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Fabricating a Fairing

Discussion in 'Motorized Bicycle Welding, Fabrication and Paintin' started by Gbrebes, Dec 11, 2018.

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  1. Tom from Rubicon

    Tom from Rubicon Active Member

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    Gilbert, somewhere early in this project thread I think the words Road Warrior were mentioned. Your last photos struck me, Road Warrior it is. The light of day will reveal the your efforts true awesomeness. Have you calculated drag reduction vs. weight increase? Or just note empirical results.
    Tom from Rubicon
     
    #61 Tom from Rubicon, Jan 29, 2019
    Last edited: Jan 29, 2019
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  2. msrfan

    msrfan Well-Known Member

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    Looks awesome Gilbert.
     
    #62 msrfan, Jan 29, 2019
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  3. dogcatcher

    dogcatcher Active Member

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    Each of your posts add to my admiration of your keeping at mind set.
     
    #63 dogcatcher, Jan 30, 2019
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  4. Gbrebes

    Gbrebes Active Member

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    Dale! I miss you man! I think about it all the time, and I swear I’m going to make it to Donut Derelicts sometime soon. When I do I’ll try to let you know ahead of the date.
     
    #64 Gbrebes, Jan 30, 2019
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  5. Gbrebes

    Gbrebes Active Member

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    Hey Tom,

    I have not done any calculations on speed gains, and to be honest, with the added weight I might be slower on the track. I hope to have the fairing finished before the next So Cal Motorized Bike Race on March 30th, where I plan to race with the fairing on.

    Not sure how to do a calculation for the drag reduction on paper, and I’m not sure how I’ll even be able to ascertain the difference on the track. But it will hopefully look cool. Probably doing it for looks as much as anything else.
     
    #65 Gbrebes, Jan 30, 2019
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  6. Tom from Rubicon

    Tom from Rubicon Active Member

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    If looks is its all, you win. Progress photos much appreciated. Hope you don't mind my Road Warrior appellation.
    Tom from Rubicon
     
    #66 Tom from Rubicon, Jan 30, 2019
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  7. Gbrebes

    Gbrebes Active Member

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    Road warrior s fine, I loved the original movies. I do aspire to something a little more refined than the “Road Warrior” look, but I do often seem to fall short of that. Keeping everything bare metal definitely contributes to that.

    Thanks for responding and liking.

    Gilbert
     
    #67 Gbrebes, Feb 2, 2019
    Last edited: Feb 2, 2019
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  8. Tom from Rubicon

    Tom from Rubicon Active Member

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    Hey Gilbert,
    Friended SoCal racing just to keep up with all the activity you and the rest get involved in. The video's are great.
    Keep the posts coming. All this adds wealth and depth to
    this forum.
    Tom from Rubicon
     
    #68 Tom from Rubicon, Feb 2, 2019
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  9. msrfan

    msrfan Well-Known Member

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    yes Gilbert, we must get together this year. Lots going on here but can't forget our friends. Nice work on the fairing. Total slipstream. maybe a Rocketman helmet would help also.


    https://i.pinimg.com/originals/cb/0f/6b/cb0f6b9045ff117ba9049d5d9366a3eb.jpg
     
    #69 msrfan, Feb 7, 2019
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  10. MotoMagz

    MotoMagz Well-Known Member

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    Gilbert the fairing compliments the rest of you masterpiece perfectly. Great work!
     
    #70 MotoMagz, Feb 8, 2019
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  11. indian22

    indian22 Well-Known Member

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    Categorizing isn't important nor is value judgement or my likes or dislike, however I judge & place your work top notch "cause I like it & that's on me!

    Rick C.
     
    #71 indian22, Feb 9, 2019
  12. MotorBicycleRacing

    MotorBicycleRacing Well-Known Member

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    Fri - Sat 30th race in Perris to see Gilbert clean up on the track.
    A lot of the old crew will be there having a great time.
     
    #72 MotorBicycleRacing, Feb 9, 2019
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  13. Gbrebes

    Gbrebes Active Member

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    Hello Everyone,

    Thank you all for the kind words, it’s very encouraging. Finally finished the sheet metal work. It looks ok from 20 feet away, but up close, it’s quite wavy and lumpy. It is what it is.

    I had to get extra sheet metal because I screwed up a couple of pieces. I think I ended up getting 26 gauge and I originally used 24 gauge. I’m not too good at measuring thickness, so not sure on numbers, but the new stuff I got was thinner, easier to shape and still held its bend. I considered redoing all the panels in the new lighter sheet to save weight, but then I said, “Nah, too much time”.

    I weighed the fairing and I got approximately 13 lbs.

    Started working on the buck/mold for the plexi windshield I plan to make. I used a bunch of 3/4” plywood pieces to make a block, then started whitteling it down. Still more shaping to do, then spackle and sand to get a smooth finish. I was then hoping to heatt up a sheet of plexi in the oven and drape it over this buck. Looks like a potential for wrinkling. We’ll see how it goes.
     

    Attached Files:

    #73 Gbrebes, Feb 10, 2019
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  14. curtisfox

    curtisfox Well-Known Member

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    First place, don't care if you win a race or not. LOL............Curt
     
    #74 curtisfox, Feb 10, 2019
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  15. fasteddy

    fasteddy Well-Known Member

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    I agree with Curt. First place indeed.

    Steve.
     
    #75 fasteddy, Feb 10, 2019
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  16. dogcatcher

    dogcatcher Active Member

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    I give you an A+, it looks great!
     
    #76 dogcatcher, Feb 10, 2019
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  17. indian22

    indian22 Well-Known Member

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    Yep! Your bike is an era race tribute replica that still competes & provides a ride to and from as well so the fairing looks the part perfectly...not a trailer poser, but veteran racer that seems to call out "let's race boys!

    I've rather liked this look from the start.

    Rick C.
     
    #77 indian22, Feb 11, 2019 at 9:48 AM
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  18. bairdco

    bairdco a guy who makes cool bikes

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    Maybe a heat gun instead of an oven?

    Looks pretty rad, though. Good job. : )
     
    #78 bairdco, Feb 11, 2019 at 2:18 PM
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  19. Tom from Rubicon

    Tom from Rubicon Active Member

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    Finally finished the sheet metal work. It looks ok from 20 feet away, but up close, it’s quite wavy and lumpy. It is what it is.
    Gilbert, think golf ball. Quoting Scientific American "The turbulent boundary layer of air that clings to the ball's surface achieved through dimple pattern . This allows the smoothly flowing air to follow the ball's surface a little farther around the back side of the ball, thereby decreasing the size of the wake."
    I'm no Golfer but flow dynamics I am good at.
    Comparing times last year to this year are eagerly awaited.
    Tom
     
    #79 Tom from Rubicon, Feb 11, 2019 at 6:48 PM
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  20. Gbrebes

    Gbrebes Active Member

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    I am now working on the plexiglass mold to form my windshield. I started shaping the wooden buck, but it wasn’t looking right, so I made another coat hanger frame/armature to delineate the shape more clearly.

    Upon comparing my new coat hanger shape to my wooden buck, I will have to re-do the buck. The nose is too skinny and I have to add material.

    At least I have a better vision of the final shape for the windshield.
     

    Attached Files:

    #80 Gbrebes, Feb 15, 2019 at 2:49 AM
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