Pinewood Derby Car Penguin Design

thingiverse

This year's pinewood derby entry makes a dramatic splash. A penguin glides down the track, riding out its fate on his back. Inspired by a recent animated movie's waddling wonders, yet no single character steals the show. Crafted from standard issue wood blocks, this masterpiece sports a robust backend chunk and an airy front end - typical of high-stakes pinewood creations. Its unique shape took shape in the CAD software where clever minds sliced and diced to leave a custom cut-out for stability on its journey down the track. Bringing the design to life requires precise 3D printing skills which our heroes demonstrated by layering on three distinctive hues: pure white, glossy black, and sunny yellow. The colors used are no accident; PLA sticks out proudly with its vibrant hue while ABS is showcased in sharp contrast - two materials we happened to have in supply at the time. The finished model wears a proud gaze from shiny white eyes crafted by skillfully pairing miniature washers and spritzes of paint with strategically placed tiny scraps of black paper - creating two peepers that are impossible to miss.