Found my fairing design...

[jimFPU]

http://news.softpedia.com/images/news2/New-World-Speed-Record-For-Cell-Powered-Vehicle-2.jpg

[SirJoey]

Truly deserving of the word "awesome"!

http://img384.imageshack.us/img384/7131/sirjoeysigmedij1.gif

[AtomicZombie]

Very cool looking, but 3 problems....

1) There is no room for the front wheels to turn under the front.
2) There is no room for you knees to come up while pedalling.
3) The driver is way too laid back as if sleeping!

This might work....

http://img213.imageshack.us/img213/7476/lexusconcept10246rt.jpg

Brad


http://news.softpedia.com/newsImage/New-World-Speed-Record-For-Cell-Powered-Vehicle-2.jpg

[SirJoey]

That's what the StreetFighter's gonna eventually look like, right Brad? :D

http://img384.imageshack.us/img384/7131/sirjoeysigmedij1.gif

[AtomicZombie]

If I leak that info, I will be in deep trouble!

Brad


That's what the StreetFighter's gonna eventually look like, right Brad? :D

http://img384.imageshack.us/img384/7131/sirjoeysigmedij1.gif

[jimFPU]

OK, Mr. Technical, but I can go for the look!!! I'l figure out the mechanics later...let one dream!

[SirJoey]

I'm with you, Jim. I stand by post #2, above! :D

http://img384.imageshack.us/img384/7131/sirjoeysigmedij1.gif

[dakidd1]

I would love to see a real good ideal for a full body on this StreetFighter. As much as I try, my little brain cannot come up with anything light weight, easy to remove, and very fuctional sound. I'll show you what I did with this othier quad, 2 seater I have. You'll see exactly what I mean by little brain 8)

[AtomicZombie]

When I make the single ply wood and epoxy body, I am estimating a total weight of about 25 pounds and it will have removable sides and front windshield. Fiberglass over foam is better for organic shapes, might come in slightly lighter, but be prepared to spend at least $400 on materials.

West Systems epoxy is big bucks.

Brad


I would love to see a real good ideal for a full body on this StreetFighter. As much as I try, my little brain cannot come up with anything light weight, easy to remove, and very fuctional sound. I'll show you what I did with this othier quad, 2 seater I have. You'll see exactly what I mean by little brain 8)

[savarin]

West Systems epoxy is big bucks.

Brad

But excellent stuff to work with.
I started using that in the early 80's for custom windsurfers, laying light weight woven glass and carbonfibre stringers onto styrofoam cores.
Crystal clear and reasonably long pot life. Not as offensive on the nose as polyester resins.
I wonder how strong it would be over a stretched lycra skin??

[jimFPU]

And if the first design doesn't work I'll use this: http://usera.imagecave.com/markyannone/Hydrogen/HyundaiGATOR.jpg

[AtomicZombie]

That thing looks hot.

Brad

[Locutus]

I rather like this design:

http://www.recumbents.com/wisil/coslinger/club_racer.htm

[Sparky]

that would give the streetfighter a very indy car formula racer look. which i think would be awesome....



I rather like this design:

http://www.recumbents.com/wisil/coslinger/club_racer.htm

[John Lewis]

I always thought a good way to make a fairing would be like the WT11 chinook ultralight I once owned. Some aluminium tube, Sailcloth and lexan. Very light.

Theres a picture on this site.
http://www.airliners.net/photo/Birdman-Chinook-WT-11/1245171/L/

and you can see how it goes together on this YouTube vid.

http://au.youtube.com/watch?v=oyi2cHGA4nc

It would need a bit of modification but not much to fit to a bike.

The CGS Hawk is another possible candidate for a pattern. The side doors or curtains zipped on and could be left off or partly rolled if desired.
http://logan.com/cgs/

All food for thought. They had to be built light due to weight restrictions.
John Lewis

[savarin]

check out this one
http://www.abc.net.au/tv/video/program.htm?program=newinventors
click on illumenator

[jimFPU]

Hey Brad would you be willing to send me the True Space file of the Street Fighter? I want to play around with some stuff, but if I don't have to build it from scratch that would be nice...sajimnkim at yahoo dot com.

[John Lewis]

check out this one
http://www.abc.net.au/tv/video/program.htm?program=newinventors
click on illumenator

Saw that on the box last night. Pity they didn't have a bit more detail. Wonder how we find out more. Might be a hot ride in summer.

Have you seen the pics of the Trisled velo? Greenspeed also have a new one I believe.

John Lewis

[blupe]

Hey, the plans say "very large front chain ring to compensate" for the full fairing-- how large a chain ring would that be?

