Pictures, Videos, and Scores

[HandsFreeCookieDunk]

For some reason, when i test my towers i get scores of around 1,100 yet when i take my towers to competitions they get scores of about 400-500.

Has this happened more than once? (i.e. are you sure you didn't just make a mistake on a competition tower?) If you are sure that there are no significant differences between the towers that you tested and the towers you brought to the competition, then either your tower is getting damaged in transport or there is a difference in testing conditions. To solve the transport issue, try to immobilize your tower as much as possible and check for joints that may have come undone when you get there. If that's not the problem, make sure you're doing everything you can to minimize unequal forces in your tower: make sure the tops and bottoms of the legs are level, use the stabilizing sticks to keep the bucket from swinging.

[maxxxxx]

For some reason, when i test my towers i get scores of around 1,100 yet when i take my towers to competitions they get scores of about 400-500.

How many times has this happened? If it was just once it could've been that the wood you used that one time was bad, but if it's a reoccurring problem then it may have to do with transportation issues, but the different testing set up shouldn't have that big of an impact.

[Balsa Man]

One thing different in testing and competition conditions that could cause such a problem is the levelness of the testing base. With a 60cm height, it doesn't take much out of levelness to overload one leg/side. Always check levelness of testing surface.

[Dohnnovan]

For some reason, when i test my towers i get scores of around 1,100 yet when i take my towers to competitions they get scores of about 400-500.

How many times has this happened? If it was just once it could've been that the wood you used that one time was bad, but if it's a reoccurring problem then it may have to do with transportation issues, but the different testing set up shouldn't have that big of an impact.

i've tested 9 towers all doing way better than the 2 i've competed with so far

[Dohnnovan]

i'm going to guess it's my method of transportation. i usually just carry my tower throughout the car ride to competitions because i'm too scared to leave it in a box

[dholdgreve]

For some reason, when i test my towers i get scores of around 1,100 yet when i take my towers to competitions they get scores of about 400-500.

How many times has this happened? If it was just once it could've been that the wood you used that one time was bad, but if it's a reoccurring problem then it may have to do with transportation issues, but the different testing set up shouldn't have that big of an impact.

i've tested 9 towers all doing way better than the 2 i've competed with so far

It's easy to consider that possibly the testing apparatus is not up to standards at a competition due to being out of level, or other differences... It could also be that the competition tables have a harder, smoother surface than your testing table at home, reducing the friction at the bottom of the legs, allowing them to slide out easier... There are lots and lots of possibilities, but I'm going with nerves.

[ashmmohan]

i'm going to guess it's my method of transportation. i usually just carry my tower throughout the car ride to competitions because i'm too scared to leave it in a box

Check out the tower transportation forum.

[Iso_45678]

Oh sorry... in my last post I said our score was 200, I meant 2000 whoops! We're headed to the Wright State invitational this weekend.
I know I asked last time, but what is a good score for Div. B. We have not attempted the bonus. Our highest score was a tower of 7-8g and holding the whole weight (15 kilos). We have not attempted the bones and have a rather simple design: straight compression pieces from the middle of the edges of the hole to a 5cm x 5cm square at the top. Our cross bracing is the simple "x" design.
Another question- it the bonus worth it? We recently built a tower using the bonus that held the whole weight but was rather heavy, about 10 grams. However, we did utilize a design in which the compression pieces are straight and not the "2-part" design (you know, the one with a triangular base and a narrow top part). So, is the bonus worth it and if so should we use the two part design?
Thanks, and wishing everyone luck!

[Unome]

Oh sorry... in my last post I said our score was 200, I meant 2000 whoops! We're headed to the Wright State invitational this weekend.
I know I asked last time, but what is a good score for Div. B. We have not attempted the bonus. Our highest score was a tower of 7-8g and holding the whole weight (15 kilos). We have not attempted the bones and have a rather simple design: straight compression pieces from the middle of the edges of the hole to a 5cm x 5cm square at the top. Our cross bracing is the simple "x" design.
Another question- it the bonus worth it? We recently built a tower using the bonus that held the whole weight but was rather heavy, about 10 grams. However, we did utilize a design in which the compression pieces are straight and not the "2-part" design (you know, the one with a triangular base and a narrow top part). So, is the bonus worth it and if so should we use the two part design?
Thanks, and wishing everyone luck!

2000 is a good score in either division; you'll probably end up somewhere between 4th and 6th at Wright State. Based on my reading of previous posts, most people are in agreement that the bonus is worth it in C, and probably also in B. I'm pretty sure a 2-part design would be detrimental in all cases; if you're using the upper part to change your angle, either the tower's breaking point will be dependent on the lower part, or the lower part will need significantly stronger (and, assuming you've mostly optimized everything else, heavier) wood.

[Balsa Man]

Absolutely agree (and have said/discussed in a number of posts) a) the 29cm circle IS worth it- will score higher than without it, and b) the "2 part" design (necessary under the old 2011/2012 tower rules) is inherently heavier (and harder to construct accurately/precisely) than going with straight legs as allowed under this year's rules.