The Howler Pinewood Derby Car Kit

Specification of the Car

The participants must make the car from the supplied block of wood. However, the shape of the wood can be altered to make a fast Pinewood Derby car. To change the shape of the car, participants can use bandsaw, hand knife or Dremel. However, the finished car must have a maximum length and height of 7 inches and 3 inches respectively. Also, the car designed by the participants must not be wider than two and three-quarter inches. The scouts must also make sure the car has the right clearance height. If the car has higher clearance, the pin will not be able to their car in position. On the other hand, if the car has lower clearance, the bottom of the car will rub the track and affect their chances of winning the event.

Weight

Since the cars that are heavy can gain more momentum when racing down the track, the organizers have put a cap on the maximum weight of the car. To provide a level playing field to all the scouts who participate in the event, the maximum weight of the car is fixed at 5 ounces. To offset the weight lost when the wood is shaved down; the organizers have allowed scouts to add metal weights to the car. These weights cannot be tapped to the car but can be inserted in the body.

Axles

All the participants must use the axles that come with the official kit. Smoothing, filing and sanding of the axles is permitted provided the diameter of the axles does not exceed 0.084 inches. The axles can also be lubricated with products that are available on sale at Derby outlets. However, these axles cannot be attached to machines that are designed to rotate them.

Wheels

The participants are only allowed to use the wheels that come with the kit. Sanding of the wheel is allowed provided the original lettering, size and shape is not altered. Scouts can use fingernail polish, tape or glue on the inside but nothing must spill over to the outside. The participants must attach the wheels of the car directly to the axle and must ensure they spin freely.

Prohibited Parts

The participants are prohibited from using parts like wheel bearing, motorized parts, springs, hubcaps, lubricating oil, electronically-powered lights, modified wheels or any other part that can affect other cars. The use of these items is prohibited because it can give players an unfair advantage and may increase their chances of winning the race.

One of the things you should really keep in mind is the weight of the vehicle. On the race day, nothing heavier than 5 oz. will be allowed. You should not build your Pinewood Derby Car too close to this allowed maximum since any slight change can increase it and bar you from racing. For example, increase in humidity can increase moisture content in the woodwork and make it heavy.

The other thing that you should be keen on is Pinewood Derby Car lubrication. You should lubricate it well so that it runs smoothly to increase its speed. One of the best lubricants with these cars is graphite. The axles should be coated with graphite to enable them the derby car to run with minimal energy. The axles should also be polished as much as possible to reduce friction. Friction is the number one hindrance to movement and everything that reduces it will increase the speed of your automobile.

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Wheel clearance is another tricky thing to get right. There is a right distance for each type of car. The wheels should not be very close to the body of the car since that would get them rubbing on the body when the car moves, and thus reduce their speed. If they are too far from the body, they will be loose and wriggle when the vehicle moves and reduce the speed too. You can experiment with different distances to get the right one.

Then there is the issue of sanding. The rule of thumb here is to start with rough sandpaper and then move on to finer ones. This is the right technique to use if you want to make the surfaces as smooth as possible. There are even techniques for sanding holes. One of them is to wrap the sandpaper on a pencil and then insert it and rub it against the sides of the hole.

Drilling is not an easy thing. If you are building your first pinewood derby car, chances are high that there are several things you might not get right the first time. However, you need to ensure that you get your drilling right if you want to create clean holes. To avoid chipping your wood, you should place a piece of wood beneath the one being drilled. This way, your exit hole will be clean too.

These and other tips are necessary if you want to build a winning pinewood derby car. You can carry out more research on how to fit the right parts together so that you do not build a heavy car that does not move on the racecourse. The fact that you do not use engines in these cars makes it very exciting since all you have to rely on is gravity.

One of the things you should really be keen on is the weight of the vehicle. On the race day, nothing heavier than 5 oz. will be allowed. You should not build yours too close to this allowed maximum since any slight change can increase it and bar you from racing. For example, increase in humidity can increase moisture content in the woodwork and make it heavy.

The other thing that you should be keen on is lubrication. You should lubricate it well so that it runs freely to increase its speed. One of the best pinewood derby car lubricants with these cars is graphite. The axles should be coated with graphite to enable them the derby car to run with minimal energy. The axles should also be polished as much as possible to reduce friction. Friction is the number one hindrance to movement and everything that reduces it will increase the speed of your automobile.

Wheel clearance is another tricky thing to get right. There is a right distance for each type of car. The wheels should not be very close to the body of the car since that would get them rubbing on the body when the car moves, and thus reduce their speed. If they are too far from the body, they will be loose and wriggle when the vehicle moves and reduce the speed too. You can experiment with different distances to get the right one.

