uh, oh. Cub Scout Pinewood Derby time is coming. Again.

[capncarl]

Doesn’t make much sense to remove one material and replace it with another if doesn’t provide any benefits. The paper mache was fun to work with and could be molded from existing car and truck models.

[LCHIEN]

I know it is called pinewood derby, but is the building materials limited to wood? Reason I asked was yrs. when slot cars were the rage they built some car bodies out of paper mache. Lots of fun and endless possibilities.

According to the official instructions, you must use the pinewood block they provide. However it says you can cut away (hollow out) as much as you want and add other materials of various types. So I figure I can cut away 100% and add other materials.

[capncarl]

I know it is called pinewood derby, but is the building materials limited to wood? Reason I asked was yrs. when slot cars were the rage they built some car bodies out of paper mache. Lots of fun and endless possibilities.

[LCHIEN]

Tapered bodies this year challenging cut. Both practically the same shape.
I did mine on the taper jig and BT3 no blade guard 2.9 degree cut both sides VERY HAIRY.
Decided I did not want to do his that way.
We actually did my Grandsons on the bandsaw and cleaned it up on the belt sander. He did the cut with me helping guide some; he did the belt sanding. I had to touch it up a little at the end.

Lasered mine with Chinese characters for Happiness, Health, Wealth, prosperity, luck etc. being that it is Chinese New Year this week. Is an Mahogany hardwood inlay worth any points?

His mom helped him paint and made stencil for his. The drawing I made according to the description he gave me, although I suggested the taper dimensions. Still some decorations to do when he gets back here.


Now working on weighting...
I figured out how to take out precise amounts of weight by drilling away at the body underside based on computed density.

[LCHIEN]

Showing off his multiplication table skills. I test him all the time against Alexa.
He wins easily.

[leehljp]

I just spent 20 minutes of my life doing this.

LOL!

After he wins,, I am sure he will say it was worth it!

[LCHIEN]

Grandson is 8 now, I showed him how a chuck works and the name of the chuck key, gave him strips of sandpaper explained fine and coarse grit progression and how to use google timer then turned him loose. one minute each four axles and four grits and polished 4 wheels and he said I just spent 20 minutes of my life doing this.

https://www.facebook.com/loring.chie...vQm1eqkt7uHxPy sdmkYowmBfLuYqrCJJWDHl?notif_id=1673202735093323&n otif_t=feedback_reaction_generic&ref=notif

Result of axle polishing - upper part is polished, lower part is original.


It may not seem like much but last year I observed the winning car sometimes beat the 2nd place car by ,010 seconds out of about 3 seconds or 0.3%

Little things like weighting your car to 5.000 ounces instead of settling for 4.995 makes a 0.1% difference in the potential energy at the start.

So if you do everything just right in sum you can get that 0.3% advantage. Do one bad thing and it can mess up the whole proposition.

[LCHIEN]

Eldest grandson graduated to Boy Scouts but the second just got his PWD kit and has some ideas already
At least he's requesting help more than a week before the race this time!
Its at least 4 weeks away.

Last years results: