10 replies to this topic

[Dave_12]

Where is the best place to stick the spoiler?  On top side of body or on the underside of body? 
If on the underside how does the tape go staying stuck to the painted side of body?
I have always placed the spoiler on the top side but i am wondering if i should try sticking it on the bottom side .
 

[Bill from NH]

What are you using for tape? I always placed them on the underside of the body & taped them with a quality packaging tape to both the underside & the topside of the body. They never came off that way. Go to YouTube & search on "How to wing a wing car slot car body" & you'll find a couple videos that show you how it's done. Back in the day, I also tried glueing them on top with a Lexan glue, but those joints were brittle & would eventually break.

[Dave Crevie]

From an aerodynamics standpoint, it should be better to mount the spoiler inside the body. This puts the leading edge of the spoiler out of the airstream, where it could create eddies or other disruptions to the airflow.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Mounting the spoiler inside the body takes the leading edge out of the airflow. 

 

 

 

 

If you mount the spoiler inside, you loose some of the support the body supplies. So you have to use good double-sticky tape along with the staples.

 

In the real world, I doubt that it makes any real difference. I always mounted the spoilers inside with 3-M carpet tape. Worked best for me, but I am not a serious wing car racer.

[old & gray]

I preferred mounting on the outside of the body with double stick tape. I felt the air pushing on the tape was stronger than pulling on the tape.

 

It was also easier to change or replace without staples i.e. narrow for the center lanes, full width for the gutters; also quicker to replace when someone punches holes in the spoiler of the wrong car.

[Bill Seitz]

I was taught to install the spoiler to the inside of the body and in later years have become a proponent of keeping the airflow smoother as Dave Crevie illustrates. I do expect this is a very minor advantage. For the past several years, I've been buying mostly premounts, and I find that the commercial premounts all have the spoiler on top. I can't tell any practical difference in performance.

 

I've had spoilers come unglued from both sides of the body. The biggest culprit is oil, traction glue, tire treatment, or other oily or solvent type residues that get into the adhesive joint and break down the adhesive. This is a bigger problem on the inside of the body, but occurs on both sides and requires careful management. This effects air dams as well as spoilers, really anywhere that adhesive is used. It's very important to keep such substances away from the adhesive to prolong the life of the bond. I've tried different tapes and adhesives as well as the different adhesives the premount brands use, and they can all be effected by these oily and solvent contaminants. It's also very important to make sure the surfaces to be bonded are clean and free from oils prior to bonding.

 

I used double-stick stationary tape for the longest time but have now switched to "mounting tape", a higher strength double-stick adhesive for mounting items onto walls. Mounting has more of a more aggressive adhesive which provides a more secure bond. In my experience, adhesive products manufactured by 3M also tend to provide superior performance. The double-stick made for office/stationary use really needs to be backed up with staples; the mounting tape will work satisfactorily without staples.

[MSwiss]

Here's a state of the art wing body kitted by Michael Iga.

 

The spoiler is on the bottom.

 

 

[slotcarone]

Here's a state of the art wing body kitted by Michael Iga.

 

The spoiler is on the bottom.

 

20250722_194442.jpg

 

20250722_194446.jpg

Really does not look very much different than the bodies we were doing in the mid '90's. Except for the dimples of course.

[MSwiss]

Look at the creases in the side dams.

[grooverunner]

Mike,I noticed the creases on the side dams. What is the reason for them?

[Dominator]

The creases add rigidity to the side dams which allows a thinner dam to be used. I think some are using .003 or .004? After talking to a few guys at the world's i think the bodies weigh in around 6.5 grams.

[Dave_12]

I stuck it on the bottom side seems to have stuck OK . 
Thanks for those pictures i can see some good ideas on those. 

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