R/C Car Body - for a full size car

[dtmpower]

Think I remeber Lotus built a car with a clear acrylic/lexan body like you get on r/c model cars... How hard would it be to put a r/c style clear lexan body (vacuum formed like a group c race car) over a 7 style or ariel style kit car.

Does anyone know if this has been done before. Would be light and provide weather protection.

Am I mad for thinking this is a good idea....

ETA - must be

[Davi]

Yes, you are mad.

HTH

[dtmpower]

bump - still think this is a viable build on top of a atom type car

[Munter]

What do the dragster funny cars have on them. They seem to be a one piece of plastic when they come flying off....

[dtmpower]

Munter said:

What do the dragster funny cars have on them. They seem to be a one piece of plastic when they come flying off....

Yes - thats the sort of thing -

[Sam_68]

The car you are thinking of is the Lotus Expose.

It was produced by Tony Shute from Lotus, and he was inspired by exactly the same thing as you - the vac formed polycarbonate body on his son's RC model car.

So yes, it can be done.

How difficult is it? You'd better ask Tony Shute...

One thing to bear in mind is that the 'windscreen' wouldn't be legal for road use if it was part of the main polycarbonate moulding; you need laminated glass for scratch resistance under the SVA regulations.


edited for typo on hyperlink

Edited by Sam_68 on Wednesday 26th March 13:44

[dtmpower]

Sam_68 said:

The car you are thinking of is the [urlLotus Expose|http://www.340r.net/news/expose/expose.htm[/url].

It was produced by Tony Shute from Lotus, and he was inspired by exactly the same thing as you - the vac formed polycarbonate body on his son's RC model car.

So yes, it can be done.

How difficult is it? You'd better ask Tony Shute...

One thing to bear in mind is that the 'windscreen' wouldn't be legal for road use if it was part of the main polycarbonate moulding; you need laminated glass for scratch resistance under the SVA regulations.

Wow - that's it - I remember reading about it , but I never actually saw one. My idea would be to build a full size rc style body - maybe in 2 / 3 pieces and have it over a conventional open car - could have lights etc on the body and plugged in remotely....

[dhutch]

Somthing a bit like this.





Daniel

[dtmpower]

dhutch said:

Something a bit like this.





Daniel

Yes - exactly like that, would you know who that belongs to and if there is any more info about the chassis/body confguration...

Thanks

John

[robbydee]

I will have this one..

[fuoriserie]

it was also done by Rinspeed with their Exasis concept, they used Bayer's, 6mm. Makrolon polycarbonate, and this company moulded the body for them :

http://www.mecaplex.ch/index.asp

I hope it helps

Italo

[dom9]

I like this concept for my Group C project:

http://www.locostbuilders.co.uk/viewthread.php?tid...

I wonder how much it would cost that company to do a one-off body, I am guessing you would need a production run to make it cost effective as the mould would be expensive to make I guess?!

[dhutch]

dtmpower said:

Yes - exactly like that, would you know who that belongs to and if there is any more info about the chassis/body confguration...

Thanks

John

Im afraid i know nothing about the car, it was mearly at oulton park while i was there with my uncal and there 2cv. Must have been quite a number of years ago as well now. The photo is dated 2004.

[dtmpower]

dom9 said:

I like this concept for my Group C project:

http://www.locostbuilders.co.uk/viewthread.php?tid...

I wonder how much it would cost that company to do a one-off body, I am guessing you would need a production run to make it cost effective as the mould would be expensive to make I guess?!

Dom9 - tried to email you, but didn't get any reply ? Are you on msn or skype at all ?

[dom9]

Sorry chief - Bit behind on emails!

On MSN when at home, will email you back and we can chat!

D

[dtmpower]

dom9 said:

Sorry chief - Bit behind on emails!

On MSN when at home, will email you back and we can chat!

D

[dtmpower]

I haven't made any progress with this yet - it's still in the thought stage... has anyone any updates ?

Dom ?

[dom9]

No...

I responded on the Locost Builders thread... Just so busy at the moment with selling my flat and buying a new one... Coupled with work being a nightmare and wanting to keep as much money in the bank as possible at the moment, it's not looking like i will get much further for some time to come!

It's a shame, but the irons are still in the fire, ready to be retrieved when things start moving again!

I must stop going to look at 997TT's as well.. For some reason I just decided to look at R8's as well... What i need to do is knuckle down and decide whether I have the time or the patience or get this done myself and if not (hence why I keep looking at production cars) then I should have a serious chat with someone like Nick Dames, who has indicated an interest in building customer 962s or GT1s on the GT40's forum.

[rdodger]