PlatinumZealot wrote:How are the radiators represented in the model? Do you use real mini radiators?
And I have always wondered: are things like, tie rods, brake disks, bearings and screws and drive shafts represented as well, or only just the general surfaces of the car?
If you look back on page 4 you can just about make them out. You can see 2 sidepod inlet with ducting to the radiators each side of the engine cover. The radiators are made from 3d printed SLA i think, made in one shot so theres no glued joints or anything so the are quite large components. The design usually has a multitude of pressure taps printed within the structure so results across the face can be analysed. There's usually a large slot down the side of the radiator that spans the whole face, this is so stainless steel gauze that are glued to a thin metallic frame can be fitted to the radiators to represent accurate blockage. The slot in the radiator is usually big enough to fit 3-5 layers of framed gauzes so the blockage can be tuned.
So no they are not real mini functioning "radiators" but they are accurate aerodynamic representations and have the ability to be tuned with feedback from CFD and the real car data.
The entire brake area is pretty detailed, disks are very accurately modelled, every single drilling on the full side disk is represented at model level including entry and exit ducting, you can even make out the rim seal on the model dustbins.
Drive shafts are representative and kinematically correct but they dont rotate with the wheels, in fact the the entire suspension system is very close to the kinematics of the full size car with regards to the wishbones and the pushrods, but there are a few exceptions due to the packaging constraints of the model but the errors are minimal and strategically designed to be in insensitive areas if they cant be avoided. (For example the blisters over the front suspension chassis end pushrods would not be on the full size car as the suspension system is much more complex that just a pair of bellcranks and packaged within the chassis, but on the model with limited space thats also competing with the steering motor mechanisms this is the best compromise).
So its not just the general surfaces, its a lot more detailed. Even the exhaust is functioning with compressed air coming out of the tail pipe.