[Woodsmith]

Cheers Todd, I'm not racing so rules don't matter in the same way. I would like it to be survivable in a roll over at speed or if it is sideswiped by a truck though.

[toddshotrods]

Originally Posted by Woodsmith

Cheers Todd, I'm not racing so rules don't matter in the same way. I would like it to be survivable in a roll over at speed or if it is sideswiped by a truck though.

Gotcha. Building to conform to rules can be a pain sometimes. I'm looking forward to doing a project, someday, that I can just do whatever I feel like doing - probably Scratch.

[toddshotrods]

A few more pieces, here and there, and this puppy wil be ready to weld up! We're going to put the seat brace in, and a couple supports down into the front and rear rails from the main hoop and A-pillar bars, just to keep everything exactly where we want it when it comes out of the fixture.

The awesome team member I have been ranting and raving about finished up the A-pillar bars tonight. I just poked my head into the process every so often to see how she was doing, and answer her questions/offer suggestions. They fit perfectly... Another member did the seat mount, and the video guy was back shooting again. He said he's going to try to shoot at least once a week now.

Because I refuse to be normal, my suspension pickup points will be done off the fixture, and mocked up at ride height, with steel fixtures that fit on the frame rails. I'm doing a pretty radical race suspension setup and need to get it down on the floor to make some final decisions.

[toddshotrods]

I'm trying to keep the focus here on the actual build, and not so much art and design, like the Inhaler Model E's thread, but will have a little art to guide the way, here and there. The art that the Schism rendering is based on is for the kits. It dawned on me today that I never lowered it from the standard production ride height, to my ride height (3-4", f-r). I did that and also, replaced the side exit exhaust tips with air intakes for the radiator and intercooler, channeled the exhaust out the back, and added the rear cage bars.


We're back to work on it next week, after a week off to work on the Model E. The plan is to get the chassis off the fixture soon, and start skinning it with bodywork.

[Woodsmith]

I find it a great help watching how you are setting up and progressing the build.

I have been setting mine up based on the wheels, motor and transmission system with a box for the pack location.
Seating has always been an aside in the set up in the past with the idea I will make seats to fit.

You are building up with the seats in place and I guess I should get some seating made up at some point to work the chassis around.

I am currently washing my pile of Lego Technic to build a scale model of the trike to then draw from.

[toddshotrods]

Originally Posted by Woodsmith

I find it a great help watching how you are setting up and progressing the build.

I have been setting mine up based on the wheels, motor and transmission system with a box for the pack location.
Seating has always been an aside in the set up in the past with the idea I will make seats to fit.

You are building up with the seats in place and I guess I should get some seating made up at some point to work the chassis around...

The Inhaler Model E was all the way on the other extreme, even of your method with your trike - I concentrated on the body first, then started figuring out what would fit under it for a drivetrain (which led my to EVs), then looking for somewhere to fit in it myself!

Schism is being built this way (occupants-out) because it is painfully obvious that the average person wouldn't be too crazy about stuffing themselves in a no-compromise race car, so kit sales would likely suffer unless I designed purposely to accommodate normal people. As you point out, I have been building around those two seats from the beginning. The rack & pinion was the first actual purchase, but the seats (2nd purchase) were the first thing in the shop. That was to force me to build the car around them.

I wanted to cut that cage down to just a few inches over the seat backs so bad!!! Done my way, the seats would have dropped in between the frame rails and the cage snugged right down over them. That would have also required narrower seats and a more radical layback angle, to get enough clearance for a helmet and padding on the roll cage tubes. It just snowballs from there, into something like the Model E.

It's still very small, but it is a play toy not a daily driver luxury car. Be advised that designing around seats and people will compromise your aesthetic goals. I just challenged myself with making what must be look good.

Originally Posted by Woodsmith

...I am currently washing my pile of Lego Technic to build a scale model of the trike to then draw from.

I want to see pictures...

[toddshotrods]

Okay, here I go with more art... I promise to back it up with some build pics next week. I have been working on a second roof option for the kits for quite a while, and finally came up with something I like. The original "Rag Top" style roof screams Model T, but is an aerodynamic nightmare for people like me, who want to push the speeds towards the upper limits. Schism will have this roof, styled after the 26-27 Model T Coupe roof. It will also be an option for customers.

[madmike8]

Todd, that's awesome. A coupe style roof is what I was originally planning for my T-Bucket. My T will have a 28 grill, hood, and cowl, so I will be loosing the pinched in cowl of the 23. I also like your extended doors.

[toddshotrods]

Originally Posted by madmike8

Todd, that's awesome. A coupe style roof is what I was originally planning for my T-Bucket. My T will have a 28 grill, hood, and cowl, so I will be loosing the pinched in cowl of the 23. I also like your extended doors.

Cool, I was wondering which roof you would like more, when I posted that last rendering here. I've thought about losing the pinched cowl on the production kits, as it would really help with foot space, and aero. Maybe we'll have that as yet another option...

Edit: I forgot, the larger doors are an absolute necessity with a low roof on a bucket body. I'm not really sure they'll even be enough for larger individuals. We start skinning the chassis with bodywork soon, we'll see...

[madmike8]

Yup, I like the coupe roof! The extra foot room is the reason I was going with the '28 cowl. I can't wait to see your progress...