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Then there is the issue of sanding. The rule of thumb here is to start with rough sandpaper and then move on to finer ones. This is the right technique to use if you want to make the surfaces as smooth as possible. There are even techniques for sanding holes. One of them is to wrap the sandpaper on a pencil and then insert it and rub it against the sides of the hole.

Drilling is not an easy thing. If you are building your first pinewood derby car, chances are high that there are several things you might not get right the first time. However, you need to ensure that you get your drilling right if you want to create clean holes. To avoid chipping your wood, you should place a piece of wood beneath the one being drilled. This way, your exit hole will be clean too.

These and other tips are necessary if you want to build a winning pinewood derby car. You can carry out more research on how to fit the right parts together so that you do not build a heavy car that does not move on the racecourse. The fact that you do not use engines in these cars makes it very exciting since all you have to rely on is gravity.

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One of the things that makes the cars so special is that the scouts design them from a block of wood. There is a fair amount of creativity in the process because they boys start with only a block of wood, from that they add the axle and the wheels. They can design it however they want within certain parameters. There are designs they can choose online. Or they are free to create their own. Many boys feel a great sense of accomplishment when they design their cars and then race them.
The scouts can win other awards from building and racing their cars. They might win a prize or a ribbon for the best looking car, the most original design etc. It is not just a race of speed. Some of the reason to build a car is just to have a sense of pride from working on a project and seeing it through.

It is really a nice project because boys can get help from their father or some other adult to help them build and design a car. Not only does it just benefit the child but it also benefits the adult since they are involved with this child on the project. Family harmony is an aim of this project and it is a nice time to design and build a derby car. This is a great way to spend time together as a family. At the same time scouts are encouraged to do most of the work themselves so that they can feel proud of their creation, and they get the “I did it myself” feeling.The Pinewood Derby is not so much a race as it is an exercise in craftsmanship and independence. Those are heady feeling for a young child, and hopefully they will take something away from the experience.

Most men still remember the Pinewood Derby cars they built as children. This shows what a powerful experience it can be for a young boy.  The nice thing about the derby cars is that there is a standard for all of them, so the scouts all have an equal chance to win. The blocks of wood are identical sizes and weights. Also the scout troop votes on their own rules for the derby so the boys have some ownership in this as well. The Pinewood Derby gives young boys a sense of accomplishment because they do a lot of the work themselves, and also each troop makes it their own derby in many ways. The derby gives each child an equal chance to win and this is something that is very special as well.

The designs for pinewood derby cars vary, and participants want to make sure that their cars have the most stunning and brilliant appeal. They can choose to put flame prints, or bold colors on their handmade cars. Moreover, they might want to create a camo design that is similar to the patterns in most military vehicles. The following steps can guide those who plan to use a camouflage paint job for their fast pinewood derby cars.

1. Prepare the necessary supplies.

For a camo design, it is important to prepare several supplies and tools such as spray paint with three camo colors, top coat spray paint, and a camo pattern. The pattern may be found in books and online resources that may be applied as a guide in designing the car. There are other essential items required for the project including a paintbrush, sandpapers with various grits, primer, and masking tape.

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2. Sand the unpainted car.

It will be easy to paint the car when it has a smooth surface. Sand all portions of the car by using rough sandpaper. Then, use fine grit sandpaper when all edges and portions of the car are completely smooth. Check for rough sections by rubbing the car’s surface with a soft cloth. When the cloth snags on any portion, continue sanding with fine sandpaper.

3. Spray-paint the car with a primer and outline the camo pattern.

When the car is already smooth, spray-paint the surface with a primer. Apply thin coats on the car. However, allow the paint to dry for about two hours before applying the second coating. Then, examine the camouflage design pattern. Trace the pattern on the car by using a pencil.

4. Apply the right color for the camo design.

Decide on the paint color for the pattern. Desert camo comes with beige, tan, and white, while a forest camo has brown, black, and green colors. Put tape on some sections to prevent mixing of colors. Spray the uncovered sections with the first color, and allow 10 minutes for the paint to dry. Apply two coatings of the first color before starting with the other colors for the camo design. Follow the same procedure in the application of the second and third color of paint. Then, fill in some gaps in the painted surface by using a paintbrush.

5. Give the car a smooth finish.

After the paint has already dried, use a fine sandpaper to remove clumps on the painted surface. Wipe the scraped dust off the wooden car by using a soft cloth. Lastly, apply a clear, top-coat paint to make the car appear glossy and smooth.

These steps can help those who want to have the finest design for their pinewood derby cars. Make sure that the right materials and techniques are applied to ensure a high-quality car with superb visual appeal.

