McLaren F1- Gold foil
Discussion
FraserLFA said:
The testing of alternatives is normally kept quiet.
Why spend all that money, just to give it to the competition for free?
How about alternatives not specific to the F1?Why spend all that money, just to give it to the competition for free?
I'm doing a report on materials for college and figured this would be a bit more interesting than most things, hence asking about technical specs and alternatives etc.
JTeb said:
All I know is that gold is one of the best conductors, so it helps dissipate the heat in the engine bay. Not sure there's much else to say on the matter?
No, not true- it is there to act as a reflector of the heat generated and to keep it in the engine bay and to prevent the engine cover itself getting fecking hot. The vents and louvres etc do the dissipating. Have a look at Zircotec- plasma sprayed ceramic coating that has been used on jet turbines/competition car exhausts for a number of years and can now be coated onto composites to give a heat shield effect.
I'd also look at other heat insulation foils; there's sticky backed aluminium, plus some aluminium foil coated fibreglass matting you can get- that should at least give you a start.
I'd also look at other heat insulation foils; there's sticky backed aluminium, plus some aluminium foil coated fibreglass matting you can get- that should at least give you a start.
Twincharged said:
Have a look at Zircotec- plasma sprayed ceramic coating that has been used on jet turbines/competition car exhausts for a number of years and can now be coated onto composites to give a heat shield effect.
I'd also look at other heat insulation foils; there's sticky backed aluminium, plus some aluminium foil coated fibreglass matting you can get- that should at least give you a start.
Sort of thing I'm looking for, thanks for that.I'd also look at other heat insulation foils; there's sticky backed aluminium, plus some aluminium foil coated fibreglass matting you can get- that should at least give you a start.
Twincharged said:
Have a look at Zircotec- plasma sprayed ceramic coating that has been used on jet turbines/competition car exhausts for a number of years and can now be coated onto composites to give a heat shield effect.
I'd also look at other heat insulation foils; there's sticky backed aluminium, plus some aluminium foil coated fibreglass matting you can get- that should at least give you a start.
Zircotec have just renewed their sponsorship with us, which is nice... http://www.redvictor1racing.co.uk/index.php/frosty...I'd also look at other heat insulation foils; there's sticky backed aluminium, plus some aluminium foil coated fibreglass matting you can get- that should at least give you a start.
Little known fact, the "gold" foil on the F1 wasnt real gold, it is actually the wrapping from Gordon Murrays favourite "Quality Street" sweet, he ate so many during the design and development of the car that they decided to use them for the heat shielding. They just said they were real gold to make customers think they were getting good value for money.
(it's entirely possible that i just made this up and it actually has no basis in reality
)
(it's entirely possible that i just made this up and it actually has no basis in reality
)Edited by anonymous-user on Monday 13th December 23:50
MX7 said:
HellDiver said:
It's also very shiny, and makes the owner feel like he's got his money's worth? 
Given that aluminium does the job almost as well as gold, I tend to agree with you.It was the ultimate. Not aluminium would do it almost as well. Gold is best so bloody use that!
In the same way they worked out the minimum number of turns of a nut on a bolt to get maximum holding force (after which there was no advantage of winding it on more) - 3 IIRC and then cut all the bolts to that exact length saving something like 23kg in the whole car (again IIRC!!).
That is the point of the McLaren F1 - not components being nearly the best, instead actually being THE best!
Cheers
The Moose
- Note that of course all this was a few years ago so things may have moved on since then, but back then it was!
The Moose said:
MX7 said:
HellDiver said:
It's also very shiny, and makes the owner feel like he's got his money's worth?
Given that aluminium does the job almost as well as gold, I tend to agree with you.Henry Ford did the same on the T to save metal/money.
Max_Torque said:
Little known fact, the "gold" foil on the F1 wasnt real gold, it is actually the wrapping from Gordon Murrays favourite "Quality Street" sweet, he ate so many during the design and development of the car that they decided to use them for the heat shielding. They just said they were real gold to make customers think they were getting good value for money.
(it's entirely possible that i just made this up and it actually has no basis in reality )
(it's entirely possible that i just made this up and it actually has no basis in reality
)Edited by Max_Torque on Monday 13th December 23:50
The Moose said:
MX7 said:
HellDiver said:
It's also very shiny, and makes the owner feel like he's got his money's worth?
Given that aluminium does the job almost as well as gold, I tend to agree with you.It was the ultimate. Not aluminium would do it almost as well. Gold is best so bloody use that!
In the same way they worked out the minimum number of turns of a nut on a bolt to get maximum holding force (after which there was no advantage of winding it on more) - 3 IIRC and then cut all the bolts to that exact length saving something like 23kg in the whole car (again IIRC!!).
That is the point of the McLaren F1 - not components being nearly the best, instead actually being THE best!
Cheers
The Moose
- Note that of course all this was a few years ago so things may have moved on since then, but back then it was!
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