Diamonite Electrathon America Racer

[Functional Artist]

Should "go" about here
...checkin' the "fit"

The "opening" seems ta "line up"
...about where we need it ta be

Seems like we need ta do a bit more trimmin'

Back to/on the mold
...& took ~1" off of the bottom edges

 

[Functional Artist]

After makin' sure of the "fit" of the first "tunnel"
...I did some adjustin' on the "cut out lines"
...then, went ahead & cut out the second "tunnel"

...& then, there were (2)
* Custom shaped ta "hug" the sides of the monocoque

Flipper 'er over (right side up)
...double checked the "fit"
...& worked on/thinkin' about how ta do, the connectin' duct work

...& then, there were (2)
...AKA "Duals"

 

[Functional Artist]

Made sure the front roll bar still mounts properly
...& "clears" the "tunnel"

Yup, looks good!

CAD duct work

Looks like the "piece(s)" we would need are ~10" - 12" long

...& ~4 1/2" at the widest part

I'ma thinkin' that the "tunnel" molds may be useful for makin' these "pieces"

Yup, looks like we can get a ~10" - 12" piece off of it

Even the narrowest part of the mold is ~4 1/2"
...& there are still already coated with PVA

So, yea! I ain't gotta make more molds

 

[Functional Artist]

Also, made sure the outer sides of the "tunnels"
...would align with the outer body panels/sides

Another view

Also, cut some FG cloth, for the next procedure

 

[Functional Artist]

Layed down (3) layers of 1708 (mainly left-over/scrap pieces)

Another view

Popped 'em off

Looks like this (inside)

Workin' on fittin' 'em on
...maybe something like this

 

[Functional Artist]

Anyone notice "the gap"? (Yup, that's my finger)

About "this" much "off"

I added a "filler piece" durin' installation (can't even hardly tell)

The other (gooder) side

We gots us some...Side Pipes

 

[Functional Artist]

An (inverted) view of the "air channels"

Since we added all of this stuff "hangin' down"
...let's make sure everything is nice-n-even with the bottom of the racer

Air Intake area

Throat area

The Tunnels

Flipped 'er back over

* Notice the "nose" is ~1" higher than the actual floor of the racer
...for even better unobstructed air flow
...into the under car aero system

 

[Functional Artist]

I put the front wheels on & leveler 'er out
...ta check on ground clearance

Looks like the bottom will "ride" just under 2" off of the ground

On ground clearance, the EA rule book states:
10 WHEELS and TIRES
1. Tires must be a pneumatic (inflatable) type.
2. Wheels and tires of any diameter or width may be used.
3. The minimum ground clearance is to be judged by the cars ability to roll over a 2x2 that is milled to be1½”x1½”. This is to prevent the vehicle from sliding on the ground in the event of failure of any or all of the tires. (page 8.)

So, we look ta be "in compliance"

Here is a view of the front ground clearance
...with the wheels on

A view of the air intake area
...from up/underneath
...as it will "ride down the road"

 

[Functional Artist]

The venturi principle described above is exclusive to a closed system, or pipe. Half of this "pipe" is open to the atmosphere, so different rules apply.

Hey Ez,
I've been thinkin' about your comment, a bit more
...&/so, have some "jabberin' ta do"

Because "part" (not half, due to the roadway) of the "pipe" is "open to the atmosphere"
...I guess this situation could be referred to as a "leaky pipe"

I thought (durin' a 'bout of free thought) about the possibility of enclosing part, if not all of the air channels
...to help alleviate this "leakyness"

But/then, thought
...if any effect (like creating a low pressure area) was to occur
...it would occur inside of the enclosed pipe
&
Would NOT create a pressure difference
...between the air pressure above the racer
...& the air pressure below it

Also/then, thought about how most times when describing air flow
...most folks refer to the air as having "layers"

So, (again, while in free thought) I was thinkin' that with ~2" of ground clearance
...& an additional ~1" under the front bumper
...basically, there is ~3" of unobstructed air flowing under, the front of the racer

So/now, let's say each of them (3) "layers" are 1" thick or tall
&
When, them (3) ~1" "layers" of air flow under the front of the racer
...the bottom "layer" still just flows along, mostly unobstructed
...but, them (2) upper "layers" of air encounter the undercar aero feature
&
Get "funneled" into the air Intake
...compressed in the Throat
...& then, expands as it exits out thru the Tunnels

So/maybe the lower "layer" of air "acts" as an "air curtain"
...to help "seal" the "leaky pipe"