[AtomicZombie]

With a good fairing and flat ground, you could easily run an 80 tooth front if you are brave enough to pass traffic.

Brad

[John Lewis]

How about this?

http://www.greenspeed.com.au/Newsletter11.htm

Johhn Lewis

[blupe]

With a good fairing and flat ground, you could easily run an 80 tooth front if you are brave enough to pass traffic.

Brad

I didn't even know there were 80 tooth front chain rings! Now I want one... (I like the idea of being middle aged and passing the college students on the mopeds and bicycles!;))

@#$%! I gotta get over this cold, find some resources, and get myself started on this thing. If I wait too long, it will be hard to get the motivation up again.

[blupe]

How about this?

http://www.greenspeed.com.au/Newsletter11.htm

Johhn Lewis


Looks like they went the high-tech route-- I wonder what it costs?

[savarin]

I didn't even know there were 80 tooth front chain rings! Now I want one... (I like the idea of being middle aged and passing the college students on the mopeds and bicycles!;))


http://moz.geek.nz/mozbike/giles.html

[AtomicZombie]

Once your quads develop from all the recumbent riding, this is what you will need!....

http://cyclinginfo.co.uk/blog/cycling/what-size-chain-ring-to-use/

Brad

[John Lewis]

Looks like they went the high-tech route-- I wonder what it costs?

More than I can ever afford I'l be bound. Wonder if they want a BETA tester?

I'll have to make Ian the offer:D

John Lewis

[blupe]

Once your quads develop from all the recumbent riding, this is what you will need!....

http://cyclinginfo.co.uk/blog/cycling/what-size-chain-ring-to-use/

Brad

I think that the Street Fighter might be too low to the ground for that one...! ('though my quads do tend to develop really fast-- now if only my upper body would do the same!)


(Now, just make that chain ring a little bigger, do away with the chain, and let all four wheels roll freely, and that would be a truly all weather vehicle..., might tear up the bike trail, though.)

[blupe]

More than I can ever afford I'l be bound. Wonder if they want a BETA tester?

I'll have to make Ian the offer:D

John Lewis


That's what led me to thinking about building my own, otherwise I might go for something like the Cab Bike (which went the more practical route than the high tech way.) All of those seem to more than double in price to bring into the U.S., anyway.

Another incentive for building my own is if I ever get to go to Burning Man again-- with that crowd, building your own vehicle is consider way cool!

[blupe]

http://image.automobilemag.com/f/features/news/25_most_beautiful_cars/6688690+w440/0610_z+1937_talbot_lago_figoni_falaschi+25_most_be autiful_cars.jpg


Here is the fairing I want! :cool:

[savarin]

Ohh yes.
Get some blocks of styrofoam and glue them together. Use a hot wire and sand paper to carve the shape.
Cover with spandex, coat with epoxy resin, lay up as many layers of glass as desired.
Dissolve the styro out with gasoline.
Come on, get cracking, we want to see the finished product.

[blupe]

Give me a year or five to practice, please! ;)

(Although, the end result probably would be worth the practice... hmmm....)

[blupe]

You know, instead of fiberglass, a better (or at least lighter) material might be thermoformed plastic. Make a mold out of some heat resistant material, heat up the plastic, and have it vacuum-formed over the mold. A shell might have to be done in sections in order to get the plastic to mold evenly...? (Or some other method to suck the air out of the middle portions.) Durability around the windshield might be an issue-- although some bracing for the shell to attach to might be desirable there, anyway.

I wonder how much it would cost to rent a vacuum-former/thermoformer to experiment on? :confused:

[savarin]

Give me a year or five to practice, please! ;)



Naw! think positive.:D
By the way, what is the car?
Hispanio-Suiza? Buggatti? it looks very mid 30"s.

[Sparky]

talbot lago i think.
really kool.

[blupe]

Yep, it is a Talbot Lago Figori-Falaschit coupe from the 1930s. According to Automobile magazine (which is where I saw this picture originally) they were pretty aerodynamic. I'm not certain how one would scale down for a fairing (might be tight in the legs), but it could certainly be used for inspiration. :cool:

[Locutus]

I'm thinking of doing something like this with the Street Fox platform:

http://www.canosoarus.com/03CalifCommuter/CalCom%20Images/cc%20electric1.JPG

http://www.canosoarus.com/03CalifCommuter/CalCom%20Images/cc%20on%20Bricks2.JPG

More information available at:

http://www.canosoarus.com/03CalifCommuter/CalCom05.htm

I actually have a set of plans for the original design. I may "Frankensteinize" my build and incorporate components of both the California Commuter and the Street Fox. I want to go with electric and pedal power though, in a design that I can get away with not licensing.

