Derby Talk is a forum for Pinewood Derby, Awana Grand Prix, Kub Kar Rally, Shape N Race Derby, Space Derby, Raingutter Regatta and other similar races where a child and an adult work together to create a race vehicle and a lot of fun and memories
This started as just a front-heavy, wind pusher to ensure it wasn't faster than any of the cars the kids built at our workshop. It morphed into this ladder framed, hollowed out balsa cab with a COM of .625". Now what do I do with it? I can't race the kids' cars from our workshop, it would possibly be the fastest. I could run it in the OPEN Class with NSC rules but there's only a couple adults racing there and they don't have any building experience. It's not Whoda quality but you know, it's lipstick on a pig.
Last edited by davet on Mon Oct 16, 2017 9:03 am, edited 1 time in total.
95% of the kids we have racing didn't know what a pinewood derby car was when I introduced the idea at church. I know this is lacking in the fit and finish area but the kids will think it's cool. I put some lines of glue atop the fifth wheel to simulate a fresh application of grease. I got carried away with the marker and the yellow fog lights wouldn't come off the bumper. It'll have tandem rear axles but not duals. Another adult made a tape measure car so they think that's cool too.
Hey there Whoda. It's not big office desk top quality like you put together but the kids will enjoy it. No trailer. We still have 7" for a length limit. I didn't start with the intention of having it look this way. It morphed as I went along and never really started with a plan. I have to finish up the windows and some other stuff yet.
whodathunkit wrote: ↑Mon Oct 16, 2017 7:21 pm
Can't wait to see it finished !
The pics don't do it justice.. bet it looks better to see it first hand and in person.
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Ha! You're too kind. Actually it's a 20 footer and looks better from a distance.
What did you use to polish the smoke stacks with.. the glare is blinding me.
And I'm squinting my eyes..
And still saying from here it looks good to me.
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
What type of automobile can be spelled the same forwards & backwards?
It's all chrome tape that's why the rounded fuel tanks turned out looking like sausages. I may actyally remove those and square the ends. It's bugging me.
Where is Andy & Noah when you need them! Those two guys were the best I have ever seen with chrome tape.
And making it look good and smooth!
I'm with you it is very tuff to do over a rounded ends.
Your idea of square end fuel tanks
With the tape is the way to go I'd say as well.
But then again have you ever seen
a race rig with out dented fuel tanks?
I thought that was the look you were going for.
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
What type of automobile can be spelled the same forwards & backwards?
devet, I do like the looks of your fuel tanks dents wrinkles and all on your cab over race rig!
However If your still looking to do something different to cover them up maybe you could change up the looks to like what is seen in this link. https://misracing.com/site-assets/2017/ ... ng-001.jpg
Somehow this type of skid plate cover over the tanks slows down on the dents but sometimes one good hard hit and there gone as well!
I've got and idea.. check out this cab over race rig. https://i.pinimg.com/736x/d4/75/52/d475 ... trucks.jpg
hope the links help if your still looking to do something different.
Whoda.
Last edited by whodathunkit on Tue Oct 17, 2017 6:15 pm, edited 1 time in total.
What type of automobile can be spelled the same forwards & backwards?
some how this plate cover slows down on dents in fuel tanks but sometimes one hard hit and there gone as well!
Whoda.
Those are cool covers. The reason my tanks look like this is because I didn't have any dowel bigger than 3/8". In fact, I don't think I've ever seen 1/2" balsa rod. I had a sheet of 3/16" thick balsa so I cut 4, 1/2" wide strips from it. I glued 3 together back to back and capped them with the 4th. Then I turned it on my 8" bench grinder. But, since my grinder is used for metal like it's supposed to be, the grinding wheel isn't perfectly true. It has a slight groove in the middle. And so goes the story of my tanks. Now I'm gonna take them off and start over.