What does the rear wing actually do?

[Bagman]

At the start of the weekends racing I broke off the rear wing and snapped the mount. Raced the rest of the day with no wing and I'm not actually sure if I noticed a difference. I did at the start over the jumps but I think it was psychological more than anything. I always thought it helped stability over jumps but I'm not 100% sure now and would be grateful for a more expert view.

[mattJT]

At the start of the weekends racing I broke off the rear wing and snapped the mount. Raced the rest of the day with no wing and I'm not actually sure if I noticed a difference. I did at the start over the jumps but I think it was psychological more than anything. I always thought it helped stability over jumps but I'm not 100% sure now and would be grateful for a more expert view.

I'm no expert, but would imagine the wing goes hand in hand with the cars overall aerodynamics - the wing would ensure a good air flow as the car moves and equally would imagine that is there to help with keeping the back end down thus increasing overall top end speed?

[jamiekerr14]

In 1/8th scale:

I personally have not run without or broken a wing off when running so cant commend much. I know of a few people that, have and they said and watching the car. It struggle's a lot more on larger jumps, as the wing plays a large roll in car control in the air. And how the car jumps too, At lower speeds you wouldn't notice as much in comparison in fast sections ect. It helps a lot to keep the rear planted to the ground, and will keep the rear more stable. Just generally makes the whole car more stable. But you are right, a fair bit is in the mindset but a lot will depend on the car-the wing that was used.. the speed of the track jumps ect...track high or low grip ect..

Genrale rule of thumb:

Slicker=Less grip track=Larger wings AKA High Downforce
Faster track in general

High Grip=Smaller wing's..standard/low one's
Smaller..slower track


Im sure other's will chime in with more detail:)

[wacattack]

Aids stability when jumping and also provides downforce on high speed corners. The next time you race and you have a fast sweeping corner, try it with and without a rear wing, the rear will try to slide much more when the wing is removed

[Cooper]

At the start of the weekends racing I broke off the rear wing and snapped the mount. Raced the rest of the day with no wing and I'm not actually sure if I noticed a difference. I did at the start over the jumps but I think it was psychological more than anything. I always thought it helped stability over jumps but I'm not 100% sure now and would be grateful for a more expert view.

It means you were driving too slow.

[Bagman]

It was a high grip track, 100% carpet. At the same time I was driving slow. I still can't believe that a 1/10th buggy wing provides much more downforce in corners though.

[jamiekerr14]

You would be surprised.. yeah on a small high grip track. It wouldn't be such a drastic handling change.. as if it was a large low grip track..

[mole2k]

I fell foul of a broken wing in our last club league. Leading the final by half a lap when the wing crack and eventually broke off. I definitely noticed it on the sweepers and ended up losing the final as I couldn't carry the speed on the faster bits of the track, I also had to throttle differently in the air to keep the car level, it did feel harder to jump with.

In saying that i do run a 7" wing with a lot of gourney so would have a larger effect consider to a small wing with little or no gourney.

[Big G]

We run a high grip carpet track and frequently have a high speed corner at the end of the straight. This can generally be taken near flat out if you can resist the grip roll.

I broke my rear wing off in one race and then next time I went down the straight the car flew off the track. The downforce at high speed is certainly noticeable!

[Neil Skull]

It means you were driving too slow.


Exactly!!!!;)

[wacattack]

Don't forget, this is 1/10th scale. The aerodynamic force of an rc car at 20mph is like that of a full sized car doing 200mph.

It's like any other change on your car. Moving a camber link position by 2mm can make a big difference to how it handles. That same difference on a full sized car would be 2cm

[Richard Lowe]

Don't forget, this is 1/10th scale. The aerodynamic force of an rc car at 20mph is like that of a full sized car doing 200mph.

It's like any other change on your car. Moving a camber link position by 2mm can make a big difference to how it handles. That same difference on a full sized car would be 2cm
The air doesn't exactly scale like that but the wing makes a massive difference. This weekend I had terrible understeer at high speed with the 4wd, I went from 5mm or so of gurney to almost none and it was like a different car to drive. Not just at the end if the straight but in the infield too.

