Derby Talk is a forum for Pinewood Derby, Awana Grand Prix, Kub Kar Rally, Shape N Race Derby, Space Derby, Raingutter Regatta and other similar races where a child and an adult work together to create a race vehicle and a lot of fun and memories
Has anyone ever built/attempted a car with the wheels almost completely encased by the fenders?
I usually like to build something rather silly for the adult division of our races, so I though I might take a stab at this.
My inspiration is here:
I don't think I'll be doing anything quite so pretty, but I like the idea of a car that's just a black "lozenge" sliding down the track with no apparent wheels. I have some ideas and I'm roughing out the design, but if anyone's done something like this and has suggestions or gotchas, please chime in.
Vitamin K wrote: ↑Mon Feb 12, 2024 7:41 amI have some ideas and I'm roughing out the design, but if anyone's done something like this and has suggestions or gotchas, please chime in.
We've tried nothing quite so exotic, but I suppose that it would be constructed like an old-fashioned body-on-chassis, where the chassis is a "plank" or "wing" or "ladder" style car with a hollowed shell dropped on top?
In the pictured model (which is cool!), I'd be worried about failing any rules specifications about track clearances. (The pictured car cannot use the parking lot's wheel chock due to lack of clearance.) Also worried about ending up overweight after a lot of work!
Vitamin K wrote: ↑Mon Feb 12, 2024 7:41 amI have some ideas and I'm roughing out the design, but if anyone's done something like this and has suggestions or gotchas, please chime in.
We've tried nothing quite so exotic, but I suppose that it would be constructed like an old-fashioned body-on-chassis, where the chassis is a "plank" or "wing" or "ladder" style car with a hollowed shell dropped on top?
In the pictured model (which is cool!), I'd be worried about failing any rules specifications about track clearances. (The pictured car cannot use the parking lot's wheel chock due to lack of clearance.) Also worried about ending up overweight after a lot of work!
Yeah, the plan that I'm trying to turn into a drawing is to have a thin plank body, with a framework on the top that's attached by screws that comes down and wraps around everything. The sides will likely be wood trim material (I have a roll of it), Considering using balsa for the "skeleton" that supports the outer shell.
I am a little concerned about the rear wheels, since canted rears are pretty close to the max width at the bottoms. I may need to inset the rear wheels a bit if I decide to make it a rail-rider.
Vitamin K wrote: ↑Mon Feb 12, 2024 9:30 amThe sides will likely be wood trim material... Considering using balsa... I may need to inset the rear wheels a bit...
It sounds like you thought through a few potential issues already... eager to see what you come up with!
IMO A car like that is best built using a vacuum-formed body or a very thin 3D printed body that sets over a small block under it and is held on with velcro or magnets inside...
But you should check the fender rules if any, and also check to make sure a front like that is compliant, as some rules forbid a 'point' at the front and require a flat across section of some minimal width to more easily align with the start peg...
Vitamin K wrote: ↑Mon Feb 12, 2024 7:41 am
Has anyone ever built/attempted a car with the wheels almost completely encased by the fenders?
I usually like to build something rather silly for the adult division of our races, so I though I might take a stab at this.
Vitamin K wrote: ↑Mon Feb 12, 2024 7:41 am
Has anyone ever built/attempted a car with the wheels almost completely encased by the fenders?
I usually like to build something rather silly for the adult division of our races, so I though I might take a stab at this.
Vitamin K wrote: ↑Tue Feb 13, 2024 6:34 amThe black lines are projected pine pieces, the blue ones are balsa structures and the purple is thin wood laminate.
Going to have to add more balsa structure I think, and also figure out the top view. Should be interesting once I start cutting up bits of wood.
May I suggest to keep weight down and make shaping easier you do as much out of balsa as possible? When my daughter did a pickup last year the only "pine" part left was a basic ladder frame similar to a real truck frame seen in the background...
One thing we found very helpful with the balsa is that we were able to mock build it with common sewing pins used like nails as we cut each panel so everything could be test fit before we actually glued anything...
exoray..WOW!
I'm really liking the image you have shared here on the balsa pickup and cab. ( not to go off topic here !)
But I've been wanting to do something in my memory of my Father..
He worked for Southwestern Bell Telephone for over 25 years. as a lineman and repairman and one of my fondest childhood memories was of his service truck..
that I have been wanting to build for a while now.. most all of my build have been out of pine, bass, and baltic birch, wood types.
( especially with the open window cab detail for all my big rig builds .)
Guess it's time to get some more balsa and get started on the build.. Thanks for the inspiration and for pulling on my heartstrings with the image.
What type of automobile can be spelled the same forwards & backwards?
whodathunkit wrote: ↑Tue Feb 13, 2024 5:33 pmI'm really liking the image you have shared here on the balsa pickup and cab. ( not to go off topic here !)
We've tried nothing quite so exotic, but I suppose that it would be constructed like an old-fashioned body-on-chassis, where the chassis is a "plank" or "wing" or "ladder" style car with a hollowed shell dropped on top?
(The pictured car cannot use the parking lot's wheel chock due to lack of clearance.) Also worried about ending up overweight after a lot of work!
Re: Hidden-Wheel Car?
