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April 8, 2009 1:37 p.m. kb58 New Reader

Been away from here for a while, in fact ever since the forum changed format...

Anyhow, Kimini (GRM cover car, Nov 2006) was sold last fall and I've starting on a new project, "Midlana", this time a mid-engine Locost. Think Lotus Sevenish with the drivetrain behind the driver.

I'll make periodic posts about how it's coming along but you can always check out progress over at the Midlana website

No real pictures other than CAD renders and a partly assembled tube-frame chassis.

Unlike the Kimini book which covers mid-engine design in general, the in-progress Midlana book will include complete plans. Yes, another book is in the works, too.

It's great to be back on a project and to be back here!
April 8, 2009 1:46 p.m. Per Schroeder Technical Editor/Advertising Director

Very cool!
April 8, 2009 1:57 p.m. Ian F Reader

Yes - awesome.

Unfortunately, I don't have time to read the entire blog to date right now, but I have one question:

Was there any thought of mounting the engine and maybe some of the suspension to a subframe? So if you need to work on the engine, just undo a few bolts, disconnect a few lines and lift the chassis off the engine?
April 8, 2009 2:13 p.m. kb58 New Reader

Ian F wrote: Was there any thought of mounting the engine and maybe some of the suspension to a subframe? So if you need to work on the engine, just undo a few bolts, disconnect a few lines and lift the chassis off the engine?

Yes but after thinking it through it didn't seem to have much benefit. I thought at first I could do just that, unbolt it and lift the car off. But doing that still requires a hoist, and it's possible that the hoist wouldn't be able to lift the chassis high enough to get it up and over the drivetrain. Also, depending where the work's done, the hoist might hit the rafters in a typical garage.

Most of the forces are through the bottom tubes so I'm was uncomfortable with a bolt-in arrangement. I'd hate to have the frame shift mid-corner (yes, I know, it should never happen but this one's going to be built by other people, too.)

Another excuse is, how often will the engine need to be removed? Probably hardly ever, though I get your point about being able to easily access the drivetrain for service. The surrounding panels will be removable so I don't build myself into a corner like I did with Kimini... it's a good thing that engine never had to come out!
April 8, 2009 2:52 p.m. Salanis SuperDork

I for one welcome our new mid-engined overlords.
April 8, 2009 3:03 p.m. PaulY New Reader

I'm half way through your Kimini book and it's excellent. It has convinced both my friend and I that building a car from scratch probably isn't what we want but all of the advice and information is really valuable.

This new project looks really cool, I had ideas about building something like this, sort of like a big FSAE car meets locost. I can't wait to see how it goes and to read the next book.

Why'd you sell Kimini?
April 8, 2009 3:10 p.m. kb58 New Reader

PaulY wrote:

I'm half way through your Kimini book and it's excellent. It has convinced both my friend and I that building a car from scratch probably isn't what we want ...

Why'd you sell Kimini?

Huh, I'm not sure I'm happy or sad that the book convinced you not to do it... I guess I'll be happy it saved you 100s of hours of work!

I sold Kimini because around here it gets hot enough during much of the year that driving a small car with no A/C and tiny windows isn't fun (oh, and sitting in traffic jams, too.) I guess I've become soft. And yes, for some twisted reason I reather start another project than add A/C, go figure.

And finally, there was so much time and money in the composite shell that I never felt comfortable pushing it on-track. Midlana has much less composite so there's no worry about stuff getting kicked up.
April 8, 2009 3:39 p.m. PaulY New Reader

Makes sense. I just figured after investing soo much time you'd still want it around.

Ha, it's not that it convinced me not to do it, I still want to but I just know now that I'd rather work on an existing car than start from scratch. Maybe when I get out of school and have a garage of my own.
April 8, 2009 4:04 p.m. Keith SuperDork

Any chance of creating an RSS feed for the site? It makes it a lot easier to follow along. I'd also love to see an "overview" page, giving basic component listings such as uprights and the drivetrain you're using. I know there are Miata parts in there based on the questions you've been asking me!
April 8, 2009 4:12 p.m. kb58 New Reader

It's all in the Midlana forum, but I understand what you mean about the RSS feed... I've just not taken the time to figure out how to do it.
April 8, 2009 4:18 p.m. Tim Baxter Online Editor

There are simple add-ons to phpbb to provide RSS feeds.
April 8, 2009 4:23 p.m. Apexcarver SuperDork

I have been tracking it and checking your site at least a few times a week for updates.

