Search found 29 matches
- Tue Dec 14, 2004 11:08 pm
- Forum: Do-It-Yourself
- Topic: Trigger mechanism for starting gate - ideas requested
- Replies: 5
- Views: 11744
Re: Trigger mechanism for starting gate - ideas requested
My starting gate uses an axle shaft of PVC pipe riding in bushings on the side of the track. A screw sticks up and engages in a notch in a lever that is pivoted on the edge of the track board. Rubber bands pull the starting gate open by wrapping around the PVC pipe and attaching to screws. Another r...
- Tue Feb 17, 2004 6:54 pm
- Forum: Space Derby
- Topic: Where are there plans to build a Space Derby track?
- Replies: 17
- Views: 62535
Re: Where are there plans to build a Space Derby track?
Sounds like *another* application for NyOilTurtlePowered wrote: When the track is built you better check out how true the lines are so one fishing line doesn't always win.
- Tue Feb 17, 2004 6:51 pm
- Forum: Solenoid Start Gates
- Topic: start gate help
- Replies: 16
- Views: 33808
Re: start gate help
I gotta ask: Why add a solenoid? You can achieve the objective of consistent race starts without the complexity or cost of a solenoid starting gate. Just make the gate sprung open and latch it shut. Release the latch and rock. If you want, you can check out the start gate I built for my track in the...
- Tue Feb 17, 2004 6:42 pm
- Forum: General Coordinator Topics
- Topic: PWD "background" activities
- Replies: 3
- Views: 7674
PWD "background" activities
Ok I stole this idea from a Girl Scout PowderPuff Derby, but the basic concept is that while the PWD race is a primary activity, it is not enough to keep a boy's interest for the entire time. Thus rather than have boys running around like Lord of the Flies it is a good idea to provide a more suitabl...
- Tue Feb 17, 2004 6:21 pm
- Forum: General Car/Truck Racer Topics
- Topic: PWD Inspection Rules?
- Replies: 44
- Views: 46738
Re: PWD Inspection Rules?
You know the thought I get out of following this thread is that there is a need for two different kinds of "rules": First there are the hard and fast rules. These are the ones that can be evaluated at a tech inspection and compliance verified in definitive manner. Easy example is max weigh...
- Wed Feb 11, 2004 6:26 pm
- Forum: Car & Semi-Truck Construction
- Topic: Help - Buying Power Tools
- Replies: 23
- Views: 22009
Re: Help - Buying Power Tools
Good to see some of the recent comments re: band versus scroll saws. I had always considered a scroll saw useful and never considered a band saw. I was starting to wonder if I had missed something. Back on topic... It really does not take too much to build PWD cars. Now if you want to also build PWD...
- Tue Feb 10, 2004 6:43 pm
- Forum: General Car/Truck Racer Topics
- Topic: eBay okay?
- Replies: 43
- Views: 43581
Re: eBay okay?
I do not think we really can make a *rule* to eliminate somebody else building the car or running last years car. We certainly can set an expectation that it is inappropriate and is strongly discouraged for all the reasons already stated. And I think there is no excuse for it when we have workshops ...
- Fri Feb 06, 2004 5:15 pm
- Forum: Car & Semi-Truck Construction
- Topic: Wheel to Wood Friction
- Replies: 17
- Views: 19426
Re: Wheel to Wood Friction
I am curious about the fiberglass resin though. Does anyone know if this really adds strength to the wood structure or would it have been better to leave the same thickness of wood there in the first place? I know that when combined with the fiberglass cloth it would be stronger... I also wonder ho...
- Fri Feb 06, 2004 4:50 pm
- Forum: General Car/Truck Racer Topics
- Topic: To have or not to have: district level PWD championships
- Replies: 15
- Views: 19960
Re: To have or not to have: district level PWD championships
You need a more specific referral ... to the chairman of the district committee responsible for Cub Scout Program! That person probably has a good grasp on what it would take to make it happen, and would be an indispensible supporter. That person would also probably know of any "history" ...
- Thu Feb 05, 2004 1:08 pm
- Forum: General Car/Truck Racer Topics
- Topic: To have or not to have: district level PWD championships
- Replies: 15
- Views: 19960
Re: To have or not to have: district level PWD championships
Assuming that you get this idea 'passed', keep in mind that all the packs will need to conform by a standard set of rules or you will run into some big issues. Some packs may be allowing extended wheel base cars...others may not... Once you have sold the idea the real work begins. Make the first ev...
- Wed Feb 04, 2004 11:15 pm
- Forum: Car & Semi-Truck Construction
- Topic: Overweight Cars and rounding of displayed weight
- Replies: 80
- Views: 88268
Re: Overweight Cars and rounding of displayed weight
I have to relate a story... I had an early registration check-in for the first time in this pack. I had a car show up with 4 inserted weights that had been ground to be slightly concave. It was explained that the dad worked in a dental office and they had taken the car in to weigh it on the office s...
- Wed Feb 04, 2004 11:00 pm
- Forum: Car & Semi-Truck Construction
- Topic: Methods for car registration/sticker location
- Replies: 10
- Views: 11409
Re: Methods for car registration/sticker location
We put the sticker on the top. It needs to be visible without one of us touching the car. Makes sense as per your process of boys staging their own cars, you need to be able to verify proper lane sequence staging. Likewise we get away with on the bottom as I stage the cars verifying lanes as I go, ...
- Wed Feb 04, 2004 7:38 pm
- Forum: Car & Semi-Truck Construction
- Topic: Sanding epoxy?????
- Replies: 4
- Views: 6164
Re: Sanding epoxy?????
You do not want to breathe or get too much epoxy on your skin. Prolonged exposure can trigger allergic reactions and the affects are cumulative. Probably not a problem at the volumes of epoxy usage involved in PWD car construction, but good to know nonetheless. The best thing with epoxy, like fiberg...
- Wed Feb 04, 2004 7:33 pm
- Forum: Car & Semi-Truck Construction
- Topic: Methods for car registration/sticker location
- Replies: 10
- Views: 11409
Re: Methods for car registration/sticker location
I too put the sticker on the bottom so as to not alter the appearance of the car that the boy created. I do sometimes find I need to re-stick them on but have never seen one hanging down part way as you describe. But then I do not use the friction ramp braking method either so there is very little t...
- Tue Feb 03, 2004 6:07 pm
- Forum: General Car/Truck Racer Topics
- Topic: To have or not to have: district level PWD championships
- Replies: 15
- Views: 19960
Re: To have or not to have: district level PWD championships
I think that PWD as a pack event is, in most cases, a positive program element. If the pack event is used to qualify racers to the district event, then the district event can give purpose and energy to the pack event. ... Good points. ...We allow anyone who wants to participate to enter the "R...