I did a ladder car with 1/4" thick sides, which allows for 5 cubes per row. However, now I see some are running with 6 cubes in a row. I made the ladder car to have 2 rows behind the rear axle so 10 vs 12 cubes makes a weight of ~1.66 vs 2.00 ozs behind the rear axle, respectively. I'm wondering if I should use an x-acto knife to cut the the sides down to fit 6 cubes per row. This is my first ladder car and surprised at how well it came out so far (body is 0.47 ozs).
2 rows of 5 or 6 cubes behind the rear axle
- Thread starter jimmiec
- Start date
6 cubes per row. Instead of taking 1/8 inch off each side, just remove the the full 1/4 inch on the side with the DFW. This shifts the weight to that side for a more balanced center of mass. Of course that's assuming you are running on 3 wheels with the 4th lifted.
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Dont cut 1/4 off the whole side of the car or you will drag your rear wheel all the way down the track
I wasn't saying reduce the total width of the car by 1/4". I believe he's saying his side rails are 1/4" thick which only leaves him enough room for 2 rows of 5 cubes behind the rear axle between the 1/4" sides. What I was saying is to gain the 1/4" space for the 2 rows of 6 cubes was to make the room on the DFW side only. So in effect the cubes would start flush with that side with the car remaining standard width.
I apologize for any confusion I may have caused.
Of course that would apply to a car with 3 wheels touching. I've never ran with 4 touching, so I can't speak to that.
I apologize for any confusion I may have caused.
Of course that would apply to a car with 3 wheels touching. I've never ran with 4 touching, so I can't speak to that.
Thanks guys. Darkside, I understood what you were suggesting to do and may be didn't reply like I did.
I spent the time widowing down the rear sides to 1/8 and the 12 cubes fit now. Tonight, we did my 2 kids cars right the first time with 1/8 rear pockets. Axles are drilled and glued the bottoms on. Tommorrow, I sure would like to find 3 scales and reread the post I found earlier with pictures. It looked interesting and would like to see how we did with balance and see if we need to off sit the weights forward the rear axle.
I'm not sure why we have to have 4 wheels touching.
I spent the time widowing down the rear sides to 1/8 and the 12 cubes fit now. Tonight, we did my 2 kids cars right the first time with 1/8 rear pockets. Axles are drilled and glued the bottoms on. Tommorrow, I sure would like to find 3 scales and reread the post I found earlier with pictures. It looked interesting and would like to see how we did with balance and see if we need to off sit the weights forward the rear axle.
I'm not sure why we have to have 4 wheels touching.
Because somewhere in the past the wrong scout won and somebody thought it would level the playing field if all wheels were touching. I haven't found a 7-10 year old scout that can install 4 wheels and get them all to touch. Such a bogus rule. Four wheels touching is the second worst rule, right behind graphite only.
Show your pack the rules from the Northern Star Council.
+1!
Those are a great set of rules to go by, I use the Northern Star Council Rules for the Alpine District race I run here in the NW
Those are a great set of rules to go by, I use the Northern Star Council Rules for the Alpine District race I run here in the NW
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