What is a car spoiler
A spoiler is one or more special elements designed to change the aerodynamics of a car body by redirecting air flows. The main purposes of installing this part are:
- reduction of aerodynamic drag;
- increased downforce;
- combating vehicle body pollution.
It is worth mentioning that many install a spoiler as a decorative (tuning) element. Its mounting can be done in front, behind, on the roof or on the side of the car. With an individual approach, you can make a custom-made spoiler, which will allow even a production car to stand out in traffic.
An original spoiler from a tuning studio will make your car stand out on city streets.
Pros and cons of installation
The spoiler gives the car the following qualities:
- attractive appearance;
- improved dynamics;
- increased adhesion to the canvas;
- reducing fuel consumption;
- increasing braking efficiency.
It should be clarified that the positive qualities of the element in question appear at speeds above 100 km/h.
Installing a spoiler on a car gives it a number of advantages, but they appear at speeds above 100 km/h
The disadvantages include:
- high cost of structural elements;
- increased fuel consumption due to incorrectly selected form or installation;
- fragile material of manufacture (plastic).
Why is this necessary?
A spoiler installed on the rear of a car is also called a wing.
With proper installation and certain calculations, the body kit part improves the aerodynamic properties of the car.
It also helps to slightly reduce fuel consumption; power is added by reducing air resistance.
Car tuning options
Today you can choose a spoiler for almost any car, regardless of body type: from a sedan to a minibus. To make the choice easier, you need to understand in more detail the criteria by which this tuning element is classified:
- at the installation site;
- by installation method;
- by material;
- according to form.
You can secure the spoiler using double-sided tape, but only if the part is small in size
The main location for installing the spoiler is the rear of the roof or trunk lid. This depends on the body type, as well as the size of the spoiler and its shape. You can attach a tuning element:
- using double-sided tape. This option is appropriate for small spoiler sizes;
- bolted fastening. Many motorists do not like this method because of the need to make holes in the body part;
- fastening with staples. This option is suitable for those cars that have a certain shape of the rear cover and a gap between the body.
What material is suitable for tuning
As for the material for making the spoiler, the most common are:
- ARB plastic;
- ordinary plastic;
- fiberglass;
- polyurethane;
- aluminum.
To give preference to a design made from one material or another, it is first necessary to consider each of them in more detail, taking into account its chemical and technical characteristics.
Which form to choose
Spoilers can be quite varied in shape. To conclude whether this option is suitable or not, you need to see the part in front of you. There are cases when the shape of an element complements a part of the body, but generally spoilers are represented by the most non-standard designs. With their help, you can give your car not only exclusivity, but also aggressiveness.
Spoilers can also be classified by design:
- custom - represented, as a rule, by a single copy;
Custom spoilers are produced in single copies, which allows you to make the car unique - factory - the part is produced on an industrial scale and looks appropriate.
A spoiler bought at a car store will decorate the car, but will significantly lighten the pocket of its owner
Origami tank made of cardboard
If you are a fan of military equipment, then you will definitely want to make an origami tank out of paper. This craft is perfect for a personal collection, as well as a gift for both a little boy and an adult man. Thanks to the low level of complexity, even novice origami masters can handle it. And the small amount of time required to assemble a tank allows you to make several models in a short period of time.
Fold a standard sheet of A4 paper in half lengthwise.
Next, fold the corner from the fold to the outer edge.
Unfold and repeat from the outer edge to the fold.
We unfold and do the same on the other side of the workpiece. As a result, we get a rectangle with two outlined triangles.
Now we hide the side triangles inside and cover them with the top triangle with the base - the short side of the rectangle. We repeat the same thing on the other side. We get the basic shape - a double triangle.
Carefully bend the long side of the rectangle towards the center. Please note that we do not bend the upper triangle, but work underneath it.
Now we bend it from the center to the edge. We turn the workpiece and repeat the same steps on the other side.
Cover everything with triangles.
We rotate the workpiece and raise the corners of the triangle to the top.
We turn the workpiece over and connect it as follows: carefully fold in half (but do not iron!) the triangle that has not yet been folded and pass it between the folded triangle.
Next, we bend and hide the lower corners of the triangles under the small ones. We repeat the action on the other side. Carefully level all the parts, forming the tracks round.
To add a tank barrel, take a small rectangle of paper that color and fold it into a tube. The end can be secured with glue for reliability. We insert the barrel into the tower. If the trunk is long, the excess must be cut off with scissors.
The tank is ready for battle!
We are sure you liked it. Then you won’t be able to resist and will definitely make another model - a high-speed origami tank. It’s a little more complicated, but if you really want something, then all obstacles can be overcome. As always, it all starts with a standard sheet of A4 paper. Fold it in half lengthwise
Next, fold the long side toward the fold.
Turn over and repeat on the other side.
Unfold to get the basic shape of the door. Place the cut side towards the top and bend the corners towards the center.
Now we bend the long side towards the cut in the center and bend it in the opposite direction. We repeat the same steps with the other long side. Do not forget that the final result depends on the quality and accuracy of the bends.
We turn our workpiece over and bend it 2 times, but not in half, but so as to connect it to the base of the tank.
We connect the parts of the tank: carefully tuck the paper from the bottom under the top strip with small triangles.
To make the caterpillars, carefully straighten the paper with your fingers and squeeze it forward.
We form the second caterpillar in the same way.
Now you need to bend the two small triangles on the tower. To make the trunk, prepare a rectangular sheet of paper. It must be rolled into a tube diagonally, starting from the corner.
