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billygoat333
12-23-2009, 04:13 PM
My brother is a physics and chemistry teacher for a local school district and this year he got a grant for a pinewood derby track. He is making his students write a 6 page paper on the physics and design aspects of pinewood derby cars. So, for fun, christmas, and for a trial run of the new track, our family is having a friendly competition! its gonna be fun. So, I am makin my son a car to race. :)

gratuitous beauty shots!

http://hphotos-snc3.fbcdn.net/hs219.snc3/22644_217897963213_556323213_3290248_3353867_n.jpg
http://photos-a.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc3/hs219.snc3/22644_217897983213_556323213_3290249_3482972_n.jpg
http://photos-b.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc3/hs239.snc3/22644_217898018213_556323213_3290252_3839146_n.jpg

Design:
http://photos-h.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc3/hs239.snc3/22644_217898038213_556323213_3290253_6450013_n.jpg
http://photos-e.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc3/hs219.snc3/22644_217898043213_556323213_3290254_2885699_n.jpg
http://hphotos-snc3.fbcdn.net/hs219.snc3/22644_217898048213_556323213_3290255_3160840_n.jpg

going to my brother's soon to cut out the design and to start the sanding process! more images to come.

x88x
12-23-2009, 04:53 PM
Looks like a good design; make sure you leave space in the center beam to put in weights. Melted fishing weights work well..or really any lead stuff melted down..just make sure you have good ventilation and don't care about the pot you melt it in.

Off topic a bit, but as a former kid, I know I enjoyed making the car (made it entirely myself, @ ~11-12) much more than I enjoyed watching it demolish the competition (ran the same car 3 years in a row..1st, 1st, and 2nd, respectively in speed..) :D

Just a thought...

blueonblack
12-23-2009, 06:01 PM
I remember the pinewood derby myself. My grandfather used his drill press to drill holes in the finished car to add lengths of large lead solder for weight. I've got that same drill press in my shop now and it always makes me think of those cars. :)

billygoat333
12-23-2009, 11:52 PM
update:
http://photos-e.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc3/hs219.snc3/22644_218455478213_556323213_3292444_7679549_n.jpg
http://photos-c.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc3/hs219.snc3/22644_218455493213_556323213_3292445_5866427_n.jpg

cut out.

my brother showing me the ins and outs of creating a perfect axle.
http://photos-a.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc3/hs219.snc3/22644_218455503213_556323213_3292446_6719736_n.jpg
http://photos-g.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc3/hs219.snc3/22644_218455528213_556323213_3292447_6229418_n.jpg
can you see the groove cut in them? this is supposed to reduce friction on the wheel. all polished up and ready to go!
http://photos-h.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc3/hs239.snc3/22644_218455543213_556323213_3292448_1577611_n.jpg

working on cutting out the rest of the shape now... update when finished.

msmrx57
12-24-2009, 12:18 AM
"Friendly" competition huh? LOL

Liquid_Scope_99
12-24-2009, 12:47 AM
very cool man reminds me of when me and my dad did mine he did it with a hand held scrool saw all we had good memlories +rep for doing it for your boy and bringing back good memories i always miss my dad the most this time of year

Bopher
12-24-2009, 01:18 AM
Makes me think back to when me and my dad did ours. Never did very well but it was fun to spend the time with him. And having the entire Woodshop at RAF Alconbury at my finger tips was nice.:D I bet he still has both cars at home packed away somewhere. He even had his from when he was in scouts as a kid.

billygoat333
12-24-2009, 02:53 AM
This has been a lot of fun! got a lot more done on it, currently in the sanding process. more pics soon. My son is only almost 2 yrs old, or else I'd make him do all this sanding! lol oh well when he grows up I will have more experience to help him. I have only made one other car before, so this is a learning experience. (it was like 15 years ago too. haha)

EDIT: Photo time!

got a lot of cutting and sanding ahead of me...
http://photos-e.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc3/hs219.snc3/22644_218615068213_556323213_3293130_2959439_n.jpg

cut down with the dremel (my craftsman rotary tool finally died in a fiery flash of light and a big cloud of black smoke. RIP good buddy. good thing my dad had his dremel handy.)
http://photos-c.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc3/hs219.snc3/22644_218615073213_556323213_3293131_919312_n.jpg

after some light sanding and final cuts:
http://photos-a.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc3/hs219.snc3/22644_218615078213_556323213_3293132_197703_n.jpg

http://hphotos-snc3.fbcdn.net/hs219.snc3/22644_218615083213_556323213_3293133_8098437_n.jpg

