2018 Awana Grand Prix builds underway

[Jimmy & his 2 Kids]

Hey folks,
i wont be too descriptive and just let the pics speak for them selves. In short I did get started on mine and my 2 kids Awana cars. They will help of course. But I will handle the axle & wheel prep. I did get bodies cut. Did 5/16 blanks over the axle slot to show I did use the blocks for the kits. After their dominance last year at least one parent questioned us.
I will say this... I am officially saving my pennies for a jig. No more without. Even with a drill press and rotating degrees table it is still hard to ensure proper alignment.
I also used Bulldogs method for doing Lighnin Boys X3 fenders.
The body's I was going to cut out and get 7g bodies but noticed with everything on the scale I am underweight so I will leave them solid this time. I can't be buying much more weight and I dont really have a good way t secure the bodies for routing them out. Just a table on the drill press and creativity. Just doing the weight pockets on my car was an all night chore.
Found I really like the Awana axles. Coned out real nice on the drill press and shined real nice too. I have them all in a small container to keep them clean. However I will hit them one more time in case they get a nick or 2 from being all piled up together. Suppose UI should poke em in a foam blc to keep them separate.
All in all I think they will work out fine for just the Awana GP. I will also do my BSA kit car for Box Stock just out of morbid curiosity.

The Awana GP is March 24th so I am already running out of time with learning. But I should be able to get all 3 done.
Here's some pics. Advice, "stop that's" and anything else would be greatly appreciated. Thanks for looking!

Blessings,
Jimmy

 

[Peregrine Racing]

Looking good so far.

 

[Skywalker Racing]

Looking good.

Routing is a pain with a drill press. If you haven't routed all your weight pockets and don't want to, You could cut all the way through with a bandsaw and/or scroll saw and then top the weight pocket with a piece of 1/64 plywood.

 

[Jimmy & his 2 Kids]

Just stinks that the only tools i don’t have are a band saw or scroll saw. I could just drill a bunch all the way through and run my mini hacksaw blade through it to finish it off. I’ll try that with the kid’s cars maybe. But if I do that with just the weight pockets would I still cover whole car with the ply or just the pocket? Wonder about the edge it’ll leave if I do just the pocket. I don’t have any putty to bury the edge with.

 

[Rebel Racer]

Just stinks that the only tools i don’t have are a band saw or scroll saw. I could just drill a bunch all the way through and run my mini hacksaw blade through it to finish it off. I’ll try that with the kid’s cars maybe. But if I do that with just the weight pockets would I still cover whole car with the ply or just the pocket? Wonder about the edge it’ll leave if I do just the pocket. I don’t have any putty to bury the edge with.

I would think he was suggesting to do the entire body that way to save you time and headache... Glue a thin strip of ply over the top and good to go.

 

[SuperSlow]

Ive seen space walker videos where he just covers the weight pockets and leaves the rest open. My son has done it before with 1/32 ply, not too hard to blend with sand paper. It can be done if necessary.

 

[Jimmy & his 2 Kids]

Yeah I figured after that post I could just sand the edge down and blend it. I bought enough 1/64 to do all 3 cars if I need to.

Been working on mine. Trying to get fenders done. Man when it’s your first time this is tough! Especially when the 7 yr old is attached at the hip. Keeps realizing I am forgetting a step or doing things out of order and having to keep pulling wheels out. With this balsa it’s a sheer miracle I have broken them all off yet. Broke off a small front one which was expected.

Looking forward to starting from scratch on my kids fenders with some experience under my belt. Because this is taking FOREVER. Lol

 

[Jimmy & his 2 Kids]

Finally some progress. Got the fenders done and on. That was a pain the first time around but it’ll be much easier on the kids cars. DFW rear fender still needs shaping but I’ll wait till I tune it on the board to see where the wheel sits. Also cut the notch for DFW and just cut it at the wheel and forward so as to not affect how the center fenders mount.
So weighed it all up and still have room. I am covering mine with monocote and still have to CA the fenders so I should come in just at 5oz. Love this stuff. Can’t wait to race!

