The Future Is FUSION – New Dragster Blank!
   
By Corinne Pachl / February 09, 2022

The future is Fusion: Your next-gen dragster blank

The world of education has evolved significantly over the years, yet Pitsco’s CO2 dragsters have remained a constant since the 1970s. Since its beginning, Pitsco’s dragster assortment has always offered two types of wooden blanks: balsa and basswood.

Now, after all this time, we’re proud to release the next generation of dragster blank: the Fusion.

It’s no secret that the cost of the traditionally popular balsa blank is ever-increasing, and we wanted to combat this problem while still delivering the best experience to all learners. The polyurethane foam Fusion blank is the answer. Here’s a couple of reasons it’s a great alternative to its balsa and basswood counterparts.

  • It’s cost-effective: The Fusion is cheaper than balsa.
  • It’s official: TSA has approved it for their CO2 dragster competitions.
  • It’s consistent: Each blank weighs within ±5 grams of the 82-gram overall mass.
  • It’s easy to sculpt: It can be shaped entirely using hand tools with no additional machinery required.
  • It’s high quality: The high-density polyurethane foam is molded to exact standards.
  • It’s exclusive: This blank is available only through Pitsco!

TAG teacher Jim Brown can attest to the power of the Fusion. Before his students got to test out the new blank, he wondered how the weight would impact the car’s performance on the track. He told us his initial assumptions:

“With the lower weight, it will be faster down the track, but with less mass, [I predict] it will lose momentum quicker. In races in school, I’ve seen lighter cars jump in the lead, only to be edged out further down the track after the thrust is gone. I know there are many factors at play, but I’m curious to see how it will play out.”

As his students got to work shaping and working their dragsters, he was quick to echo the hand-tool guidelines. “From the standpoint of workability – way easier than wood –easier to drill, sand, cut, shape. Easy to use with a coping saw. Almost too easy to use with a band saw!” He said this is definitely a pro for classes working without fancy machinery, as it will still allow them to compete against students with traditional wood dragsters.

Finally, Jim’s class got to race their Fusion-based dragsters! They raced against wooden dragsters too. Jim said, “They all won their heats and held up well,” and also mentioned that those that got a touch of paint took it well.

So, if you or the students in your life want to build your own CO2 dragster out of Fusion, peruse our Fusion resources and videos! You can also take a look at our complete collection of dragster kits and class packs!

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TOPICS: IN THE CLASSROOM, Middle School, Competitions, STEM, TSA, Dragsters, Activities, Drafting

Corinne Pachl

Written by Corinne Pachl

It takes a lot of organization and detailed work to be the marketing projects coordinator at Pitsco, but it’s what I do best, and I love what I do! I also love learning new skills, especially when it comes to crafting and cooking, and it’s my plan to visit all 50 United States before I turn 35. Wish me luck!