Vitamin K wrote:Actually, my son's Pack rules require that he use BSA wheels and BSA axles. This means that our only options would be the ones sold by the Scout stores, or the stuff you get from a licensed Revell kit.
Given that, the best we do can do for straight axles is to buy a bunch of BSA axles and pick through them for straight ones, and then file and polish them, is there still much to be gained by going with angled drilled holes, as opposed to bending axles?
If the answer is 'yes', how great of an improvement is one over the other? Tuning time aside, is there something inherently faster about a car with straight, canted axles, over a car with bent axles?
Speedster wrote:Axle drilling success? I'm very curious. Let's assume you must use the stock wheelbase. Let's also assume you may use Max-V's 4091 wheels which includes the 4094 axles. Can a car be built ( 3 wheel rail rider) using axle holes first and then slots cut for the rears and using bent axles? What would be the difference in speed? Has anyone attempted this? I am not skilled enough. Perhaps Maximum Velocity would try it.
One other question. Has anyone who has drilled their holes for a scout race been beaten by someone using slots?
I have done both, Actually I have done it many ways, learned, when helping other packs, who had different rules.
Here is my reply and best , honest view with all my experience.
Drilling canted, provides more even canting, over bent axles. it was hard to bend two axles the same.
But I recently got the pro axle builder tool and I am very impressed with it and feel this could even, if not eliminate those gaps. between the two.
And then, yes, more or less, drilling the rears canted, over using bent axles, aside from what I just mentioned. It did reduce tuning time or eliminate rear wheel tuning.
For me, with all the pictures and video clips I have shared on here, on how to check and drill canted.
For me, I could check right away, if I got it right. Then either decide to try and adjust with a bent axle or just re drill it.
In the end, I wanted to just re drill. and get it right before cutting and shaping the body or adding weight.
It was a savings in time. and I the old way of bending axles, proved harder to get two axles bent the same.
But the new tool out, seems to resolve this.
Now, the 3rd part of this in my mind and what I have dealt with.
When I was able to get two axles bent the same, with using bent axles.
I had to still try and get them with no toe in or toe out in the rear.
So I still had to spend some time, adjusting and fin tuning, because even with the K groove or a marker line on the axle head.
The bent axles, still had to be adjusted.
Where as, the drilled canted axle wholes. I did not have to do this at all, but you do have to be good at drilling.
So in the end.
I think it comes down to what the builder is capable of doing and what they feel more comfortable with. A preference thing may be at play here.
I would rather toss a $1.50 piece of wood and start over, then spend 1 to 2 hours tuning just the rears, although I did get it down to 10 to 15 minutes or less, when I was doing allot and often. At the height of my skill level.
Great tuning is a skill, some can do it well, and some are okay at it.
In time, and with practice and a willingness to get better, everyone gets good at it.
I like to buy full blocks from max-v. I have then have two chance to make two thin cars or if I make a mistake on the drilling, can still try using the other 1/2 of the block of wood.
Many packs require the stock axles be used or the replacement of the same ones. the same as the wheels.
It would be nice for bsa to do a better axle.
Until then, the families and kids, who take the time to build a really nice, and fast car. they do the work and put in the time to learn and improve.
Many parents and kids, see pinewood derby as a 1 time year event and just a small part of the overall cub scout philosophy and what scouting is all about.
That's something we often forget. out of 64 kids in my kids pack, back a few years now. 40 of them really did not do much of anything to the axles or wheels. 20 of them did. and out of that 20, 5 or 6 kids took it to the derby talk level.
Sporty
