Fender 101 for newbie?

[rocketmann]

After looking at pics of cars from Feb NPWDRL, almost every car (except ours) has fenders. Assume they are must..
Have few Q
1. How much speed gain we are looking at?
2. Rear fenders give more adv than front ?
3. How easy it is to add (without losing any speed) to ours ?
4. Is there a fender 101 to understand everything before trying them?

Thanks PROs!

 

[Kinser Racing]

Here's a good fender thread.

http://www.pinewoodderbyonline.com/post/do-fenders-help-6186106?&trail=15

 

[Obsessedderbydad]

[video]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=slbDbbi-5MI[/video]

 

[rocketmann]

That's good video!! Thanks guys..
Now the real question is how to go about the right way /images/boards/smilies/wink.gif
What are the DOs and DONTs installing fenders?
This would help us inch closer to sub 3 for sure..

 

[LightninBoy]

That's good video!! Thanks guys..
Now the real question is how to go about the right way /images/boards/smilies/wink.gif
What are the DOs and DONTs installing fenders?
This would help us inch closer to sub 3 for sure..

fenders have kinda been my obsession lately. Unfortunately, I've ignored them up until this season, so I only have a couple builds ad experience. With that context set, here are the dos,donts I follow:

DO build your fenders from lightweight wood like balsa.
DO seal the balsa fenders with CA
DON'T use pine
DO notch out the fenders on the bottom to avoid hitting the rail.
DON'T shape the fenders such that they increase the frontal area compared to no fenders.

 

[Kinser Racing]

Make sure they're spaced from the wheel, align the front with the body and be sure they're tapered underneath to clear the track. /images/boards/smilies/smile.gif

 

[rocketmann]

Thank you for the advice guys, may be looking at John's fenders may give me a better visual. I assume CA is some special glue.
Does rear canting and FDW need any consideration?
Is there a reliable way to hold them in place without actually gluing them ( might be easier to re-prep wheels or do you guys avoid re-prep)?
Thanks, I have started understanding this concept a bit!

 

[Obsessedderbydad]

Thank you for the advice guys, may be looking at John's fenders may give me a better visual. I assume CA is some special glue. Does rear canting and FDW need any consideration? Is there a reliable way to hold them in place without actually gluing them ( might be easier to re-prep wheels or do you guys avoid re-prep)? Thanks, I have started understanding this concept a bit!

CA Glue is a just a glue that holds really well and cures really fast. If you buy the GEE fenders, little more expensive but WORTH IT, they take the rear cant into considersation so they line up nice. Some people I have heard are gluing the fenders to aluminum or other tape then taping the fender to the side so you can reuse them. Easiest way to glue or attach the fender and get the proper gap to the wheel is put a rubber band around a wheel and insert the wheel and axle into the hole. Then just glue or tape the fender to the body with the end of the fender resting right up against the rubber band. Remove the rubberband and wala!

 

[MOFAST]

I ordered a pair of John's and made templates from them. Now all of my fenders are uniform. I cut mine out using a hole saw and then my scroll saw. I can't remember the size of the hole saw and since I am at work can't look it up right now. I buy my balsa at Hobby Town, little better than Michael's or Hobby Lobby.

 

[GravityX]

Here is some photos on how some GEE fenders look installed. Now, you may not want to install the fender this tight if this is your first time installing fenders.

DFW Mounting

Rear Fender Mounting

 

[Obsessedderbydad]

Ok that's tight

 

[rocketmann]

Thanks a bunch guys on installation details.
Pictures gives clear visual of fender relative to wheel, also shows the relief for clearing rail at the bottom. Looks real pro job/images/boards/smilies/smile.gif do you use any special tools to get the installation so perfect ?

 

[nwo racing]

We use the gee fenders too is the picture of a scout car or one u race on a pro level i see the rear wheels are reversed is there a reason to that if its a scout car

 

[txchemist]

I clamp the car body to the silver bullet, and tip it up on the end and let gravity pull the fender snug to my strip of shiny paper rolled around the wheel. Put the glue on and push into place, the fender will be pointing up at the tip and balanced on the wheel as it dries. Plenty of time to get the slope correct.

 

[Obsessedderbydad]

Good idea there Txchemist... the shinny stuff

. Man you guys get yours a lot closer than I do with my rubber band.

 

[Eliminator Racing]

Do you use the thin CA glue or the thick slow set gel CA glue for fenders?

 

[Obsessedderbydad]

Depends on if you want to reuse them or not

 

[GravityX]

Thanks a bunch guys on installation details. Pictures gives clear visual of fender relative to wheel, also shows the relief for clearing rail at the bottom. Looks real pro job/images/boards/smilies/smile.gif do you use any special tools to get the installation so perfect ?

I don't use any special tools myself, but I'm sure others may.

A steady hand and a folded strip of index card is all I used to mount these fenders.

 

[GravityX]

We use the gee fenders too is the picture of a scout car or one u race on a pro level i see the rear wheels are reversed is there a reason to that if its a scout car

This is an SP car raced in the league, pro level.

Wheels are reversed because the tread surface is too thin to run the conventional way, too much flex.

The wheel you see here is the Intimid8r wheel DD4H sells.

 

[Obsessedderbydad]

Thanks a bunch guys on installation details.
Pictures gives clear visual of fender relative to wheel, also shows the relief for clearing rail at the bottom. Looks real pro job/images/boards/smilies/smile.gif do you use any special tools to get the installation so perfect ?

An old wheel and rubber band is all I use.