Here is a preview look. This is a little bit misleading because the right side and the back aren't done. You can get an idea of the final look from this angle.
I am going to make a Velomobile. I have built 5 different recumbent trikes. Now I am going to take one of my trikes and build an airodynamic shell around it to make a velomobile. Here is the official definition of a velomobile. Velomobile: A velomobile or bicycle car is a human-powered vehicle, enclosed for aerodynamic advantage and protection from weather and collisions. They are derived from recumbent bicycles and tricycles, with the addition of a full fairing (aerodynamic shell).
Wednesday, December 21, 2011
Slimming down
I was looking at my velomobile from the back and it seems so wide. I realized that I have too much overlap over the wheels. They are 2" in from the side of the body. I looked at pictures of other VMs and the wheels are flush. So I cut 2" out of the side of the body and now it looks like this.
I found that coroplast can be used to make a circle drawing tool.
Saturday, December 17, 2011
I needed a couple jigs to make sure the bottom of the panels are exactly 6" so I used some scrap coroplast and a hot glue gun to make some
This picture shows the alignment rod and hole. When you get in the velomobile and pull the top down you know it it centered and in place when you hear it drop in place
I worked on an interior panel that will keep the side lined up and provide strength
Friday, December 16, 2011
putting on the plastic
the body is taking shape
I am trying to keep the messy looking stuff on the inside
inside view
drivers view part inside part outside
Thursday, December 15, 2011
The plastic panels are attached with zip ties. This picture shows the invisible method. You insert the zip tie through the end and have it come out one side only
This is what it looks like with zip ties tightened up
The top, nose and back are done
I put the carboard patterns back on to see what it will look like
Wednesday, December 14, 2011
Now the fun begins
the coroplast for the fairing arrived today, I have 4x8 sheets of yellow and black
The top of the hood is going to be black, I laid out the first piece today
This piece will be the corner stone that all the other peices match up to.
Monday, December 12, 2011
Friday, December 9, 2011
The body take shape
I am making a frame out of PVC pipe
Starting to model the fairing out of cardboard
starting to take shape
artists conception of body shape
Wednesday, December 7, 2011
Adding a mount point for the shell
I have added a tube for mounting the shell. This is the same trike that was pictured before painted black. I repainted it orange and removed the electrics an put them in a sister trike.
I have added a nose mount for the velo
another shot of the nose mount
Thursday, December 1, 2011
Here is what we are starting from
Here is the recumbent trike I built. It is powered by pedals and an electric hub motor.
This trike is going to be the chassis for the velomobile I am going to build.
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