j2ce
Addicted to Speed
Posts: 92
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Post by j2ce on Jun 13, 2006 13:13:54 GMT -6
Hello all,
I'm new to this forum, so like most of you I did a search on PWD and was lucky to find this site. I always have questions on what to do. Most of the time my son and I can lurch through this website and find the answers we need. This is definitely the place. Because of our last Pack derby it was a mad scramble to prep the kids vehicle, we will be conducting three PWD workshops. The first will be tool selections and the rules, the second will be design, wheel & axle preparation in regards to the rules, and the third completing the vehicle. This has been the format that my son and I used to prepare his vehicles 2005 & 06. Parents get the rules as early as possible. Some packs will rely on district rule and/or council rule for their own guidelines. If you have a slow moving leader and/or district don't fret not, just leave some preparations to a later date (usually wheels, axles and lubrication). Some of you reading this may have more extensive knowledge in wood work than others. This is more in tune with the Akela that does not have a clue. I had not work with wood since wood shop in junior high and that is well over 20 years ago.
Rules and Tools:
I like hand tools and those recommended in the PWD kit are just what you need. During the season my son and I will have a small box with everything we need. Cordless Drill: 18V cordless does the trick (avoid a corded drill way to much speed) Coping Saw: with at least three different blades each one finer than the next Sanding paper and Sanding block: I like to use 120, 350, and 400 grit for the wood. 600, 800, and 1000 grit for the axles and wheels Files: the small tiny set which you can find at Home Depot work best. They are about five inches long and no more that a 1/4" wide and have flat, round, triangular and there are six to a set.
Lubricant: graphite or those allowed in the rules of the PWD race
Adhesive: a good glue is great. I found one at the local hobby shop that works great
Pliers: regular pliers are fine
Graph paper: 1/4 scale is perfect. pencil sharpener and a graphite pencil
Safety glasses and leather glove
last but not least a well lighted area and a sturdy table or bench to work on picnic table are awesome.
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j2ce
Addicted to Speed
Posts: 92
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Post by j2ce on Jun 13, 2006 13:53:17 GMT -6
Tools and Rules:
When I left off on the tools I forgot to mention a plastic cleaner. Your local auto parts store have plastic cleaners for the headlights. I use this cleaner for the tires. This is allowed by our pack/district where as graphite is not (I believe that it was the difference in my boy taking 1st in district) check the rules and if they don't state them ask (this is important). I will get to that later.
Hopefully your pack, district, and council will have a set of rules to adhere to. Sometime they may not be available because of issues that arose in previous races and the rules are being modified to assist and deter in the competition of a race. If you read any of the threads here you'll understand what I mean. As a courtesy to all ask if you don't know and keep in tune with rules. Most (packs/district/councils) want to keep the race simple and easy. These are rules that I have seen throughout most boards and are used in our pack and district races.
Weight: can not exceed 5 ounces. Height: usually less than 3" but I never exceed the height of the PWD kit car Length: the length of the car 7" or less Width: 1 3/4" between the inside of the wheels which is the width of the block of wood and no more than 2 3/4" which is usually the width of a single track (and the width of the car with the wheels on).
Bottom of the car: at least 3/8 of an inch and that is so your kids car doesn't stop halfway down the track
For specifics ask your pack. I can not emphasize this enough. Just to let you know I'm not going to be able help you create the fastest car on the pack but rather help you on to get on your way. My boys first car was a middle of the pack car in both pack and district races and he had a blast. This last year he had another car that was in the middle of the pack car he was fortunate that his car maintained it speed and track selection and that is why he won. On the next reply I will talk about designing and cutting your car.
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j2ce
Addicted to Speed
Posts: 92
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Post by j2ce on Jun 13, 2006 14:34:10 GMT -6
Design Wheel & axle preparation:
The first thing you want to do is ask your boy to draw the car he wants. Now if he is drawing the batmobile then I'm not your guy in designing such cars. Now my boy he isn't much of a drawer and he like his cars slick. We were on the INTERNET and he saw some photos of cars that he liked. While he is working on his car I try to explain what and why he is doing what he is doing. That is the fun part. Now many of you are very busy with work, school and any other activities including visiting family and the such as well as other Cub scout activities. Try to have your Den leader use a meeting or two to help kids prep their cars. This last year my boy helped the other kids with wheel and axle preparation. We will take three months to build the car spending an1/2 hour or two a week.
