Standard Coupe
Standard Coupe
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Standard Coupe |
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Standard Coupe |
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Editor's Notes
We're taking a break from article writing, so there isn't a feature article in this edition. Instead, we are including an extended Reader Feedback, and an extended Car Showcase. In the "Grooved Axle" article in Volume 8, Issue 6, the web site for a set of axle experiments was incorrect. The correct web site is: stanpope.net/pwfrictn.htm From Shawn Stebleton: Regarding your article on unusual tracks (Volume 8, Issue 5), the first of the two loop tracks shown (the red one with the jump following) is from our pack, Pack 207 in Murrysville, Pennsylvania. Our Cubmaster built it about ten or twelve years ago. We use it every year for our pinewood derby "Fun Day", a build workshop combined with lots of fun. Not viewable in the picture you have is a net through the center of the loop to catch most cars that are unable to complete the circuit. Ironically, only the fastest cars -- those with proper weight placement, good alignment, and polished axles/wheel bores -- can make it through the loop successfully, and those are the cars the good builders don't want to risk on such a track. I don't remember exactly the story, but our Cubmaster said that someone from Canada had seen or heard of his track and wanted to build one similar to it. The picture of the other one is the result. Operated as a pack fund raiser, the Fun Day is open to all scouts from not only our own pack but neighboring packs too. We have a station for cutting cars, including band saws (parents operate these), coping saws, rasps, sandpaper, etc. Weights, extra car kits, craft display stands, food, and other items are for sale. Parents bring lots of tools too, (I bring my Dremel and plunge router attachment, among other items) and freely share them and help any scout that asks. Teaching a scout how to use a tool (and understand the why behind it) is a great feeling. It's held on a Saturday in early January, usually two weeks before our pack Pinewood Derby, and runs from about 8:30 am until 3:30 pm. Our next one is coming up January 10th, 2009. The scouts can work on building their cars, test them, and enjoy running them. Cars from previous years are welcome on the loop-and-leap track, as most boys don't want to use their new cars in such a way, for fear of damage. We also have a Demolition Derby track (our pack supplies cars to be smashed up) and a seat-belt demonstration track, with raw eggs as "passengers" and removable elastic straps that represent seat belts. We make some runs head-on with another egg car, and some head-on into a brick, both with seat belts and without. The scouts love it when eggs get smashed in a collision! It drives the point home about not getting your head smashed like the egg. Here are some pictures from a previous year's Fun Day event. We typically have about 100+ Scouts (accompanied by parents) throughout the day, some for a few hours, some all day.  Event Overview  Looking Down the Loop and Leap Ramp  Egg Car Without Seatbelt Crashing Into a Brick  Egg Family Cars After Head-on Collision |
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During a production run on our Official BSA Speed Wheels our machinist
coned the hub, and removed a tiny amount of plastic from the inside edge of
the wheel. This is not our normal specification, so we are offering you
these wheels at a discounted price.
If you would like to buy a dozen or more sets of these wheels for use in your den, pack, or other group we can offer them to you at a greater discount. Please give us a call at 623-587-9261 for a quote. For more information on these wheels, please visit: www.maximum-velocity.com/inventory.htm and www.maximum-velocity.com/14090.htm Raingutter Regatta or Space Derby? 
If you have an upcoming Raingutter Regatta and would like some speed tips, decals, or extra kits, please visit us at Raingutter Regatta - World Class Boats. Our booklet, "World Class Boats", provides many techniques and tips for getting the most speed out of the standard BSA design, and also
shows how to build the super fast Catamaran and Hydrofoil. These boats are so fast, they have been banned from some races!
We also can help with your Space Derby project at Spaceship Derby - Soar to the Finish!. Our booklet, "Soar to the Finish", provides you with all the speed tips you need to build a super fast space ship.
We offer basswood and balsa wood, along with our craft metal products
at Maximum Hobby.
Basswood is a smooth grained softwood that is great for adding detail to a pine block. For example, we use basswood for the top plate in our Stealth Kit. It can also be used for making fenders, wings, cockpits, etc. |
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