gonna get that garage cleaned and get working soon, or is it such a mess that your procrastinating? (jk)

I am following Midlana thinking that I might want to build one, but on the other hand I have been thinking about tinkering with doing a full cage to a locost and using a rotary engine, currently thinking Renesis, good NA power with stock reliability, lower torque which i see as a possible plus with a light car (and i need to research more, but it looks like if its close enough to a typical locost i can get it classed the same as a caterham/stalker in NASA TT)

either way its going to be awhile before i can really get going with the project. (trying to finish a degree in materials engineering)
April 8, 2009 4:28 p.m. Salanis SuperDork

You know, I think this new build appeals to me more than Kimini. Kimini was really cool, but this thing just looks like a track demon project that I could work on with my dad.
April 8, 2009 4:33 p.m. Keith SuperDork

Yeah, it's really easy to add RSS to a forum, I was kinda hoping for the build diary :) I'd help if I could, depends on how you put it all together. I suspect it's kinda old-school, one big HTML document.
April 8, 2009 4:38 p.m. Tim Baxter Online Editor

That's the sort of thing that's tailor-made for some simple content management software. Wordpress would work well and is pretty simple. And you get instant RSS feeds
April 8, 2009 5:45 p.m. kb58 New Reader

Yes, the build diary is old-school, one big HTML doc. I finally got it through my thick head to keep its address static, too, so it shouldn't be hard... I guess.

So are you recommending Wordpress, or something else? I'll check into the phpbb add-on.
April 8, 2009 5:48 p.m. kb58 New Reader

Salanis wrote:

You know, I think this new build appeals to me more than Kimini. Kimini was really cool, but this thing just looks like a track demon project that I could work on with my dad.

It's surprises me the number of people who mention exactly that, building a Midlana car with their dad. That's very cool... too bad my dad has no interest in cars.

Hey, is there anyway to change the name of this thread? I realized I really should add the word "Midlana" to it...
April 8, 2009 5:55 p.m. Twin_Cam Dork

I followed the Kimini for years, good to see you have another project.
April 8, 2009 6:25 p.m. ckosacranoid HalfDork

good luck, the other car was very cool gearing about it on here and then seeing it in the zine. now if i could come up something that would cool...sigh...
April 9, 2009 2:40 a.m. Brust New Reader

I know this will be great. As to this dissuading you from building a car from scratch... let me tell you that you might get in a worse situation--- I know I did. Building a ship in a bottle is sometimes more pain that building a decent product from the get-go. Check out my MG Midget for de-spiration. www.picasaweb.com/brust.roethler www.home.earthlink.net/~roethler
April 9, 2009 7:12 a.m. Ian F Reader

kb58 wrote: Another excuse is, how often will the engine need to be removed? Probably hardly ever, though I get your point about being able to easily access the drivetrain for service. The surrounding panels will be removable so I don't build myself into a corner like I did with Kimini... it's a good thing that engine never had to come out!

Sounds like good reasoning. I look forward to seeing the completed car.
April 9, 2009 7:29 a.m. 914Driver Dork

kb58, I'm so jealous.

You actually plan and think things through! I gotta try that. Cool project.

Dan
April 9, 2009 8:23 a.m. kb58 New Reader

914Driver wrote:

kb58, I'm so jealous.

You actually plan and think things through! I gotta try that. Cool project.

Dan

Hah, thanks, it's more like... think of a duck on a lake, moving smoothly alone, yet under the surface the feet are going like crazy. The two beta-builders have seen a few of my It'll-be-done-this-way-oh-guess-not-better-change-things sort of course corrections. They've seen the starts and stops that aren't normally visible.
April 9, 2009 8:34 a.m. SoloSonett Reader

Welcome back to the forum Kurt

Kimini gave the incentive to dive into my tube framed Sonett project.

I wish I were as handy on the PC as I am with a sawsall and welder. As you are You have all the skills , Kurt and give me hope for the future of America and the car culture.

Can't wait to see Midlana on the cover of GRM
April 9, 2009 9:00 a.m. kb58 New Reader

SoloSonett wrote:

Can't wait to see Midlana on the cover of GRM

When the photographer called, months after we did the photoshoot for the Kimini article and said they wanted to put it on the cover, it was a total surprise. Never in a million years did I expect it or even think it possible; that stuff always happens to other people. I'm forever greatful to everyone at GRM that they made it happen and in fact I have the cover shot on my office wall right now. The car may be gone but the memories live on.

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