First: Using the graph paper outline the length(7") and width( 1 3/4")of the block of wood that comes with the kit car onto the graph paper (you will be looking at the car from the top) Second: Outline the height (1 1/4") and the width (1 3/4) of the car onto the graph paper (you will be looking at the car from either the front or back) Third: Outline the length and the height of the car onto the graph paper ( you will be looking at the car from the right or left side)
You should have three blocks on your graph paper.
Now the beauty of 1/4" graph paper 4 blocks on the graph paper 1" and your block is 7" long so you should have 28-1/4" blocks inside of it. Also the lines are straight so they keep you in line. Most parent may still remember math and science in high school so hopefully you can use the skills you learned there to assist you in maintaining accurate measurements. Remember when you always asked your teacher why you had to learn this. Now you know.
My boy likes to use the drawn block that is length (7") and the height (1 1/4") it is much easier for him to see the side car and to get an idea of what he wants.
Now draw the side of the car within the block. Here is an important note. If you look at the bottom of the car there are two slits that run the width of the car those are for you axles (read the PWD kit instructions) the front axles has the axles about an 1 1/2" from the end of the block and the back axles are the other ones. Use a ruler for straight lines and free hand for curves and use the 1/4" blocks for measuring curves. Always remember that the fancier it is the harder it is to cut and pine wood is a soft wood and breaks easy. So keep it simple. My boy does and he has had success. Next we'll get into transferring your drawing onto the block and cutting.
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j2ce
Addicted to Speed
Posts: 92
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Post by j2ce on Jun 14, 2006 15:05:52 GMT -6
Hello folks,
Yesterday I started this post on getting started in building your PWD. Later in the year I will add photos. But that is a procedure I will have to learn first. Besides if you notice in some post the photo are gone after a while. So I figure I'll wait until October or November. For now I'll get back to what I started.
Design Wheel and axle preparation:
By now your child may have drawn the side view of the car within the 7" x 1 1/4" box he drew on the graph paper. Hopefully it is a simple wedge of sorts. What ever you do don't erase the box and hopefully he has not started cutting the block of wood. What you want to do next is transfer that drawing on to the block of wood. Cut out the rectangular box in which your car design reside in. Next using a graphite pencil smear the back side of your drawing. Cover the entire cut out completely the darker the better. Now tape the drawing on one-side of the wood block. One note to remember is which way is front of the car. (if your looking at the front end of the car my boy usually draws the right side of the car). Now that the drawing is secure onto the block of wood began to trace the outline of the car onto the block of wood. Make sure to press hard and to trace it several time. Carefully remove the taped drawing and save it for future reference. My boy then begins to retrace the drawing that is on his block of wood. At this point he is just about ready to start cutting. Several important notes especially for first timers. Personal Protection Equipment: One use safety glasses for dust and debris. Leather gloves to avoid nicks and cuts. If your child is not ready or if you are worried about your child's safety than you should do all the cutting. (as a Tiger I cut the wood for my boy and he did the sanding, As a Wolf he did both the cutting as well as the sanding) Keeping a square vehicle: Avoid having to cut and sand the bottom of the car. Avoid cutting near the axle slots.
To preform all the cuts you will use a coping saw. When using this piece of equipment use the rough blades for removing the big chucks of wood, and the finer tooth blades for smaller cuts. Also don't get in a hurry coping saws were meant for that. Attempt to maintain a straight line when cutting and if you get crooked don't worry that is why they invented sandpaper. One final note on cutting with a coping saw. Don't apply a lot of pressure to the saw as your cutting it does not work well that way. It took my boy 3 days about 1 hour each day to complete all his cuts. Talk to you later
J2CE
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j2ce
Addicted to Speed
Posts: 92
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Post by j2ce on Nov 1, 2006 16:15:38 GMT -6
It has been a while since the last time. Hopefully, it has been helpful. If you haven't started cutting your block this is a good time to drill weight holes. Since my son is doing the work we discussed this in a little detail. First portable hand tool safety and then the easiest and most affective way to drill. It is easier to drill across the width (1-1/4" measurement) of the vehicle as oppose to its length (7" measurement). The barrel lead weights are easier for the kids to handle then the blocks of lead. For his car design last year, my son drilled two 3/8" hole across the width in front of the rear axle and one 3/8" hole behind the rear axle. Important note make sure that your at least 3/8" away from the axle slots, and 1/4 from the bottom fo the car and use the proper wood drill bit for the task. If you started cutting the car make sure to leave the side uncut and your still able to drill across the width. Talk to you all later.
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