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Post by DavidJohnson on Jun 17, 2006 4:44:59 GMT 1
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Post by cfesmire on Jun 17, 2006 20:27:45 GMT 1
No fair! When my boys were in Cub's, there was no adult division. I believe I still have pictures somewhere of theirs and Dad wasn't allowed to even help. Of course the cars looked much different than what you guys came up with Dave. Beautiful work (you too).
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BillC
87thScale addict
Posts: 2,541
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Post by BillC on Jun 18, 2006 12:45:59 GMT 1
Nice work, David!
When I was in Cubs, it was me, my Scout knife, some sandpaper, paint and a block of pine. The only addition to mine was a "Forward Look" tie tack borrowed from my Dad for a hood ornament. My car definitely wasn't as cool as any of yours but I took third place in our pack one year.
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Lee
Senior Member
Posts: 1,899 
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Post by Lee on Oct 28, 2006 5:43:15 GMT 1
Back in the mid 90's when I was partners in a hobby shop, we carried the Woodland Scenics Pinewood line. There were some very active groups in our area including engineers from JPL. I would listen as they talked about their little secrets to building a better car.
One day a single mom came in with her son. She said she knew nothing but her son was to build a pinecar for his pack. I spent about an hour telling her about all the things that I had learned from others, both the why and how to do. About three weeks later she and her son came back and showed off the blue ribbon that they had won for the fastest car.
That is the part of the business that I really miss.
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BillC
87thScale addict
Posts: 2,541
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Post by BillC on Nov 2, 2006 14:16:24 GMT 1
And the part of the business that sets the good proprietors apart from the not-so-good. It's people like Lee and a couple of store owners/managers I have been fortunate enough to know who keep hobbies like ours alive.
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Lee
Senior Member
Posts: 1,899
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Post by Lee on Nov 3, 2006 11:15:28 GMT 1
Since we are talking about the pinewood derby, I thought I would share what I know about building them for anyone who is going to build one.
Normally a kit is given out that consists of a rough shaped body made out of a piece of pine, four plastic wheels and four wood screws.
There are three factors to take into account when building a pine car;
wind drag, weight and friction.
Wind drag counts for maybe 5 percent so round of the corners and get rid of the square nose.
Weight counts for about 20 percent. There is a maxium weight limit so weight the car up to just under the max. Put ALL the added weight in the front of the car. Top off the weight at the weigh in bringing you right up to the limit. Again...... put the weight in the front.
Friction counts for about 75 percent of the cars performance. There are four wheels so each wheel counts for 25 percent of the friction. Mount one REAR wheel up in the air just a little bit, not much. Just so it is not touching the ground. That is why all the weight is in the front. We just cut the friction by 25 percent.
The screws provided are cast. If you look at the back of the screw head you will see mold lines. Put the screw in a drill motor and with an emeryboard sand down the back of the screw head giving a very slight cone shape so only the center of the screw head touches the wheel. Sand both the inner and outer hub of the wheel giving a slight mound to both sides. This again lets only the center touch the next piece. Apply graphite to all the moving surfaces. Tighten the screw until the wheel doesn't turn then back it off a 1/4 turn. Make sure you do all four wheels this way even though one wheel does not touch the ground.
Just doing the above should put you in the top five if not first place.
Have fun.
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BillC
87thScale addict
Posts: 2,541
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Post by BillC on Nov 3, 2006 15:06:09 GMT 1
Gee, where were you forty-nine years ago when I needed you?  Bill C. |
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skunk
87thScale addict
5th B-day
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Post by skunk on Nov 3, 2006 19:22:17 GMT 1
Pine Derby racing is a nice little science. I never built one, but my little brother had to once. Naturally, we only worked on the appearance. I wish I had known some of this then.
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Lee
Senior Member
Posts: 1,899
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Post by Lee on Nov 4, 2006 13:28:59 GMT 1
Gee, where were you forty-nine years ago when I needed you? Bill C. Still in high school and didn't know squat about pinecars at the time. ;D |
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