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It’s that time again. Pinewood Derby is being held at almost every elementary school right around now. Our local races were last night, and technology has definitely had an impact since our oldest son was racing some 15 years ago!

These days, as you are probably already aware, the races are judged with a laser beam and digital count. It’s pretty neat. The track we saw last night was a four lane with a high slope at the start, and laser read digital display at the bottom. Not only does the digital display allow more than one placer (2 second place, for instance), but the information is also captured on a laptop for final judging.

Each den used to be allowed to write their own rules and guidelines, taking into consideration that the more wins, the higher the level of competition, and ultimately there are guidelines to those races. Usually the differences had to do with what the younger dens getting some wiggle room, not anything big.  You wouldn’t want to win, for example, on flimsy rules where you would be out of the running in the higher levels. Bearing that in mind, the rules outlined for Pack 871, our local Cub Scout Pack, were the Boy Scouts of America Official Grand Pix Derby Rules, using the official kit only. Most are done that way for obvious reasons.

Axle Placement Update

The official rules don’t allow your own grooves for the axle placement. That’s contrary to the advice given earlier. While the dens may get away with that, the packs won’t. Now that the tracks have individual lanes, it just doesn’t matter. That car will run straight, no matter what speed! If the pre-cut grooves aren’t square and parallel, the car will just be slower. The BSA rules say there are NO exceptions to the factory cut grooves, so if it isn’t square, it probably needs to be returned and swapped out.

Rocket Scientist Pinewood Derby

Picture by Katie H

It’s great to see what these kids are up to now. The coolest thing I’ve seen so far is the Rocket Scientist competition. WOW.  Only a handful of rules similar to the Pinewood Derby rules. The difference is in the propulsion methods.  With the exclusion of explosives or anything that might harm the track, anything goes!

My daughter took these pictures. I see photojournalism in her future!

When did all the technology start seeping into the Pinewood Derby? I like it.

Picture by Radar

The Holiday Express Train in Richardson, Texas isn’t your everyday model train. No, Joel Occhuizzo didn’t know a thing about model trains until about eight years ago. “It would be a lot less expensive to build now,” he laughs, “now that I know what I’m doing!” The entire experience has been trial and error.

“The first engine I wanted built, the man asked me how fast I wanted it to go. I told him, not knowing any better and wanting it to be safe for children to ride, 2 miles per hour. It took 4 minutes to get around my backyard one time!” The track isn’t large, but it isn’t small, either. The track consists of thirty-two 4-foot wooden sections that lay on 2 x 4′s in a circular shape around a lighted, theme-park style center. A 3x ¼ inch steel monorail runs through the center and keeps the train on the track.

The engine now runs 9 mph, and takes about 30 seconds to round the track. He’s been through 6 engines in 8 years. This year, he knew exactly what he needed. He rented a truck, loaded his entire assembly in the back, and drove to Phoenix to have his new motor installed. I asked him how long he expected this engine to last him. “About 2 years,” he smiled. He’s proud of the electric car motor he uses to propel his train. Last year, the man he has been purchasing his batteries from realized what he was up to and told him he’d never have to buy them again. From now on, he was giving them to him.

It’s a Labor of Love

The Occhuizzo’s love of Christmas is contagious. Everyone who drives by, everyone who stops in, and everyone who stays to enjoy the ride is touched with the detail that has defined their backyard.

“Last year, he figured out that if they sing Christmas carols as the train goes round, the kids keep their hands in the train,” smiles BeBe, his wife. “When I’m not out there, I’m right inside this window, watching, just to make sure they are all safe. You should hear them all singing! It’s really beautiful.”

“The smiles on their faces, the way the eyes light up, there’s nothing like it. You have to see it,” says Joel. He’s got big plans. It’s not the way he wants it just yet, but it just goes to show what can happen when inspiration calls, and you listen with your heart.

Find out more at his website, http://www.holidayexpressridingtrain.com

Picture by Pinecar

After the basic design is determined, you will need to get cracking on axle placement. It is one of the most crucial parts to install, so getting it right the first time is pretty important.

The axles need to be positioned with perfect alignment to allow the car to roll down the track in as straight a line as possible. If they are not straight, the wheels will battle each other and slow the car down. In addition, the axles need to be far enough into the car, but yet leave enough space between the body of the car and the wheel to allow free spinning motion.

Don’t trust the precut grooves in the block because they may not be square. Before the shaping and carving begins, draw a line for the axles using a square and a pencil to make sure they are congruent. Drill out only when you know your axles will be square. It’s much easier to do when it’s still in block form, than if you try to drill out after your car has its intended shape.

What If Your Car Won’t Run Straight?

Several things should be checked to see why you’re not getting the performance you want.