[jimFPU]

Nice idea Locutus.

[blupe]

Those are pretty cool looking, but, as I said to the guy building the Mother Earth News car for the Auto X-Prize-- where do you put the groceries? The reason I was/am looking to velomobiles and to production cars for inspiration is that those already have answered at least some of the commuting problems.

[Locutus]

Those are pretty cool looking, but, as I said to the guy building the Mother Earth News car for the Auto X-Prize-- where do you put the groceries? The reason I was/am looking to velomobiles and to production cars for inspiration is that those already have answered at least some of the commuting problems.

The design does have a small storage area behind the headrest. For larger loads one might want to incorporate a trailer, which is easily done. My main use would be as a commuter vehicle, so large storage capacity would be unnecessary, most of the time.

[TheKid]

If I finally get good enough weather to continue outside, I can continue with the Fox fairing. I'm also waiting for a fast epoxy hardener to arrive. I ordered slow hardener because I planned on doing this in the summer. Under 70 degrees, the slow hardener takes two days to set to the point that you can add more layers. So far, I have the wheelwells glassed, ready for another coat. They're small, so I could do them in the basement. The rest of the fairing will be too large to get out the door, so I'll have to do the rest outside. The basement is unheated, and it's too much work and too expensive to build a small area to put a space heater in, so I'll just have to wait a few days. My design will incorporate the longer wheelbase and wheelwells inside the body like this one:

http://i192.photobucket.com/albums/z66/edpol_photos/fairing%20ideas/S-cabin1ss.jpg

And the no floor, front tilt, and height of this one:

http://i192.photobucket.com/albums/z66/edpol_photos/fairing%20ideas/david02_t2.jpg

I'm going more for an inclement weather ride than aerodynamics. The Fox is a great design for this, because there's plenty of room between the seat and the rear wheel for storage, and plenty of room on the sides of the rear wheel for installing the battery for the lights and horn.

[blupe]

Locutus-- I did not see that in my quick look at the pictures. (I'm at work, squeezing in viewings before the start of work and while on break.)


TheKid-- I'd like more details on your fairing design. I also have the 'Fox plans (twice-- the PDF and the ones in the book!), and it is one of the designs I am considering. The Cab-Bike is known for its cargo capacity, although part of that is from its partial floor.

Got to get going-- my break is going to be short today!

[TheKid]

I'll be posting pics as I go along. I made the wheelwells from styrofoam, which will be melted away once the epoxy cures, The rest will consist of a styrofoam frame wrapped with fiberglass tape, and spandex will be placed over the frame and epoxied. The nose, tail, and other parts that need to be beefier will be made with glassed over foam, inside and out. I already have a rack behind the seat, which I'll make wider and install a slab of fiberglass. A foam block will be bolted to it, carved to hold the battery. The battery will operate the horn, signal lights, and brake lights. The head and taillights are LED with AAA batteries, 60 steady hrs. for the headlights, 100 steady hrs. for the taillights. I've had these lights for a few years, and haven't changed the batteries yet. Thn again, I rarely use them, because riding a bike around here is dangerous during the day. It's a nightmare riding in the dark.
One pre-glassed syrofoam wheelwell is posted in the Streetfox thread.

[SSG 17E]

What do you think about using this as a body for a Street Fighter?


SSG

[jimFPU]

I've always liked the '32 'Deuce', but I could go with a '34! Nice.

[Radical Brad]

That would be so damn cool!

I must confess I have a new 4 wheeler brewing for next summer.

Imagine the StreetFighter with a sling seat only 2 inches off the ground. Also imagine dual rear wheel drive and 26 inch rear wheels.

I know this is highly impractical, but my plan is to add a very sleek body to this new StreetFighter II.

I think I will offer it as a complete plan, but for free just to show the format of the plans and as a thank you to all who have supported our community.

I will probably design SF2 this winter and hit it early spring.

Brad

[jimFPU]

I'd be willing to return my SF plans right now and order this plan!! Perfect...send it to me Brad! My SF has the beginnings already (OK, I built one wheel...and it's a 24".)

I need to know about these new mods...THIS is what I was really looking for...

I've already got the idea for the sling seat (like the one I already built for the Baby Wolf) but lower...YES!! Dual rear-wheel drive...YES!!! I've already got fairing material...What can I do to entice you to do this over Thanksgiving!? LOL!