 

[Skywalker Racing]

Looking good!

In response to 1/64 ply question: I only cover my weight pocket but many racers I know do cover their entire cars with the 1/64 ply. Its personal preference.

Good luck!

 

[Chalk]

Finally some progress. Got the fenders done and on. That was a pain the first time around but it’ll be much easier on the kids cars. DFW rear fender still needs shaping but I’ll wait till I tune it on the board to see where the wheel sits. Also cut the notch for DFW and just cut it at the wheel and forward so as to not affect how the center fenders mount.
So weighed it all up and still have room. I am covering mine with monocote and still have to CA the fenders so I should come in just at 5oz. Love this stuff. Can’t wait to race!

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Your fenders look great. I’m in the process of getting a new shed and, once I set it up I’ll have a lot more space to work. No basements in Florida and the garage was closed in to make and addition. Bulldog’s fender tutorial is on my list of pinewood projects. In the mean time Gee fenders cost but, work great.

 

[Jimmy & his 2 Kids]

Looking good!

In response to 1/64 ply question: I only cover my weight pocket but many racers I know do cover their entire cars with the 1/64 ply. Its personal preference.

Good luck!

Thanks Skywalker! I actually have the 64 ply. I had originally planned on doing hollow bodies ladder style and covering entire cars. Just didnt work out that way. Not enough tungsten and not buying more atm. When I do my Box Stock car for league racing I'll do ladder with either 64 ply covering or monocote.

 

[Jimmy & his 2 Kids]

Your fenders look great. I’m in the process of getting a new shed and, once I set it up I’ll have a lot more space to work. No basements in Florida and the garage was closed in to make and addition. Bulldog’s fender tutorial is on my list of pinewood projects. In the mean time Gee fenders cost but, work great.

Hey thx Chalk! doing these fenders for the first time was quite the experience. I just kept going back to Bulldog's vid to get me through. His vids are the best. Curious to see how both our cars do.

 

[Jimmy & his 2 Kids]

little progress finally. Between work, kids/family, work, church and what time is left over for sleep build time is at a premium these days...

 

[Briggs_Power]

little progress finally. Between work, kids/family, work, church and what time is left over for sleep build time is at a premium these days...
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Right on man looking good!

 

[Jimmy & his 2 Kids]

Hey Thx Briggs!!!

 

[Jimmy & his 2 Kids]

And JNB Racing is born!!!

After lots of learning lessons regarding the prep of axles & wheels and what the tiniest piece of lint can do I finally have the last car together. And just a couple hours before the race on race day.
2018 Awana Grand Prix... HERE COMES THE PAIN!!!

The purple beasty is dads, rainbow beauty is daughter Bailey's, blue bomber is Noah's.
Bailey insisted on painting hers, Noah wanted the wrap from the hobby store and I went with Trim Monokote.

 

[Thinkin'Bout Racin]

Nice job to all! Thanks for sharing your journey. Lots of memories made with the kids. Enjoy the day and GOOD LUCK!!!

 

[Jimmy & his 2 Kids]

Thanks TBR!!!

 

[Thinkin'Bout Racin]

Thanks TBR!!!

Make sure to share how things went. But most importantly, enjoy the day and make some memories with your kids!

 

[Jimmy & his 2 Kids]

Make sure to share how things went. But most importantly, enjoy the day and make some memories with your kids!

Will do. Hour and a half till Check in. I’m actually nervous lol. First time using oil. And one other parent, a mom with a young Cubby, already was heard trying to change the race date so she could go to Awana Nationals. She is already anticipating winning.
She kills us the first year. Then I found PDO and returned the favor last year. Today I am bringing tuned and oiled beasties. Curious to see what she brings. It’s game on.
Kids and me are going early because I am helping with Check in and looking for cars that don’t roll well and trying to lube them up and make sure all the kids make it down the track.

ITS RACE DAY!!!!!