bubble formation just a blown bubble will be asymetrical (should be ) but a blown bubble thats then pulled down via vacuum over a buck/ shape would allow a higher in front shape... headroom? the buck could be made with gentle shapes like ****s pressing in a tight sweater.. you pick the right smoothed object did you have a vacuum form as a kid? must stop thinking of sweater girl... paperdog
Paperdog.....next time you paint wear a mask!! You're scaring me This bubble was pulled with va*** down into a box. Axtually it is sitting on the box with cardboard over the hole. It should pull symetrical if everything is right. Too much heat in one area, leaking va*** and other things will cause what happened. We did have the option of pulling the plastic over a mold. I may go that way when we make the bubble for the next car. Clark
all my high school shop projects were working with vacuum or inflating bubbles..... fibergl*** molding....complex shapes...(Plastic is the future!) thats 37 years ago... its funny how ideas can be reenergized ... i'm just excitable sorry the shop teachers had trouble with me too ... straight A's for ideas... C- for never getting all the required paper ***ignments done.. not following the planned shop orders, winning local tech fairs competions..They were still using my duck decoy and hyroplane molds 25 years after my graduation .. paperdog
You could have hidden vents. The 64-66 Barracudas had vents in the trunk with rubber flaps so that water didn't get inside to cabin. I did a google search, but no luck finding a pic.
I like Hemicooops idea of holes in the back of the bubble. Maybe 5,6,7 3inchers all in a row along the bottom edge, but what would look REALLY cool is to heat the edges of each hole and flare them outward a bit, like a belled hole in sheetmetal only outward to "help" the warm air vent out. Hey, I know this is easy in words, but you guys can pull anything off, ha!
That is really cool, I am looking forward to seeing how you iron out the little quirks. On a side note, maybe an Ausie or an Englishman might want that there ***ymetrical bubble?
Graduate the size of the holes from small-to-big-then-small to match the holes in the front axle and the gauges in the dash
clark I love the idea. I don't see why it couldn't be made comfortable. lots of vents and ac for sitting still. I could see some nice louvers punched in the rear deck with some corresponding vent holes cut around the top of the backrest drawing alot of the heat away from your head.
Jeff...they stopped making the sheep??!! The biggest problem I have right now is color. My original plan went to hell in a hand basket. I'm leaning towards a blue right now but the next car will be blue too. Clark
Damn man you must have 55 gallon drums of that color, hahaha. Got any updates on yours or juniors car? later shawn
Clark, I just thought of this. Did you think that the SmartGl*** company (Research Frontiers or one of their licensees) might donate the SPD film for a high profile project that might see get alot of attention via car shows/automotive market exposure? You never know.
Jr's ch***is is about done. I think we're gonna call his car overkill! The frames will be heavy duty clark
Just make a snap on partial landua style cover for the top (either material or tinted plastic... for those hot days... when the AC will not keep up...
Hey Clark...if you have any more flubs with the top, you can turn it into a hot tub for the camp compound at York, or how's about a community cereal bowl!!!!?????
I have been thinking about building a bubble top something or other. This place I do freelance work for, makes bubbles... http://dillonworks.com/welcome/index.html I just have to finnish off some of my other projects first, then I might think inside the bubble.
I bringing this back up cause I'm finally working on the car. It had to be shelved for a while to get other projects done. Jr's overkill is just about ready for paint and the bubble top will be my main focus after that. Funny thing is the design has changed 3 times over the summer. Zombie offered to help me and we came up with some really cool stuff.....then his plans changed and he offered his original design to me. So now I have enough ideas to build a half dozen bubble tops.... For now it will be the purple and gold car on the first page. The frame is on the table now. The perimiter is done and the x member will go in tomorrow. Next week we'll set the Y block in and maybe the body will go on. It's gona be a mad thrash but Detroit is the plan now. I will have pics soon. Clark
Here's a pic of the bubble as she sits now. Top is just mocked in place. Next step is to get the bubble hinged and the new section of body made around it. Clark
Clark you give anythought to the Vents that are used in like Motorcycle fairings? its just a hole with a cover snapped in, that you can turn and push out to control and adjust the flow of air thru it. and they can be closed in wet weather. they are clear so you wouldnt be able to notice them much... look for a Windjammer windshield or something they have them.
The Jalopy Journal
