Slashdot Mirror
The Star Wars Car
An anonymous reader writes "You think you're a Star Wars fan because you own a lightsaber? Behold, the Star Wars car. Some of the comments on the forum suggests that it's modelled after a A-Wing. One of the coolest "mods" I've seen in a long time, very original and time demanding it seems."
Maybe this sort of thing appeals to the same people who make their PC tower look like some tricked-out alien egg or something, but I can't understand the appeal.
Is it the challenge, or the attention to detail, or what draws people to these?
I mean, just wow. I cannot imagine the headspace of someone who could drive around in that thing and not feel embarassed.
I don't know. Women like these creative types. They're far more interesting than the guys who just sit around Slashdot mocking the artist.
I read the internet for the articles.
However I've not seen anything quite this detailed. It is easier to modify a computer case than it is to mod a car.
The car has to remain road worthy and you can't violate any local laws in your design. Some places will issue a fix it ticket for extra lights on your car.
(Get a light kit at your local auto shop)
The only illegal case mod I can think of is stuffing explosives in the computer and that only becouse having the explosives to start with is probably a violation of some laws. Well that and it's really stupid.
Most of the body mods I've heard of are for the old VW Bugs. Two populare ones my mom was intrested in was the key in the back that made the bug look like a big wind up toy and one that is a replica body of a much more expensive car.
(Why fork over for a gas hog when you can look the part and still have decent fule consumption?)
Most mods have to do with loud stereos.
But I have sensitive ears and I'd much rather remove the speakers from the car entirely and use the space for computers.
People will mod everything. Computer, Car, Home, Self. Yeah... I understand quite a few plastic surgens aren't to happy with the more exotic alterations.
I draw the line at my body.
Thow I'm not exactly creative the mods I want usually involve installing Linux. Install computers on board the car and run Linux (Mobile computing) install computers in the house to run the house. My computer IS my TV so no more "install computer in TV" gigs but that one ended long before I got intrested in Linux. Back then I just wanted to install computers in everything.
Except my body...
No install Linux in me body thanks.
I don't actually exist.
I know mods will immediately check this as flamebait; but in the meantime, seriously, I'm curious: Why do Slashdot readers decry the wasteful consumerism of buying diamond engagement rings, yet spending a few hundred dollars on a model lightsaber is considered a badge of honor? The ring makes your fiance happy, and serves the practical purpose of symbolizing your committment (to all, including would-be suitors), whereas the lightsaber serves only one (selfish) purpose: making you happy. Anyone care to help me understand the /. thinking, here?
I must say, i am surprised by the amount of bashing going on about this. Some is to be expected, but this is absurd. Yes, the guy has an obsession with star wars, and honestly i could not handle being seen driving around in that thing, but why is this any worse than people spending tons of time modding their case? Or spending oodles of time creating a linux drink mixer, or modding their x-box? These are all hobbies that people enjoy doing and at the very least they should respected for the remarkable piece of artwork they have created and the skill that it required. How much creativity do you guys exhibit on a regular basis anyway? Probably not as much as these people. This kind of stuff is what stimulates the mind to create the amazing technological advances we wouldnt be able to live without as geeks.
Oh yes, the site is down but from what i hear his wife isnt half bad looking. I personaly know quite a few damn good looking geek chicks. So maybe you guys are looking in the wrong places.
I strongly suspect that anyone suspicious of the symbol's significance will be reassured by the proximity of a large fabricated R2D2.
This goes a long way to making it less threatening.
Maybe I'm just jaded, but I thought he was actually changing the paneling of the car. It's basically the same car body with a bunch of star wars esque stuff stuck on it. Plus, the side panels are still white. I can't think of any star wars ship that was white with a dar red hood, can you? I think he could (and should) go a lot further with this and actually create new panels for the car at an autobody shop. Because, if I saw this thing drive by, I certainly wouldn't think "Star Wars" I'd just think "strange."
If anyone has ever read the Walter MItty story, I think that just about sums up the answer to the WHY comments in this whole thread.
At one time or another we all go there (It's part of our Geekiness).
We have all probably thought about doing this kind of thing. But, this guy had the *courage* to do it.
I think the comment, "this guy has probably never seen what a vagina looks like", says a lot more about the Geek Status of the poster than the creative drive behind the car mod. Guys aren't geeks to get chicks. There Geeks because they think different and aren't afraid to let the world know it. In fact, the UBERGEEK has mastered the balance (and trust me on this one) knows the whole chick anatomy.
