Act III: Building the Car

 

In Act III, we present detailed step-by-step instructions on how to build a winning car--using what we learned in the Physics section (Act II). We emphasize safety at all times, and give guidelines for maximizing your child’s involvement, while ensuring safety. You can print out a list of materials and tools needed for building the car, by placing the DVD in a computer. You can also print out a template for cutting out the basic shape of the car.

Ripping the car body
Cutting out a Pinewood Derby car
Shaping the body of a pinewood derby car

1. Rip the car body

Drill the axle holes

2. Cut out the car

3. Shape the car body

4. Drill axel holes

Rough-sanding the car body

5. Rough sand the car body

Melting lead

6. Set the Weight

Polishing the axels of a pinewood derby car

7. Polish the Nails

Setting the center of mass

8. Set the Center of Mass

Smoothing the pinewood derby car

9. Smooth the body

Painting a Pinewood Derby Car

10. Paint the car

Attaching the Wheels

11. Attach the Wheels

Gluing the axels on a pinewood derby car

12. Align the wheels

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13. Glue the axels

Pinewood Derby Test Track

14. Test run the car

15. Final adjustments

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Picking your Pinewood Derby car

16. Pick the entry car

pinewoodphysics.com