VTWing

I blame all this on Bruzer...

I started playing with some 3d models/surfaces. I mostly do industrial design, so I'm learning a bunch along the way with a more 'consumerist' project. The integrated lowers would be the toughest part to make it look fluid and 'right'.

Here's a few screen grabs of the different shapes:

Some more dabbling. The surfaces aren't perfect, but for a first attempt at a complex part I'm mostly happy. Definitely wouldn't CNC a mold straight from it, but could be used to make layers/slices from which to carve foam.

LOL. I doubt I'll ever even make one, but it's a fun exercise. Maybe if Bruzer does actually make his CNC work again, or anyone else has the desire to cut a ton of layers of foam to sand to shape and 'glass, it might get made.

There's a ton of work left to be done. I've refined some of the curves to get rid of some knuckles and knees (knobby spots) but the opening width of the lower is about twice as wide as it needs to be, and it's about 3" wider than a set of cobra fats engine bars. So there's still more refinement of the shape needed. I think I have an idea of how I'll do that, and might try in the next few days. I'm pleased that there's enough dash space for a double din setup, and 2x 6.5" speakers and 2x 5.25" speakers and a bit of space left over for a 'glove box'. I'd still like to integrate some mirrors into it as well. Plus turn signals, since they'll have to come off the forks. Ideally, I'd recycle the stock ones back into the design, or come up with something simple and bright. The front end is also sized for a pair of 4" spot lights, or just grills/vents that would be 'dead' but would help break up the massive nose so it looks less cyclops-ish.

If I get all that done-up, I'll still need to draw in a decent windscreen shelf, and then get better measurements to draw up a headlight relocation bracket. From there, it turns into how to mount this whole shebang to the front of a bike.. which wouldn't be easy given the differences between an 1800, 1300, and various engine bars.

The other challenge would be offering a range of windscreen heights, but I did just draw it up as a flat sheet with a slight bow. I'd tweak the shape of the windscreen too, for now I've just made a parabolic end to it, but it could be just about any shape.

OK, so I decided to tighten things up around the radiator, and close off the lowers. I also refined the shapes some more and added the holes in the dash as a guide. This is very much not easy. 3d splines and curvature controls are taxing on a computer, and often fail to rebuild so I repeat the same work over and over. Finally changed the approach on the spline and presto: it rebuilds without me shooting my computer at point-blank range.