[jimFPU]

OK, at least give me a place I can go to do the research for the dual rear wheel drive...?

Are you looking at a modified Slingshot?:D

[blupe]

Also imagine dual rear wheel drive and 26 inch rear wheels.

I know this is highly impractical, but my plan is to add a very sleek body to this new StreetFighter II.


I'm also really curious about the 26" dual rear wheel drive. (Since I would be driving it in the winter, 2" off the ground might not be enough clearance.)

Adding a body also has my interest.

Any discounts for people who already own the original Street Fighter plans? :D

[Radical Brad]

The SF2 plan will be free.

Brad

[jimFPU]

You rock Brad. Thanks!

BTW, are you going to put up a Member submissions page?

[Odd Man Out]

That would be so damn cool!

I must confess I have a new 4 wheeler brewing for next summer.

Imagine the StreetFighter with a sling seat only 2 inches off the ground. Also imagine dual rear wheel drive and 26 inch rear wheels.

Brad

Howdy Brad
Just two Q's;
1. Do you imagine the rear drive to be adaptable to the DW and
2. How much of a wieght penalty do you think the dual rear drive will cost?

P.S. Yes I am loosing wieght myself (can't help but after a recent triple bypass surgery:eek:

[SirJoey]

The SF2 plan will be free.

I'm glad I haven't started on SF1 yet! :)


http://img356.imageshack.us/img356/2839/thanksgivingsigsmalllu5.jpg

[Radical Brad]

A few answers...

I do plan on adding the submissions page, but life has stepped on the accelerator for me right now, so that is on hold for now.

I know SF2 will cost a lot more to build, will be much less practical, and heavy as well so this is why I decided to give it away as a freebee to show what the plans are about.

The rear drive has nothing to do with traction as I think 1 wheel drive is perfect. It only has to do with getting the chains beside the seat so that I can get my ass as close to the ground as possible in order to keep the thing low and mean looking.

Make no mistake, SF2 will be heavy, impractical and much more difficult to build than anything else I have here.

Why do it?....

COOLNESS FACTOR EXTREME!

Brad


Howdy Brad
Just two Q's;
1. Do you imagine the rear drive to be adaptable to the DW and
2. How much of a wieght penalty do you think the dual rear drive will cost?

P.S. Yes I am loosing wieght myself (can't help but after a recent triple bypass surgery:eek:

[blupe]

The SF2 plan will be free.

Brad

Well, I have got to admit, discounts don't get much better than that! ;)

[SirJoey]

Why do it?.... COOLNESS FACTOR EXTREME!

"Heavy & impractical"... OverKill chopper comes to mind, BUT...
"COOLNESS FACTOR EXTREME", the very reason I built MINE! :cool:


http://img356.imageshack.us/img356/2839/thanksgivingsigsmalllu5.jpg

[Radical Brad]

Agreed, all choppers are impractical show machines, but unlike Hummers, they are inexpensive and fun!!

I guess the SF2 is just way beyond what I would expect anyone to build, so I am going to use it as an advertising vehicle in order to show the level of detail in the plans. I want this vehicle for myself, of course!

The SF2 will require 4 disc brakes, 6 machined parts, and a lot of small detail into the transmission and steering. Much more so than anything I have on this site. Cost of build will probably be 2 or 3 times that of the original SF, and it will be extermely low and laid back, much more than the Marauder.

If that does not scare you, then start collecting parts!

Brad

[jimFPU]

My collection has begun!! Bring it on!!

[jimFPU]

Another web search reveals a very pretty design...

http://www.autobloggreen.com/photos/la-2008-ucla-supermileage-vehicle/1183998/

[SirJoey]

Man, that is SOOOO kool!
Looks like something from another planet! :alien:


http://img233.imageshack.us/img233/539/christxsigsmalloq2.jpg

[jimFPU]

And yet another beauty (imagine windows on the other end and a lowered Wolf inside...): http://images.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://blog.wired.com/cars/images/2008/03/07/001b.jpe&imgrefurl=http://ecomodder.com/blog/super-mileage-competition-nets-7148-mpg/&usg=__v4fvfXaEnI8l4kUXsuXRET2bulo=&h=300&w=450&sz=67&hl=en&start=323&um=1&tbnid=r0WNzYfpUJr0-M:&tbnh=85&tbnw=127&prev=/images%3Fq%3Dbicycle%2Bhypermiling%26start%3D320%2 6ndsp%3D20%26um%3D1%26hl%3Den%26rls%3Dcom.microsof t:*%26sa%3DN

[John Lewis]

I'll put this here to save starting a new thread.

http://www.lightfootcycles.com/rainshadow.htm

Seems to me something like this could be easily done in coroplast or even fabric on a frame quite easily.