• Do the wheels have any molding left on the tread? Sand them off being careful not to compromise the shape of the wheel.

• Use a strip of fine sandpaper to remove any burrs or jagged edges on the nail head where it meets the wheel. Use a cloth and chrome polish, or another polishing agent to bring your axles to a high gloss.

• Consider putting each axle in a drill chuck to practice getting up to high speed. Does it all move smoothly?

Lubrication

Don’t forget to lubricate your axles with graphite. Most often your competition will allow you to lubricate directly before you race, but make sure you have done this ahead of time as well. Give each wheel a spin and apply a little bit of graphite at a time until you achieve your maximum spin rate. Graphite is messy, so do it over a workspace that you aren’t worried about.

On a corner lot in suburban Richardson, Texas, BeBe Occhiuzzo has been watching neighborhood children enjoy Christmas for the past seven years. Eight years ago, her husband Joel had created a holiday train that ran on a track in their backyard for their grandchildren to watch, wonder and enjoy. After the first year, he knew what he had to do. With a lot of perseverance and elbow grease, his average-sized backyard has become a magical play land for children all over the city.

What started out as a passionate ambition for a grandfather to see his grandchildren’s eyes light up, has become an opportunity for the Occhiuzzo’s to spread holiday joy to the entire neighborhood, and then some. His first train was just for show. By the time the next holiday season rolled around, it had become a joy ride for his family.

Train Rides: One Thing Leads To Another

Little did she know it, but that second year was about to change their lives forever. He had developed an intensity and drive to make that train dependable and rider friendly for years to come. He wasn’t a model train enthusiast. He didn’t know a thing about them. He simply knew that when those kids saw that train, running in a circle through lights and painted wooden cartoon characters, they became awed and amazed, and he just couldn’t stop.

It’s not a scale train. It was built from wood and welded metal. Each side panel on the cars was cut from wood, and painted with loving detail. The train’s engine car was crafted by metal workers, and houses the same electric car motor that powers the fleet of cars that work for the city of Dallas.

Two years ago, after several modifications, he began allowing adults to ride with the children. It takes 30 seconds to round the track one time, and he lets them ride about 10-12 minutes. The train starts at 6pm and runs till 10pm from Thanksgiving to New Year’s Day. It’s in the local paper now, and the Dallas Morning News.

Volunteers Needed

With so many people now not only enjoying the view from the nearby trail, but also allowed to ride, they’ve seen 800 guests in a single night. Cars round the corner and line up down the street to watch, ride, and sing together under the Christmas lights.

Capable of holding 22 children, 6 of the 8 cars have seats, while the coal car houses the batteries for the engine. The engine is a 13.9 horsepower DC motor with 42 lbs of torque, and he’s figured out how to give it a soft start and stop for the comfort of the passengers. All this equipment is getting difficult for Joel to put up and take down himself.

The set up begins every September 15, and is completed by Thanksgiving. He had to build storage space on to the house to store not only the train, but also the track and additional decorations. A local church has offered to help him break it down and store it this year, but it is still no small task. It won’t be done until February. For more information, you can visit his website www.holidayexpressridingtrain.com, and check back here for more information.

picture by Pinecar

Pinewood Derby cars are a lot of fun, but it takes a little know how to get the most out of your experience. Whether you got your kit from your scout leader or picked it up yourself at a Boy Scout Store, you probably opened it up and went, “Now what do I do with this wood?” I remember the first time we opened our son’s kit. We had no idea how to make a car out of it, or how to make it competitive!

My husband and I were talking about Pinewood racing the other day, and it brought back some great memories. Here’s what got us from block of wood to competition ready car.

Within Your Pinewood Derby Rules:

• The shape is yours to play with. Your car can have a cool shape, paint job, and even decals. Have your son draw it out a couple of different ways. Remember that length is critical to controlling your car, so go as long as you can.

• Within the weight limit, you should go as heavy as the rules allow. This will allow your car some speed. Weight increments start as low as 1 oz., but most are 2 oz, and are capable of breaking off at smaller increments. Positioning the weight is the fun part.

Weight Placement

You will have to purchase your own weights, but as long as you stay within the weight limit, you can use what you like. That said, after your son has given some decent input on where he thinks the weight should go, you may want to make sure you’ve guided him to weight placement in the rear of the car. Positioning is the key. The further towards the back, the faster your car will be. That’s tricky because you will sacrifice some front-end stability. You can regain control by placing your rear wheels as far to the back as possible.

Drilling out a place for the weight is a good idea because of the weight exchange. Wood displacement gives you a little more room. Some competitors have used fishing weights, closing the hole on the top with a wax plug.

These days the weights you can just purchase make the most sense, though. For around $4.00 you can get what you need and figure out how to adhere it without going over limit. You’ll be able to find selections at your local hobby retailer.

