Scout Full-Fendered Car

[B_Regal Racing]

It seems I have been finding to be competitive, you need to run a full-fendered car, to get every aero-advantage possible. Questions is, for the open scout race at MA, is anyone running a full-fendered car? My kid can cut out a ladder chassis, glue on GEE fenders, initially weight the car, polish the axles, prep the wheels (I always cringe a bit when he grabs a $50 sets of wheels and the cordless drill), etc. He can even set the steer. I typically would set the wheel gaps do do a little fine tuning.

BUT, there is no chance he could build a full-fendered car. Should I modify his current car?

 

[TRE]

If you want to win i Would

 

[CivilWarTalk]

I'm going to have my two sons attempt somewhat full fendered cars. It's going to be a nonstandard fender setup. I'll take a picture if we get them cut this week. We will be using the measure twice, cut once method! I'm going to give them a pattern to cut out for each fender, and use a balsa spar to join the front trailing and rear fender. If they get the spar wrong we can just cut it shorter or cut a new one. Boys will have plenty of hand sanding to do too....

 

[Vitamin K]

It seems I have been finding to be competitive, you need to run a full-fendered car, to get every aero-advantage possible. Questions is, for the open scout race at MA, is anyone running a full-fendered car? My kid can cut out a ladder chassis, glue on GEE fenders, initially weight the car, polish the axles, prep the wheels (I always cringe a bit when he grabs a $50 sets of wheels and the cordless drill), etc. He can even set the steer. I typically would set the wheel gaps do do a little fine tuning.

BUT, there is no chance he could build a full-fendered car. Should I modify his current car?

If you're using the trailing Gee fenders, doesn't that approximate the popular 'X' fender design?

 

[ngyoung]

Building cars for scouts is meant to be an educational tool as well as a bonding experience for the adult AND child. So that being said, if you step in to do the fill fenders I think it will be OK. He is already doing a lot more of the build then a low of scout cars in that race.

 

[derbychip]

I see no problem with you doing the fenders, sounds like your son is heavily involved in the building.. But if t bothers you just make the fenders close to shape apart from body then have him glue on you can final sand and he did just as much as he would of with gee fenders

 

[HurriCrane Racing]

I think you will see less full fendered cars in the scout divisions. Given the difficulty and time required to do it right, will deter many of the racers from attempting the build.

 

[HMH Racing]

A couple of our cars will be running the "diamond gee trailing fenders" for sure. Hopefully a couple more will be, if the order ever comes in. Does anyone know if there is a big difference between building balsa fenders and using the gee fenders John sells? Which is better?

 

[HurriCrane Racing]

Bullet did well with the diamond gee fenders. So did Skippy. I have never tried them.

 

[B_Regal Racing]

I've been running the full GEE fenders this series and saw no real improvement over straight forward facing GEE fenders, but they did not hinder either. This includes both on my single lane test track as well as in an actual race. I have been told they help more in traffic than they would on a single lane track.

This same car seemed to have an edge into the transition in 3 out of 4 heats, but lost in the flat. I suspecting its areo related. I have taken this same car and put on full balsa fenders. Weight of the fenders are comparable, so I do not have to make any significant adjustments. Its not quite ready but should be soon and will be racing in April. We shall see.

Full fenders it is for the scout car as well. Besides, I need practice building them.

 

[LightninBoy]

Gregg Dawes posted pictures of his family's cars. Many of them had the X3 style fenders.

So I'm guessing there will be a good dose of them at MA.

In general, I don't think they are a good idea for scout cars. They are fussy, fragile and make basic tasks like inserting or removing a wheel a risky proposition for most young scouts. But the MA is not your typical race. Even I add them to the cars once the council race rolls around because the competition level is cranked up. The MA race cranks it up even higher.

 

[BulldogRacing]

I'm going to have the video on how I make the fenders ready in the morning. Hope it helps some guys out!