Certainly no streamliner but it could keep the weather off.

John Lewis

[jimFPU]

They are doing that instead of Reg Rodaro's Stormy Weather, which they used to sell...not sure what happened there, but you can look up Reg and he sells the shells for about $2800 for the whole thing.

If you look at the pic at the top of the page here (http://www.lightfootcycles.com/velomobile.htm) that is a Stormy Weather.

[John Lewis]

Interesting Jim,

I'll do a search and see if I can find Reg Rodaro's site. I recall looking at some of his designs some time back. If I remember rightly he is Canadian.

$2800 would be too rich for me. Hate to think what it would cost to ship to Aus but I think I could make something like that out of used coro signs for $50 or so and graft it onto the DW in good Zombie fashion. It would be just the ticket for winter riding round here.

Edit: There is some discussion on Coro here on BROL.

http://www.bentrideronline.com/messageboard/showthread.php?t=45800

Look at the Third thumbnail down. Not bad for coroplast!

More: http://www.bentrideronline.com/messageboard/showthread.php?t=46346&page=4
Aussi hpv racers in coro

John Lewis

[jimFPU]

Find Reg here: http://vaxxine.com/regrodaro/

And the Stromy Weather here: http://www.wisil.recumbents.com/wisil/rodero/stormyweather.htm

[John Lewis]

Find Reg here: http://vaxxine.com/regrodaro/

And the Stromy Weather here: http://www.wisil.recumbents.com/wisil/rodero/stormyweather.htm

Thanks Jim,

I'll go look.

[John Lewis]

Here's another on a trike. Also look at home page for more detail.

http://www.velocar.net/72.html

and in case you missed it item #27 on this thread thanks to Neil

http://forum.atomiczombie.com/showthread.php?t=1832&page=2

John Lewis

[jimFPU]

More cool ideas!! Thanks!

[PeterT]

Hi guys/gals/AZKrew!
I have the idea of making my RQ (Streetfighter) look like a Lotus 7, only calling it a Otu 3.5.
With regards to getting the dual wheel rear drive, rip all of the bearings out of your hub, apply considerable force to bearing hubs, to make axle a live axle, install external bearings for live axle to run on, add a free-wheel single speed sprocket to a shaft each side of the live axle, and connect those free-wheels to a smaller sprocket fixed into shaft axles of SF and whallaaa!, fast and 2 wheel drive!
Will post pics as soon as I can figure out how to post them on web

PeterT

[PeterT]

Have just posted my pics on my myspace page
http://viewmorepics.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=user.viewPicture&friendID=201463458&albumId=1858092

[jimFPU]

Now we're getting somewhere!!!

http://www.autoblog.com/gallery/acabian-gto/#20

[PeterT]

Now we're getting somewhere!!!

http://www.autoblog.com/gallery/acabian-gto/#20

Yup!, Just don't know where there is, but it will be a quick ride there in this puppy!

?Is getting there anything like driving a Formula1 car around a BMX track? The vehicle will get you there but will be highly modified by the end of the race!

PeterT

[ken will]

Now we're getting somewhere!!!

http://www.autoblog.com/gallery/acabian-gto/#20

If it had wings it wood look like something Burt Rutan would build
http://2qnfgw.blu.livefilestore.com/y1pu8YXxelBGiBHLLcOLZukQtbH9f5sgq4Xzbu5wNJXqkyaw6C rkclO1grehkg8VytlSbsSI8YxcmA_80Cazg_7Xg/variEze.jpg

[jimFPU]

Always wanted one of those too Ken! I was just pondering what someone else on some other forum I found through a google search was pondering...a bike version of the Pulse/Lightstar cycle of the 70's-80's...and came across the above. I was already thinking about outriggers for the winter commute for a two-wheeler and I think I now have a good idea for what to do...I've been drawing a lot lately too...maybe I'll share one day, but I still revisit this thread often...

[jimFPU]

:alien:...wait the build is coming...:alien:

[wiretie]

I was reading the first page of this thread and was reading about Brads west system and foam. West is super expensive and there are products that I have used professionally for boat building for racing and cruising sailboats that are considerably less expensive and have the same structural properties such as http://www.raka.com/ and others if you want info just ask and I can get it for you.

[jimFPU]

Maybe this (http://www.themotorreport.com.au/13608/mazda-nabs-la-auto-show-design-award-with-kaan-concept/) on a Warrior?