LIGHTEST SOLID ON THE PLANET

[JOKER]

AEROGEL - COOL NASA TECH.........CAN YOU IMAGINE?



A nearly transparent Super Material, Aerogel is the world's lightest solid, weighing only three times that of air and is 1,000 times less dense than glass.

At first glance, the smoky blue silica aerogels cause most people to do a double take. Most observers perceive a ghost-like translucent substance that is distinctive - yet encased by no evident means. Almost like an overcast rainbow, Aerogel resembles a hologram, appearing to be a projection rather than a solid object.

Due to its unique combination of physical properties - thermal, acoustical, optical and electronic - Aerogel holds incredible potential for a wide variety of applications. Aerogel is also amazingly strong. A block of aerogel the size of an average person weighs less than a pound, yet can support an object weighing more than half a ton.


Monolithic Block of Aerogel

The Weight of "Air"

Aerogel as shown weighs 0.7 gram.

[parrish]

If I could just find this stuff in an 1-3/4" x 7" block...

[Barga Racing]

I was thinking more like a 1 1/4 in diameter rod

[builderjim]

M8. The main body structure must be made of wood.

[slkrnsntracing]

builderjim said:

M8. The main body structure must be made of wood.

Jswirl was borderline on that rule, but I think the style has a lot of potential.

Phil

[parrish]

builderjim said:

M8. The main body structure must be made of wood.

Pesky rules!!!

[JOKER]

GET OUT YOUR WALLETS MAN!!!

$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$

stores.ebay.com/The-Aerogel-Store

[docjobe]

Hi Phil

I checked with the WIRL folks in Marietta and also discussed body style with Larry Reed before submitting JSWIRL. Here are reasons the body style is OK re rule M8

The main rear body structure is a frame made of 4 different types of wood. There is oak, mahogany, birch plywood, and pine. The only other stuff is the tungsten weights and brass axle shaft, similar to what you use, (I think) and some epoxy glue.
,The main front body structure is 95% basswood made from a WinDerby car with the rest being a 3/32" brass axle tube holder underneath and epoxy varnish coating.

So JSWIRL has 2 main body structures of predominately wood. So in this sense the body satisfies M8. The fact that these 2 main body structures are connected with 4 grams of brass tubing does not make the brass tubing the main body structure. The brass is only 3% of the total body weight or about the same amount of brass tubing used in many designs to hold in the axles.

Also, the brass connecting tubing is decorative, and allowed according to:

M9. Body design may be enhanced by adding other stable materials such as plastic or metal. All additions must be firmly attached.

And finally, Wart Hog's design is accepted and is similar except he uses a single metal rod (instead of 2) connecting front and rear and the whole thing is painted. But I didn't see any reason for hiding the decorative aspects of the brass tubing with paint. I could also fill the inside of the tubes with sawdust or make a fine sawdust paint to cover the whole car if every fraction of the car must have wood associated with it.

Besides, too much wood could irritate Monkey's butts or perhaps worse leave a splinter....[;>)]

Have a good day, slickern, I had fun talking with you and others at Lima and actually learned a lot of practical stuff.

[wafuplayer]

wow..
that was amazing...
it really look like a hologram!
that was a cool stuff.. thanks for the info.. it was very pretty cool really! ;D