1. Minimizing the Friction in Axles and Wheels

While you shouldn’t merely be focusing on the axles and wheels of your Pinewood Derby car, however, it is certainly a good place to start if you want to improve your car’s speed. Polishing and sanding the axles and wheels of the car is quite necessary if you want your car to go faster. The friction produced by them will be reduced this way, and their speed will be increased in return. Make sure you use the right equipment and materials to polish and sand the parts. You will have to confirm the balance of the axles and wheels by rolling your car over a flat surface once you have polished and sanded them.

2. Gradually Sanding Pinewood Derby Cars

Apart from improving the Pinewood Derby car’s appearance, sanding and painting your car will also help you improve its speed. The friction produced by the car will depend on how good you have sanded it. The fineness of the sandpaper should be gradually reduced while sanding the car. The “grit” number of the sandpaper should also be gradually lowered. You will also be able to paint the car much better if you sanded and patched it properly.

3. The Power of Paint Must Never Be Underestimated

You can begin painting your Pinewood Derby car once you have perfectly sanded its surface to smoothness. A single coat of white primer has to be applied on Pinewood Derby cars at first. Make sure you thoroughly cover the car’s surface. After applying the primer, various coats of paint can be added to the car. Avoid applying really heavy coats of paint. They will only add weight to your car and slow it down rather than speeding it up. The weight of your car should merely be close to the 5 ouch weight limit.

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4. The Axles and Wheels Should Be Aligned

Once the speed of Pinewood Derby Cars has been improved, it becomes very necessary to align the axles and wheels. If you are a Cub Scout then make sure you choose some easy method to align these parts or get some help to align them.

5. Using the Trial and Error Method

Your car’s speed can be effectively boosted through a couple of actions.
- Only the best-quality axles and wheels should be used
- Is necessary, the wheels should be re-polished
- The axles and wheels should be constantly tested until they properly roll

As mentioned, while the fast Pinewood Derby cars cannot be built this way, but if you follow these 5 easy tips to improve your Pinewood Derby car’s speed, they will definitely prove to be effective.

Below is a list of 10 steps to building a fast Pinewood Derby car.

First of all, you have to check the wheels of the kit.   It is very important that you ensure the wheels are perfectly round so that the speed of the car is increased. Moreover, the axles and wheels have to be checked for burrs, and if found, they have to be removed immediately.

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Next thing you have to do for a fast Pinewood Derby car is to polish your car axles. This is better done with the help of another person.

It is always better to get your hands on some car plans before creating your car. You could also think of your own design, and put it on paper or a computer file so that you can later tweak your car to perfection.

After painting the body of your Pinewood Derby car, it is important that you give the paint sufficient time to dry. This prevents sticky paint from sticking to the wheels and reducing its speed. You can speedup the drying process by applying a few light coats of paint instead of a heavy one.

It is important that you know the Pinewood Derby rules to ensure your car does not break any of them. Learn the Boy Scouts of America’s limits on the car’s weight and dimensions before designing your car as they tend to change every year. It is important that you are aware of, and follow these rules as the car’s speed is irrelevant if you break any of the official Derby rules.

Make sure you add some lubrication to the wheels. You could add talcum powder, graphite powder or penetrating oils. Try all of them to find out which method is the most effective in improving your car speed.

Your car should not exceed the Derby’s weight limit. So keep the paint and putty weight in mind while calculating the overall weight of the car. While you should not exceed the weight limit, your car should also get as close to the weight’s limit too. So you can add some lead weights to the car, if required, to increase its weight.

It is always better to concentrate on placing the center of gravity of the car on the rear wheels. This makes it possible for you to make one of the front wheels a little higher than the other, to help you roll your car on three and not four wheels. This is an added benefit as it consumes less energy.

If it is allowed, you could use a mandrel to reshape your wheels to help lower the mass of the wheels. The benefit of reducing the mass of the wheel is that less energy is consequently required in turning them.

Once the car is built, you can spike it using paint, lubrication, custom parts and other similar supplies to make it a viable competitor for the Pinewood Derby.

All Pinewood Derby cars are gravity powered and as such two important factors come into play, weight and rolling friction. To maximize the speed of the car we must increase the weight while reducing the friction. But wait! Didn’t Galileo prove that two objects regardless of weight will fall at the same speed? Yes, but another factor comes into play with a Derby car – momentum. Momentum is the force of an object’s weight and velocity and is what makes an object continue to move forward after the force is removed. In the case of a Derby car, Gravity provides the initial propelling force so the racer must retain as much momentum at the end of the track as possible to push the car past the finish line at speed.

