The Pack Will Run the Space Derby on a Rank-By-Rank Basis. That Is, the Tigers Will Race

Pack 139

Space Derby

The Race

The Pack will run the Space Derby on a rank-by-rank basis. That is, the Tigers will race against each other, the Wolves will race against each other, the Bears will race against each other, and the Webelos will race against each other.

The object of the Space Derby is for the Space Derby plane to travel as far as possible. Again, we are not measuring speed, but distance travelled. Each plane will be wound a specified number of turns as dictated by race officials. Each Scout will get three chances to race. The track will be inclined as necessary to prevent planes from reaching the end of the track.

Space Derby planes will be checked in at Mission Control prior to the start of the Pack meeting.

The Scouts in each den will also vote on their favorite rocket from among the rockets in their den. This vote will be carried out the Den Leader and the results reported to race officials.

The Rules

8.The rocket must be made from the Space Derby kit provided by the Pack.

7.A maximum of two rubber bands is allowed inside the plane. You must use the rubber bands supplied in the kit. We will have some extras on hands for anyone whose rubber bands break.

6.The Scout must be present in order to race. No “Phantom” Scouts.

5.Before check-in, lubrication is permitted between the propeller and the bushing, as well as on the rubber bands.

4.Planes may be decorated in way you like, as long as the decoration does not change the length of the plane, does not interfere with any other plane during a race, and is capable of racing on the track. Planes with wet paint are not allowed.

3.If a plane suffers a mechanical problem (e.g., breaks a wing, loses a rubber band, etc.) and a repair can be accopmlished in a reasonable time, the heat will be run again. If not, the plane automatically loses the heat.

2.DO YOUR BEST!

1. HAVE FUN!

Tips

Do not call your Space Derby plane a rocket. Rather, refer to them as cruise missles, boats (Titanic is always a popular name), planes, jets, etc.

The little plastic straw MUST go over the hook, not just the shaft as the drawing in the kit illustrates. This is where the rubber bands will hook on. The wire hook will cut the rubber bands without the plastic straw liner.

Lubricate the rubber bands with silicon spray, ethylene glycol, castor oil, etc. Stretch them numerous times before loading. Hand wind the rubber bands in the rocket numerous times. Wind 20 times and release. wind 40 times and release, etc. Do this until you've gotten it to 100 winds.

There is a plastic dowel at the rear of the Space Derby plane to hold the rubber bands. This MUST be kept from rotating. You can carve a groove in the back of the Space Derby plane in which the dowel can sit.

Do not glue the front nose/propeller assembly into the front of the Space Derby plane. You'll need to pull it off to load new rubber bands in the event of rubber-band breakage.

The propeller should have the rounded shaft-end pointing into the Space Derby plane. This makes it easier to bend the propeller wire, and it reduces friction between the spinning propeller and the nose.

Do not use a dull knife for cutting the grooves for the hanger fitting and fins. A dull knife will crush and splinter the balsa wood.

When you start to carve, remember that the end with the small hole is the nose of the Space Derby plane.

The best tool we've found for carving a Space Derby plane is a potato peeler. Such a tool is also much easier for young hands to use.