. . . it's not like he was going to get laid anyways.
My girlfriend loves me and all, but if I converted my car into a star wars vehical, I'd be single.
Pretty Pictures!
I am, in fact, a racing engineer. I make cars go fast for a living.
Let's break this out into two sections: spoilers, and wings.
A wing is supposed to be an active downforce device. The idea is to provide increased grip by providing a downward-facing aero lift (the wing, from an aircraft perspective, is upside-down)
99% of the wings fitted in the aftermarket are appearence items only (especially those ridiculous aluminum-siding extruded horrors) in that they provide zero downforce.
But a properly-engineered wing can provide lots of useable downforce at suprisingly low speeds - and for cars that rely on underbody aero (like LeMans LMP cars) the negative pressure area under the wing can interact with the underbody aero and make the underbody stuff work even better.
For production-based cars, most wings don't do much, if anything. The exception is when production parts must be homolgemated for use in competition, like with WRC cars and similar series.
Spoilers, on the other hand, have a different purpose. A car, seen in profile, makes a pretty good wing, and many body shapes produce signifigant vertical lift. The effects tend not be be noticable at lower speeds, but at speeds exceeding 70 MPH and higher, depending on the car, that lift can become signifigant.
A spoiler seeks to disrupt the airflow around the rear of the car, killing the lift provided by the body shape - exactly the same way a spoiler does on an aircraft wing (especially as fitted to many gliders and certain passenger aircraft)
These tend to be VERY effective in improving high-speed stability. Sometimes you get lucky and the spoiler actually creates downforce (this is engineered in on purpose in a NASCAR Cup car, for example) but most of the time, killing lift suffices.
The little ducktails on the 2G GM F-bodies actually made 60 or so lbs of downforce at 100 MPH. Done correctly, they ARE functional.
More recently, the Audi TT grew a spoiler to combat lift and the associated instability at autobahn speeds - look it up.
DG
Want to learn about race cars? Read my Book
By bloodthirsty murderers are saying the israelis and the palestinians? Or are you only seeing one side of the problem?
Posting pictures of this guy's wife in comparison to some super models is uncalled for. At least the man has a wife. It doesn't really matter what she looks like. She shares her husband's obsession of building friggin' Star Wars costumes and toys. I wish I had a woman who I could share my interests with, and mine aren't even that obscure. I'm sure Shawn wouldn't trade his wife for anyone in your "hot" category.
Don't trust a bull's horn, a doberman's tooth, a runaway horse or me.
For example, "I don't live with my parents, so we can use an actual BED" comes to mind.
Or the couch. Or the living room floor. Or the washing machine....
Married life doesn't *have* to be boring.
Don't you wish your girlfriend was a geek like me?
Did you even look at the rest of the pictures in that gallery? Some people simply don't photograph well at times... there are other pictures of her on that site where she is quite attractive.
Besides, who cares? This man is apparently married to a woman who shares a rather arcane interest; that of making star wars costumes.
Have you any idea how rare a find a woman like that is? To find a woman who is into something that obscure, single, willing to marry (not to mention willing to marry you), and isn't a reclusive nutcase?
Listen, dating for looks alone is fine... did it myself for a few years. However, the percentage of those "hot" women who either had problems, emotional scars, or outright personality disorders was quite high... perhaps from being hunted like an 18-point buck from puberty onward. It took me until almost my 30's to find the perfect woman, and I married her as fast as I could (I tried to elope after two weeks, but she wanted a wedding... oh well.)
Everyone should be as lucky as that man. I think he chose wisely... mod him +5 insightful.
Even if a man chops off your hand with a sword, you still have two nice, sharp bones to stick in his eyes.
We're judging her beauty, not her personality. I'm sure there's plenty of very beautiful people with shitty personalities.
Shame personality doesn't photograph, isn't it?
Honestly I don't care what her personality is, she's dog ugly.
my karma will be here long after I'm gone
1. I can't BELIEVE how much space you've dedicated to a discussion of how hot the artist's wife is
2. I don't even like star wars but I can see the craftsmanship that went into making the car
3. That car is cool, & an easy reason to approach the modder and engage them in conversation
If the mountain can't approach the chicks, let the chicks approach the mountain.
Unfortunately, the modder-bashers will probs find it easy to "strike" up a conversation too. But with the downforce of the spoilers etc, I'm sure the artist could easily outrun them...