Top Fuel Dragster Fun

**Milton Shupe** · January 30th, 2011, 07:58

Just started this model with about 8 hours in it, but have got a neat flight model now that responds pretty close to what I wanted.

Runs 1/4 mile in less than 5 seconds at 430 MPH :-)
Stops in the second 1320'.

Good stability on runout and braking.

Touchy, leapy throttle for burnouts and fast starts.

Turns are realistically difficult.

Too much fun!

Pissing off a lot of folks who live near the airport.

**Drzook** · January 30th, 2011, 08:04

Now THAT is cool!:ernae:

***Panther_99FS*** · January 30th, 2011, 08:59

**Milton Shupe** · January 30th, 2011, 09:00

Lots of fun! Now that I have a reasonable FM, I will flesh out the model and VC. Looking for Top Fuel sounds, and effects will be a challenge.

I had no 3-views; just designed from the recesses of my mind. Will add all the appropriate wind foils, engine headers, parachute, roll bars, etc.

Just a fun thing to do during my break.

***Ferry_vO*** · January 30th, 2011, 09:04

Now this is totally unexpected coming from you Milton!

Topspeed might be a little too high? IMHO those cars will do about 300+ mph?

Sounds might be difficult to get right, since Fs doesn't know gear changes I think.

**Milton Shupe** · January 30th, 2011, 09:12

Originally Posted by Ferry_vO

Now this is totally unexpected coming from you Milton!

Topspeed might be a little too high? IMHO those cars will do about 300+ mph?

Sounds might be difficult to get right, since Fs doesn't know gear changes I think.

It's been a long time since I visited a drag strip to watch a Top Fueler but I recall 329+ MPH in less than 5 seconds. I'll have to do some research for tweaking.

I am trying to challenge Gary Jones or Nigel Richards for some hot, raspy, fuel burning, supercharger driven, fire breathiing sounds.

She revs quickly, jumps off the starting line and reaches 1/4 mile in appropriate times. Standing on the brakes and serious flap drag stops her in about 1500 feet.

**Milton Shupe** · January 30th, 2011, 09:16

Okay, here are the records, and I will "try" to stay within reason :-)

The fastest top fuelers can attain terminal speeds of over 530 km/h (329 mph) while covering the quarter mile (402 m) distance in roughly 4.45 seconds. Top Fuel dragsters are the fastest accelerating manned vehicles on Earth, quicker even than the space shuttle launch vehicle or catapult-assisted jet fighter.[citation needed] A Top Fuel dragster produces 8,000 horsepower (6,000 kW) and can go from 0 to 320 mph (510 km/h) in under 5 seconds and from 0–100 km/h in 0.9 seconds

As of July 2009, the world record for a 1/4 mile pass is 4.428 seconds, set by Tony Schumacher in a Top Fuel Dragster. Schumacher also holds the top speed record for the quarter mile at 336.15 miles per hour (540.98 km/h), set in a TFD at Hebron, Ohio, that same year. Top Fuel races are now held over a 305 metres (1,001 ft) distance for safety reasons (but still held on 400m lengths in Australia). The e.t. record under the new rules is also held by Schumacher, at 3.771 seconds, while the top speed record is held by Larry Dixon at 321.58 miles per hour (517.53 km/h).[11]

Drag racing rules require a record run be backed up within one percent at the same

***Ferry_vO*** · January 30th, 2011, 09:35

Thanks for the info Milton! It must be hard to replicate the acceleration of a top fuel dragster in Fs; the cars own their acceleration to the massive tires, while Fs uses props or a jet engine.

**Milton Shupe** · January 30th, 2011, 09:46

It took me about 6 hours of work to get the performance and response I have now. Amazingly realistic. Just some tweaking to do but I do have the performance very close.

Scott Thomas is working on sounds, ear splitting, retina detaching sounds! I think he will also come up with a panel .... looking at that now.

Maybe I can get someone to do some scenery, drag strip with Christmas Tree and timing lights.

***Cazzie*** · January 30th, 2011, 12:44

Make sure se got a parachute to stop it!

**Milton Shupe** · January 30th, 2011, 13:30

Originally Posted by Cazzie

Make sure se got a parachute to stop it!

LOL Well, a parachute effect is already built in with flap drag. Not sure I can animate a parachute although I have seen them on fighter jets.

I am hoping we can build in some buffeting and shaking and maybe a drag strip scenery with lights and timer. :-)

**Milton Shupe** · January 30th, 2011, 18:34

Flight model is looking great. Got Tom looking her over soon.

Scott is working panel and gauges.

Gary is looking for sounds.

Me? Having fun tweaking the possibilities in the FM. Just achieved wheelies off the starting line. LOL

And man, if you have a need for speed, running from one end to the other of KDFW, around buildings, up and down taxiways ... in about 10 seconds is a blast. Lots of open area to do pedal to the metal stuff. LOL

**demorier** · January 31st, 2011, 00:15

I see you have been doing your stats. homework Milton. Some force feedback will be essential I think when you can get around to it....they vibrate like mad those things.

**Thoe6969** · January 31st, 2011, 05:35

Thats going to be a blast,going to have to pick a long enough runway or saw down some trees at the end of it.

**Daveroo** · January 31st, 2011, 08:13

top fuelies sort of have a twist effect on launch..not much of a lift of the front wheels anymore...just a comment...thats why theyre so long..keep the front wheels on the ground

**Cag40Navy** · January 31st, 2011, 21:50

Looks like so much fun! I look forward to it!

**OleBoy** · January 31st, 2011, 21:53

Talk about a turn in modeling. That looks like some real fun there Milton. Edwards AFB maybe?..lol.
...Top fuelers...yeah baby!!:ernae:

**Milton Shupe** · February 1st, 2011, 03:52

Originally Posted by Daveroo

top fuelies sort of have a twist effect on launch..not much of a lift of the front wheels anymore...just a comment...thats why theyre so long..keep the front wheels on the ground

Yes, but it is cool to pull the wheels up about 8-12" on launch :-)

But, I have changed the FM to eliminate that for a more preferred steering capability.

**Milton Shupe** · February 1st, 2011, 03:55

Originally Posted by Cag40Navy

Looks like so much fun! I look forward to it!

Well, I hope to have it done within a few weeks. Not going all out on this; just something to play with.

Originally Posted by OleBoy

Talk about a turn in modeling. That looks like some real fun there Milton. Edwards AFB maybe?..lol.
...Top fuelers...yeah baby!!:ernae:

Yup! I have been burning up the tires at KDFW, not just straight aways but running 2 mile ovals. LOL I have pretty much destroyed what little grass and gravel areas they had.

**Daveroo** · February 1st, 2011, 09:21

makes me think of the jet drag car vs airplane races at the airshows the past few years..ive seen it at mather airpark in sacramtno and at chico california..both long runways....plane allways wins..but the dragster gets to 300miles per hour they claim

**Milton Shupe** · February 2nd, 2011, 10:16

Continuing the model updates ... and Fliger747 is tweaking the FM.

Throttle use opens the butterfly on the supercharger intake, and trim adjusts the wing foils for added down pressure.

**Milton Shupe** · February 3rd, 2011, 04:03

These pilots were NOT amused as I held them up from their fare-carrying trek. So, I pulled over and toyed with this one during rollout. He was soooo slow.

**Milton Shupe** · February 4th, 2011, 18:46

Okay, we have a seat, hubs and lug nuts, a driver with helmet and shoulder straps, and exhaust headers. Waiting for the 2D panel so the VC can be added. Also, a shot in gmax to show the simplicity of the model.