3rd try result

General Composites Discussions Showcase
#1

after the main part was done I needed to fabricate boxes to go behind the wheels. might have been the fhard way but I like working with metal. I used "O’ condition alum and hammer formed with a mallet & english wheel parts. from a similar part to make forms for the mold bucks. then did some polyester molds to layup C/F & Hybrid parts to be co-bonded while it was in the mold.

I delivered it, did some final finishing, sprayed it w/2 stage
I used primer for a surface coat, so for prep I only need to sand, prime small defects and paint the part. no priming the whole part.

#2

Are you going to use the alloy covers as a plug and bond composite sections into the rear clam section?

#3

Um, what covers?
the teardrop shaped boxes in the top picture?

#4

Very nice, look like your work really paid off.
Are you pleased with the weight and strength of the part?
Was the change of the shape primarily for aero advantage?

#5

that should stiffen the panel up a little bit and stop the usual easy to damage this area problem that Van Diemen Sports 200’s have. very nice job tom.

#6

I was referring to the covers that you made from alloy that close the area behind the wheel.

#7

How heavy is the part?

#8

I used the formed parts as a tool

#9

the re-shape was areo only. the driver owns a data acquisition co. the changes where tested by mock up surfaces, comparative analysis with the software program

#10

as you know the cars in the UK run wings and Van Dieman designed the tail for them. hence the major deck change

#11

on the way to the nationals

#12

Actually when the car was first designed and run the cars in the uk did not run a rear wing, the aaero rules for the pinto engined cars over here is basically the same as in the US except over here in the UK we can not use any sort of difuser at the back of the car.

The origional Van Diemen was designed in 1994 to run as a pinto car (the duratec class (that is aloud to use a rear aerofoil wing) was not introduced until 2002).

I have to say that does look better with that tail aswell! makes it look far more LMP like…

#13

When i see such stuff i wanna say - I love you people , congratulation for project