Cut off the sharp tip of the paper, and now glue the smooth edge so that the trunk does not unfold. The finished tube also needs to be cut off on one side so that the trunk is even. Insert the barrel into the turret and you're done!
Rules for selecting a suitable spoiler
Today, many spoilers are produced for a specific car make and model, but there are also universal options that are suitable for almost any car. The only difference is where they will be attached. The car itself should also be taken into account: if we are talking about the executive class, then the spoiler will obviously be an unnecessary element in the design.
It is important to evaluate how the chosen accessory will look. To do this, just take the part, apply it to the car and see from the outside how well it matches its appearance. Many tuning studios have a special program with which you can choose the best option, after which they determine the location of the element’s installation. If the spoiler is designed for a specific car, then this question does not arise.
It is better to purchase a spoiler without a paint layer, which will allow you to find a color that matches the car. An important point is the selection of a suitable fastening method.
In order not to make a mistake with your choice, it is better to contact only reputable tuning companies. Only in such studios can truly high-quality products be installed.
When choosing a spoiler, attention should be paid to the material: in many cases the part is made of plastic, which is characterized by both low cost and short service life. The plastic spoiler quickly fades when exposed to sunlight and breaks with minor impacts.
In addition, there is such a material as fiberglass. A part made from it quickly loses its original appearance and fails.
Carbon fiber products are of higher quality and, therefore, more expensive. It is important to understand that a high-quality spoiler must be made for a specific make and model of the car, taking into account the improvement of its aerodynamic characteristics. Therefore, all that can be said about universal options is that their level of quality is questionable.
Only when installing a high-quality spoiler can you be sure of the durability of the structure and the performance of the element’s direct functions
other methods
Despite the fact that the presented manufacturing option is one of the most optimal in terms of costs and requirements for product quality, other methods are often used. Popular approaches are when the part itself is cast from plaster and covered with epoxy resin and fiberglass. Each material has its own difficulties in processing, so it is important to think through all the steps in advance. In this case, the gypsum must be poured into a prepared mold, usually made from foam plastic; it is not so easy to carve it, but you will get the hang of it. The resulting workpiece is not very strong and therefore requires delicate work.
Also, some make such parts from polyurethane foam. It is poured into a mold that approximately corresponds to the solution of the planned product, and then it is ground with all possible tools. Of course, this is not an easy task, but many can appreciate this rather simple method in its essence. The finished product can be sanded and painted in any color.
We hope our tips were useful, and through trial and error you figured out how to make and install a spoiler yourself. If you did everything correctly and took into account the operating features of such a product, it will serve you for many years.
How to make a spoiler for a car with your own hands
When and why do you have to ask yourself the question of making a spoiler yourself? Today, a large selection of the element in question is offered and, it would seem, doing something with your own hands in this regard is not required. But then the cost of a high-quality spoiler turns out to be quite high, and this indicator is not a guarantee that the desired effect will be achieved.
Therefore, some car owners design spoilers themselves, obtaining the desired design and the desired effect from installing such an element. A homemade accessory can be made using various materials, which the owner chooses based on his imagination and free time.
Tools and materials
To start making a spoiler, you will need to prepare the following list of materials and tools:
- foam sheet;
- fiberglass about two meters;
- fastening and welding;
- spray paint (2 pcs.);
- primer (3 cans);
- epoxy glue 2 kg;
- tassels;
- spatulas;
- mesh for reinforcement;
- sandpaper.
Depending on the specific design of the product, the main material is:
- gypsum;
- Styrofoam;
- polyurethane foam;
- metal carcass.
Stages of making a homemade spoiler
The entire process of creating a structure can be divided into several stages:
- mold making;
- material reinforcement;
- putty;
- painting;
- installation.
One of the stages of creating a spoiler is strengthening, i.e. imparting rigidity to the structure
It is best to use cardboard as a pattern. You can also use plywood, but this will lead to additional costs.
Regardless of the material chosen, after realizing the desired shape, be sure to try on the pattern on the machine. You need to make sure that the size is correct and the attachment points correspond to the intended locations. You should make sure that the future product is symmetrical, for which the pattern is bent in half.
The frame can be made of different materials, but its main role is to hold the given shape at the beginning of the manufacture of the part. The spoiler will be given rigidity by fiberglass, as well as a layer of putty and paint. When choosing a filler, you need to take into account the planned shape of the future product.
Video: making tuning elements with your own hands
Step-by-step manufacturing algorithm
To shape the wing, it is necessary to make a matrix. It will initially outline the contours of the product. Then the entire future structure is given rigidity. At the next stage, a primer, paint and a layer of automotive varnish are applied to the product. After manufacturing, the finished product is installed.
Foam spoiler
We will tell you step by step how to make a spoiler with your own hands. One of the most common frame bases for such a body kit is a strip of galvanized iron. Two L-shaped bends are made along both edges at 90 degrees. In the future, the entire structure will be fixed on such “legs”.
Step 1. Making a metal frame Step 2. Gluing the foam Step 3. Applying carbon fiber Step 4. Painting and varnishing Step 5. Installing on the car
After this, the metal “skeleton” should be overgrown with foam “meat”. The white, lightweight material can be easily processed with any fine-tooth saw and polished with sandpaper.
After preparing the matrix, you will need to fix it with carbon fiber.
It is advisable to apply at least three layers. This will provide high-quality texture and additional rigidity to the product. It is advisable to take short breaks between laying layers to allow the resin to polymerize. In some cases, you can use an industrial hair dryer to speed up the process.
Installation of LED signal lighting is performed at this stage.
This way the wires will not be visible, they can be covered with layers of texture, and the LEDs can easily be mounted in any area.
