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I removed the windshield and am going for aeroscreen
sgraber - 19/9/07 at 07:24 PM

Full steam ahead, bad wrist and all which just makes everything more difficult, but I can't just sit around. Not my personality to sit still.

Anyhoo, Last week I had already cut out the windshield surround, which really did nothing for stiffness or safety other than block wind and stones bugs etc.

This morning I messed around with a piece of polyurethane foam board and came up with the following shape which will need to be finished to a high polish. note: it's just a starting point and will be about 25mm lower.









I think that it could be either made from tinted plexiglass or carbon fiber with a small plexiglass lip attached to the rear edge to act as a wind diverter.

Thanks to FredWB for showing me the photo of the track Elise.

[Edited on 9/19/07 by sgraber]


MikeR - 19/9/07 at 08:03 PM

i think it looks fantastic. I was never fantastically keen on your windscreen but i prefer areoscreen cars which might account for it.


Avoneer - 19/9/07 at 08:44 PM

I take it you meant aeroscreen - your title is a bit contradictory (to us UK'ers anyway).

I think it looks so much better with an aeroscreen - you just need that little kick up lip at the top edge.

Pat...


sgraber - 19/9/07 at 09:01 PM

There - aeroscreen... happy?

Once I discovered I didn't need a windshield or wiper to pass my local inspection it was a no brainer for me to remove that big honking anchor. I must've lost 50Lbs with that windshield removal.

I am looking forward to working on it this weekend.


geoffreyh - 20/9/07 at 05:55 AM

Is there any rollover issue with just an aeroscreen?

Geoff


Fred W B - 20/9/07 at 06:27 AM

Thanks for the credit Steve

Here's another photo for you.

Cheers

Fred W B


screen
screen


[Edited on 20/9/07 by Fred W B]


v8kid - 20/9/07 at 08:11 AM

Seve you need to watch out for buffeting. At about 80mph I find the slipstream tosses my head about quite violently although it passes at higher speeds. I suspect the only way to find out is to try and see. Before making the finished article try out a mock up at speed to make sure it works - sure wouls save a lot of grief


sgraber - 20/9/07 at 01:34 PM

Thanks again Fred. Another good photo showing the rearmost lip. I plan on creating a detachable one, at least on my prototype, so that I can address the issue brought up by v8kid. I suspect the taller that little lip, the more the air will flow over the top of my head beginning at lower speeds?

quote:
Originally posted by v8kid
Seve you need to watch out for buffeting. At about 80mph I find the slipstream tosses my head about quite violently although it passes at higher speeds. I suspect the only way to find out is to try and see. Before making the finished article try out a mock up at speed to make sure it works - sure wouls save a lot of grief


Paul TigerB6 - 20/9/07 at 02:21 PM

That looks fantastic Steve. Just need to sell them in the UK now!!

Hope you dont mind me saying but i recon a similar design to this...... http://www.carbonmods.co.uk/showProduct.asp?prodID=109 would look superb and continue the theme from the rear panel if you see what i mean.

Keep up the great work.
Paul


sgraber - 20/9/07 at 04:25 PM

Ooh, good idea! I'll have to do a little mockup of that shape to see how it looks, but should be simple to do.


sgraber - 27/9/07 at 07:37 PM

A short youtube video of the aeroscreen - It would be neat if we could just insert the code to play these inside of the forum...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kxBcBWAM7KM

Edit to say I am not so sure I like the shape... Something is weird about it. Also it should be black instead of raw fiberglass color.

[Edited on 9/27/07 by sgraber]


geoffreyh - 27/9/07 at 08:35 PM

In my personal point of view it is way too low if you see you coming. There is no line anymore. between the front and the back there is a real step.

Geoff


sgraber - 27/9/07 at 09:14 PM

I think it curves to much. A bit too 'soft' maybe. And also I think it needs to be black to make it contrast.


DIY Si - 27/9/07 at 10:42 PM

Would it be possible to make it a bit taller, but smoked or tinted the way bike screens are? You know that funny shiny looking type of thing that I have no idea of the name for!


sgraber - 27/9/07 at 11:17 PM

I'm thinking the definition of aeroscreen is that you don't have to look through it to see out?

It's already very close to being above eye level. I will first just try to reshape it and redo it either in smoked plexi or black ABS plastic...


Fred W B - 28/9/07 at 06:01 AM

Hay steve - I can't view video here, can you post a pic?

cheers

Fred W B


Ratman - 28/9/07 at 09:14 AM

Hi Steve Buddy.. I like the way you're going with this. The glass on my car weighs 13kgs. However.. I've ridden in a few cars without windscreens or with incomplete ones and it makes 20 kms feel like 200. If you do without a screen, you pretty much have to wear a full face helmet to have any degree of comfort. This is of course safer, so taking off the screen makes your car faster and safer and look better. I'd focus on just getting the look you want. There may be some element of "deflection" but it will always be some level of gale in your teeth. The best looking ones to my mind are where the top edge of the deflector has a deep curve in front of the cockpit, and swings round in an unbroken line to behind the seats. With wearing full face helmets you then need an intercom to be able to chat with your passenger. These are very cool and work very well. Just to have a reason for the intercom alone is worth all you are doing. Cheers, Brian


kreb - 28/9/07 at 02:29 PM

The low windscreen looks great, but I think that it's a lousy idea for a street car. Think of all the stuff that's bounced off of your windshield every year, from wasps to rocks, chunks of rubber, et cetera. If you wear a helmet to protect your face, you look like a geek. If you don't, you risk physical harm - plus the buffeting get's old quick. It'd be a great part of a tracksport package with the roll bar, the rated fuel cell, et cetera, but for the street, not so much.


sgraber - 28/9/07 at 09:28 PM

My wife insists I buy a helmet for riding my motorcycle, so wearing it while in the car, although goofy as hell, is an option for longer trips. Also thinking about going for the leather goggle look. Some sweet aviator ones with the leather ears... LOL Watch out red Baron!

My thought is that the car is not intended for anything more than at the absolute most an hour or two drive at a time. If I want to 'travel' I will drive the daily driver. If I want an 'adventure' I will go Bala-istic!

Reattaching the windshield is always an option because I have the frame and the glass and the fiberglass cover and just need to reattach should I change my mind.

I am really more concerned with the shape of the aeroscreen as it appears aesthetically. I'll try to post up a photo later that shows the shape better.


Ratman - 29/9/07 at 11:13 AM

Another option might be to make a one-piece hard-top which has a windscreen in it, and clip this on when you (and the wife) are planning a bit of touring. There is an Australian low vol car called the Pervis Eureka (great name) which has a hard-top like this and the whole top, roof and windows, lifts up with actuators for getting in and out. Windscreen wipers are built into the lift-up section.


Ratman - 29/9/07 at 11:21 AM

How about making the deflector as two humps to match the rear. Check this Saker link http://www.saker.co.nz/ , the Saker Sprint has this type of deflector.

Oh and I see that the Eureka is in USA as a Stirling.. Note the hard top
http://www.kitcar.com/sterling/home.html

[Edited on 29/9/07 by Ratman]


stevebubs - 20/10/07 at 06:44 PM

quote:
Originally posted by Ratman

Oh and I see that the Eureka is in USA as a Stirling.. Note the hard top
http://www.kitcar.com/sterling/home.html




And born as the Nova in the UK during the 1970s...