Big Disappointment!

This is a picture of the huge 2-4" of snow that we were supposed to get today!

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Space Derby 2009! RACE DAY!

Space Derby 2009!

Today was our second cub scout space derby! See our entry for last year in the January 2008 archives. This year the results were surprising. The winner's shuttle was heavier/boxier than the 2nd place design witch was very light and streamlined. J's plane raced inconsistently today. He had to fly a few tie-breaker races to determine winner. It seemed to go much faster on some runs than others. Last year's shuttle design performed better than this year's bell x-1 design. We have some great ideas on how to make a winning space derby vehicle, but J insists on 'designing' them and making models. I wish the pack would do a parents race so that I could try out my ideas!!!

J with the bell x-1

Press play to see a video of a race.

Finally finished and ready to fly!


Dad used double sided tape on the back of graphics I printed off the internet. Dad used the x-acto blade to cut them out for J to put on.

Final sanding before spray paint.

Space Derby Bell x-1 continued

This was a lazy weekend. We just stayed around the house and worked on the space derby model. We even managed to get a little time on his new bike.

We made the wings, tail and elevator out of balsa wood.

J glued on all the pieces.

We used pins to hold the wood in place as it dried.

The Space derby model is really starting to look like a bell x-1. I can't wait to see what it will look like with the paint job.

Cub Scouts Space Derby Bell X-1 continued...

J and dad hollowed out the center to eliminate some weight. They also cut

a mortise slot along the seam to accommodate the wings made from thin balsa wood. Wings for the Bell X-1

Showing assembly of wing resting in carved out mortise.

There is still a lot to do and time is running out! Initially we wanted an accurate model of the bell x-1 but J's skill with the dremmel will not allow for a lot of detail. We will dress it up with a great paint job though!

There is a ridge along the top and bottom and the nose and tail are too pointy for the stock cub scout kit. The kit comes hollowed out which limits what you can do.

Space Derby 2009 Bell X-1 Continued...

J using the dremmel to sand and shape the body of the rocket.
J hand sanding the body of the rocket.

J's new bike maw maw bought him for his 8th birthday. (schwinn spitfire)

We are beginning to have a sizable collection of Lego mini-figs.

Space Derby 2009 - Bell X-1

The countdown to cub scouts Space Derby 2009 has begun!!!

J and Dad excitedly began this evening. Last year our design choice was the space shuttle. (See last years construction posts from Jan 2008.) The shuttle came in 6th place overall. The lesson we learned was to win the rocket has to be light and thin. Dad had an old plastic model kit of the Bell-X-1 that we are using as a guide for this year's model.

Also J got a camera for his birthday. Most of these pictures are his!

The stock block of balsa wood that comes in the cub scout space derby kit. I was shocked to find out that we are the only pack in the region that does the space derby! We are very lucky to be in a first-rate active pack!
Dad made the paper guide. J traced the guide and carved away the excesss.

J got a genuine cub scout knife (with locking blade) for his 8th birthday a few days ago!!!! He is following good knife safety by cutting AWAY from his body!

This is as far as we got tonight. More will follow!