Search found 31 matches

by Nelvis
Tue Mar 22, 2016 9:24 am
Forum: General Topics
Topic: aluminum vs. wood tracks car setup
Replies: 3
Views: 6702

Re: aluminum vs. wood tracks car setup

You didn't give many details on his car but assuming you run a 3 wheeled rail rider, many folks go with a little more steer on a wooden track and a slightly less aggressive COM.
by Nelvis
Mon Mar 21, 2016 2:00 pm
Forum: General Car/Truck Racer Topics
Topic: Our Pack Race Re-cap. The Good, the Bad, & the Ugly....
Replies: 8
Views: 15003

Re: Our Pack Race Re-cap. The Good, the Bad, & the Ugly....

"inspections officials" that had zero idea what they were doing or how to handle a car (seriously, SM just grabbed the closest adults standing there), about 20 completely unsupervised kids, mulch, sword flags, lack of any structure or authority, stuff thrown on track multiple times during...
by Nelvis
Sat Mar 12, 2016 9:05 am
Forum: Car & Semi-Truck Photos
Topic: Dremel Derby Days
Replies: 5
Views: 12720

Re: Dremel Derby Days

Wow really? :? These are the top 3 entries? A plastic model and two pinewood entries that appear to have been randomly grabbed from a local pack race? I should have entered I guess.
by Nelvis
Thu Mar 10, 2016 2:10 pm
Forum: Car & Semi-Truck Construction
Topic: How long do your wheels spin?
Replies: 20
Views: 22514

Re: How long do your wheels spin?

As I understand it the graphite does not stick to the axle. It does however stick to the wheel which is why you work it in by spinning the wheel. I tried pledge on the axles this year but have no way of knowing if it helped. I'm actually somewhat sceptical of the lemon pledge. Intuition leads me to ...
by Nelvis
Wed Mar 02, 2016 8:55 am
Forum: Car & Semi-Truck Construction
Topic: under body clearance newbie question
Replies: 5
Views: 8053

Re: under body clearance newbie question

Perfect! Thank you Speedster. I was hoping to put the plate on before I get the wheels on. I will measure afterwards to be safe but it sounds like 1 plate will be okay. Thanks again all.
by Nelvis
Tue Mar 01, 2016 8:14 pm
Forum: Car & Semi-Truck Construction
Topic: under body clearance newbie question
Replies: 5
Views: 8053

under body clearance newbie question

So I am finishing up my dad car. Sadly it was not in time for the pack parent/sibling race. Anyway I need a bit more weight and I need to do it gently since I'm happy with the stained finish and I would also like it to be potentially removable. I was planning on using 1 tungsten plate screwed into t...
by Nelvis
Fri Feb 26, 2016 10:15 pm
Forum: Car & Semi-Truck Photos
Topic: Morgan '16
Replies: 5
Views: 20932

Re: Morgan '16

I can see why they are scared of you at your crazy no-center rail, gestapo rules derby. If they give you any lip I'm pretty sure you can turn these around backwards and still win.
by Nelvis
Fri Feb 26, 2016 10:09 pm
Forum: General Topics
Topic: Pinewood Derby Demographics Survey
Replies: 6
Views: 9194

Re: Pinewood Derby Demographics Survey

Done. Interesting idea. Will you post the final results for us?
by Nelvis
Thu Feb 25, 2016 2:49 pm
Forum: General Topics
Topic: Thoughts on rule interpretation....
Replies: 15
Views: 17576

Re: Thoughts on rule interpretation....

Well all I can say is I feel really badly for you Gtdhw. No center guide rail and these rules? :doh: I really feel in these cases that you should buy a few kits and get some of the scouts and pack leaders together. Bring a hammer and have them make a quick car with the raw block, scouts and leaders ...
by Nelvis
Tue Feb 23, 2016 8:57 pm
Forum: Car & Semi-Truck Construction
Topic: Buying some power tools, scroll saw, drill press, etc.
Replies: 11
Views: 14648

Buying some power tools, scroll saw, drill press, etc.

Well my wife wouldn't let me buy Speedster's wooden Piantedosi track so now I'm window shopping for some power tools to "fix up the house" ;) I really want a scroll saw first and foremost for cutting down and then shaping the block with less fear of my son using it. Cutting down a block on...
by Nelvis
Tue Feb 23, 2016 7:58 pm
Forum: General Topics
Topic: Oil vs graphite
Replies: 14
Views: 24276

Re: Oil vs graphite

Thank you Vitamin K and Birddog. I was thinking the same as you were initially Vitamin K. In that graphite could always simply be reapplied and in effect last forever. I'm glad to hear Birddog say that he has an oil car that has lasted several years because I want to keep mine clean. I was worried t...
by Nelvis
Mon Feb 22, 2016 9:50 pm
Forum: General Topics
Topic: Oil vs graphite
Replies: 14
Views: 24276

Re: Oil vs graphite

I would ask again then of Vitamin K or anyone else: What would you use for a long term test car? I need something that would last several years by simply re-applying and running to test against the current year's cars. I am leaning towards oil because I have a nice wood finish on the car that I woul...
by Nelvis
Sat Feb 20, 2016 9:21 pm
Forum: General Topics
Topic: Oil vs graphite
Replies: 14
Views: 24276

Re: Oil vs graphite

Great topic! I'm interested to hear more responses. I have an incomplete "dad car" that is stained and polyurethaned that I would prefer to not foul up with graphite. Naturally, I also want it to be fast. In addition, I want it to be used as a test car for a number of years so I suppose lo...
by Nelvis
Fri Feb 12, 2016 8:33 pm
Forum: Car & Semi-Truck Photos
Topic: 1 of 4 painted
Replies: 9
Views: 18576

Re: 1 of 4 painted

Wow! :O Do you paint cars for a living? That paint job is amazing. Really puts my rattle-can painters tape stencils to shame. :paperbag:
by Nelvis
Fri Feb 12, 2016 10:23 am
Forum: Car & Semi-Truck Construction
Topic: Help moving com back
Replies: 13
Views: 23879

Re: Help moving com back

No you shouldn't have to put any weight towards the front. Don't be so concerned with putting a ton of weight behind the rear axle. Just try to get the car to balance on the com location while keeping the weights close together. For example maybe you will need to put half of the weight just behind t...