In this first series of builder logs, I will be testing my ideas on building the chassis rails using carbon fiber wrapped around a core material thereby making a composite sandwich.  My intention is to build a very light and sturdy frame that is true to the curves, shape and details like the material lightening holes used in the actual design.

 

This series of videos present some instruction value about working with carbon fiber layups based upon my past experience that I acquired a long time ago while building an all fiberglass airplane.  But carbon fiber is a little different and lessons of the past are being relearned in part here. 

 

As you’ll quickly realize, this is a journey and not an expert tutorial on how to build a carbon fiber chassis.  Learning something new was a major objective of mine in this project, so I am discovering how to best build a lightweight alternative to the traditional metal chassis. 

 

This endeavor is perhaps the most technically difficult aspect of this project.  I have to solve numerous problems in my pursuit of saving weight, preserving the look and style, and making it strong at the same time.  This proved more difficult than I originally anticipated, but laying awake at night while solving this multi-faceted problem is part of what makes this so fun. 

 

Will it work out or will it be a disaster?   Watch and find out.