[dodgydiy]

seem to remember from a previous post on here that the aerodynamic drag produced by the wing has more actual effect than the downforce created with the size of wings we use

[Chris Doughty]

think of the rear wing of a buggy to be like the 'flight' of a Dart

I think the function of a 10th or 8th scale rear wing works more due to aero drag than actual high/low pressure aerodynamics that a typical full size 'wing' would generate.

its more to do with forced re-direction of air than high/low pressure of an actual wing shaped wing.

but in short, you can tell the difference by just adding a 5mm gurney flap on the back of a wing, remove it completely and the car should feel appauling!

[wacattack]

The air doesn't exactly scale like that but the wing makes a massive difference. This weekend I had terrible understeer at high speed with the 4wd, I went from 5mm or so of gurney to almost none and it was like a different car to drive. Not just at the end if the straight but in the infield too.

Its more the principles I was trying illustrate than the exact science :p

[Bagman]

So the gist is stick the wing back on and drive faster. I can probably manage half of that. Thanks for the info everyone.

[SlowOne]

It's more likely that the rear wing is providing a bit of drag behind the centre of pressure, thus making the car more stable while it is on the ground. When it's in the air, all bets are off on the function of the wing, as it has nothing like an aerofoil cross section. When the car is descending, air comes at it from under and over the wing.

You can't scale the Laws of Physics, so the wing must be doing something, however little. Since the top guys have a range of wings to choose from, and do use different ones, it is reasonable to suppose that they make a difference.

It is also reasonable to suppose that if YOU don't notice a difference, you're not one of the top guys, and need to go faster!!! :D :lol: :thumbsup: Only joking...

[sparrow.2]

All of the above and buggies look cack without wings! :lol:

[caneye]

if your track has big jumps, then the absence/presence of rear wing will determine your car's "flight" or trajectory during air time.

[Garry]

Without wanting to insult anyone.....whenever this question comes up on any RC forum, its asked by someone who doesn't have a sensitive enough feel for the car.

:blush:

[Bagman]

Without wanting to insult anyone.....whenever this question comes up on any RC forum, its asked by someone who doesn't have a sensitive enough feel for the car.

:blush:

You're spot on there. Only been doing the sport for less than 12 months really. I don't have a sensitive enough feel for the car so I've asked the question to seasoned experts on a forum. Like you I'd have been surprised if one of the top drivers had asked the question. I'm too old to be insulted but I did have a little chuckle over your comment. Well done, you've hit the nail on the head.

[sirmixalot]

A wing is mega important. You would think it doesn't do much on 1/10th scale, but in fact it has more effect than on 1/1 scale. Air thickness doesn't scale, so in fact air to the 1/10th car feels a lot 'thicker' than to a 1/1 car. And on top of that, our buggy wings are huge compared to the overall size of the car, and it's mounted way back.

I always prefer a wide wing with less gurney over a narrow wing with a lot of gurney. The wide wing is stable, and the less gurney still allows it to turn.

Move the wing back and forward also has massive effect, in fast turns (for example turning in after the straight).

The more gurney, the more drag and downforce, which will make the rear end planted. Jumping will be more nose up. Another reason why I prefer a wider wing with less gurney.

Go here:
http://users.telenet.be/elvo/

Click aerodynamics and read the 10 pages :-)

[mattb]

I thought the rear wing was to protect the rear shock tower from breaking and to put loads of stickers on:confused: ive put shed loads of tinsel on mine for christmas id better take it of if its going to affect the handling.

[Whiskers]

I thought the rear wing was to protect the rear shock tower from breaking and to put loads of stickers on:confused: ive put shed loads of tinsel on mine for christmas id better take it of if its going to affect the handling.

+1! It's a great place to put loads of huge stickers on! :thumbsup:

[RudeTony]

I remember a meeting where by 2wd car just had too much high speed steering and I was complaining in the pits. Lee Martin told me to put a 7" rear wind on instead of a 6.5" wing - I thought there was no way it would make a difference but it certainly did ......
It makes a massive difference to the handling of a buggy,,,,

Try it and see

[lochness42]

Well, it's simple as that - track was high grip carpet one.
You also didn't drive very fast (otherwise there wouldn't be 2 Cougars in front of your Dex410 in the end :eh?:). Also lack of proper jumps played some role.

All in all don't forget to mount your wing for our summer season - on dirt track you'll definitely notice difference.