Fabricating A Firebird Aerowing/Mecham Wing Hybrid?
10-26-2018, 05:45 PM
#1
Fabricating A Firebird Aerowing/Mecham Wing Hybrid?
OK, so I LOVE the way the aerowing looks on 3rd gen Firebirds. I think they accentuate the lines of the car beautifully.
I saw a Mecham Macho T/A years back. I thought the blades of the wing were too short, but it made me think of how much more amazing an aerowing would be if it was wider and extended further out the back like the Mecham wing, and about half as much taller than the stock aerowing as the Mecham wing is.
That's always just been something I've daydreamed about, but as is inevitable, the factory rubber wing has gone to crap. I've looked at the replacements available, but the blades on all of them are much thicker than stock, and really bother me.
I was watching an episode of Bitchin Rides recently where Dave Kendig designed and 3D printed a custom rear spoiler for Gen 1 Camaros.
It was 3D printed in several pieces, which were fitted together. I'm guessing that became the buck for the mold for the carbon fiber version of the spoiler they now sell.
https://www.kindigitapparel.com/prod...nt=51711382150
That got me wondering whether that might be the solution for the aerowing problem. I was talking to a fiberglass guy awhile back and showed him pics of the Classic Industries and Hawks versions of the aerowing, with the thicker blades. He said they were probably thicker because blades as thin as the originals would be prone to cracking when removed from the mold. He said if he was doing it, he's do them in carbon fiber, which would be much less likely to have that problem.
With there being so many places now to take a CAD file and have it 3D printed, I wonder if there's a way to have the stock aerowing made that way, and maybe the aerowing/Mecham hybrid wing I've been imagining all these years, too?
I saw a Mecham Macho T/A years back. I thought the blades of the wing were too short, but it made me think of how much more amazing an aerowing would be if it was wider and extended further out the back like the Mecham wing, and about half as much taller than the stock aerowing as the Mecham wing is.
That's always just been something I've daydreamed about, but as is inevitable, the factory rubber wing has gone to crap. I've looked at the replacements available, but the blades on all of them are much thicker than stock, and really bother me.
I was watching an episode of Bitchin Rides recently where Dave Kendig designed and 3D printed a custom rear spoiler for Gen 1 Camaros.
It was 3D printed in several pieces, which were fitted together. I'm guessing that became the buck for the mold for the carbon fiber version of the spoiler they now sell.
https://www.kindigitapparel.com/prod...nt=51711382150
That got me wondering whether that might be the solution for the aerowing problem. I was talking to a fiberglass guy awhile back and showed him pics of the Classic Industries and Hawks versions of the aerowing, with the thicker blades. He said they were probably thicker because blades as thin as the originals would be prone to cracking when removed from the mold. He said if he was doing it, he's do them in carbon fiber, which would be much less likely to have that problem.
With there being so many places now to take a CAD file and have it 3D printed, I wonder if there's a way to have the stock aerowing made that way, and maybe the aerowing/Mecham hybrid wing I've been imagining all these years, too?
11-02-2018, 02:46 PM
#2
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Re: Fabricating A Firebird Aerowing/Mecham Wing Hybrid?
Yes, I've been considering a version that would work with my convertible. I have a 3d printer so it's on my todo list whenever I get a design idea I actually like.
Also the design difference is probably for legal reasons too.
Also the design difference is probably for legal reasons too.
02-16-2019, 10:08 AM
#3
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Re: Fabricating A Firebird Aerowing/Mecham Wing Hybrid?
Ever get anywhere on this? I've always thought myself that the Mecham wing with full length spars like the factory wing would be perfect.
02-16-2019, 10:35 AM
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Re: Fabricating A Firebird Aerowing/Mecham Wing Hybrid?
Did you know that Mecham Designs still sells it, or are you a do-it-yourself kind of guy?
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02-17-2019, 07:45 PM
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Re: Fabricating A Firebird Aerowing/Mecham Wing Hybrid?
OK, so I LOVE the way the aerowing looks on 3rd gen Firebirds. I think they accentuate the lines of the car beautifully.
I saw a Mecham Macho T/A years back. I thought the blades of the wing were too short, but it made me think of how much more amazing an aerowing would be if it was wider and extended further out the back like the Mecham wing, and about half as much taller than the stock aerowing as the Mecham wing is.
That's always just been something I've daydreamed about, but as is inevitable, the factory rubber wing has gone to crap. I've looked at the replacements available, but the blades on all of them are much thicker than stock, and really bother me.
I was watching an episode of Bitchin Rides recently where Dave Kendig designed and 3D printed a custom rear spoiler for Gen 1 Camaros.
It was 3D printed in several pieces, which were fitted together. I'm guessing that became the buck for the mold for the carbon fiber version of the spoiler they now sell.
https://www.kindigitapparel.com/prod...nt=51711382150
That got me wondering whether that might be the solution for the aerowing problem. I was talking to a fiberglass guy awhile back and showed him pics of the Classic Industries and Hawks versions of the aerowing, with the thicker blades. He said they were probably thicker because blades as thin as the originals would be prone to cracking when removed from the mold. He said if he was doing it, he's do them in carbon fiber, which would be much less likely to have that problem.
With there being so many places now to take a CAD file and have it 3D printed, I wonder if there's a way to have the stock aerowing made that way, and maybe the aerowing/Mecham hybrid wing I've been imagining all these years, too?
I saw a Mecham Macho T/A years back. I thought the blades of the wing were too short, but it made me think of how much more amazing an aerowing would be if it was wider and extended further out the back like the Mecham wing, and about half as much taller than the stock aerowing as the Mecham wing is.
That's always just been something I've daydreamed about, but as is inevitable, the factory rubber wing has gone to crap. I've looked at the replacements available, but the blades on all of them are much thicker than stock, and really bother me.
I was watching an episode of Bitchin Rides recently where Dave Kendig designed and 3D printed a custom rear spoiler for Gen 1 Camaros.
It was 3D printed in several pieces, which were fitted together. I'm guessing that became the buck for the mold for the carbon fiber version of the spoiler they now sell.
https://www.kindigitapparel.com/prod...nt=51711382150
That got me wondering whether that might be the solution for the aerowing problem. I was talking to a fiberglass guy awhile back and showed him pics of the Classic Industries and Hawks versions of the aerowing, with the thicker blades. He said they were probably thicker because blades as thin as the originals would be prone to cracking when removed from the mold. He said if he was doing it, he's do them in carbon fiber, which would be much less likely to have that problem.
With there being so many places now to take a CAD file and have it 3D printed, I wonder if there's a way to have the stock aerowing made that way, and maybe the aerowing/Mecham hybrid wing I've been imagining all these years, too?
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