(WOF) F1 tunnel hull building report

[Unusual RC]

Looks like a season 2022 F1 car looking at the bottom. All those channels, will they create a downforce?

Again a model you made, which looks so fast standing still!

καλά Χριστούγεννα

 

[Dim L]

Thank you Jan! I ve put a lot of effort on this hull and I am happy you can see it.

 

[Dim L]

Oh thank you for your wishes in Greek Michael and your nice words !
They improve the directionality and improve turning quality for sure. I ve tried to copy the bottom of the real boats including the air steps.

 

[Dim L]

I started building the cowl. Here is my progress :

 

[Dirk Jan]

Great work! Will that be the mold, or is it the actual cowl already?
And I'm curious how you are going to close the sides.

 

[cadcam]

nice work

and good weather

 

[Dim L]

Thank you guys!
This is the actual cowl Jan. I am going to use 1mm ply for the rest of the cowl and then fiberglassing.

@cadcam This year the weather is always good and the temperatures always above historical average here in Greece.

 

[Unusual RC]

Off-topic, the weather all around the northern hemisphere is far from long year average.
Extreme cold weather in the US, but warm temperatures in big parts of Canada.
French ski reports have over 50% closed pistes due to high temperatures, rain and lack of snow...

 

[Dim L]

Off-topic, the weather all around the northern hemisphere is far from long year average.
Extreme cold weather in the US, but warm temperatures in big parts of Canada.
French ski reports have over 50% closed pistes due to high temperatures, rain and lack of snow...

That is right Michael!
Unfortunately it seems to be part of the climate change (climate crisis is the term used by the politicians lately).

 

[Unusual RC]

Indeed!
The weather I know from my youth is different from what we have now.
I spend most of it on the countryside and on the water.
I can assure you the last two decades it is different here as well.

I am amazed we could do ice-skating last week.
This week they expect 15°C over here!

 

[Dim L]

The building strategy of the cowl went well. The yellow material over the foam is a special putty for foam and balsa. It is easily sanded but it is not strong. Next step sanding and fiberglassing.

 

[Dirk Jan]

Awesome! The many pictures show your build steps nicely [emoji108]

 

[Dim L]

Thanks Jan!
By the way Jan I think that the hull come out a little overweight. It is 1,300 grams already with the cowl but no fiberglassing. I would expect something like 1,100 grams at this stage for a 73 cm hull.

 

[Dirk Jan]

It could be a little lighter, but I wouldn't worry too much. The cowl- and fixed nose design add some weight, but it seems you got the power to push this boat forward with good speed [emoji41].

 

[cadcam]

I came at this weight in the rough construction

 

[Dim L]

Wow I guess I am too heavy... almost 450 grams heavier. Is this your current build and what is the size of the boat?

 

[cadcam]

the boat is 750mm

I have already kept the subject as thin as possible
and for the hood I use 3x 25g glass

gr Jan

 

[Dirk Jan]

3x25 gram voor de kap, dat is wel heel erg dun. Daar kijk je bijna doorheen [emoji28]. Is dat sterk genoeg?
Volgens mij gebruik je ook een vacuumzak toch? Dat scheelt ook gewicht en geeft meer sterkte dan met de hand lamineren.

De kap van mijn T800 84cm tunnel is van 2x 200gr carbonweefsel, met een 50 grams laagje erover. Die weegt 175 gram. Helaas wel gescheurd afgelopen seizoen, bij een harde klapper op het water.

 

[Dim L]

You are probably right Jan, advanced building techniques should save weight as well.
The way I built the air steps on the sponsors also added a certain amount of weight. Nonetheless, the hull seems very solid already and this makes me happy.

If I am not satisfied with the performance of the hull there is always the option of a bigger motor :cold:
.

 

[Dim L]

Fortunately I had forgotten that I laminated the bottom of the hull and the sides of the sponsors. So I am gonna save some grams !

I laminated the foam part of the cowl with a 100gr/m2 fiberglass and the bottom of the the running pads with a 50 gr /m2 fiber. I had previously laminated the sides of the sponsors with a 100gr fiber.

The cowl is 170 gr already and will probably reach 200 - 220 grams painted. Maybe another layer of fiberglass is required. I will remove the inner structure to reduce weight later on. At least I love its shape...