More sanding! coming along quite nicely.
http://photos-f.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc3/hs239.snc3/22644_218615093213_556323213_3293134_3486824_n.jpg
http://photos-d.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc3/hs239.snc3/22644_218615103213_556323213_3293135_6154139_n.jpg

I think I am going to paint it either a satin or matte black and call it Red October since it slightly resembles a submarine! lol

still to come: more sanding, the lead being put in to make it weigh 5 oz. and paint! (oh and mounting the axles and aligning the wheels!)

Liquid_Scope_99
12-24-2009, 11:57 AM
very cool man dont forget to clear it for cutting the wind lol

billygoat333
12-25-2009, 02:34 AM
lol I am thinking about putting a periscope mast thingie (someone correct me with what its called) on top. not sure how to make it look good though! lol lots of sanding i guess. oh and hey liquid thanx for your help with the butcher block im making. i'll post some pics its turning out quite well. its not perfect, but thats why I am making it and not buying it at the store!

if anyone has questions about wood liquid knows a lot! thanx man again.

Liquid_Scope_99
12-25-2009, 03:26 AM
lol I am thinking about putting a periscope mast thingie (someone correct me with what its called) on top. not sure how to make it look good though! lol lots of sanding i guess. oh and hey liquid thanx for your help with the butcher block im making. i'll post some pics its turning out quite well. its not perfect, but thats why I am making it and not buying it at the store!

if anyone has questions about wood liquid knows a lot! thanx man again.
I wishi knew a lot just glad i could help somebody for a change i made shutters for the house the other day there not perfect Either by along shot .

I read or saw or heard somwhere . "when i man thinks he is the best at what he does he stops learning and will eventually see how little he knows " that was it round about .

x88x
12-25-2009, 08:44 AM
My son is only almost 2 yrs old, or else I'd make him do all this sanding!
Haha, ok I guess that's an acceptable excuse for not having him do more ;)

Looking good. You might want to consider incorporating some lateral streamlining as well. It'll help a bit with air resistance, plus it just looks cool :P

Were you refering to the sail?

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/f/f2/Submarine_control_surfaces2.svg

EDIT: Hmmm, it appears that embedding isn't working...
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/f/f2/Submarine_control_surfaces2.svg

billygoat333
12-25-2009, 06:47 PM
yeah the sail. lol I still need to round it out a bit too. tomorrow is the competition!

jdbnsn
12-26-2009, 10:37 AM
I love pinewood derby's!

Drum Thumper
12-28-2009, 11:32 PM
steampunk it! Put a sail on it from one of the Regatta kits!!!

Spidermeld
12-29-2009, 06:22 PM
How did your car do??? I still have both of mine from when I was in Cubs and Scouts

billygoat333
01-04-2010, 08:30 AM
well the car did pretty well took 4th or 5th out of 15 cars, I have some pictures to post later. Been too lazy to update the thread. lol

billygoat333
01-14-2010, 10:11 AM
finally updating the pictures for this.

http://hphotos-snc3.fbcdn.net/hs138.snc3/18544_228564778213_556323213_3343475_6568673_n.jpg

the contenders! note my car with the added weight to make it 5 oz

http://photos-c.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc3/hs138.snc3/18544_228564793213_556323213_3343476_664802_n.jpg

little better light

http://photos-e.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc3/hs138.snc3/18544_228564798213_556323213_3343477_4936095_n.jpg

The Lead Submarine in wonderful primer grey (should have taken more time with this project: painted/worked on the wheels and axles more but it did well for what it was)

http://photos-f.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc3/hs158.snc3/18544_228564803213_556323213_3343478_1182906_n.jpg

not one of my heats but I wanted to show off my brother's sweet track he got.

http://hphotos-snc3.fbcdn.net/hs138.snc3/18544_228564823213_556323213_3343480_7995343_n.jpg

the track and my bro and dad

Liquid_Scope_99
01-14-2010, 10:35 AM
Sweet man can i hang out with you next christmas very cool.