Search found 56 matches

by Ten Thumb Tom
Wed Mar 10, 2010 8:20 pm
Forum: General Car/Truck Racer Topics
Topic: I hate paint
Replies: 8
Views: 8240

Re: I hate paint

Here is an awesome lacquer/enamel/acrylic guide from Master Modeler, Masataka Narita. Just remember, if you don't know what the paint is made out of, don't use it and never spray clear coat over metallic paint. http://www.naritafamily.com/howto/paint.htm Here is an way to get a Scout-friendly 5 star...
by Ten Thumb Tom
Tue Mar 09, 2010 8:24 pm
Forum: Car & Semi-Truck Construction
Topic: What is the purpose of negative cambering rear axles?
Replies: 22
Views: 21977

Re: What is the purpose of negative cambering rear axles?

I appreciate the clarification and I apologize if I misinterpreted your previous post. The distinction on crowning is changing the specifications of the original wheel. The new wheels have a natural single touch point - sometimes it wanders and sometimes it does not. We minimize the wander through p...
by Ten Thumb Tom
Tue Mar 09, 2010 7:02 pm
Forum: Car & Semi-Truck Construction
Topic: What is the purpose of negative cambering rear axles?
Replies: 22
Views: 21977

Re: What is the purpose of negative cambering rear axles?

Sorry for the confusion, by unmodified, I don't mean untouched, just no process that would be disqualified in any pack race. Most people would refer to "crowned or tapered" as something more pronounced - in this case, its just polishing the half of the tread facing the body about 5 second...
by Ten Thumb Tom
Mon Mar 08, 2010 8:52 pm
Forum: Car & Semi-Truck Construction
Topic: New BSA Wheels - Specifications by Mold Type
Replies: 21
Views: 18611

Re: New BSA Wheels - Specifications by Mold Type

:clap: That is PURE GOLD Murphken - even I can understand that!!!
by Ten Thumb Tom
Mon Mar 08, 2010 8:39 pm
Forum: Commercial
Topic: Fastest time on a Besttrack 20' test track
Replies: 8
Views: 15129

Re: Fastest time on a Besttrack 20' test track

By the way - they nerfed the stop section of the 20' track way too short! It is a "mini-stop" and I had to put a couple of books underneath it to raise it almost 2" in order to keep the cars from going off the end - I'd like to say our cars are just too fast for the track, but I will ...
by Ten Thumb Tom
Mon Mar 08, 2010 8:33 pm
Forum: Car & Semi-Truck Construction
Topic: Low profile COG location?
Replies: 11
Views: 9112

Re: Low profile COG location?

Rule of thumb is 3/4" in front of the rear axle. On an extended wheel base, I have increased performance all the way back to 3/8" just recently, but I have read posts from experts that say 5/8" is the maximum before diminishing returns.
by Ten Thumb Tom
Mon Mar 08, 2010 8:26 pm
Forum: Car & Semi-Truck Construction
Topic: Axle polishing........2000 grit enough?
Replies: 10
Views: 12888

Re: Axle polishing........2000 grit enough?

Doc Jobe's "special blend of non-fibrous alundum powders" produces excellent results under a microscope, although I have no idea what the grit is. http://www.pinewoodderbyphysics.com/axle-polish.shtml" target="_blank You can go up to 12000 grit with micro-mesh fabric http://micro...
by Ten Thumb Tom
Mon Mar 08, 2010 7:23 pm
Forum: Car & Semi-Truck Construction
Topic: What is the purpose of negative cambering rear axles?
Replies: 22
Views: 21977

Re: What is the purpose of negative cambering rear axles?

Running crowned or tapered treads is FAR from running unmodified! And don't you at least modify the axles by filing the flashing from under the nail heads? Sorry for the confusion, by unmodified, I don't mean untouched, just no process that would be disqualified in any pack race. Most people would ...
by Ten Thumb Tom
Mon Mar 08, 2010 1:04 pm
Forum: Car & Semi-Truck Construction
Topic: What is the purpose of negative cambering rear axles?
Replies: 22
Views: 21977

Re: What is the purpose of negative cambering rear axles?

I'm completely baffled by your results on a 32 ft track, and even more baffled on a 40+ ft track. While the straight runner is able to produce fast runs...the average time, in my experience favors the cambered rears - especially with a RR on a long flat. But, it sounds like you've had good success ...
by Ten Thumb Tom
Mon Mar 08, 2010 9:43 am
Forum: Commercial
Topic: Fastest time on a Besttrack 20' test track
Replies: 8
Views: 15129

Re: Fastest time on a Besttrack 20' test track

That's it then. I'm putting in an order this morning to expand my new 20' test track to 35'. I think if have a clear shot from the dining room through the foyer into the living room. I think I can rearrange things a little without putting the china hutch out on the front lawn.
by Ten Thumb Tom
Sun Mar 07, 2010 7:52 pm
Forum: Commercial
Topic: Fastest time on a Besttrack 20' test track
Replies: 8
Views: 15129

Fastest time on a Besttrack 20' test track

We just got a Besttrack test track and I am curious as to what would be considered "fast" on this track? I think our fastest run this weekend was 2.105.
by Ten Thumb Tom
Sun Mar 07, 2010 7:22 pm
Forum: Car & Semi-Truck Construction
Topic: What is the purpose of negative cambering rear axles?
Replies: 22
Views: 21977

Re: What is the purpose of negative cambering rear axles?

After a fun filled weekend of track testing, the jury is no longer out; I can build a faster car with straight rear axles than I can cambered. It would be interesting to compare next to someone else's cambered rear axle car. We've never been beat in Scout races (even when I was a Scout), so I guess ...
by Ten Thumb Tom
Sun Mar 07, 2010 7:01 pm
Forum: General Off Topic
Topic: Rube Goldberg Machine
Replies: 1
Views: 4624

Re: Rube Goldberg Machine

speechless - thanks for sharing
by Ten Thumb Tom
Sat Mar 06, 2010 8:34 pm
Forum: Car & Semi-Truck Construction
Topic: RR on a 42 foot wooden track......
Replies: 6
Views: 5494

Re: RR on a 42 foot wooden track......

You're missing several variables in the description of your set up that you are looking to get advice on - see this topic
viewtopic.php?f=11&t=5407" target="_blank
by Ten Thumb Tom
Sat Feb 27, 2010 12:26 am
Forum: Car & Semi-Truck Construction
Topic: What Does the Drift Measure Really Measure?
Replies: 17
Views: 10799

Re: What Does the Drift Measure Really Measure?

I did not read the responses so as to not taint mine; I firmly represent the unwashed masses and place my understanding as such: 1. A "drift measure" such as "3 inches in 8 feet" tells us c. A car veers 3" off its initial path as determined by the initial direction of its fr...