Each Derby competition lists the rules of the race. Check with the local rules for the maximum weight allowed. The object is to get the car at the maximum allowable weight for the race. Most cars will require the addition of lead weight. Weights are commercially available in the form of car accessories such as bumpers, engines as well as standard shape slugs. Be careful when adding weight that the total dimensions of the car does not exceed the published rules.

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Rolling friction is the enemy of speed. Friction can be reduced by a very careful assembly of the wheels and axles and proper lubrication of the wheel hubs. Once again, check with the rules of the race as some allow after-market speed wheels and axles while others only allow the official stock Pinewood Derby equipment. When using the stock wheels and axles, first sand the rolling surface of the wheels smooth to remove the molding line and any plastic flashing near the wheel hub. Check to ensure the wheels are flat, round and smooth. Since the wheels are plastic they may have become cupped or egg shaped during the molding process. Any wheel that cannot be reshaped through light sanding should not be used. Assemble the axles to the car tight enough to prevent the wheel from wobbling but not tight enough to prevent it from turning easily.

Wheel alignment plays a critical role in rolling friction. An out of line wheel will drag against the track instead of rolling and slow the car down. Line up all four wheels as close to parallel as possible, there is an alignment jig available for this purpose that can be bought for just a few dollars. The idea is to have all the wheels straight to the path of travel. The alignment can be checked by pushing the car across a smooth, flat surface and if the wheels are correct the car will go arrow straight and not pull to the left or right. Just before the race begins, apply a small amount of dry powdered graphite lubricant to the wheel hubs. Happy racing!

The breathtaking platform offered also helps the builders to interact, showcase and learn from each other’s experiences in miniature motoring that has matured over the years to become one of the most enjoyed scout’s sports world over. Many an admire has made journeys of fantasy and fun into the car building experience always coming out with the best of smiles because of the areas of improvement that are coupled with a one to one guide to the game. Designs for a fast pinewood derby car are also available at affordable prices. The designs are accompanied with state of the art directions that are meant to establish a link between previous knowledge and new experiences in the design scene.

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Step by step, guides enable a person to account for all the time spent in the assembly exercise, and the builder can easily reverse the process as they try to get used to the designs that they fancy. Most importantly, one needs to remember that involvement in pinewood derby cars is in itself an immersion into a lifetime experience of the trendy ways of having fun and improving ones motoring skills that come in handy almost always. It can be done as a leisure activity because of the fun that comes with it, or it can also be done as an occupation. The pinewood derby car enthusiasts regard this as the sometimes overlooked experience that needs to be reconsidered. Some mainstream and classical thinkers may not necessarily embrace the idea of pinewood derby cars until they get introduced to it, and they immediately fall to.

Pinewood derby car platform is so developed that one can access photo shots of the most admired and highly rated designs at just a finger’s click, something that works towards improving the world view of this platform. However, if someone is not careful with the very first opinion formed through the pinewood derby car experience, they may end up having a bitter experience of. Owing to the fan base, it has attracted and the ripples it has caused in the motoring sports world, the experience is headed for lifetime uplift from the different sponsors who have declared an interest in this.

One of the most important ways to make sure your pinewood derby car looks as cool as possible is to make sure you do your preparation work thoroughly. If you spend the time and attention needed to sand your derby car until it’s smooth, you will not only be improving the look, but you will also be ensuring it’s shape is more aerodynamic and it should go faster as a result. But once you have it smooth and have sanded out any possible roughness, you will have a solid base for a flashy and smooth-looking car. You want your finished car to look as bright and sleek as possible, so put in the elbow grease from the start to make that happen.

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Another way to make your car look cool is to think about doing something different and not following the crowd. Most other kids will just paint their car with a simple color scheme or follow a kit’s instructions to the letter with regards to their car decoration. You might consider getting a body skin for your car, as the designs can often be quite unique. The body skin just fits right over your car, completely covering it. After you put the body skin on you can add racing stripes if they would look good, or even think about adding any sparkles or light spray paint where appropriate. Just be creative and try to do something different so your car will stand out and give you the best chance of everyone congratulating you on your awesome design.

Also, do not forget the extra flair you can add to your derby car. There are all kinds of decals you can find, and while others may have some of the same decals, you can create your own combination. Do not go overboard with these, but a few smartly placed decals can add to the overall design. Also, there are accessories you can add to your car such as spoilers, sirens and other features you may consider. These can slow down your car’s performance, however, so it’s up to you to decide where your priorities lie. Finally, consider decals for your wheels so you can have slick looking hubcap designs that set your car apart from the other racers.

Hopefully these tips have helped you on your journey to create a cool looking and fast pinewood derby car. Just remember, whatever you do, be unique and you can’t go wrong.