smart51
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| posted on 4/1/11 at 01:51 PM |
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fabric engine bay cover
Here's a mad idea. What do you think. My 3 wheeler build is going to be ultra light; 220kg hopefully. To achieve this, much of the
"bodywork" will be stretchy fabric fastened over the tubing. The fabric to keep a little of the wind and weather out and to keep fingers
away from the car's inards. I want to cover the top of the engine (which is still mostly accessible from the sides) and I've just had the
idea of covering the frame above the engine with the same fabric.
I'm I having a mad moment? Will Mr. MSVA object? Should I make a GRP cover instead?
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balidey
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| posted on 4/1/11 at 02:06 PM |
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In the past I have used a form of fibreglass matting that was a very light woven fabric. It was just like you are suggesting using, but if you paint
it with resin, voila, instant GRP cover that is nearly as light as your fabric cover, but if Mr MSVA (never heard of him, is he on here?  ) queries
it, its just a GRP cover.
[Edited on 4/1/11 by balidey]
Dutch bears have terrible skin due to their clogged paws
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matt_gsxr
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| posted on 4/1/11 at 02:15 PM |
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Interesting idea.
What are the characteristics of the material? Can it handle a bit of heat?
You could consider some kind of woven stainless steel, which would be fine with heat.
Matt
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big-vee-twin
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| posted on 4/1/11 at 02:41 PM |
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They used to make WW2 Wellington bombers like that
I dare say the material your after will be used still in the aircraft industry. A friend of mine has just built an RC plane using similar - wooden
frame, stretch material over, paint with a resin and it goes hard then sands/fills until smooth and paints.
Duratec Engine is fitted, MS2 Extra V3 is assembled and tested, engine running, car now built. IVA passed 26/02/2016
http://www.triangleltd.com
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JeffHs
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| posted on 4/1/11 at 03:12 PM |
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Not a daft idea at all. I've been considering fabric covering too. We re-covered the whole of the Auster using Ceconite (Dacron). It's
glued on then shrunk with a hot iron, then doped or painted. Very very tough, light and not hugely expensive and meets CAA requirements for flight.
Only snag for bonnet cover is heat. Ceconite is shrunk at 240 F and starts to fall apart at 375F. I don't think my ali bonnet gets that hot
though.
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Stott
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| posted on 4/1/11 at 03:21 PM |
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IVA inspector down here won't accept any form of material bodywork or the like. According to him it's temporary so doesn't count as
a barrier for the sphere entry into chassis spaces, so you could use it but you will have to remove it for the test and have everything behind them
scrutinised for radius size.
HTH
Stott
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loggyboy
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| posted on 4/1/11 at 03:26 PM |
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sergebelg
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| posted on 4/1/11 at 03:34 PM |
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Try a Google search on "Velorex"
It's a three-wheeler from the East-block : it will give you some ideas
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smart51
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| posted on 4/1/11 at 03:36 PM |
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That’s an interesting point about fabric being considered to be temporary. MSVA is less strict than IVA but that rule may be the same.
I wasn’t planning to dope, fill and paint. I just want a fabric cover that pulls taught.
BMW’s gina concept used a very special compound to make the covering. I was thinking of rip stop hot air balloon material. I’d have to check it for
heat resistance but as the scooter engine is as open as on a scooter, there’ll be a whole lot of ventilation and won’t be a lot of heat build up.
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matt_gsxr
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| posted on 4/1/11 at 04:40 PM |
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From a practical perspective you need to go back to the principle of the relevant test. The 150mm and 100mm spheres represent bits of body (head and
limb respectively).
I guess if it can prevent a 150mm 100kg (head on body) travelling at 30mph hitting anything that is sharp under the fabric (i.e. radius test) then I
think you would have a good case with the tester.
Matt
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JF
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| posted on 6/1/11 at 09:29 PM |
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quote:
Originally posted by matt_gsxr
From a practical perspective you need to go back to the principle of the relevant test. The 150mm and 100mm spheres represent bits of body (head and
limb respectively).
I guess if it can prevent a 150mm 100kg (head on body) travelling at 30mph hitting anything that is sharp under the fabric (i.e. radius test) then I
think you would have a good case with the tester.
Matt
Interesting point of view... but then I wonder.... If that same 150mm 100kg sphere hit your average grp bodywork, not to mention light weight
bodywork.... would it hold?
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snuggtopz
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| posted on 13/1/11 at 06:15 PM |
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hiya
I sew for a living in Norfolk, what you could do is sew makrolon polycarbonate into the fabric. It is often used on
boat canopies in the USA where I trained.
That way it could be light, partly fabric partly plastic.
Richard
snuggtopz.com
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smart51
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| posted on 13/1/11 at 07:56 PM |
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Are you talking about thin flexible stuff like is used for soft top hoods or the rigid plastic sheets we use for side screens? It sounds like an
interesting idea.
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