[BAracer]

#77

"You canna change the laws of [NSR] physics Captain!"

Petrucci started off the Show+Tell section. He had bought a bench belt sander but wasn't happy with it. He had two options, send it back or buy a different one...he was much happier with the second, bigger, more dangerous, one. Michael was VERY happy with the NSR Porsche; right up to date, top notch, fluorescent paint job, and a drop arm guide straight out of the 60s. Wayne is chuffed with his little variable power supply. Lots of uses around the house, attic and his body. More importantly it was a low cost entry into the world for adjustable power for race tracks, tyre truers and all your electronic slot stuff that needs slowing down or speeding up.

Jeremy threw a pebble into the pond of air hubs, and the ripples spread wide. He was looking to fill the air gap to comply with local club rules. But the ways of doing this vary, and can provide benefits or create pitfalls. Do you buy off the shelf infills or make your own? Do you go for soft or hard rubber or foam? Do you trim them flush with the ribs or a little proud? What glue should you use? So many questions...and all answered in the Chat!

Vlad wet everyone's scenery taste buds with a demonstration of a piece of software that enables you to put together building shapes and surface finishes at any scale, and then at a touch of a button, print them out and simply assemble them. His audience was hooked...

"Vlad, is it easy you use?" 
"Errr, I don't know, I've never used it"
"How much did it cost you?"
"Errr, just a few dollars, but that was 30 years ago"

However, Vlad then gave an exemplary demonstration on the art of 3D printing. He bought his first printer a few years ago, his second one a bit later, and his third one more recently...but the stuff he was getting them to produce had the Chat in awe. There was chat about printer settings, about laser cutting, about the different materials that can be cut or engraved. That got other laser cutters involved in the discussion, demonstrating examples of what the machinery can do, with examples of 3DP illuminated trophies coming out of the screen at all angles and colours. Gazza hadn't printed a trophy, he had 3D printed something that every slot track needs, maybe even two.

"I worked in I.T. for years and printers make me miserable!" was the opening remark from new face D.C. However, he has a plan regarding 3D printing; i) get someone else to print stuff for you. 'Our Ken' also made his first appearance on a Chat. His strategy for 3D printing is i) buy a 3D printer in about 5 years time when the technology has become so simple that your kids will be able to sort out all your problems. In the meantime, it's scratch built aluminium chassis all the (winning) way.

Greg made a 'car crash' verbal appearance in the Chat. Still no official update on his 'holiday', but it clearly isn't going well. He now appears to be being held under duress and is only permitted to give one word answers to all of John's questions by his abductors.

In Club Corner, Michael extolled the virtues of Club Car rotations. He has been trialling these at his club meetings, and it has highlighted that all the racers are very evenly matched. Whilst car tuning tricks are made irrelevant by such car rotations, Wayne highlighted a race result from a local club that highlighted what tuning can achieve. An F1 race had thrown up a Scalextric Indycar winner over a hoard of NSR and All Slot examples...how could that be!!!? The discussion touched on all the tricks of the trade that could have contributed to that unexpected race outcome. 

Once again, if you want help getting your head round this wonderful hobby, watch these videos or even join in live.