JET CAR--It's When You Think You've Seen It All

[Dr. Cranky]

I cannot help but think this would be a great way to light my cigars! Enjoy!

Edited May 22, 2011 by Dr. Cranky

[LDO]

That's a torch with about 0 pounds of thrust.

[Ben]

How cool would it be to be able to start it remotely on the contest table! That would surely grab the judges attention! LOL

[mageckman]

Looks like an interesting project. When I saw the title, I thought it was gonna be a replica of an actual jet car, or something like one of the rocket cars we used to make when I was young. We used model rocketry rocket motors to shoot them across parking lots and down the road. Biggest problem we had was the short life expectancy on the cars, especially if we used two stage motors.lol

[Danno]

What was the point of that? It didn't move, it just sat there and mimicked a cigar torch.

[Dr. Cranky]

LOL, the point is that someone was thinking how cool it would be to have a jet-engine like vehicle.

Now, imagine the possibilities with an R/C car, and some "E" rocket hobby boosters out on a field. Wouldn't that be enough thrust to get the vehicle moving? And then how cool would that not be?

Potential, potential, potential.

[Brokentail58]

My brother and I glued some model rocket engines to some Hot Wheels when we were kids. They didn't go very far but they looked cool. They looked like a Jumping Jack fire cracker as they spun and hopped all over the place.

[Zoom Zoom]

We had some yahoo at one of our shows years ago who set up something like this in his model. He was just the kind of guy who looked like he would inadvertently set the table on fire, we made him turn it off

[Dr. Cranky]

Bob is right, this would not fly at a model car show . . . in part because all models have to be protected and respected.

[Chuck Most]

What was the point of that? It didn't move, it just sat there and mimicked a cigar torch.

What is the point of NOT doing that?

-ninja-

[1320wayne]

Here is a picture from a show from a few years back. I don'tknow which show this was taken at or exactly when. I guess as long as the activity of lighting the torch is closely monitored then there shouldn't be any harm but I could see where issues could exist by lighting it in the wrong area. I think it's a cool effect.

[Dr. Cranky]

Wayne, thanks for sharing this wonderful picture. I wonder if the same effect could be achieved with a bright light that's modulated somehow. Since I am math and electricity impaired, I could not begin to figure something like that out.

[Dr. Cranky]

I wonder if anyone has ever tried this with slot cars. I bet Jairus would know. It's a crazy idea, but fun to think about.

[Danno]

Anybody remember Hollywood Jim's lowrider with the light-up flamethrower exhausts?

Similar idea, similar effect. Jim did it safely with clear plastic, fiberoptics, LEDs, a battery and a magnetic reed switch.

[diymirage]

Anybody remember Hollywood Jim's lowrider with the light-up flamethrower exhausts?

Similar idea, similar effect. Jim did it safely with clear plastic, fiberoptics, LEDs, a battery and a magnetic reed switch.

boooooo-riiiiiing

[Jairus]

Here is the REAL THING!

That's a local guy I know Darin Bay. I won't call him a friend exactly, but I did a lot of work for him this spring helping out on the design for his race car trailer wrap. Also spent a goodly amount of time around the two finished dragsters and the new one that was just sent out to the paint shop as the wrap finished up.

The engines are turbines with the prop-shaft drive removed. They are same as what is found on medium sized turboprop aircraft and helicopters. The afterburner is hand made in the shop and effectively double the total thrust of the standard engine. That flame is more than half the length of the entire car by the way....

Top speed easily over 300mph in a quarter mile with-out even trying hard!

[Romell R]

I keep having visions of bubbling paint and dripping plastic.........

[Dr. Cranky]

Yes, I remember Hollywood Jim's car which is featured in the BAD GUYS Diorama.

[VW Dave]

I keep having visions of bubbling paint and dripping plastic.........

...and a model contest losing their security deposit, then needing to find another venue for next year's event.

It's a cool idea, and I'm sure YouTubers would eat it up, but I'd say it has no place on a contest table.

[Big John]

I remember, as a youth, putting a a pack of 4>6 bottle rockets in the back or our old AMT model cars, the metal axles were the trick element, and racing them down the street against my friends COX .049 car.

Edited December 9, 2023 by Big John
punctuation

[Russell C]

Ancient thread revived gives me the model idea of a jet car Jet Car. Still might melt the nearby models if aimed in the inadvisable direction.

[deuces wild]

What ever happened to the crankster anyway???..

[NOBLNG]

As a kid, I mounted this thing in the only model airplane I ever built. I don’t recall what it was, but it was military, and styrene with about an 8” wingspan. Likely way too heavy.🤔 I fastened two eye hooks to it and strung up a taut fishing line for it to hang on, and lit it up.😬  I don’t recall it actually moving under its own power though?🥴

Edited December 9, 2023 by NOBLNG

[Bainford]

13 hours ago, NOBLNG said:

As a kid, I mounted this thing in the only model airplane I ever built. I don’t recall what it was, but it was military, and styrene with about an 8” wingspan. Likely way too heavy.🤔 I fastened two eye hooks to it and strung up a taut fishing line for it to hang on, and lit it up.😬  I don’t recall it actually moving under its own power though?🥴

That is cool! I have never seen anything like it. Does it produce actual thrust?

[NOBLNG]

8 hours ago, Bainford said:

That is cool! I have never seen anything like it. Does it produce actual thrust?

Yes, but not much. More info here:

https://archivesite.jetex.org/motors/motors-50.html