Model Drives

This model drives rather fast on the asphalt as well as on the room’s floor.

The car body shell 1 is conoid (picture 1). Make it from Whatmans paper size 210×150 mm, glue it and then press it a little and cut both ends. Attach to it paper flat gaskets 2 (you can adjust them when attached), windscreen (baffle plate) 3, cab 4 and proceed to building the running gear. It is composed of four wheels and two centre pins. Each wheel is made of two discs 5, felly and hubcap. First attach the felly to one of the discs. You should do it with the help of a special device. It is very simple and helps to align precisely the centers of the discs (picture 2). Knock the nail of 40 mm in the centre of a plate of size 40×40 mm so that the angle between the nail and the plate was right. The emerging end of the nail must be not less than 20 mm. Put the disc (in the centre) on the nail and attach the felly bent to the ring. Let the glue dry. When you are sure the details are well attached put the second disc (also in the centre) on the same nail and attach it to the denticles of the felly. And so your wheel is ready and the centers of it are well aligned for the pin.

To make the centre pins take two round sticks or round pencils. The length of the fore pin is 80 mm, and for the back pin it is 90 mm.

Cut the openings for the pins in the body shell and in the wheels. Put the pins in the body shell and draw the wheels on them. Fasten them with the cardboard washers attach the hubcaps to the wheels. Our model has no motor. Shot from springal, the model continues to move mechanically. And though its distance is measured by meters its speed is rather high.

The springal mechanism is shown at the picture. Attach a semi Whatmans paper band 10×20 mm below the body shell having retracted 1-2 cm off the front edge and put a wire hook on the band. Glue paper patches over it to reinforce. And that’s all. Knock in a couple of nails, draw a rubber band and you may test the model with this starting springal.

Take the car with your right hand, hitch the rubber by the hook with your left hand, draw the model back and release it. It must start ahead in a rush.

If you want to increase the distance you can modify the springal. We are not going to tell you how to do it. We hope you will do it yourself. All we can say is that its basis must be with a slope. The run out from the slope will increase the starting speed of the model.

If you make several models with your friends you will be able to arrange the race. It’s better to carry out such races on a straight road covered by the asphalt or on a well paddled ground. Mark the track with white lines: start and finish with crossing lines and way for the models by longitudinal lines. There must be as many tracks as the number of models taking part in the competition. The more racers the tougher is the competition.

Think over the rules of the race. And take the more experienced friends for judges.
And another advice – we suggest to build the models following our instructions to those having no experience. Those who have already built the models should find their own constructions.