Da Rules!

[anthonyp]

1. The GB runs from Jan 1st until April 30th. Completed builds may be posted anytime until the deadline.

2. Any LSR in any scale is appropriate.  Here are the official Category C notations:
Category C

Special Vehicles in accordance with definition under Article 13

These vehicles may be sub-divided according to the type of engine used (jet, rocket, etc.).

Article 13 of the International Sporting Code :

Land Vehicle, Automobile, Special Vehicle, Ground Effect Vehicle

Land Vehicle :
Vehicle propelled by its own means in constant contact with the ground either directly by mechanical means or indirectly by ground effect, and the motive power and steering system of which are constantly and entirely controlled by a driver on board the vehicle.

Automobile :
A land vehicle propelled by its own means, running on at least four wheels not aligned, which must always be in contact with the ground; the steering must be ensured by at least two of the wheels, and the propulsion by at least two of the wheels.

Special Vehicles :
Vehicles on at least four wheels which are propelled otherwise than through their wheels.

Ground Effect Vehicle :
Vehicle whose bearing on the ground is maintained by means of a pressurised air cushion.

3. Scratchbuilding and kitbashing are encouraged.

4. Per rule 2, anything with wheels, tracks, skis or ground effect is eligible. The number of wheels, tracks, skis, etc is also open (LSR unicyle anybody).

5. The top three finished models will be chosen by votes cast from forum members. Prize(s) are still being thunk about.

6. There is no Rule #6.

[Ed S]

Land 4. Per rule 2, anything with wheels, tracks, skis or ground effect is eligible. The number of wheels, tracks, skis, etc is also open (LSR unicyle anybody).

LSR Unicycle!! I'm on it.  Already have the design underway.

Ed

[Daryl J.]

I gotta do a sled.


Daryl J., who left snow country 20 years ago and is the worse off for it.

[Hobbes]

Oh yes! I've been looking forward to this one.

Anthony, does this mean you will be the coordinator/moderator for this GB? --Edit: nevermind, I see now it's Philp and Overkiller.

[JayBee]

My signature says it all, but what does LSR stand for?

JayBee

[Hobbes]

Land Speed Record

[philp]

Yay, can finally pull that Lightning out of the box.
Course, now I gotta cut the fuel tank off the belly and plug it.  I know, you all think that is a piece of cake but I am not all that hot at remodeling (hah, punny).  Oh well, gotta invest in some putty stock.

[Modelling_Mushi]

Hello Mods et al

I have a question about the rules and what is allowed.

Is mag-lev considered ground effect or is it out? Specifically, I am thinking about having my LSR machine running on EDS [Electro Dynamic Suspension] magnetic levitation, specifically having a strong magnetic field induced on the ground (presumed to be a salt flat) by the vehicle at 3 points, and having another strong magnetic field generated by a skid/ski/pad above each of these points. At low speed the vehicle would be in contact with the ground as the magnetic flux would not be great enough to support the vehicle, but at higher speeds as the flux grows the fields would repel each otehr and the vehicle would lift off the ground, by say 1 cm perhaps.

Wikipedia gives the following decsription of EDS MagLev:

EDS Maglev Propulsion via propulsion coils

In electrodynamic suspension (EDS), both the rail and the train exert a magnetic field, and the train is levitated by the repulsive force between these magnetic fields. The magnetic field in the train is produced by either electromagnets (as in JR-Maglev) or by an array of permanent magnets (as in Inductrack). The repulsive force in the track is created by an induced magnetic field in wires or other conducting strips in the track.

At slow speeds, the current induced in these coils and the resultant magnetic flux is not large enough to support the weight of the train. For this reason the train must have wheels or some other form of landing gear to support the train until it reaches a speed that can sustain levitation.


Do you think this is permissable under da rules? It is sort of like air cushion, in that the vehicle is generating the field itself.

Thanks

[PR19_Kit]

Hm, Wiki doesn't get it quite right, as is common there...... 

It's a fallacy to say that the magnetic flux is speed related, it's totally possible to lift the vehicle from the track at zero speed. BR did this in the late 70s with their MagLev test vehicle, which still exists at the Science Museum outstation at Wroughton. Later on the technology was used on the MagLev track that ran between the NEC and Brum Airport for some years, but poor maintenance and lack of support from the manufacturer wrecked the idea. The current people mover there doesn't use MagLev technology.

The thought of an umpteen mile long MagLev track across Bonneville boggles the mind, buy shares in copper mines NOW!

[philp]

MM,
Need to confirm with my other Moderator colleague but in my opinion, it is close enough to a hover effect that I don't have an issue with it.

Course, my opinion is the more the merrier but hey, that's just me.

[Modelling_Mushi]

Thanks mods! I'll toddle off now to the thread and write up what I'm doing.

PR19_Kit, that's interesting, dunno if I can whiff enough grunt into the thing at 0 ks to do so. Shame about the track too . . .

Ciao

Andrew

[PR19_Kit]

Andrew,

I read the 'Press Release' already, I'm sure the plans will work out just fine. This is, after all, Whiffland..... 

[philp]

Now I really must pull my finger out and see about getting my LSR project underway 



Duncan

Duncan, mine also.  Good thing we are the Mods and can extend the time if we, I mean, some folks need it