 800mm high? Pilkingtons can make me a bespoke screen for £250 but it's flat. I think that will look awful, so a curved screen requires new tooling at £6k. There must be a small car which has a windscreen that is only about 1200mm wide??? There's an episode of wheeler dealers ( S14 E4 – 1973 Saab 96)about this, the most important aspect is the curvature, glass can be cut to size. The fat man gets a windscreen for the Saab cut from a Chevy Impala screen.
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Post by carlyd on Feb 6, 2019 11:50:03 GMT
While planning my chassis I am trying to find a glass windscreen which I can design the chassis around, rather than design and build the chassis then have to have a bespoke screen made (at £6k for a bespoke screen it's too much). So my question to you is are you aware of any existing windscreen which is approx 1200mm wide and 800mm high? Pilkingtons can make me a bespoke screen for £250 but it's flat. I think that will look awful, so a curved screen requires new tooling at £6k. There must be a small car which has a windscreen that is only about 1200mm wide??? There's an episode of wheeler dealers ( S14 E4 – 1973 Saab 96)about this, the most important aspect is the curvature, glass can be cut to size. The fat man gets a windscreen for the Saab cut from a Chevy Impala screen. Well I have a screen in the donor, I might as well give it a bash.
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Post by carlyd on Feb 6, 2019 12:07:27 GMT
I just called a few places, no go. They won't even attempt it. I used to be a fabricator (not a professional lie teller) but used to make aluminium doors and windows. We used toughened laminated glass so I have some experience in cutting laminated glass so I will do this myself when I have stripped the donor. There is a good youtube video here on it; Cutting Windscreen Youtube Video
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Post by casesensitive on Feb 11, 2019 14:28:03 GMT
I rewatched this episode recently, well worth a watch if you have 45 mins. If not, skip to 29mins for the windscreen bit. Seems no more complicated than a scribe on either side of the glass with a diamond-cutter, razor blade for the laminate layer and occassional Big Red Wrench to soften. Try it out on a scabby piece from the scrappy?
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Post by kiwicanfly on Feb 21, 2019 22:19:48 GMT
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Post by casesensitive on Feb 22, 2019 9:44:52 GMT
How about "using" this as inspiration for design. It's built on a spaceframe, there's an image down the page. Plus a nice pic of it flipping end over end and continuing on! It was apparently supplied as a kit. Ok, I love that for some reason. Coupe styling with off-road rallying capability.
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Post by carlyd on Feb 24, 2019 12:47:09 GMT
I do really like this kind of look, but I still really like the open chassis like the rocket. Maybe I can come up with something in between. I have a few ideas in my mind, but as I am renovating my house, and starting another business (property investing) I am not getting as much time on this as I would like. Plus I get married in July which is in my garden at home so I have lots of things to sort out for that. I've still not touched the donor yet but am doing my thinking now and then will take action when I can fit it in.
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Post by jason82 on Feb 24, 2019 19:13:51 GMT
Best wishes for the wedding mate. I have been watching this thread closely. Co.plete kit car magazine started going through the process of building their own kit cars a while ago, then some of the manufacturers called foul play. One really good book that will benefit you loads is 'Chassis Engineering, by Herb Adams. This book goes into loads of detail on how to build an amazing chassis, but in plain English. Good call on the Honda, I have been a huge fan of their v tech engines. You never see them on the side of a road & they go like a cut cat.
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Post by kiwicanfly on Feb 24, 2019 21:11:41 GMT
The link I to the google images page shows one picture of the chassis and it is made from tubes.
Elsewhere I read that the panels are made of vinyl.
Initially I thought this was vinyl wrap which I thought would be a "bit flimsy" but it looks like they are thick but soft thus offer zero strength to the vehicle.
Thus all the strength is in the chassis meaning you could add as few or as many panels as you like.
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Post by carlyd on Feb 25, 2019 9:41:29 GMT
One really good book that will benefit you loads is 'Chassis Engineering, by Herb Adams. This book goes into loads of detail on how to build an amazing chassis, but in plain English. I bought Stewart Mills book on building a kit car, it's a good read with some great info. I will deffo buy this book too as I do like to educate myself before starting anything. Thank you!
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Post by kiwicanfly on Mar 7, 2019 5:39:19 GMT
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Post by davectr on Mar 21, 2019 13:22:16 GMT
A bit like a DF Goblin, but with doors and a full screen?
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Post by carlyd on Apr 22, 2019 10:56:34 GMT
I started the tear down of the donor yesterday, starting with the interior. One of the many mistakes I made on my last build was to just chop out the wiring and then had to fix it all later. That was one of the longest and most difficult jobs on the entire build. This time I purchased some white electrical tape and a marker pen and am labeling every connector and being methodical. That way I will be able to eliminate the bit's I don't need and keep the bit's I do. I am considering using the Honda instrument cluster in my build as it's very clear and all wiring is done for me. Same for the controls for indicators, wipers etc. The tear down was going well, until.... I manage to round off a torque bolt which holds the airbag in the steering wheel. I managed to get one out but the other is really stuck and it's in a recessed hole so no chance of grabbing it with something. I have no idea how I am going to get that out yet so it looks like the steering wheel is staying on the column until I remove the lot from the car, I'll tackle it then. I am surprised that the car (2003 Honda Accord Type S) has airbags everywhere, dash, in the seats, door pillars. I makes the tear down a little nerve jangling too . I am also thinking about designing the chassis, as I have never done this part before and am taking inspiration from the Rocket among other things. I am considering buying some small section tube and fabricating it (trial and error) at 1/5 scale to see what it looks like and how best to construct it as i would rather see and feel it than just have it in software. Any model makers out there who can give advice?
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