Body Cover Options

[Dr. T]

Hello all,

First time covering of a body frame with something other than a wood veneer. In the past I bought a Pinecar brand car wrap with a carbon fiber look. It appears to be as durable as label printing paper and its light. I know its not as good a monkote or vinyl etc but its hat I have in hand and I am getting low on time. Do you think it will be strong enough to cover a ladder wooden car frame?

Thanks,

Dr.T

 

[Hogans Racing]

I think you will be fine. The biggest problem with the thiner stuff is it tends to want to sink in between your ladders. Give it a shot and see how it turns out, I have used some very thin vinyl on my cars with no issue.

 

[GravityX]

I've never ran a ladder style car, but thinking would tell me the vinyl would not be as structurally sound as 1/64" sheeting. I'm sure those that are running the vinyl will chime in on what their take is and how or if it affects the car's performance.

 

[Obsessedderbydad]

If you're running a ladder style body it's already structurally sound. I think it was spacewalker that ran a ladder body with only tape over the body

 

[Dr. T]

Here are some photos of the build (last photo I posted did not take so I these font I will need to figure out why)
Its not really a ladder. I dont have a nice router bit, so I remove weight by drilling out wood with my fornster bit. Its gives me nice smooth edges too and I think there is some structural strength to a circle (or was that a hexagon-dont recall).

I covered the weight area with some balsa. I covered the body with the Pinecar body wrap. Cut the edges with an exacto which are not as neat as I would have liked. Painted the sides gloss black. Thats my lovely pink Teflon Tuff over the axle hole. (least its not stripper red!)

Dr. T

 

[Dr. T]

OK can anyone tell me why my photos dont show. I added the URL address and saw the photos as I was creating the post but after hitting "add reply" they are gone.
Dr.T

 

[Chief]

You need to use the flower/tree looking thing in the tool bar.

 

[Dr. T]

Chief,

Thats what I did. Clicked on the tree icon. Went to kodac gallery, copied the URL and pasted it in. The instructions say "if you see the image below the URL is correct". I saw the image. When I hit add reply they were gone. In fact when I use "review post" I see the image but it does not show up after I "add".
Very odd. Do other use Kodak Gallery?

Dr. T
(Dammit Jim, I'm just a country doctor not an IT specialist!)

 

[IAE Racing]

I'm Givin 'er all she's got Capt'

Learning hear with you. When I right clicked on your image, I scrolled down to inspect element Your pic and my pic differed. I used photo bucket I'm sure your's will work too.

 

[IAE Racing]

There is a place where it says: alt="[image]" mine says alt="[IMGpicnumber]" need to try a different way of importing the file. photobucket has four methods. only one works here. different forums have different needs. That max's out my knowledge. So I would try a different output method from your photo host.

 

[IAE Racing]

I've been going to mention this for some time,

Thanks to the forum admin for making it easier to upload photos. It's much better than it was year ago.

 

[OPARENNEN]

I use monokote all the time on all kinds of bodies. When I use one of John's bodies, and plain the top off until the body is a complete "see thru", then use monokote top and bottom, once you yet the experience, you can create a car that is absolutely flat top and bottom. BUT it took me a long time until I could do it properly. Even now, I often have to tear off a piece of Mono that wrinkled and try again. The shop I buy from has both Monokote and Econokote.
Mono comes in roles, and it takes time to develop the craft.
Econ comes in strips and is self sticking, and much easier to use. But it is a very slight bit heavier.

Ironing either Mono or Econ on a flat surface (i.e. not see-thru) is much easier to do, and I do it for less mess, and reduced building time.

Re. John's cutout bodies vs. structural soundness. Use only his X-factor. It may be small, but the triangulation provides the best structural soundness over either the ladder type or some he once had that were similar to the ladder, except the steps were horizontal to the length of the body. If I were building a car with a "see-thru" body, I would never use any other body except the X-factor.

Why "triangulation" provides the most strength, is a question for txchemist to answer.

 

[Dr. T]

Lets try photobucket and see if its a problem with Kodak Gallery. Here is the cover.
Dr. T