You don’t have to drill into the top, either. You can turn it over and completely conceal from the topside where you’ve decided to put the weight. Keep a close eye on the scale because you will become disqualified if you go over limit.

We’ll go over the axles and lubrication in my next submission.

Astronomy is a fun topic to research, and kids need a little coaching in the research department when they’re young, say elementary to jr. high age. I like to see the reaction in the faces of this age group because the pictures are so compelling. There’s still a huge “oooh!” and “aahhh!” factor when they are either encouraged to draw what they’ve seen, or look up the visuals in an encyclopedia or online. Getting them to learn isn’t half as important as getting them to want to learn, and this a great avenue.

Many nights our family has stayed up to see some astronomical event like a comet or eclipse, even with school and work the next day. It’s fun to break out of the norm once and a while. The experience is even better when it becomes educational for kids the next day. Taking that extra step to research what you’ve seen together adds both depth and quality time.

Astronomy Topics to Look Up:

• Nebula

• Asteroids

• Milky Way

• Black holes

• Satellite

• Mars

• Venus

Once they’ve looked up the image of something, the younger ones may like to draw with color to convey it. As if your refrigerator didn’t have enough on it already! You may have better luck getting your older kids to make models with clay or paper mache. See if they can tell you why they think astronomical events happen the way they do.

You’re touching a wide variety of subjects when you do this:

• Research

• Art

• Science

• Reading

Astronomy really is one of many educational hobbies that foster deeper thought and amazement in the universe. Get involved with something educational for kids today, tomorrow depends on it.

Photo Credit: Velo Steve on flickr

You’ve seen them at parks and on the beach, heard the engines in the water, and watched intently as they maneuver around toys in the swimming pool. Is it time to get your own? Is it time to get a radio controlled boat for your husband, or child?

What Kind Of Radio Controlled Boat?

• Electric R/C boats are known for their ease, using a rechargeable battery that gets slower as battery power runs out. These are less expensive than nitro or gas boats, and have a range around 15-40 mph. Some seriously high-end electric boats still tout high speed rivaling gas.

• Nitro R/C boats are mid-range in price and don’t run out of power until the tank is empty. Nitros can do upwards of 50 mph, and require fuel and a start kit to operate.

• Gas boats are a mix of gas and 2-cycle oil, much like your weed-eater, and are typically faster boats. They get about 45 minutes of play time to a tank of gas. Because of the size of the engine, these are much larger. It’s not unusual to find a 4 ft gas powered R/C boat. The noise, smell, and rooster tail make this a pretty impressive toy, and you’ll pay for it. These easily run around $1,000.

Enjoying your radio controlled boat with your family and friends is an extraordinary way to spend your afternoons on the water. The purchase, maintainence, and refurbishing your new R/C boat adds new depth to your list of educational hobbies.

So, level with me. It’s for you, isn’t it?

Ten dollars doesn’t buy you much these days, but it will get you into one of the most rewarding exhibitions you will ever see. Trainfest 2008 turned out avid model railroaders from every age group, and every size model train layout. The blogging is still going on! If you’ve never heard of Trainfest, let me “clue you in!” There’s quite a bit to know for next year.

So Many Model Train Layouts

Every model train layout intricately portrays almost every scene you can think of. This wonderland of imagination takes you back in time to drive in theaters and logging displays, completely detailing every scene. You can watch a model train set rumble through the mountains and mining communities, or turn another direction and watch a complete cityscape or rural pumpkin grove, displayed with little-bitty people!

Trainfest has been held every year since 1971 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. This weekend event started out in a little VFW hall, and has grown to accommodate upwards of 20,000 people at the Wisconsin Exposition Center. This past November 8 & 9 was the 37th Annual Trainfest Exhibition, featuring every imaginable model train scale and model train layout on display for the whole family. That’s right, the whole family can afford to go when 14 and under get in free with an adult!

All Train Scales Represented

Besides the magical, miniature life brought to animation in everything from Z to G scale, it’s fascinating to me how modelers of all ages demonstrate the “crafting” side to the displays. They were on hand to show you how to make trees, watering holes, Styrofoam scenery, and so much more.

You can purchase a model train set right there, when your inspiration grabs you! Every vendor having anything to do with model train scale turns out for this event. All the realistic audio equipment is there, layout kits, building designs; all the latest technology. Over 50 hobby dealers, hobby clubs, and organizations, and over 60 manufacturers are available for presentations and information. Yeah, you don’t want to miss this next year.

It doesn’t matter what stage of the game you’re in. If you are just becoming enamored with this educational hobby, or if you are a long time enthusiast out to build a better mousetrap, take the family for an awe-inspiring journey into fantasyland and don’t miss Trainfest 2009!