Plastic cars

[Bogan]

I want to make plastic cars. Anyone can hook me up with their uncle who owns a factory that makes those toy plastic ride-in cars? Like the wiggles trolleys at pak'n'save.

I'm just gonna make bigger versions of those. ~600kg convertible with perspex windscreen and 1300cc engines.

$10,000 for a new plastic car, 130hp @ 600kg's, it'll be the everyman's rocketship!

I'm ahead of my time i know - but anyone? hook me up!

[Xanatos]

I would assume (mother of all fuckups) that there are some pretty extreme safety regulations you would have to meet.

[com]

*shakes Bogan* Wake up f001 *shakes some more*

[theToolman]

*ahem* ALMAC in upper hutt make fibre-glass cars (best cobra replica Ive ever seen) and can prolly do any flavour material you wanted/could afford. But why plastic specifically ?

[Xanatos]

Originally posted by theToolman
*ahem* ALMAC in upper hutt make fibre-glass cars (best cobra replica Ive ever seen) and can prolly do any flavour material you wanted/could afford. But why plastic specifically ?

I think the assumption (MOAFU) is that plastic is light and cheap.

Sadly from what little I know that would only hold true if you were using cheap light plastic.

[Logik]

rofl. imagine that thing in a car accident

[Xanatos]

Perhaps if it was a 1-2 person seater with the passenger cabin reinforced with a plastic/fibreglass shell it might be fine. The problem is that plastic moulds are really fucken expensive, the startup costs are what hit you in the nuts not the actual per unit price. (found this out with failed company idea #109)

[Simon]

Just remember to make sure it's microwave-safe!

[Master Villain]

Originally posted by com
*shakes Bogan* Wake up f001 *shakes some more*

Hahahaha!

[Logik]

not to mention that if you were to use just plastic then the car would slowly melt away from heat from the sun and the engine :P

[[BT]Monza]

use thermo-setting plastic

[Solvent]

Plastic body I take it? What about chassis, you could go the lotus way and use a carbon fibre backbone chassis, Somehow I don't think plastic is enough for any kind of chassis, be it spaceframe, backbone, monocoque or ladder. There just wouldn't be any torsional rigity :/

[BaM]

Originally posted by Solvent
Plastic body I take it? What about chassis, you could go the lotus way and use a carbon fibre backbone chassis, Somehow I don't think plastic is enough for any kind of chassis, be it spaceframe, backbone, monocoque or ladder. There just wouldn't be any torsional rigity :/

Sounds expensive. How about you just take an old egg carton and glue on some milk bottle tops for wheels? Mmm Bus.

[IronhideTFX]

I like the idea.
I also like the idea of building robots you pilot in real life and have fights with other robots.
And the word Thermo Nuclear Rocketry amuses me to no end.......

[Master Villain]

Pffft who wants plastic cars when we can have MASSIVE DIRIGIBLE AIRSHIPS! YEAH!

[Bogan]

tube steel chassis, 2 seater + luggage.

I appreceiate making the models is hella expensive. But how expensive? Surely just make a big metal model and drill shitloads of little holes in it.

Sure plastic won't be ubercheap. But it'll be cheaper than steel. And cheaper to tool up.

[Bogan]

Ooohooh - and dirgible's also.

A small one for round-town use (like in mummy's return).

[Master Villain]

I was thinking more like one of the "Hindenburg Wasn't That Big" size *S*

[Xanatos]

Originally posted by Bogan
tube steel chassis, 2 seater + luggage.

I appreceiate making the models is hella expensive. But how expensive? Surely just make a big metal model and drill shitloads of little holes in it.

Sure plastic won't be ubercheap. But it'll be cheaper than steel. And cheaper to tool up.

Side might remember the figures, whatever it was creating a mould is very expensive.

[Blam]

On a side note .. whats the market potential like.. who are you selling to..? what volumes do you need to sell to break even... are you happy to run at a loss for the next 10 years etc? as most car makers will tell you.. investment is heavy at the start.. regardless os scale of production..

[theToolman]

Originally posted by Solvent
What about chassis, you could go the lotus way and use a carbon fibre backbone chassis,

if you used carbonfibre etc for the cage/ chassis and plastic for the panels then you havent got much in the way of protection on impact - and one of the great things about panel work (seriously) is that it absorbs lots of energy under deforming. Carbon fibre etc. sheds energy when shattering(ok as long as it dont shatter close to you !). but plastic doesnt shed energy when smacked very well. ive been told.

[Bogan]

aaah.

i wasn't keen on firbe. otherwise i'd just make tuscans.

as for market, i was gonna aim at boyracers, young professionals. hell niche market, but if you have 'arrangements'(*) with motor industry supplies and a low-cost way of fabbing the plastic pieces you'd be in.

(*) lol - i just put months and months of grovelling back breaking ass mastering work into one word.