This sideshows the “Boy Scouts 1910-2010” on the side.
This view shows the carved fleur-de-lys on the bonnet, but also the silver fleur-de-lys on the front.
You can see the instrumentation and a bit of the license plate- “274” was my troop.
After a quick coat of lacquer and some small details, this morning I released Project Pinewood out into the world at GC1VQ8H. I wish it well and have tweaked its’ mission slightly since the Boy Scouts of America added a bit to the requirements for their Race. While I would love for it to make it to the Jamboree (something I never did as a Scout), I think just traveling around is a better plan. I find that Travel bugs with specific goals sometimes stay in one place for a while. Project Pinewood is large enough that it I didn’t want to hinder its’ progress any more than I have to with a convoluted mission. If you want to check Project Pinewood’s progress look for TB29YY9 at geocaching.com and see where it is.
Once I started this process I knew there was no turning back… So I thought about the goals: finish a Pinewood Derby Car to honor the Centennial of Scouting in America, do it in as thrifty a manner as possible, turn the Pinewood car into a travel bug to hopefully travel the world.
So after many starts but more stops than starts I have reached (after my initial deadline) the painting process. I had ideas plans, schemes but I finally decided on starting with a pretty basic color scheme that I’ll add to after Spring Break. including the detail pieces that I really want to have.
I decided to go with this idea. The base car is "oregano" which is the color my scout uniform was. The red, white & blue back end comes from the colors of the Eagle Scout badge/ribbon.
I decide to start working on a pinewood derby car for the centennial of scouting and then things get in the way. While Sue was away (geocaching) I decided to go back to the project and work on it. I had wild ideas as to how it would end up and I still am deciding what else needs to be done. After looking at what I had for months I finally decided to simplify the design and just get something done. Remember my goal was to only use tools that I already owned (fine- I bought a pocket knife) and see if I could create something cool.
I had roughed out the design into something a little more classic and considered this a good place to start.
So I decided what to put on the hood and where to place the travel bug dog tag. Still playing with some details and an idea I have for incorporating tin into the design (it was a failure). I figure after a little more work I’ll be ready for painting it this weekend.
So after a few failed attempts at some design elements I decided to take a look at the car with wheels and changed a few more things before deciding to stop and let everything rest until the weekend when I will consider paint colors.
So did I ever mention that I was a Boy Scout? Yup! Not just any kind of Boy Scout- I was and Eagle Scout. I know what you are thinking… what a geek. I bet he even wore his uniform to school. In those days, yes I did. I didn’t go through everything in scouting, this Webelos thing had just started out when I was getting out of Cubs (or at least that was my impression) so I went from Cub Scouts to Boy Scouts. Tiger Cubs back then was called “Indian Guides.” I started the second semester of fourth grade and by the time I was thirteen I was an Eagle Scout. As always I digress… 2010 marks the centennial of Scouting in America, and the Boy Scouts are planning a bunch of cool things including some stuff dealing with geocaching. So I’m planning a few things to celebrate Scouting and my experience. One of those is What I am calling “Project Pinewood.” Years ago A student gave me a Pinewood Derby Car kit and it has sat on a shelf since. I have messed around with ideas, and finally with the Centennial Celebration I figured I would create something. If you want to join in the details for what the Boy Scouts are doing are on the site but it must be completed and launched by March 6th. I’m going to logging my progress here so you can see what happens (and it causes me to actually do it instead of just talk about it).
Here is the kit I have- now I just need to do something with it.
My personal rules are simple and you have to trust me that I will follow them (I’m an Eagle Scout after all). I want to make this a challenge so I will only use what is in the kit or what I have at home. The only exception to this rule is purchasing tools- I don’t think Sue would appreciate my using our good silverware to carve with and if I need paint or brushes. While I want to do my best (to do my duty) I also want to be thrifty. I have seen too many “Create the Best Pinewood Derby Car” in hobby stores. So I see myself buying some paint, sealer, a good whittling knife, maybe a basic kids wood carving set and some sandpaper. If I buy something I’ll also log it here. I have until March so I do have a little time. Hopefully, it will end up being really cool. and I will end up launching my car in GC1N7B2 – The Blue Lights Travel Bug Motel which should be large enough to hold it (since it is a larger ammo can). Now if I could just finish “Twilight.”
