Post by Threader on Oct 22, 2004 16:11:47 GMT -6
Adding weight to bring your PC to 5oz or 142 grams is very important!
In order for the car to work best you need to remove as much wood as you can without hurting the structure of the car. So plan your design to have a good shape, a square block of wood will push a lot of air and slow you down. ( Experiments on the net prove that the shape does make a difference. )
Remember to leave the area around the axles square so it will be easier to align the car.
After the wood have been shaped, leaving an area to put your weight you should get, or borrow a scale and weight the wood, axles and wheels. Add as much zinc, lead ( it's toxic, be careful ), tunsten, brass or steel as you need to bring the car up to the proper weight. I bought a nice little scale at WM that does grams and oz for about $20.00. Then you can use it to weigh food for cooking or mail!
If you are painting the car leave the weight at 4.8 or 4.9 oz or about 136 to 139 grams. Leave a way to add a little weight when the car is all done. I would hate to see your car go over weight and you trying to make it lighter on race day.
Weight Placement......
Put it where you want it! Experiments have shown it works best if the balance point is about 1 to 1 1/2 inches in front of the rear axle. This will depend on your track so don't say, " I put it at 1 inch and lost". To check the balance point use a ruler or other thin piece of wood. Make sure the wheels are on the car.
Some folks say it's 4oz on the rear wheels and 1oz on the front. You will need a scale and a peice of wood level with the scale to check this. Place the car with the front wheels on the scale. Move the weight till the scale reads 1oz, do this while the rear wheels are supported on the peice of wood.
In order for the car to work best you need to remove as much wood as you can without hurting the structure of the car. So plan your design to have a good shape, a square block of wood will push a lot of air and slow you down. ( Experiments on the net prove that the shape does make a difference. )
Remember to leave the area around the axles square so it will be easier to align the car.
After the wood have been shaped, leaving an area to put your weight you should get, or borrow a scale and weight the wood, axles and wheels. Add as much zinc, lead ( it's toxic, be careful ), tunsten, brass or steel as you need to bring the car up to the proper weight. I bought a nice little scale at WM that does grams and oz for about $20.00. Then you can use it to weigh food for cooking or mail!
If you are painting the car leave the weight at 4.8 or 4.9 oz or about 136 to 139 grams. Leave a way to add a little weight when the car is all done. I would hate to see your car go over weight and you trying to make it lighter on race day.
Weight Placement......
Put it where you want it! Experiments have shown it works best if the balance point is about 1 to 1 1/2 inches in front of the rear axle. This will depend on your track so don't say, " I put it at 1 inch and lost". To check the balance point use a ruler or other thin piece of wood. Make sure the wheels are on the car.
Some folks say it's 4oz on the rear wheels and 1oz on the front. You will need a scale and a peice of wood level with the scale to check this. Place the car with the front wheels on the scale. Move the weight till the scale reads 1oz, do this while the rear wheels are supported on the peice of wood.